"Arthur'll Stop You One",
By Michael Stockham
We are delighted to have been permitted to reproduce the 2010 book about the Cramlington Train Wreckers by writer Michael Stockham.
Arthur'll Stop You One was painstakingly researched over many years by Michael, who knew Arthur Wilson personally.
The book title refers to a joke that was made in Dudley Club - Arthur's local - when someone mentioned catching a train.
Michael Stockham is recognised as the author of this book, and he has kindly permitted us to put it online.
To reproduce any aspect of this work/research, please contact Michael for permission via this website.
About the author
In the 1960s, Michael worked for the newly established Management Services Unit (MSU) of the Electricity Board in Lewes, near Brighton.
The MSU was established as a result of the then Labour Government's highly critical 1967 report on productivity in the nationalised gas, water and electricity industries.
His former boss (and friend) was Allan Bell, a Geordie, who had been in the work study business with British Rail for a number of years before joining the electricity industry.
In the spring of 1974, Michael received a call from Allan, telling him he had been offered a senior management position in one of the regional authorities of the recently reorganised water industry. He was "going home" to Newcastle and asked if Michael wanted to join him as his deputy.
In December 1974, Michael, his wife Ann and two young children moved to Dudley, then a thriving mining village, which held the distinction of being the oldest surviving working colliery in Northumberland, having been sunk in 1854 and opened in 1856. It closed in 1977.
It was here that Michael got to know Arthur Wilson and heard about the Cramlington Train Wreckers.
"Derailed",
a poem by Steve Blakeney
Many thanks to Steve Blakeney for his excellent poem.
​​
- - -
​
Today I met a man I had never met before,
Waiting for the Scotsman to fly through,
Today I saw a man I had never seen before,
Pushed past desperation by the few.
He would fight his violation,
Feed off tears of frustration,
Bury shame and isolation,
There’d be no more supplication.
Today I met a man I had never met before
His pride and courage wouldn’t let him crack
Today I saw a man I had never seen before
Standing by that broken, twisted track
He would stop his babies’ cries
He’d expose the government lies
They would be the ones to rise
Our union never dies!
Today I watched a man I had never watched before
As that iron horse forebodingly marched on
Today I watched a man welcome carnage to his door
As metal screamed and burning bolts were flung
Off the rails it clattered
Its broken neck lay shattered
Its steely bridle spattered
The blacklegs splayed and battered
Today I was a man I had never been before
A man prepared to take a stance and fight
I will always be that man that I should have been before
A man prepared to die for what is right
BBC News
November 4, 2024
Cathy comes home for 'train wrecker' grandad play.
​
A woman is flying from Canada to the UK to see a new play about a group of men, including her grandfather, who were imprisoned following a train derailment.
​
Read the article here
ChronicleLive
September 15, 2024
Play's North East tour revives remarkable tale of how Cramlington miners derailed the Flying Scotsman​
​
By Barbara Hodgson, Life Writer
​
Read the article here
"No Regrets",
a song by Tom Patterson
A big thank you to Tom Patterson, the Birmingham-based Geordie folk singer, for his brilliant song No Regrets, inspired by the 1981 book of the same name by Cramlington Train Wrecker Bill Muckle.
Cramlington Community Choir
The rise and rise of Cramlington Community Choir
In 2022, the then newly-formed Cramlington Community Choir supported the Wor Bella project, performing pre-show in tour venues around the region.
Two years on, Wisecrack Productions is delighted to be working with the excellent ensemble again when The Cramlington Train Wreckers play takes to the stage this November (2024).
Around 70 members of the thriving choir will sing a selection of songs based on themes of justice, protest, rights and power before the 7 pm performance in Cramlington Learning Village on Thursday, November 7, and ahead of the 7.30 pm show in Playhouse Whitley Bay on Wednesday, November 13.
Led by Jill Brown, the choir prides itself in entertaining the local community. Members enjoy performing in community spaces such as the shopping centre, local care homes and parks. Their recent concerts in Doxford Place Methodist Church were attended by over 300 audience members.
Concerts and performances are free of charge so that they are as accessible to as many people as possible.
Jill said: “We are delighted to be invited to be part of the Cramlington Train Wreckers project and play our part as people come together to remember this historic event which took place in our town. Our rehearsals will begin in June.”
​
Find out more about the choir on the Facebook group or by e-mail.