I received this photograph from Linda Raffell (from her mother who lived in the village from 1953 until 1966) and shows her father Cyril Raffell. He is located at the right of the middle row. Linda apologises for lack of quality but it was taken from a very small (4x3) booklet of the Durham County Schools Football Association and the photo is of the joint holders of the Durham County Schools Cup 1934-5. Cyril worked as Assistant Foreman Electricial  Engineer at the colliery until the year before it closed. He then went to Blackpool in search of work. My mother and I and younger sister followed him as soon as I had finished school at Wellfield in 1966. He had a good life in Blackpool where he worked as an electrician and my mother ran a boarding house. Sadly, dad died in 1976 but mum is still alive and well and living in Blackpool.

It has been provided by my mother Margaret Raffell who lived in Wheatley Hill from 1953 until 1966. My father Cyril worked as Assistant Foreman Electricial  Engineer at the colliery until the year before it closed. He then went to Blackpool in search of work. My mother and I and younger sister followed him as soon as I had finished school at Wellfield in 1966. He had a good life in Blackpool where he worked as an electrician and my mother ran a boarding house. Sadly, dad died in 1976 but mum is still alive and well and living in Blackpool. Dad had a brother and a sister - Bill and Edith. Bill left the village 50-60 years ago but Edith stayed there and married Alan Thomas, who was a deputy at the colliery.