Posted on Sep 26, 2003

Your excellent community-website and invitation to Email has caused me to respond which a bit of Beadnell history (or trivia?)   Just after the beginning of world war 2 (probably early 1940) my Mother took me from Gateshead to visit my Aunt, Maggie Lowry, who lived on the Beadnell seafront, at the start of Harbour Road. I was around 7 years old at the time.   One day, my Mother took me to play on the beach directly in front of the town (to the left of Beadnell Bay when looking out to sea). A beach characterised by tarred huts, boats, and rocky outlays.   A lady on the beach (a complete stranger) started talking to me, and this culminated in her inviting my Mother and myself to her house for tea the following day. She lived at a largish, self-standing house named Bluegate, which was the second house of a longish row (at the very start of the Swinhoe road, I think). and not very far from from the Schoolhouse. Her house took its name from its big farmhouse- style bluegate.   After several such encounters, the lady, a Mrs Betty Glover,  suggested that as I was likely to be evacuated from Gateshead with all the others of my age due to war, how would I like go and to live with Husband Kenneth, and Daughter Pauline, who at that time was a teenager.   This I did, and I joined in all aspects of village life (school, church, etc) for about two years or so until returning to Gateshead. One of the happiest times of my life.   An interesting twist is that the Glover's, like many others, took soldiers stationed in and around Beadnell into their homes at Xmas and the like. At that time there was an Australian contingent stationed in Beadnell, and our frequent visitor was a Seageant Rex Owen. One day, I remember My Glover telling me that the Seageant was a famous man. It was not until years later that I put two and two together (at least I think I did) to conclude he was non other than the man I heard mentioned on Australian TV as having invented the world famous Owen machine gun.   Since then I have lived and worked in 14 different countries across the world and have been myself proudly an Australian citizen for the last 27 years. But,  I have never forgotten my good luck at being an evacuted with the Glovers in your lovely Beadnell.   Next year, my wife and I are returning to UK for the type of holiday geared to retracing our roots - which we hope will include renting a cottage in or near Beadnelel for a couple of weeks.   Keep up your great community website and kind regards,   George Kelly