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Bede Kelly (1907-1988) - Executive with the R.W. Miller Group. Recorded 7 December 1985. Part 3/3.
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SummaryTAPE 146A BEDE KELLY
Recorded on 7 December 1985.
​Part 3 of 3.
0:07
There was an ostler had trained a horse to race around the paddocks – on the day of the race – a bid draught horse was tried to be passed off as a race horse – “ it sounded like thunder coming down the track”– (uncertain reference later to Scott Harris’ brother who may have been this ostler).
Jack tries to remember the name of a fellow who started the potteries (Reg Henry) who started the Derby Races with Rotary. There were big crowds.
Bede’s wife recalls a fellow coming into the hairdresser to buy a quart of peroxide to bleach one of the horse’s mane and tail.
4:32
Men who came into the Railway Hotel bar – Scaley Dixon and his mates. Bede relates various incidents. Lance Ranclaud and others – Royal Oak Hotel. There was an undertaker next door to the Royal Oak.
The coroner Bill Johnson – Tricks played on Lance and a woman in one of the undertaker’s coffins. Miners lined up 6 at the bar and they had their special place at the bar. Miners singing doggerel on the skips.
6:55
Ned Lightfoot, Athol’s brother “he attended for work but didn’t work” – he was running a book.
A daily bus ran every day to Millfield.
9:55
Their son likes to tell the story of Old Blue, the horse that got killed in the pit. Jack Barrett – story about a pit fire – attempts to save the horses. 2% oxygen underground. Bede describes rescue attempt. Fires at Hebburn No3 was the worst – Jack’s role of reporting the result of fires.
14:45
Jack D had to work fatalities on the railway. He tells the story of a couple who raced to beat the Express train and didn’t see the oncoming engine which ploughed into them – the hazards of driving across level crossings.
17:50
Bede relates to carrying loads on wagons at Cessnock No 2 - they couldn’t hold back the train – brakes and springs being unreliable. The Maitland Main siding.
Arthur Devlin, engineer before Beau Stevenson (Wollombi) at Maitland Main.
20:20
Wilson Barrett – Cessnock No. 2 – he and Athol were good mining men. Athol always had a good story to tell you.
Jack tells anecdote of camping with Athol Lightfoot. His children – Athol’s first wife moved to Orange. He and his second wife had a boy.
23:20
Rene (Irene) Robinson and her husband – their nephew had the Boutique fashion shop in the ’40’s in Darby St. Rene used to run the Star Hotel.
Dr Morris who worked in Branxton at one stage and was very involved in the building of the Hall. The Merewether brothers were very involved in the school and the Hall in Rothbury in the early days.
26:38
The land at Ayrfield mine sites. Land was owned by Cliff. For information the Millers referred Jack to Bede Kelly.
The family involved in the Maitland Main Co. Wheeler was the solicitor.
29:10
Jack talks about his publishing hopes and he was about to meet Blanche d’Alpuget in Canberra. He also knew Colleen McCulloch’s researcher – Jean Heathcote (from Cedar Creek) who is good friends with Jack.
31:00
Bede’s wife’s niece in Wollombi. Reconstructing old stone building next door to the old Post Office (Kerr) at Wollombi.
The tennis courts and the Catholic Church on the other side of the Post Office, and the school were affected by the floods in 1893 – In 1880 it was rebuilt next to the old cemetery where it is now.
Scott Harris’ brother was shot in Wollombi recently – he was the ostler at Maitland Main.
35:30
Murray Robson – vigneron at Mount View – the lane opposite Rothbury Estate – Hall’s property. Hall married into McDonald – Robson has bought an old cellar Orizaba, renovated in the old tradition. His wife is Basil Millington’s daughter.
38:53
End Tape 146 Side A, Part 3 of 3
Kelly, Bede Albert, 1907-1988PersonJack DelaneyDepicts or Relates ToWilson BarrettReg Henry - History of Cessnock Rotary Club. Part 1/1.CollectionVoices of the HunterLocation[1] Bellbird Colliery, NSW[2] Maitland Main Colliery, NSW[3] Rothbury, NSWIdentifier146A
Recorded on 7 December 1985.
​Part 3 of 3.
0:07
There was an ostler had trained a horse to race around the paddocks – on the day of the race – a bid draught horse was tried to be passed off as a race horse – “ it sounded like thunder coming down the track”– (uncertain reference later to Scott Harris’ brother who may have been this ostler).
Jack tries to remember the name of a fellow who started the potteries (Reg Henry) who started the Derby Races with Rotary. There were big crowds.
Bede’s wife recalls a fellow coming into the hairdresser to buy a quart of peroxide to bleach one of the horse’s mane and tail.
4:32
Men who came into the Railway Hotel bar – Scaley Dixon and his mates. Bede relates various incidents. Lance Ranclaud and others – Royal Oak Hotel. There was an undertaker next door to the Royal Oak.
The coroner Bill Johnson – Tricks played on Lance and a woman in one of the undertaker’s coffins. Miners lined up 6 at the bar and they had their special place at the bar. Miners singing doggerel on the skips.
6:55
Ned Lightfoot, Athol’s brother “he attended for work but didn’t work” – he was running a book.
A daily bus ran every day to Millfield.
9:55
Their son likes to tell the story of Old Blue, the horse that got killed in the pit. Jack Barrett – story about a pit fire – attempts to save the horses. 2% oxygen underground. Bede describes rescue attempt. Fires at Hebburn No3 was the worst – Jack’s role of reporting the result of fires.
14:45
Jack D had to work fatalities on the railway. He tells the story of a couple who raced to beat the Express train and didn’t see the oncoming engine which ploughed into them – the hazards of driving across level crossings.
17:50
Bede relates to carrying loads on wagons at Cessnock No 2 - they couldn’t hold back the train – brakes and springs being unreliable. The Maitland Main siding.
Arthur Devlin, engineer before Beau Stevenson (Wollombi) at Maitland Main.
20:20
Wilson Barrett – Cessnock No. 2 – he and Athol were good mining men. Athol always had a good story to tell you.
Jack tells anecdote of camping with Athol Lightfoot. His children – Athol’s first wife moved to Orange. He and his second wife had a boy.
23:20
Rene (Irene) Robinson and her husband – their nephew had the Boutique fashion shop in the ’40’s in Darby St. Rene used to run the Star Hotel.
Dr Morris who worked in Branxton at one stage and was very involved in the building of the Hall. The Merewether brothers were very involved in the school and the Hall in Rothbury in the early days.
26:38
The land at Ayrfield mine sites. Land was owned by Cliff. For information the Millers referred Jack to Bede Kelly.
The family involved in the Maitland Main Co. Wheeler was the solicitor.
29:10
Jack talks about his publishing hopes and he was about to meet Blanche d’Alpuget in Canberra. He also knew Colleen McCulloch’s researcher – Jean Heathcote (from Cedar Creek) who is good friends with Jack.
31:00
Bede’s wife’s niece in Wollombi. Reconstructing old stone building next door to the old Post Office (Kerr) at Wollombi.
The tennis courts and the Catholic Church on the other side of the Post Office, and the school were affected by the floods in 1893 – In 1880 it was rebuilt next to the old cemetery where it is now.
Scott Harris’ brother was shot in Wollombi recently – he was the ostler at Maitland Main.
35:30
Murray Robson – vigneron at Mount View – the lane opposite Rothbury Estate – Hall’s property. Hall married into McDonald – Robson has bought an old cellar Orizaba, renovated in the old tradition. His wife is Basil Millington’s daughter.
38:53
End Tape 146 Side A, Part 3 of 3
Kelly, Bede Albert, 1907-1988PersonJack DelaneyDepicts or Relates ToWilson BarrettReg Henry - History of Cessnock Rotary Club. Part 1/1.CollectionVoices of the HunterLocation[1] Bellbird Colliery, NSW[2] Maitland Main Colliery, NSW[3] Rothbury, NSWIdentifier146Aloading google map....
Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010, Bede Kelly (1907-1988) - Executive with the R.W. Miller Group. Recorded 7 December 1985. Part 3/3., [146A]. Living Histories, accessed 30/11/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/55755