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William "Willy" Baker

William "Willy" Baker was sentenced to four years of penal servitude. Aged 28, Willy was the oldest of the octet imprisoned.

 

Christine Waugh (nee Baker), born in 1960, never met her grandfather. Sadly, Willy died not long after gaining his freedom on September 1, 1928, having served two years and three months of the four-year sentence.

 

Christine and her cousin Katherine were brought up in Cramlington. Christine now lives in Newcastle. Katherine, who emigrated to Canada, is coming "home", linking up with Christine to see the play at The Glasshouse, Gateshead.

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The following was written by Christine.

​Three released Cramlington miners 

William “Billy” Baker (right) with his wife.

(Image credit: Christine Waugh)

The first memory I have of my paternal grandfather's past is from 1969, when I watched a BBC documentary called Yesterday's Witness about the derailing of the Flying Scotsman during the 1926 Miners' Strike. 

 

I was only nine years old but for some reason, I remember the gravity of the occasion. 

 

My grandfather, William Baker, was a labourer, not a miner, who was out picking seed for his beloved canaries on the train tracks on May 10, 1926, and was caught up in the chaos that was the derailment of the Flying Scotsman.

 

He was totally innocent and was sentenced to prison!

 

My nanna's brother Tommy Roberts was involved and went to prison also. 

 

Willy and Tommy were brothers-in-law.

 

My grandad died decades before I watched Yesterday's Witness [broadcast in 1970]; he passed away from a heart attack not long after he came out of prison.  

 

My mam, Doris Baker, often talked about my grandfather's innocence. She said prison had been hard for him and he never recovered from the trauma. 

 

Grandad was deaf. He had been shell shocked in WW1. Apparently, he was a bit of a loner. The locals called him "deefy" Baker, which must have been so hurtful for him.

 

Many years later, mam was visited by Margaret Hutcherson the author of the book Let No Wheels Turn. My dad was dying of cancer at that time, so I don't think he could give her much information about his father but I'm in no doubt that my mam told her the story about Grandad Baker. Mam always talked about the injustice of it.  

 

I read Margaret's excellent book and found it incredibly interesting, especially the part about Lyle Waugh (who turned kings evidence against his fellow miners, leading to their arrest and sentencing) and the convicted miners celebrating when he died,  shouting "Waughy's deed!"

 

I had married a Waugh, you see, and we wondered if he was related - but he wasn't, thankfully!

 

Margaret even gave mam a signed copy of the book to thank her. 

 

My dad passed away a few months after the interview and he never got to see the book. I would love to have known his opinion about it. I miss him every day.  

 

A few months ago I learned that Ed Waugh - no relation - was doing a play called The Cramlington Train Wreckers. This got my attention and I felt thrilled and, to be honest, quite emotional. At last, their story was going to be told for the anniversary of the event!

 

Memories came flooding back! I was transported back in time. I remembered staying at my Nanna Bakers miner's cottage in Annitsford. Such happy times!

 

Nanna and Grandad had three children: Catherine, George and my dad James, who was the youngest. He was also a miner. 

 

Dad was a very thoughtful, quiet man, very much like his father, my Nanna would tell me. 

 

My dad and Nanna were very close. He did lots of jobs for her, visiting her a few times a week and making sure she was ok. I loved going with him. 

 

Nanna was a petite lady with a full head of white curly hair. She was so smart and very glamorous,  always immaculately turned out; a very proud lady. The one-bedroom cottage she lived in was absolutely spotless; she was always cleaning and tidying up. 

 

After having our tea - normally with lots of cake - she would sweep the crumbs into a special little tray. We never did this at my house, which was the exact opposite and quite chaotic at times, but in a good way, I might add. 

 

I had a lovely upbringing. I loved looking at Nanna's beautiful ornaments, resisting the urge to pick them up. I was lucky enough to be given a crystal butter dish after she passed away, a very treasured possession of mine. 

 

We slept in her huge Victorian brass bed with lovely, pressed linen. 

 

Nanna would come to our house in Cramlington for Sunday dinner every week. I remember she never had gravy on her dinner and ate sliced, buttered bread coated with sugar! I always thought that strange. 

 

We would watch the afternoon film and I remember her talking all the way through! It was a little bit annoying at the time but I find it funny now, yet another precious memory. Sadly, I was 16 when Nanna passed away, a short time after being diagnosed with mouth cancer. 

 

My very last memory was dancing around the living room in Christmas 1976 to Wizzard's I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day - one of my favourite-ever memories, especially when Christmas comes around. 

 

My Nanna's death was the only time I ever saw my dad crying; he was devastated. 

 

She was a kind loving person, very young at heart and so much fun. 

 

I can't imagine what Nanna must have suffered when her husband was dispatched to prison, leaving her to look after three children, with no money, all on her own. 

 

She never talked about it, though. Her generation never did. They just quietly got on with their lives. I feel immensely proud of both my grandparents Mary and William. 

 

I'm so lucky to be part of their family. 

​Three released Cramlington miners: 

William “Bill” Muckle (centre) with his mother - William “Billy” Baker (right) with his wife - Oliver “Ollie” Sanderson (left) with his wife.

(Image credit: Working Class Movement Library (WCML), Manchester)

On September 1, 1928, after two years and three months of imprisonment Bill Muckle (centre) (with mother), Willy Baker (right) (with wife) and Ollie Sanderson (with wife) were released due to the enormous pressure and campaigning work done by the labour movement.

 

Sarah Lovell, of International Class War Prisoners’ Aid, was instrumental in bringing about the early releases of all the Cramlington Train Wreckers, and is seen holding the red flag in the back. 

Cultured. North East

New play puts family history on the stage (2024)

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