Jo Bath – författare

First World War claimed over 995,000 British lives, and its legacy continues to be remembered today. Great War Britain: Tyneside offers an intimate portrayal of the area and its people living in the shadow of the 'war to end all wars'. A beautifully illustrated and highly accessible volume, it describes local reaction to the outbreak of war; the experience of individuals who enlisted; the changing face of industry; the work of the many hospitals in the area; the effect of the conflict on local children; the women who defied convention to play a vital role on the home front; and concludes with a chapter dedicated to how Tyneside and its people coped with the transition to life in peacetime once more. The Great War story of Tyneside is told through the voices of those who were there and is vividly illustrated with evocative images from the collections of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums and other archives across the region.

Voices of Stanley is a remarkable compilation of oral history extracts drawn from the extensive Beamish Museum Audio Archive, recalling life in the area between 1880 and 1950. Vivid memories are recounted, including childhood and schooldays, work and play, sport and leisure, as well as recollections of the war years. It covers the harrowing search for bodies following the Stanley pit disaster of 1909 and the hardships of life during the General Strike of 1926, as well as local traditions like egg jarping, pitch and toss, and making Christmas mistletoes. Richly illustrated with over sixty pictures from the museum collection, many previously unpublished, this volume paints a revealing picture of life in Stanley and the surrounding pit villages in years gone by. Anyone who knows the town will enjoy this nostalgic look at the unique history of the area through the eyes of its residents.

Taking you through the year day by day, The Gateshead Book of Days contains quirky, eccentric, shocking, amusing and important events and facts from different periods in the history of the town. Ideal for dipping into, this addictive little book will keep you entertained and informed. Featuring hundreds of snippets of information gleaned from the vaults of Gateshead’s archives and covering the social, criminal, political, religious, agricultural, industrial and sporting history of the region, it will delight residents and visitors alike.