Loosing your roots

It's the end of an era for my home town.  The town of Middlesbrough was built for workers to exploit the steel in the local hills.  It became a leader in the steel industry and one of the worlds great bridge builders.  Our bridges can be found all over the world including a little on over the harbour in Sydney. 

Today it has been announced that Corus is to close it's plant on Teesside (more).  The steel city has lost it's soul and it's skyline.  The night time skyline that only a local can truly love.  The flames shooting into the air and the lights twinkling like yellow and orange stars.  This is the skyline that inspired Ridley Scotts Bladerunner.

Then there is the jobs.  An industry that used to directly employ 60,000 - 100,000 men in it's hay day now employs 2,000 and is about to employ none.  

This for a region that has in real terms only not been in the grips of recession for the last 10 years since the mid seventies.

Hopefully the effects won't be as bad as last time industry was decimated on Teesside.  If not the local kids will be stitching footballs for nike.

Good look to all the boys who are now looking for another cushy number to earn their living at.

RIP Steel City.