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Talks

Sent in wi' the Big Lads

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Price
£4 full price | £3.50 Nifties
Running time
2 hours

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Event description

An opportunity to learn and hear the vivid memories of Usworth miner, Jim Tatters (1921 to 2013). He tells of his early life in an Usworth Colliery terrace house, his schooling, and the inevitability of going down the pit when his education finished. Though work was dangerous there was a camaraderie both underground and in the Usworth community, that he describes with detail and humour, including his service with The Home Guard during World War Two. He was part of the Washington squatter movement that took over the hostel estate to secure basic accommodation. It was not surprising he took the opportunity to work in a new colliery in Calverton Nottinghamshire that came with a new house. He spent the rest of his life there, playing a active role in the NUM and local civic life until his death in his 93rd year

Washington History has published his memories based on five hours of interviews with him in the year before he died, conducted by Usworth-born and Calverton neighbour, John Suggett. The book is available for £5 after the talk