When ex-miner Jimmy falls foul of loan shark Big Phil and endangers his greyhound Tyson, his wife Lynne comes up with a plan. If Jimmy stops the favourite, Windfall, from running his true race at Wheatley Hill flapping track, she can bet the proceeds from pawning her wedding ring on Tyson. But Windfall’s owned by Big Phil, and he’s watching the kennels closely. Can Jimmy save his marriage as well as Tyson’s life?

'The Pitmen Flappers' was commissioned by New Creatives North, a talent development initiative co-funded by BBC Arts and Arts Council England.

CAST:
Jimmy - Tony Neilson
Lynne - Jacqueline Philips
Big Phil - Jonathan Keeble
Bookmaker - Jonathan Keeble
Commentator - Louise Powell

CREATIVES:
Writer - Louise Powell
Director - Louise Powell
Producer: Naked Productions

The Pitmen Flappers

Wheatley Hill Greyhound Stadium, a 'flapping' track in County Durham, was one of the foremost independent greyhound racing venues in the country. Beloved for its tight-knit community, big races and strong betting ring, Wheatley Hill was a staple of working-class County Durham life from the 1930s until its closure in 2019.

Drawn together from interviews with some of Wheatley Hill's regulars, 'Dogpeople' offers an oral history of the track. It is designed as a pilot episode for a longer podcast series which preserves the oral history of the independent greyhound racing scene.

'Dogpeople' was written and narrated by Dr Louise Powell, with wildtrack recordings by Bridget Hamilton. It was co-created with interviewees Darren, Mary, Eddie, Sandra, Ronnie, Dave and David, and produced and edited by Bridget Hamilton. The podcast was commissioned by Durham Culture County, a legacy of the Durham 2025 City of Culture bid. 

Special thanks also must go to Joanne, Lucie and Joe of Sunderland Greyhound Stadium, Anna Disley of New Writing North, Gary Philipson and Lindsey Mack of BBC Tees, Margaret Hedley of Wheatley Hill History Club and all those who have supported the project.

The music 'Where You Came From' by Silver Maple and 'Imaginary Answer' by Hanna Lindgren is used through a subscription which audio producer and editor Bridget Hamilton holds to Epidemic Sound, which allows use of the music.

Dogpeople Podcast: Pilot Episode

As part of the Dogpeople Wheatley Hill Story Trail, listen to Eddie's memories of working at the dog track.

'Dogpeople Wheatley Hill Story Trail: Working At The Track' features a clip from an interview with Eddie which was curated by Dr Louise Powell and audio edited by Bridget Hamilton.

The Wheatley Hill Story Trail is part of a broader combined arts project called 'Dogpeople', which tells the history of flapping (independent greyhound racing) in County Durham through the words of the people who went to its tracks. It is a project for which Louise was awarded Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant funding and a commission from No More Nowt's 'Untold Stories' Strand. The project also includes an 8 x 20" podcast series, community exhibition, community events and a non-fiction publication. It is supported using public funding from Arts Council England.

The music is used through a subscription which audio producer and editor Bridget Hamilton holds to Epidemic Sound, which allows use of the music.

Dogpeople Wheatley Hill Story Trail: Working At The Track

As part of the Dogpeople Wheatley Hill Story Trail, listen to Ronnie’s memories of the track.

'Dogpeople Wheatley Hill Story Trail: One Big Community’ features a clip from an interview with Ronnie which was curated by Dr Louise Powell and audio edited by Bridget Hamilton.

The Wheatley Hill Story Trail is part of a broader combined arts project called 'Dogpeople', which tells the history of flapping (independent greyhound racing) in County Durham through the words of the people who went to its tracks. It is a project for which Louise was awarded Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant funding and a commission from No More Nowt's 'Untold Stories' Strand. The project also includes an 8 x 20" podcast series, community exhibition, community events and a non-fiction publication. It is supported using public funding from Arts Council England.

The music is used through a subscription which audio producer and editor Bridget Hamilton holds to Epidemic Sound, which allows use of the music.


Dogpeople Wheatley Hill Story Trail: The Characters

As part of the Dogpeople Wheatley Hill Story Trail, listen to Mary's memories of coming to the track as a young lass - and growing up to take part in "stoppybacks"!

'Dogpeople Wheatley Hill Story Trail: Ball Hares and Stoppybacks’ features a clip from an interview with Mary which was curated by Dr Louise Powell and audio edited by Bridget Hamilton.

The Wheatley Hill Story Trail is part of a broader combined arts project called 'Dogpeople', which tells the history of flapping (independent greyhound racing) in County Durham through the words of the people who went to its tracks. It is a project for which Louise was awarded Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant funding and a commission from No More Nowt's 'Untold Stories' Strand. The project also includes an 8 x 20" podcast series, community exhibition, community events and a non-fiction publication. It is supported using public funding from Arts Council England.

The music is used through a subscription which audio producer and editor Bridget Hamilton holds to Epidemic Sound, which allows use of the music.

Dogpeople Wheatley Hill Story Trail: Ball Hares And Stoppybacks

As part of the Dogpeople Wheatley Hill Story Trail, listen to Benny’s memories of the track.

'Dogpeople Wheatley Hill Story Trail: Danny’ features a clip from an interview with Benny which was curated by Dr Louise Powell and audio edited by Bridget Hamilton.

The Wheatley Hill Story Trail is part of a broader combined arts project called 'Dogpeople', which tells the history of flapping (independent greyhound racing) in County Durham through the words of the people who went to its tracks. It is a project for which Louise was awarded Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant funding and a commission from No More Nowt's 'Untold Stories' Strand. The project also includes an 8 x 20" podcast series, community exhibition, community events and a non-fiction publication. It is supported using public funding from Arts Council England.

The music is used through a subscription which audio producer and editor Bridget Hamilton holds to Epidemic Sound, which allows use of the music.


Dogpeople Wheatley Hill Story Trail: Danny

50 years on from the closure of the last colliery in Washington, what does it mean to have mining heritage in the area? In the first of a three episode series, author Dr Louise Powell speaks to five fascinating people who talk about the triumphs and the tragedies of their extraordinary ancestors.

The COAL FACE podcast has been created to accompany exhibitions of photography by Andy Martin and poetry by Dr Louise Powell at Washington F-Pit Museum (2024) and Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens (2025), as well as publications of their work. It is edited and produced by acclaimed sound designer Nick John Williams.

This episode is the first in a series of three episodes which explore Washington's mining heritage. There will also be a second series of the Coal Face podcast, featuring soundscapes of interviews and Powell's poetry from the Sunderland Museum exhibition.

MUSIC CREDITS:
The song ‘Farewell to Cotia’, written by Jock Purdon, is performed by Bill Elliott.
The song ‘Just One Spark’, written by Benny Graham, is performed by Bill Elliott.

Both pieces are used with permission.

EPISODE CREDITS:
‘Coal Face Washington: Ancestry’ was written and narrated by Dr Louise Powell, and audio edited and produced by Nick John Williams. It features clips from interviews with Laura Dredge, William Pallister Richardson MBE, Barbara Fiddy, Richard Gardner Turnbull and Bill Elliott. Additional recordings were made by Andy Martin.

‘Coal Face Washington: Ancestry’ is the first in a series of three episodes which explore Washington’s mining heritage as part of the broader Coal Face project. It is supported using public funding by Arts Council England, and delivered in partnership with University College London, Redhills Durham, The Cultural Spring and Sunderland Culture. Special thanks must also go to Washington Millennium Centre for their support of the Washington phase of the project.

Coal Face Podcast Series 1 Episode 1: Ancestry

50 years on from the closure of the last colliery in Washington, what does it mean to have mining heritage in the area? Dr Louise Powell speaks to five fascinating people who talk about what it was like to live alongside a miner – or to go ‘down the pit’ yourself.

The COAL FACE podcast has been created to accompany a broader project which includes publications of photography by Andy Martin and poetry by Dr Louise Powell, as well as exhibitions of their work at Washington F-Pit Museum (2024) and Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens (2025). The podcast is split into two, three episode series, the first of which offers a documentary-style exploration of the stories of fifteen people with close connections to mining in Washington. The second series, meanwhile, weaves interviews and soundscapes around the poetry that Powell wrote for the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens exhibition. Both series are edited and produced by acclaimed sound designer Nick John Williams. 


MUSIC CREDITS:
The song ‘Farewell to Cotia’, written by Jock Purdon, is performed by Bill Elliott.
The song ‘Just One Spark’, written by Benny Graham, is performed by Bill Elliott.


EPISODE CREDITS:
‘Coal Face Washington: Reality’ was written and narrated by Dr Louise Powell, and audio edited and produced by Nick John Williams. It features clips from interviews with Joan Sutherland, Jenny Wells, Mick Ford, Lynne Ford and Steve Wood. Additional recordings were made by Andy Martin. 

‘Coal Face Washington: Reality’ is the second in a series of three episodes which explore Washington’s mining heritage as part of the broader Coal Face project. It is supported using public funding from Arts Council England, and delivered in partnership with University College London, Redhills Durham, The Cultural Spring and Sunderland Culture. Special thanks must also go to Washington Millennium Centre for their support of the Washington phase of the project.   

Coal Face Podcast Series 1 Episode 2: Reality

50 years on from the closure of the last colliery in Washington, what does it mean to have mining heritage in the area? Author Dr Louise Powell speaks to five fascinating people who talk about growing up during the Miners’ Strike, the development of Washington New Town, and present-day life as a descendant of miners.

The COAL FACE podcast has been created to accompany a broader project which includes publications of photography by Andy Martin and poetry by Dr Louise Powell, as well as exhibitions of their work at Washington F-Pit Museum (2024) and Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens (2025). 

The podcast is split into two, three episode series, the first of which offers a documentary-style exploration of the stories of fifteen people with close connections to mining in Washington. The second series, meanwhile, weaves interviews and soundscapes around the poetry that Powell wrote for the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens exhibition. Both series are edited and produced by acclaimed sound designer Nick John Williams. 

MUSIC CREDITS:
The song ‘Farewell to Cotia’, written by Jock Purdon, is performed by Bill Elliott.
The song ‘Just One Spark’, written by Benny Graham, is performed by Bill Elliott.

OTHER CREDITS:
‘Coal Face Washington: Legacy’ was written and narrated by Dr Louise Powell, and audio edited and produced by Nick John Williams. It features clips from interviews with Andrew Barker, Beth Jones, Sean Taylor, Tony Porter and Amelia Davis. Additional recordings were made by Andy Martin. 

‘Coal Face Washington: Legacy’ is the third and final in a series of three episodes which explore Washington’s mining heritage as part of the broader Coal Face project. It is supported using public funding by Arts Council England, and delivered in partnership with University College London, Redhills Durham, The Cultural Spring and Sunderland Culture. Special thanks must also go to Washington Millennium Centre for their support of the Washington phase of the project.   


Coal Face Podcast Series 1 Episode 3: Legacy

'Jobs for Everybody' is a soundscape which tells stories about the early days of coalfield life in Washington and Sunderland - through the words of people who have lived it. Hear what it meant to be a young lad starting off at the pit, or a miner's wife who ran her household. The soundscape also features dramatic readings of verbatim poetry written by Louise Powell for the Coal Face exhibition at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.

‘Coal Face: Jobs for Everybody’ is a soundscape designed, edited and produced by Nick John Williams, to a script which was written and curated by Louise Powell. It features recordings of Powell’s poems ‘Just Bairns’, ‘Washington’, ‘That Was The Deal’, ‘Lads to Blokes’ and ‘Everybody’, which were read by the actors Angela Rose and John McMahon.

It also features clips from interviews with Paula Short, Billy Crowe, Henry Kirtley, Joan Sutherland, Dave Anderson, Steve Wood, Frederick Branton, June Pell, Jenny Wells, Judith Jeffries, Bob Heron, Juliana Heron, David Chambers, Dennis O’ Brien, David Newton, Alan Mardghum and Muriel Tully. Additional audio was recorded by Andy Martin.

‘Coal Face: Jobs For Everybody’ is the first in a series of 3 soundscapes which have been created to accompany the Coal Face exhibition at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens. The exhibition and project are supported using public funding from Arts Council England, and delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, The Cultural Spring, Redhills Durham and University College London. 

Special thanks must also go to Washington Millennium Centre, The Old Rectory and The Fans Museum for their support.


Coal Face Podcast Series 2 Soundscape 1: Jobs For Everybody

‘A Whole New Ball Game’ is a soundscape which traces the move from smaller pits to Sunderland’s ‘super-pit’, Wearmouth Colliery. There are tales from the canteen and deep underground, told by people who were part of the Coal Face project. The soundscape also features dramatic readings of poetry written by Louise Powell for the Coal Face Exhibition at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens. Readings are performed by Andy Martin, John McMahon and Angela Rose.

‘Coal Face: A Whole New Ball Game’ is a soundscape designed, edited and produced by Nick John Williams, to a script which was written and curated by Louise Powell. It features recordings of Powell’s poems ‘Sunderland’, ‘Women In A Man’s World Part 1: Audrey, Wearmouth’s First Female Shop Steward’, and ‘Bodies’. The poems were read by Andy Martin, John McMahon and Angela Rose.

It also features clips from interviews with Steve Ibbitson, Tom Watson, David Newton, David Thacker, George Sanderson, Dennis O’ Brien, Martin Chapman, Colin Eddy, Chas Dimmock, Billy Crowe, Alan Mardghum, Maureen Brown-Canavan, Caroline Ramshaw, Frederick Branton, Henry Kirtley and David Chambers. Additional audio was recorded by Andy Martin.

‘Coal Face: A Whole New Ball Game’ is the second in a series of 3 soundscapes which have been created to accompany the Coal Face exhibition at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens. The exhibition and project are supported using public funding from Arts Council England, and delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, The Cultural Spring, Redhills Durham and University College London. 

Special thanks must also go to Washington Millennium Centre, The Old Rectory and The Fans Museum for their support.


Coal Face Podcast Series 2 Soundscape 2: A Whole New Ball Game (Soundscape)

‘I’ll Never Forgive’ is a soundscape which explores the final years of Sunderland’s collieries – and what it means to be part of a coalfield community now that the mines are long gone. It traces a painful journey through the 84-85 Miners’ Strike to the closure of the pits through the words of people who have lived it. The soundscape also features dramatic readings of verbatim poetry written by Louise Powell for the Coal Face exhibition at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.

‘Coal Face: I’ll Never Forgive’ is a soundscape designed, edited and produced by Nick John Williams, to a script which was written and curated by Louise Powell. It features recordings of Powell’s poems ‘Women In A Man’s World, Part 2: Mary, In the Canteen’, ‘Strike’, ‘Women In A Man’s World, Part 3: Muriel, In the Wages Office’, ‘Closure’, ‘Everybody’ and ‘Disclosure’. The poetry was read by the actors Angela Rose and John McMahon.

It also features clips from interviews with John Lonsdale, Graeme Hopper, Henry Kirtley, Bob Heron, Caroline Ramshaw, Muriel Tully, Billy Crowe, Ian High, Juliana Heron, George Sanderson, Paula Short, Tom Watson, Dave Anderson, Bill Sheriff, David Chambers, Dennis O’Brien, Colin Eddy, Martin Chapman, Alan Mardghum, Linda Chapman, David Thacker, Lynne Ford and Terry Watkin. Additional audio was recorded by Andy Martin.

‘Coal Face: I’ll Never Forgive’ is the third in a series of 3 soundscapes which have been created to accompany the Coal Face exhibition at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens. The exhibition and project are supported using public funding from Arts Council England, and delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, The Cultural Spring, Redhills Durham and University College London. 

Special thanks must also go to Washington Millennium Centre, The Old Rectory and The Fans Museum for their support.


Popular tracks by Dr Louise Powell