www.noweastdurham.co.uk
People who are interested in the local history of East Durham should probably head down to Blackhall Resource Centre on Saturday the 10th of October from 10.30am where Blackhall Local History Group will be launching their new book Blackhall Heroes which details the contributions and sacrifices Blackhall made in the Second World War, with the book launch being attended by the British Legion Standards and Jan Blakey the current Chairman of Durham County Council.
The book is a collection of about 30 stories from local people about the war such as stories passed down by their families and is the final product of about six years of research and collating information by Blackhall Local History Group including treasurer Stanley Grey it is also the book that took the longest to put together out of the five they have done so far which collectively account the history of Blackhall from its early coal mining days to the Second World War. The book was funded by a £2000 donation from Blackhall councillors Rob Crute and Lynn Pounder but also from the History Group’s own pockets which shows it is a real labour of love.
The book comes after a fairly big and busy year for the History Group which saw them receive national coverage for their display on Blackhall in the First World War for the centenary of the war which involved local people and children and was shown in several local primary schools and the group also purchased a new memorial with the help of the North East branch of the Coal Industrial Social Welfare Organisation. It’s hoped that the new book may push more local people into coming forward with their stories about WWII.
So go down on Saturday if your interested as people should make an effort to learn local history as that’s a huge part in what gives an area its identity, or if you want to buy the book they cost £5 and are available in Robinson’s hardware store, Meikle Pharmacy, Blackhall Resource Centre or by contacting Stanley Gray directly through e-mail at stangray@btinternet.com where you can work it out between yourselves. Or if you are really interested you could join the group which are always looking for new members so that you can take part in whatever project the History Group are moving on to next in their effort to record the growth and development of Blackhall.
