I was born into the economics and politics of mining in County Durham.
When I got involved with the folk movement of the 1960’s and was motivated, for some reason, to writing songs, my immediate situation was my source material. What I had been taught over many years re politics and mining I simply changed into songs.
The Birtley Folk Club was started by a mining family, the Elliotts, and I felt immediately at home there because their humour, politics and passion I understood well.
Contained in this section of the website, that you can explore by clicking the down arrow in the navigation bar above, is some of the songs that spring from early experiences.
Below is the banner for New Herrington Pit, which my dad designed many years ago.
