Salvation Army, free from sin, we all went to heaven in a corned beef tin.
Easter was a time for having fun, especially Easter Monday. There was never any shortage of ideas for things to do. Sunshine trips were really popular, going by train from Backworth to the beach. We would all congregate on the station to have a stamp put on our hands, so people would know which trip we were on (and to stop others joining on). I can remember the whole of ‘C’ Pit and their families going on trips like this. We never got lost or left behind because everyone kept an eye on each other and there were lots of volunteers to help. There was also a ‘Poor Children’s Treat’ and you could only go on this if your dad was on the dole or the sick. I think it was organised by the Salvation Army. I remember one of these, when we walked from Castle Park to Backworth Station and then on to Tynemouth for the day. On the way to the station I can remember singing ‘Salvation Army, free from sin, we all went to heaven in a corned beef tin’.