Three retired drivers who used to work on the Tyne and Wear Metro have found a new lease of life at Beamish where they are now playing the role of miners at the Colliery at the world famous museum.
Michael Bushby, Bob Blackburn and Ian Jefferson have swapped the controls of the Metrocars, where they were used to working underground, for the pits of Beamish as they show visitors around the Mahogany Drift Mine.
Michael, 60 from Felling, said: ““I really enjoy my role at Beamish and it’s been amazing that I’ve been joined there by two of my former driver colleagues from Metro. It all came about when we had our annual get together. I told the guys all about what I was doing at Beamish and they were intrigued. They came to see me at the drift mine and it all went from there.
“Ian applied and he was successful, and then Bob decided to give it a go and he was also lucky enough to get a role there too. We’ve all been re-united at Beamish working as miners and in the 1900s pit village.
“I love working with people and I love local history, so the job is absolutely ideal for me. It’s fantastic to be able to be there and bring local history to life. The harsh reality of life working in a mine is something I never tire of telling people about. I love the school groups as it gives me the chance to pass on our heritage to future generations. We also get a lot of international visitors, and I’m proud to be able to tell them all about our region’s industrial heritage.”
Bob, aged 67 from Long Benton, said: “After seven years of being retired it’s great to be back working once again with my good friends Michael and Ian. We all share the same enthusiasm for keeping the history of North East England alive through our work at Beamish, where you get the chance to live and breath the proud heritage of our region.”
Ian, from Consett aged 66, added: “I retired from Metro after 30 years of driving in 2022 and I had always wanted to so some voluntary work in later life. I have a keen interest in history, and after I went to see Michael in his new role at Beamish I was inspired to get involved. I was captivated by the mining village and the museum in general. I saw a chance to give back to my local community so I applied to Beamish for a role there. I was honoured to get the opportunity to work at the museum with my two former Metro colleagues.”