Cultureshock

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Video transcript

When I was growing up in Gosforth, we always had a barometer beside our front door.  Every day, before going out, my Dad tapped the barometer and said "Oh, pressure's going up" or "Oh, pressure's going down".  I never really understood this mysterious ritual but gradually realised it had something to do with the weather.

Years later, I inherited the barometer and hung it beside my own front door.  I tapped it every time I went out and probably mystified my own children.

One day, I began to think about the inscription on the base of the barometer: 'Presented by the employees of Bomarsund Colliery to J D Sutherland in appreciation of services rendered in designing the Bomarsund Colliery Banner June 1953'.  I was born in July 1953 so began to imagine my Dad proudly returning home with this gift, showing my Mum who would have been 8 months pregnant with me.  I realised what an important part of our family history the barometer is.

I started to do some research into the banner mentioned on the barometer and, after many false trails, ended up at Woodhorn Colliery Museum, where I asked if they knew anything about the Bomarsund Banner.  One of the museum staff explained that many of the Northumberland banners had been lost or damaged over the years and only 23 of the original 200 had survived.  However, he recognised the name 'Bomarsund' and thought it might be in storage.

We went to the store and he brought out a large rolled banner - about 12ft by 10ft - which he unfurled across the floor.  This was an amazing moment and I felt a lump come to my throat as I immediately recognised my Dad's style and knew that it was 'his' banner.

He was very political as a young man and his design on one side equates Nationalisation of the coal mines with the British victory at the Battle of Bomarsund in the Crimean War, after which the colliery was named.  The other side asks which is the safer power: coal or nuclear.

The museum staff told me that a woman called Hazel Edwards was writing a book about Northumberland Miners' Banners and she might be able to tell me more.  I gave them my telephone number and a couple of days later she rang me.  She said the book was about to go to print but didn't know that my Dad designed the Bomarsund banner so was pleased to add this information to the book just in time.

She also told me that he'd designed another banner - Sleekburn A - which I didn't know about.  When her book came out, I was able to see both his banners and many of the other survivors. 

Recently, I went back to Woodhorn and was really delighted to see both of my Dad's banners on display.  He was a very proud man and he would have been even more proud to know that his banners are still flying in Northumberland although I think he would have been shocked to see what has happened to the mining industry.

I now live in Bulgaria and the barometer is still beside our front door, doing a good job of predicting the Bulgarian weather.  Every day, when I tap it, I think of my Dad.