‘Northern Mining Roots’ is an A to Z History of the ownership of Collieries, sinking dates and a wealth of other information on the Industry that our forefathers relied on for a meagre living in days gone by, including photographs of many of our most important Collieries.

‘Troubled Collieries’ documents some of the most major pit disasters in this country and highlights the tremendous courage of the miners and rescuers faced with death when trying to rescue their fellow men. I hope this book goes some way to give the miners the recognition they deserve.

The S&D Railway was officially opened in September 1825 and the rest of the North of England (if not the whole country and even the world) watched with interest. This book tells the story of all the wonderful people in history who created the railyway and the subsequent wealth of the period for the benefit of all - it follwos them through the trials and tribulations to the final successful conclusion. It also follows the route of the railway and notes the progress of each individual section, as well as giving a rare glimpse into the personal diaries of Edward Pease, which make compelling reading.

There are many people that have made and subsequently shaped history. In Northern Folk, Bernie McCormick explores just a few of these people and in doing so grants us a unique insight into their lives through a series of mini-biographies.

Coxhoe is situated four miles south of the historical cathedral city of Durham. The coal mining industry, including the many railways that were needed to service the mining of coal and limestone industries from the area, grew round the village giving the families of the area a modest and hard fought for living to bring their families into the present century. Ronnie Taylor owns an amazing catalogue of photographs that he made available and from these and other sources, the author has compiled a series of books of Coxhoe and the area, including many people and families. These books proved popular and have now been brought together in this e-book, along with other material from the Chisholm and Crooks families.

I have enjoyed every minute while compiling the characters in 'Irish Legends', their particular achievements are far ranging and each very different, chosen by me mainly for what they have achieved for Ireland all in different ways. Ireland is a relatively young country partition happening in 1921, in many ways this was the start of the trouble as the 'Irish Free State' strived to unite people. Roger Casement, early in his career ,worked for the British Foreign Office where he completed valuable work in the depressed areas of the world; he was knighted in June 1911 for his work. The work was so severe he had to retire because of his failing health.
I felt that I had to include the Casement story, Casement disliked the British bitterly and felt they treated his fellow Irishmen with contempt. At this time he longed for independence and seized the opportunity to take a leading roll in the Easter Rising in 1916 - against the British - to attempt to force them into declaring independence. Arms were willingly supplied by Germany, who were at war with England at this time. Later Casement was hanged as a traitor.

After the success of ‘Northern Folk’, Bernie took a look at the wonderful ‘Scottish Folk’,
that graced our shores producing brilliant advances in Science, Literature and Engineering. Scottish Folk is a glimpse into the world of brilliant ‘Scottish Folk’ who made the world
a better place to live.