Hello all, its been quite a while since I posted on here. I hope you are all keeping well during these awful days. Here's just a little something to while away some time.

I've been busy researching facts for my book on the Hebburn Lakes and other industrial waters, along with the help of others including our Norman Dunn and Barry Cram. I have almost finished fact finding and as no one has researched the amount of drownings over the years, “The Word” in South Shields have requested a copy of my database. Hopefully, not only will a lot of you find my book interesting but also, the town's young folk who have no idea of our history

I thought I would share this sad story with you, but I think it gives an insight into Hebburn life almost 100 years ago.

HARTLEPOOL DAILY NEWS, 10th September 1923 – FOUND DEAD IN POND Tragic Fate of Flower Show Judge - The body of John George Charlton (69) a blacksmith of 10 Springfield Terrace, Felling, was found in a pond in a field near the lakes at Hebburn yesterday afternoon. On Saturday, Charlton had been a judge at the annual show of the Monkton Leek, Vegetable and Floral Society, which was held at the Bede Burn School, Jarrow, and it is surmised that after leaving the show he had accidentally fallen into the pond and been unable to get out. The pond is only two feet deep but there is considerable mud at the bottom. When found deceased had been dead for several hours.