A FORMER Bevin Boy from Hexham was fondly remembered at a memorial service at Hexham Abbey.

Two years of National Service lying hacking away at a two-foot, coal seam 3000 feet under Wallsend at the Rising Sun pit convinced young Chris Allcock that a career underground was not for him, so at night, he began studying for his mining engineer exams.

His studies brought him a glittering career in both the mining and quarrying industries in multiple management and director roles.

He became the National Coal Board’s assistant ventilation manager for the Northumberland coalfield, leading to a career which involved supervising quarries from North Northumberland to Shap in Cumbria, with daily commutes over the notorious Hartside pass in even the harshest of weather. 

Chris' work with the Amalgamated Roadstone Corporation also took him on a company relocation to Harrogate to develop and manage a quarry operation in Otley. The Yorkshire adventure only lasted a few years, in which the quarry became very profitable, and ARC brought Chris and family back to the North East to become an area operations manager.  

He spent three years as chairman of The North East Institute of Quarrying and was later elected a Fellow of The Institute of Quarrying - an achievement the former pit lad was particularly proud of.

Chris was born on Christmas Day in 1932 – hence the Christian name – at Loughborough in Leicestershire, but the family moved to Benton in Newcastle in 1937. Chris became a pupil at the Royal Grammar School, but the school was moved lock stock and barrel to the Lake District when the Second World War broke out and Chris became a happy evacuee.

As a young man, Chris enjoyed riding motorbikes and driving sports cars, and an offer of a lift to a young lady from Ashington Technical College in his Austin Healey Frog Eyed Sprite led to romance and his 56-year marriage to his wife Liz, with whom he had sons Peter and Adam and daughter Joanne, who sadly died in infancy.

Chris and Liz together built their family home near Wall, overlooking the North Tyne Valley, before moving to Hexham.

A talented artist, Chris was also a keen supporter of Tynedale Rugby Club, taking his seat at the very top of the stand until the climb became too much for him just this season.

The flag at Tynedale Park was flown at half-mast at Tynedale’s last home game – a victory over league leaders Sedgley Par.

Ninety-year-old Chris was also a committed Christian, taking an active role in the running of Hexham Abbey.