Family history

I was given this copy of a photo from a history book a few years back. It's of a march from Hetton Lyons Colliery, when the National Coal Board closed it. I think it was in 1951. The far right gentleman in the bowler hat, with his arm around the little boy, is my beloved grandfather. The little boy is my daddy. I think the lady on the far left is the grandmother I never knew.

All the males from my both sides of my family were miners. I imagine this was a particularly tough time for the community with job losses and living on the bread line.

Always makes me emotional, looking at this shot.