A music project is linking the generations as Shildon celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of the railways. PETER BARRON reports
LIKE an express train making up for lost time, 50 years have whizzed by since the members of a folk band with the unlikely name of Geordie’s Penker were last together.
But, half a century down the line, they’ve been reunited by an initiative that will bring the generations together to celebrate Shildon’s unique place in railway history.
On August 31 in 1975, Geordie’s Penker – namely Lesley Coley, Mary Clement, Brian Marsh, Helen Bowron, Hilary Musgrave and Dave Kell – performed from a flat wagon as hundreds gathered to watch the Shildon Cavalcade pass by.
As the procession of 35 locomotives made their way from Shildon to Darlington, creating a spectacular finale to the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the band belted out The Iron Road, a song written for the grand occasion by Brian Marsh.
“It seems like yesterday – it’s gone by in a flash,” says Lesley, now Mrs Wilson.
“Aye, I wish I still had some of that hair,” smiles Brian as old black and white pictures, from hippy days gone by, are passed around among the friends.
The band members have been inspired to get back together by a wonderfully creative music project – dreamt up by the team at Locomotion railway museum – that will see pupils from three Shildon primary schools helping to write a new verse for The Iron Road.
On Monday next week, two classes each from Timothy Hackworth Primary and St John’s Church of England Primary, plus one from Thornhill Primary, will be brought to the award-winning museum with the task of bringing the song up to date.
They'll be creatively assisted by singer-songwriter Rosie Bradford, along with The Northern Echo's eminent historian, Chris Lloyd, and the song with the new verse will be performed at a bicentennial party in Hackworth Park on September 27.
But before the young ‘uns have their turn in the spotlight, the members of Geordie’s Penker have earned the right to reminisce.
Lesley, Mary (now Mrs Vipond), Helen (now Mrs Carling) and Brian still live in the North East, and have met in Locomotion’s café.
Hillary (now Mrs Leonard) lives in London, and Dave is in Gloucester, so they’ve joined via Whatsapp. The excitement at seeing each other again is clear as they are transported back in time.
First thing's first: why was the band called Geordie’s Penker? Well, it’s taken from a Geordie folk song, and a penker – or penka – was the large marble that smaller ‘liggies’ were rolled at.
The band was formed in 1973 after the four lasses and two lads sang separately on music night at Shildon Methodist Church Youth Club.
Someone said 'why don't you sing together' and that was that. The name was later suggested by Dave’s workmate, Sid. “We thought it was funny at the time but none of us like it now,” chips in Helen.
Brian admits his memory of writing The Iron Road is "fuzzy" but the others remain full of praise for his skill in capturing the historic moment:
When the big wheels turn,
And the engines burn,
And the whistle's blowing loud and clear,
Don't it make you feel proud.
Just to be one of the crowd,
And to think it all started here..
That's the chorus and there were originally three verses. When it was suggested a fourth was needed, he somehow came up with the unlikely lyrical gem:
And who needs Presley,
When you've got Nigel Gresley,
He'll convert you quicker than old John Wesley.
"A stroke of genius," says Mary as Brian remembers it out loud.
The song was recorded on June 20, 1975, at Impulse Studios, in Wallsend, and issued as a 45rpm record.
A week before it was performed at the Shildon Cavalcade, Geordie's Penker also sang it live on Darlington's Bank Top station for ITV's Sunday Morning Service, with the Bishop of Wakefield, a keen railway enthusiast, officiating (see picture below).
ITV's Head of Religious Broadcasting, The Rev. Maxwell Deas, wrote the band a letter, suggesting the verse about John Wesley should be dropped for fear of offending churchgoers. Brian wrote back, politely telling him where to get off.
There was another recital at Newcastle station, and the band also performed at The Albert Hall three times.
Their farewell concert was on September 14, 1975, in Shildon Methodist Church Hall, before they went their separate ways.
At one point they were described in The Northern Echo John North column as 'Shildon's answer to The Bay City Rollers', though it's hard to see why they might be likened to an all-male, tartan-clad pop band.
More Shildon's answer to Steeleye Span, surely.
For the record, Lesley, Mary and Brian all went on to be primary school teachers. Helen went into IT with Flymo and Electrolux, while Dave became a mental health social worker and university lecturer.
Hilary went to the Royal Academy of Music, trained as a singer and pianist, and enjoyed a long career running choirs and evening classes.
"It's so lovely to see everyone again," says Hilary. "Looking back, it was all very exciting at the time to be involved in something so momentous and part of local history."
The schools music project is being led by Anne Hopps, Senior Explainer at Locomotion, which is part of the Science Museum Group.
Anne's dad, Derick, helped build wooden railway wagons at Faverdale, in Darlington, and she was part of the crowd at the Shildon Cavalcade as an eight-year-old.
"My memory is sitting on the hill, watching it all unfold, and thinking it was a massive event.
"I want the children to understand the importance of what happened here. We gave the world the railways, and no-one else has that claim to fame – it's ours."
Shildon Wagon Works opened in 1833, having been built to serve the Stockton & Darlington Railway. At its peak, it employed nearly 3,000 before closing in 1984.
Peter Robinson, a volunteer at Locomotion, started there as a boy machinist in 1956, and he loves the idea of adding to The Iron Road.
"Anything that promotes Shildon's railway history is welcome – it's a lovely idea," he says.
It was Sarah Price, Head of Locomotion, who came up with the idea to add a new verse, and she sees it as "grasping the moment".
"In 1975, Geordie's Penker represented the young people of Shildon in celebrating our heritage. Now, it's time to pass on the baton to a new generation," she says. "Who knows – maybe, there'll be another verse added in 2075!"
For Brian Marsh, who wrote the song 50 years ago, it will be a poignant moment.
"It's amazing that the song has survived this long– and I'm looking forward to seeing what the kids come up with," he smiles.
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