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Jack Besford’s speech at the 1948 Northumberland Miners’ Picnic
Background to Jack Besford’s speech of 17th July 1948 A majority Labour government had been elected for the first time ever in July 1945. It faced no shortage of problems. Three quarters of a million houses had been destroyed or severely damaged by German bombing. The country faced record debt after having to finance six…
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Joan Besford (née Matthews) 1921-2019
Joan Matthews was born on 24th April 1921 at Westgate, Haltwhistle, Northumberland. Her parents were John Thompson Matthews (then aged 30) and Mary Elizabeth Teasdale Matthews (née Liddell) (then aged 28).
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Harry Hornsby (1909-1992)
Henry Charles Deamster Hornsby was born on 16th May 1909 at Pace Bush, Choppington, Northumberland. His parents were Demster Hornsby and Annie Hornsby (née Johnson).
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John Besford (1872-1954)
John Besford was born on 5th February 1872 at Cowpen Square, Blyth, Northumberland. John was the son of Alexander Besford, a coal miner, and his wife Elizabeth (Bessy) Besford (née Mills).
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Cowpen Square
Cowpen is situated on the southern bank of the River Blyth. The opening up of the Cowpen North and South pits at the end of the eighteenth century led to the building of Cowpen Square in order to house the coal miners and their families who came to Cowpen to work in these pits.
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William Besford (1823-1906)
William Besford was born at Dam Dykes farm, near Cramlington, Northumberland. He was baptised on 3rd of August 1823 at St. Nicholas’s Parish Church, Cramlington. William’s parents were Robert Besford (1792-1844) and his wife Mary Besford (née Marshall).
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Catherine (Kate) Besford (later Gordon)
Catherine Besford was born on 22nd September 1883 at Bog Row, Hetton-le-Hole, Co. Durham. Catherine was the daughter of George Besford (1852-1935), a coal miner, and his wife Isabella Besford (née Miller).
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David Besford (1897-1991)
David Besford was the son of David Besford and Mary Besford (neé Turnbull). David was born on 1st February 1897 at Middleton Street, Amble, Northumberland.
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John Besford (1826-1914)
John was born in 1826 at Eshott Heugh, the son of Robert and Mary Besford.
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William Besford (1851-1879)
William was the first child of John Besford and Margaret Besford (née Patterson). He was born on 28th November 1851 at Cowpen, Blyth, Northumberland.