Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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Tyne coal trimmers

Posted by peter cook on 1/6/2026, 7:05 am

An old photo i have showing coal trimmers at work in Tyne Dock in the 1940's. What a dirty job that must have been. Just imagine all that dust going into your lungs.

Re: Tyne coal trimmers

Posted by Liz Dance on 1/6/2026, 9:25 am, in reply to "Tyne coal trimmers"

What a terrible job to have to do these guys must have had quite a short lifespan and no compensation either, I guess face masks weren’t around in those days, not that they would have been much help.

Re: Tyne coal trimmers

Posted by Norman on 1/6/2026, 9:54 am, in reply to "Tyne coal trimmers"

That's what was called 'Duff' and its not the coal we used for our home fires.
That duff could be destined for a Power Station but not sure.
'Hard up locals in the old days used to go down to the coal staiths with their old bikes and shovel up 'duff' waste into sacks then sit the sack on the bike and push it home.

For the benefit of younger people who haven't seen a piece of coal, here is a photo of a pile of it.

Re: Tyne coal trimmers

Posted by Ray Forster on 1/6/2026, 11:59 am, in reply to "Re: Tyne coal trimmers"

My grandfather was a trimmer.
He died way before his time.
Never knew him, as he died before I was born.

Re: Tyne coal trimmers

Posted by Joseph on 1/6/2026, 4:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Tyne coal trimmers"

Fillers and trimmers were very much sought after jobs,Money was way above average, but at the end of the day the outcome was not very pleasant.

Re: Tyne coal trimmers

Posted by neil coltman on 1/6/2026, 5:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Tyne coal trimmers"

I wonder if thats where they got the pub name in shields from " the trimmers arms" ????

Re: Tyne coal trimmers

Posted by Ray Forster on 1/6/2026, 5:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Tyne coal trimmers"

Yes it is.
There used to be a group photo of some trimmers hanging up in the pub, with my grandfather on it.

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No bad language or derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.