George Bellas interviewed by Robert Aitchison (session 1 of 2)

Oral history interview with George Bellas (session 1 of 2) conducted and recorded by Robert Aitchison on 5 February 2004, as part of the Time Track oral history collecting initiative. Original duration: 49 minutes, however there are many distortions throughout the recording, resulting in 35 minutes of audible recording via the digital access file. Born 1939, railway career 1954-1984. Childhood, birth, education; start work at Shildon railway works aged 15 years, career, drawing office-boy, apprenticeship fitter, fitter and turner until Works closure [00:02:00] works closure, views on Margaret Thatcher, closure outcome; fitter work, repair side in bogie shop, new construction, Merry-go-Round wagons description; [00:05:00] working conditions; wages, environment, apprenticeship description, no effect on health, noise impact, management, foremen varied; [00:10:00] size and location of Shildon Works; 1975 celebrations, Stockton and Darlington 150th anniversary, volunteering; [00:11:30] views on development of Locomotion museum; [00:12:00] moved to Maintenance; closure of Shildon railway works, impact on local area, loss of apprenticeships, bitter feelings; [distortion in audio recording] [00:14:00] impact of closure on community and wider area, other industries, mental health, attempted suicides; [00:16:00] Shildon railway works closure, government role, privatisation and sending work abroad, politics of the area, union marches in London against the closure, [distortion in audio recording] Neil Kinnock visit at Shildon; [00:22:00] impact of closure on local shops, hardship for families, including those not at Shildon works, psychological effect, mental health; impact on own family, own employment status after closure [distortion in audio recording, work in insurance, at a furniture makers and engineering firm; [00:24:00], Shildon works canteen, work satisfaction, comparison to working at mine; men tended to follow in father’s footsteps for work; better chance of getting a job if father or relative worked at the railway works; [00:26:00] childhood, start work at 15, had sufficient food, close community, trust, safety, would lend each other food or other things, left front and back doors open; [00:28:00] 1947, rationing, queuing for food; eating first banana at age 4, possibly got more food selection due to location of railway; [00:30:00] life in Shildon, recreation, leisure activities, three cinemas in Shildon, went once a week if lucky, no TVs, shops, Co-op was the biggest shop with smaller corner shops around, virtually everyone had an allotment to supplement food; [00:32:00] German bomber came down near Shildon, some billeted soldiers nearby; strong community spirit in Shildon, around the Shildon railway works, not as strong now (2004); some accidents at the works but rarely fatal; workers were aware of what they were doing, so relatively safe place to work , [distortion in audio recording] [00:34:58] [end of interview]

Time Tracks, Shildon Railway Village Community Project was an initiative funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund that encouraged members of the public to bring photographs and documents at Locomotion to form a community archive, when Locomotion museum was opened in Shildon, 2004. Over 50 oral history interviews were also recorded with members of the community. They shared their memories of Shildon as they knew it in their childhood and throughout their lives, from as early as the 1920s, as well as their work experiences in local factories and industries, including Shildon railway works.