FRED BOON

This photo of Fred is from the 1930s, taken in the house at Cockpit Hill. The following article and pictures were kindly provided by Fred's grandson Alan (who is also Desmond's nephew) Fred Boon was born in Middlesbrough in 1903 and learned to play several musical instruments in both the Scouts and the Salvation Army. He found work at the Linoleum Factory in Northallerton and moved to lodgings in Brompton. In 1928 he married Ellen (Nellie) Goodhill at St. Paul's in Middlesbrough, and they lived at 1 Lead Lane. Fred joined the Brompton Silver Band, of which he later became leader, and won several contests around the nation. After their two children, Desmond and Joyce, were born, Fred and Nellie moved into 6 Cockpit Hill. The band room was attached to this house, so that was very convenient. Each year the family enjoyed the Spring Carnival and entered their children into the fancy dress. The band led the parade over Cockpit Hill, but the Carnival was put on hold as war broke out in 1939. In 1942, at age 39, Fred was called to serve in the RAF and posted to India and Burma. During this time Nellie, who was a trained tailoress, also helped the war effort by sewing for the hospital and taking in evacuees. Fred's daughter, Joyce, remembers one day when she pinned herself to a wall near the crossroads as a Lancaster bomber appeared to be going to crash in the village. However, it flew over and came down near Stone Cross. When the war finally ended Nellie and Joyce went in a taxi to meet Fred at Northallerton railway station. Meanwhile, Fred's train had arrived early and he'd got his own taxi to Brompton where he found himself locked out of the house. Nellie's brother, Joseph Goodhill, had arranged for their parents to rent Anvil House in Brompton because he wanted them to be away from Middlebrough which was a target for German bombers. This house was quite close to Fred's, so he went over there and had a cup of tea while he waited for Nellie to find him. Fred took a job as a telephonist at the exchange in Northallerton. He also returned to leading the Silver Band and teaching his children to play instruments. Desmond had excelled at school and went to Durham University. He was there when he received a telegram asking him to return home because Fred had 'collapsed'. It had happened suddenly. Fred had told Nellie that he wasn't feeling well, so was going to lie down. When Desmond did arrive home he was told that his father had gone. "To hospital?" he asked. But Fred had died, aged only 46. The Brompton Band played at Fred's funeral and he was laid to rest in the Cemetery on Stokesley Road. ------------------------------------------------------------

Brompton Silver Band c1930

This picture of Brompton Village Silver Band circa 1930. The BandMaster is the gentleman with one arm who is seated in the centre behind the bass drum. Fred Boon is sitting to his right. The third from the left ( the right of the photo) at the back row might be William Lewis, later Councillor 'Pop' Lewis of Northallerton. Can anyone remember any of these names - please let us know. -------------------------------------------------------------

Desmond Boon (Dizzy)

This picture shows Desmond as a young musician at the Spring Carnival in the early 1930s Desmond Boon was born, son of Fred and Nellie, at 1 Lead Lane, Brompton, on 11th June 1929, and grew up in the village, passing his 11+ at age 10 and qualifying for Northallerton Grammar School where he became Head Boy. While at home he shared his time between studying, getting into mischief and joining his dad in the Silver Band. He and his younger sister, Joyce, regularly entered the fancy dress at the Brompton Spring Carnival. Their mother, being a tailoress, always made their costumes. He was a quiet boy but very sporty and well able to mix with varied company when he had to. It was at Grammar School where he picked up the nickname 'Dizzy', although nobody can remember how that came about. After Grammar School he attended Durham University where he qualified to be a Civil Engineer. This was another area where he managed to achieve a high standard, and he was put in charge of designing parts of the M6 motorway.

This picture shows Dizzy as a young man in 1959 For most of his working life he was overseas working on various projects sponsored by the World Bank. He designed highways and airport terminals in Hong Kong, Thailand, Borneo, Zambia, Ghana and Saudi Arabia, although he always came home for breaks to Brompton.

Here Desmond is pictured in the 1990's When Desmond retired he bought a house in Northallerton where he lived until the late 1980s when his mother Nellie died. He then moved to Scarborough and enjoyed a quiet life by the sea until he died of heart failure in 2003. There are no members of the Boon family living in Brompton today. ----------------------------------------------------------- For more information about Dizzy, please visit Desmond's website by clicking on the link below:- Desmond (Dizzy) Boon's website

Family Photo taken in 1949

This family photo taken in 1949 shows Fred with his wife (Alan's grandmother) Nellie, and their daughter (Alan's mother) Joyce -----------------------------------------------------------