Bermac Books - Testimonials

Hi Bernie, Can't wait for the new book. Had the first one up there a week ago. Let a few strangers have a look too........

Hello Bernie..............Got the book..........incredible. Couldn't believe the pic of Dicky Brown!!..............And John Arthur gets in every where!! Such a real nice guy.

People are asking in the street..........Is it available at laings/club etc again??

I have been reading your book Troubled Collieries, from the City Library in Newcastle. I would love to own a copy and wonder if you can tell me where it is possible to buy it.

Congratulations on producing a book that documents the lives and deaths of those that worked at the pits - so that we never forget.

recently bought a copy of "Coxhoe 2" and was delighted to see my late mum, Jean (Johnson) Bainbridge, on the "Siemans" photographs. My dad grew up in Quarrington Hill and recognises many of the faces in the book. We would now like to obtain a copy of the original "Coxhoe" book. Is it still being published?

Dear Mr. Mc Cormick,
After having bought your book 'Coxhoe 2' for my mother,Jane (Deanie) nee Collingwood a native of Coxhoe and still in her 85th year a frequent visitor to it.I wondered if your first book 'Coxhoe' was still available, and if so would like to buy a copy of it for her.
Yours sincerely,

I just wanted to clarify it. I'll send my order and look forward to getting Coxhoe 1. Coxhoe 2 and 3 were both fascinating and my mother enjoys browsing through them over and over again because, of course, she knows many of the people featured. Thanks again for bringing all these great memories together in these books.




The Pentland Press Limited
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Let me begin by saying how much I enjoyed reading your work. The facts of these biographies are not unfamiliar, especially when it comes to the Stephensons or Elizabeth Barrett Browning, but the idea of bringing together all of these famous North Easteners in one volume is an excellent one. Moreover, the biographies are retold in a lively and highly readable style which is both entertaining and authoritive. Overall therefore, People and the North East of England 1700-1850 is a highly accomplished book which shouldbe very well recieved.

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The Memoir Club
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Your accounts of notable Northern characters are detailed, insightful and make for very compelling reading. Figures such as Sir Charles Parsons and Sir Joseph Swan made valuable contributions to their respective fields, and your book will, in turn, offer a valuable addition to the public's knowledge of them. It is also a fine testament to the quantity and quality of the research that you must have undertaken in order to write it. Ronnie Cranson, Now lives in Australia Dear Mr. McCormick My name is Ronnie Cranson. I was born and bred in Coxhoe and lived initially at No. 2 Blackgate. I am in touch via the internet with Raymond Tate and have received Coxhoe Books 1 and 2 courtesy of my good friend Pat Gorman (nee Ray) who lives in The Avenue. I migrated to Australia in 1965 and have found your publications to be a time capsule for me taking me back over the years and seeing names and photos of people and places that were previously just dim memories.You even showed me my old house in Coxhoe 2 page 13. We lived next door to Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison at No. 1 and Old Grandma Heron (Keith Herons grandma) at No. 3. If you are collecting information for another Coxhoe book I would be pleased to write a little list of memoirs and send a couple of photos. Please advise accordingly. sincerely Yours Ron Cranson.

Mr Peter B Hindmarch I've just finished reading your excellent book "Troubled Collieries" which I enjoyed. I was especially interested in the chapter on the Hartley disaster f 1862. While researching my family tree I discovered that my Great, great uncle “George Hindmarch” died in the disaster aged 30. I have since found out that this was his first ever shift down Hartley that morning having transferred form another colliery. Considering that George probably started working underground at 12 years old, he had 18 years service and must have been the unluckiest man in the disaster. I think it is important that future generations are reminded of the lives lost while winning coal. I’ve interested my 12 year old grandson In this & we have recently visited Earsdon church yard & Hartley Hester pit site, which is now a nice garden.
Mr J.D Armstrong Ref: Troubled Collieries and Coxhoe book 1 I have been giving talks o the Durham Coalfields since 1997 usually to retired men’s groups, civil service groups and similar ladies groups, all based around Tee side or Cleeveland. One talk is about general life in the pit villages and down the pits, charting the decline of 151 deep pits when I was a toddler, to no pits at all now in the county. The second on is more about the “lock outs” or strikes of 1921 and 1926, and contrasts the owner’s attitude to the miners requests. Sometimes I touch on the disasters, mentioning seaham, Tudhow, sacriston, Trimdon Grange Wingate, kelloe (east hetton) and Easington. I don’t go into the detail you do but use the tragedies to illustrate the dangerous business of coal mining and the ever present threat of death. Just before my heart attack in 1999 I had been considering creating a more comprehensive account, prompted by the recollections of a retired mining engineer who visits our Retired Men’s Association, who loaned me his original book of the Hartley disaster. After my cardiac operation, I lost interest in this one but have been asked to give it some more thought. “I look forward to the second Coxhoe book”
Ray Hi Bernie, Can't wait for the new book. Had the first one up there a week ago. Let a few strangers have a look too........ Cheers Hello Bernie..............Got the book..........incredible. Couldn't believe the pic of Dicky Brown!!..............And John Arthur gets in every where!! Such a real nice guy. People are asking in the street..........Is it available at laings/club etc again?? Mrs Kate Siou Dear Mr McCormick, I have been reading your book Troubled Collieries, from the City Library in Newcastle. I would love to own a copy and wonder if you can tell me where it is possible to buy it. Congratulations on producing a book that documents the lives and deaths of those that worked at the pits - so that we never forget. Kind regards recently bought a copy of "Coxhoe 2" and was delighted to see my late mum, Jean (Johnson) Bainbridge, on the "Siemans" photographs. My dad grew up in Quarrington Hill and recognises many of the faces in the book. We would now like to obtain a copy of the original "Coxhoe" book. Is it still being published? Kath Holden Dear Mr. Mc Cormick, After having bought your book 'Coxhoe 2' for my mother,Jane (Deanie) nee Collingwood a native of Coxhoe and still in her 85th year a frequent visitor to it.I wondered if your first book 'Coxhoe' was still available, and if so would like to buy a copy of it for her. Yours sincerely, Thanks, Bernie: I just wanted to clarify it. I'll send my order and look forward to getting Coxhoe 1. Coxhoe 2 and 3 were both fascinating and my mother enjoys browsing through them over and over again because, of course, she knows many of the people featured. Thanks again for bringing all these great memories together in these books. Best wishes, Peter Mains Dear Mr. Mc Cormick, After having bought your book 'Coxhoe 2' for my mother,Jane (Deanie) nee Collingwood a native of Coxhoe and still in her 85th year a frequent visitor to it.I wondered if your first book 'Coxhoe' was still available, and if so would like to buy a copy of it for her. Yours sincerely, Kath Holden
'NORTHERN MINING ROOTS' Bernie Is the price for the above 'TROUBLED COLLIERIES mentioned £6.99 plus £1 P/P. I have your Northern Mining Roots which I found very interesting and useful as I have been on a number of mining sites on the net. It brought back many memories especially coal samples analysed, Roddymoor Ballerat, Brandon, Brancepeth etc. I worked as a chemist at Bankfoot Coke Works (1953), National Service 1958, then Norwood Coke Works, and finally ICI Billingham and Wilton. My father worked at Littleburn, Browney, and finally Brandon Pit House collieries. I believe you know a friend of mine, Barry Lawson (Sedgefield) who I worked with at ICI. Regards Les Carter