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

Oral history interview with George Bellas (session 2) recorded and conducted by Robert Aitchison on 11 May 2004, as part of the Time Tracks oral history collecting initiative. Duration: 13 minutes 14 seconds. 1960s, cinemas in Shildon, first films shown, Bond films, Shildon Railway Institute, cinema club night, local comedian; 1960s at Shildon railway works, merry-go-round wagons; workers from pits coming to Shildon works after pits closure; [00:04:45] leisure activities in Shildon, dancing, live music; arrival of television, impact on local entertainment; pubs, public houses in Shildon, social life, West Auckland, impact of Shildon works closure on pubs, railway works workers going to the Forge at Darlington; [00:10:15] workers lunch, butcher’s pie, pub, what was nearest to the works; comparison Shildon of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s; temporary workers at Shildon works merry-go-round, high capacity wagons [00:13:14] [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.