Specifically, a marrer was the chap you worked with on a coal trolley. If you were going uphill, and your marrer (at the top end of the trolley) let go, then you were in deep shit, or more accurately, deep coal. Such accidents were not uncommon, and often fatal, so a marrer became a term for one who can be trusted implicitly.

anyone else come across:

Geordie Johnson had a pig and it was double jointed (way haual away, well haul away joe) He took it to the blacksmith's shop To get it's trotters pointed: (way haul away, well haul away joe)

I'm pretty certain A.L.Lloyd was carthy's source for Ma Ginny/Byker Hill.

Anyone who hasn't got that carthy album really should get it, also life and limb which has the most fabulously overblown guitar intro to the song, Starting on the VI of II!!! very clever, especially at the recapitulation.

EJ