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1. Maplins?
 | Maplins? You'd better believe it!
(Seriously, I'll tell you about it sometime!)This photo was taken about 1950. By way of a PS one of these lads told me he shouldn't have been there - he hadn't qualified! A further clue -there was a Tommy Handley connection! Answers by e-mail!
Back Row: ?Smith, Geoff Williams, Jimmy Graham, Richie Sharples, Ozzy Reed, Ray Sims.
3rd Row: Colin Gibson, Jimmy Burgess.
2nd Row: ?, Ray Ward, Alan Palmer, Mick O'Neal, Arthur Kemp, ?.Front Row: Robbie Iceton, Googoo Bailey, Ray Foster, Donald Jinks, ?, ?.
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2. Likely Lads
 | Likely Lads of '54.
Jack Sowerby, Allan Thompson and Phil Tranter in Aire Street |
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3. Unadopted!
 | 95 South Terrace.
The way it was then with it's unmade road. Sorry the layout of this story is disjointed but I've got to keep you awake! The other parts are in the Homepage (Personal History) and the 21st Century. (I don't know why - it's just the way it happened)
Well, here's a turn-up for the site! I received an e-mail from Colin Jones whom I hadn't seen since the 50's. I'll include part of it here.
I got the url from my sister Veronica today so I looked it up. I think you are doing a tremendous job with this project. I live in Canada and have been here since 1967. Prior to that I lived in Redcar for 7 years, and before that I lived across the road from you.
Do you ever hear from Brian Walker?
It was good to see some of the names and events in the articles that has brought back lots of memories. Keep up the good work.
Colin Jones (Judda to some)
Note: I haven't heard of Brian Walker since the 50's but I think he went to USA. Still, if Colin has found this site maybe Brian will one day.
26/3/02. Harry (Buster) Bailes has just signed in in the Guestbook. Normally, by clicking on the name in blue in the Guestbook you can send an e-mail to the entrant but Buster must have entered his address wrongly as we can't get through. However, here's a bit of what he said:
Regarding South Terrace, when my aunt who worked in King`s billiard hall was due to marry Skin Feeney the billiard player,King`y offered to lend her the five pounds deposit to buy one of the houses. (£250 new) but as she said at the time "where will I get the money to pay you back" so she didn`t get one.
I'd like to add to that. I have a receipt from Pilkingtons' of Albert Road, Middlesbrough, for £10.0.0 being the deposit paid on the purchase of Number 95 South Terrace, dated 11th March 1938. These houses had a garden back and front. Others had no front gardens and were cheaper thus less deposit.
Now that you have found "Slaggy" pass the word! |
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4. Ann Warwick
 | Ann Warwick of Keir-Hardie Crescent
After leaving the Central Ann became a hairdresser at Bennett's in Middlesbrough where she was known as Jeanne because they already had someone called Ann. Later she set up her own Hairdressing shop at Ormesby under the name of Jeanne's. |
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Mack and Phil
 | Brian McTurk and Phil Tranter in London
I'm not sure of the date of this but I think it was at the end of the 50's. Phil had taken up the alto sax at the same time that Ray Dales had started learning to play the tenor sax. He was coming on all right until he had a daft accident at Smith's Dock and lost his left forefinger.
This was a disaster for his musical aspirations but he didn't immediately give up. Instead him and Mack journeyed down to the Smoke and took his sax back to Selmer's to have a special key fitted so that he could use the pad of his hand to operate it. However, it wasn't a success as it caused too much pain and eventually he gave it up - much to the relief of his neighbours! |
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Ray Ward and Jimmy Graham
 | Ray and Jimmy on the Trolley Bus
Off up to Doggie! Now look at the following photograph! |
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The Trolley Bus
 | Doggie Terminal
The trolley or trackless bus route was a three-legged affair. It went no further than North Ormesby (Doggie) where it turned around and headed back to Slaggy Island and either turned at Bennett's Corner for the Normanby terminal or carried on to the Grangetown (Cardboard City) turn-around which originally ended in Whitworth Road. Later the line ran up Birchington Avenue and returned around the second bull-ring.
Later still, the line extended to Eston Square but, for the life of me, I can't remember which line took it there but I think it must have been from Normanby.
Originally the buses had slatted wood seats which were both cheaper and lighter and served their purpose. I don't know why they changed - maybe trying to be posh. See the next story.
If you would like to know more about the Trolley buses click below. |
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Alan Winton
 | Alan Winton and his pride and joy!
I've been contacted by Alan Winton who served his time as a coach builder at the trolley bus depot which was just over the South Bank bridge, before the Cargo Fleet Works. Later he also did some driving.
The full title of the company was Teesside Railless Traction Board (TRTB) and the employees club was the Transport Welfare Club on Station Road but was widely known as "The Snake Pit" - presumably a "den of iniquity"!
Alan also said his sister-in-law, Etta Watts (nee Hughes) was one of the first women drivers.Alan was the middle one of three brothers - the other two being George and Gordon - from Connaught Street.
Alan married South Bank girl Shirley Hughes (see Victoria Sreet School, class 3A) and eventually moved to Billingham where he still lives. Sadly, Alan lost his wife near the end of 2001. He said she would have enjoyed seeing this site.
In 1960 Alan won the princely sum of £800 on the pools which he blew on a 1955 Ford Consul pictured above.
Alan was always keen on football and can be also be seen on a Princess Street School team photo as Captain. He carried on playing football until he was 52 years old - which was even better than Stanley Matthews managed! |
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Wilf in 1951
 | Wilf has a kick-about
In 1951 Wilf Mannion was Captain of Middlesbrough FC and played for England but he was always ready to demonstrate his skills to his young fans. |
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Dan Pluck's Secret!
 | Dan's Aunty Ev peeling spuds
For the first time the secret of Dan Pluck's strength is revealed in this and the next story. Here Dan's Aunty Ev peels another bucket of spuds for his dinner! |
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Taking a break!
 | Maggie has a rest from making cow pies
Dan Pluck's mother cools off in the yard after another hard shift slaving over a hot oven! Note the pinny! You never see them now. Did they go out of fashion?
Incidentally Mrs Pluck had originally intended to be a nun - luckily for Dan she changed her mind! |
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Vaux's
 | Vaux's furniture Shop
When Ritchie Sharples left school he got a job working for Vaux's as did his sister Katie. Also working there was Maureen Dodds who later married Richie and they're still together. Talk about keeping it in the family!
The photo was taken earlier this week (21/5/02) when the fascia covering the original name was removed ready for repainting. Incidentally, the covering had been put in place when the building was used as Guitarzan's and Bongo Bill's music shop. |
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12. Princess Royal?
 | Allan Thompson (Coldstream Guards) and me (RAF) posing in 1954
I was in the RAF and home on leave. I had with me a little box camera called an Ensign Fullview which I had won in a game of cards and we were taking photos of each other and which are featured on various pages within this site. We were in Redcar Road next to the Chapel which is now known as "The Settlement" where a car was parked with head cloths on the seats with HRH embroidered on them and as the Princess Royal was in the area that day we decided it must be her car and we all posed on it!
Allan Thompson was on leave from the Coldstream Guards and took the opportunity to pose with a decent car!
Dick. |
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3 Lads
 | Same car
Jack Sowerby, Willie Gallagher and Allan Thompson in 1954-55. |
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Peter Marsden
 | Peter Marsden - a friend of Ray Ward's
More on this later. |
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The Walker Family
 | The Walker's shortly after moving to Redcar
H H (Bert) Walker had worked for the Post Office in Lincoln ever since leaving school but in 1936 he was looking for a better paid job with which to support his new wife. The Post Office regularly advertised jobs internally for their branches and this led to Bert applying for and getting a job in South Bank. He was to be working on the Mail Trains and they moved into a house in Warwick Street.
Bert's wife Edna was always close to her mother and so Mrs Booth soon followed her daughter north and settled in Ann Street.
Mr and Mrs Walker then moved to Harcourt Road where their son Brian was born but within a year moved into a new house in the unadopted end of South Terrace, number 97. Mrs Booth soon followed, moving two doors away into 101.
Things were looking good for the family but within a year the country was at war with Germany. Bert lost no time in signing on in the RAF who discovered that the Post Office man was highly proficient at the morse code and was immediately seconded to teach lesser mortals.
From 1939 until 1943 Bert moved to several camps and his family accompanied him and he rented out his house in South Terrace. In 1943 his tennant was moving on and Bert decided that his wife and son should return to South Terrace and his mother-in-law could move in with them.
When the war ended Bert returned to his home and his job at the Post Office and he soon had another mouth to feed when his second son Howard was born.
Brian went to Cromwell Road School and then the Central but passed the 13-plus exam and transferred to the Technical College at the Branch End. Howard started at Cromwell Road but in December 1952 the Walker's moved to Redcar and I didn't see Brian again until this year, fifty years later!!
Mr Walker was a very clever man and owned a car (rare in those days!) which he kept in the builders yard opposite the Vic pub behind the hoardings covered in cinema adverts. On a Sunday he would take the family for a run and if the grandmother didn't go then I was often invited along. He also made a television (the first I'd seen) and I remember being invited in to see it working.
We all sat in the dark in front of the nine inch screen waiting for the show to start at 7 o'clock. It was a musical "extravaganza" with fishing nets draped across the stage while ballet dancers pranced about and a chorus sang "Shrimp Boats Are A-Coming..."! Magic!!
Brian took after his dad in having a flair for electronics, making two microphones out of boot polish tins and splitting a headphone set in two. We then strung wire between our two bedrooms and were able to have conversations while in bed!
Oh, I almost forgot! They also had a rough haired daschund (sausage dog!) called Rex which had terrible flatulence and had a habit of sitting on the step when put out into the back garden, putting it's backside against the door, and blasting out - the noise reverberating against the door! |
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Brian and Howard Walker
 | Brian and Howard on the step of 97 South Terrace
Brian worked all over the world after he became divorced and finally settled in Canada.
Howard worked at British Steel and ICI but after he was divorced he turned a boyhood passion for trains into a business and travels to hobby fairs around the country. |
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Howard Walker
 Howard photographed at Cromwell Road School
Howard on July 17th 1952 aged 5 years 11 months. In the December the family moved to Redcar. |
Mrs. Harrington and Kids
 | Photos from Peter Harrington
On the left, an out-of-focus snap of the Harrington kids in Lower Princess Street about mid-fifties.
On the right, a nice photo of Mrs. Audrey Harrington with sons Peter (standing) and Kevin? in her arms. Again, this is from the mid-fifties. Peter has this down as being in Lower Princess Street but the garden and door mantle say he is wrong. Over to you Peter. |
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The Harrington Gang
 | Photo from Peter Harrington
This photo was taken in Lower Princess Street in 1957. The middle boy is identified as M.Miller with Kevin Harrington next to the drainpipe. |
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Peter Harrington 1954/55
 | | Peter pictured in York Street Nursery |
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Marlene and Pam
 | | Marlene Tranter and Pam Gatenby aged 16 in Albert Park |
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Mrs.Marshall's Trips
 | August 1957 Trip to Seaburn. Photo from Mavis King (now Sands)
Mrs. Marshall had a corner shop in Surrey Street of the front room variety and ran regular trips to Roker, Seaburn, Whitley Bay and Scarborough. While Mavis can't remember all the names she said that the families of Masons, Marshalls, Browns, Cocker, Seckers and Burns were regulars. In this photo Mavis is 2nd from left in 2nd row.
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Coronation Day
 | Parties galore! This one in the Cross Street area.
Back row l-r: Jinny Barrass, Kathy Jinks, Agnes McLuskey, Margaret Earl, Betty Foley, Kathy Bullock.
3rd row: Doreen Carter, Sheila Rinn, Mrs.Hewitt, Pauline Gatenby.
2nd row: Gwen Barrass, Aggy Earl, Mrs.Gatenby, Mrs.Gardener.
Front row: Mrs.Mead, Mrs.Carter, Mrs.Earl, Mrs.Hewitt, Rosie Pepper.
Photo from Denyse McLeod (nee Bullock). |
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Emerald Street Back Arch
 | Angela Lewis in June 1958 aged three
Photo from Angela Craddy (nee Lewis) |
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The Thunderbolts of 1957
 | The Thunderbolts at Middlesbrough Empire, "Pick of the Towns"
I received an e-mail from John Richardson in Wollongong, the land of Oz:
"I was going through some old photo`s this evening to scan on my new " you beaut" scanner and I came across this. It was a publicity shot taken by the Middlesbrough Empire photographer in 1957. Those were the days of Lonnie Donegan and Skiffle Groups. Well we had ours and we did`nt do too badly. We played most of the Workmens clubs in South Bank. Our ages ranged between 14 and 16, we were under age of course to be on licenced premises but we never had any trouble at any club. We called ourselves "The Thunderbolts" (Real cringe material eh?) All of us with one exception were from South Bank.
We were: (from left to right) Charlie Warren, Ged Taylor, John Richardson, Eddie Tyerman, Frank Taylor (from the Boro)and Billy Harker. Charlie Warren was a brilliant pianist - he used to carry us when we performed on stage. I wonder what happened to him? He used to live in the Cargo Fleet houses next to the T.R.T.B. sheds (Forrest Place). His father, who was our manager, was involved with the Cargo Fleet band and he was also a Dab hand with the violin.
Ged was a handy bloke to have on your side if any body wanted to cut up rough - he could certainly handle himself. Eddie and me were best friends from an early age up to my twenties but I lost touch with him when we came to Oz. However I am pleased to say I have made contact again just the other week on the " Friends Reunited" site.
I don`t know much about Frank. Ged, Eddie and Frank were cousins and he was a quiet easy going bloke. I was the singer and washboard player ( I told you it was cringe material) and Billy was the Bass Player. Eddie and me knocked it up one Saturday in the Chook shed at his dads allotment. Billy was also an easy going bloke. All I know about him is he was an apprentice at Smith`s Dock.
So, with the exception of Eddie, I haven't had any contact with the others since we "trod the boards" in 1957. J.R."
"I knew Billy Harker when he worked at Smith's Docks in the Stores before he started his apprenticeship as an electrician. Some time after he finished his time he left to work somewhere else and later became a salesman for a battery company (I think Ever-Ready) and he was quite successful.
I lost touch until my eldest daughter, living at Norton with her second husband, threw a party and Bill was a guest with his wife. It turned out he was a friend of my daughter's husband from the Ormesby Rifle Club where they were both keen competitors.
Every year Ormesby Club hosted a competition at The Sun Inn (of Herriot fame) and Bill ran a refreshment caravan. I went one year, had a walk around the course (a variety of targets) and retired to the pub.
About seven years ago, during the shoot, Bill was taken ill and helped across the field but collapsed at the gate into the farmyard and died of a heart attack. I still have difficulty believing it.
At Smith's Docks we nicknamed him Twinkle as he was little, cheeky, and never still, always getting into mischief. Everyone liked him. A really nice lad. Dick."
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Margaret and Lillian
 | Margaret Richardson with her friend Lillian ? in 1958
Photo from John Richardson
In August 1958 Margaret Richardson from Surrey Street had a break in Scarborough with her friend Lillian ?. John thinks it was when they were both trainee nurses at Normanby(?) Hospital.
Both John and his sister Margaret now live in Australia. |
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"JFK"
 | Semi-final of the North Riding Senior Cup Whitby v Boro Reserves, April 9th 1955.
Photo from Paul Kelly
Paul's father, John Francis Kelly (JFK) seen centre playing for Whitby at The Turnbull Ground against Boro reserves.
Cloughie's partner Alan Peacock is left of picture with Harry Bell to Peacock's left and the player to the right of the picture was McPherson, a record signing for the Boro at that time. |
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Three Lads Loose In Butlins
 | Jimmy Graham at the wheel with Derek Tye and Peter Marsden in the rear seat
Photo from Jimmy Graham
Derek Tye reckons the holiday was about 1954. |
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A Bunch Of Lads At Butlin's
 | Jimmy Graham, Peter Marsden and Derek Tye in a Butlin's flowerbed
Photo from Jimmy Graham |
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The Gabadine Macs
 | Peter Marsden and Jimmy Graham, macs draped over their arms
Photo from Jimmy Graham
There was a time when a bloke never went out without his Gaberdine mac. Raining, you wore it. Dry, you draped it over your arm as you can see from this pic. |
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32. More from the Walkers'
 | A car outing to Commondale
Photo from Brian Walker, Ontario, Canada
l-r: Brian Walker, his mother, Howard, Grandmother Mrs. Booth. |
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33. More from the Walkers' 2
 | A car outing to Commondale
Photo from Brian Walker, Ontario, Canada
l-r: Bert Walker with his son Howard and Mother-in-law Mrs. Booth. |
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34. Bert Walker
 | Bert Walker - a very clever man
Photo from Brian Walker, Ontario, Canada
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35. Albert Cunningham
 | Terry Larkin's Uncle Albert was one of a family of 22 kids!
Photo from Terry Larkin
Albert Cunningham was very proud to have served with the Coldstream Guards. |
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36. Bill McAllister
 | Bill is sitting on the slagheap behind Clay Lane
Photo from Terry Larkin |
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37. Matty Jeffers
 | Eston Urban District Councillor Matty Jeffers
Photo from Terry Larkin |
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38. Johnny Brennan
 | Cargo Fleet Roller Johnny Brennan went to India
Photo from Terry Larkin
Born in Doggie, Johnny Brennan lived in South Bank and worked at Cargo Fleet as a Roller. He went to India for the firm and worked there a number of years. |
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39. John Brennan
 | Johnny Brennan in later years
Photo from Terry Larkin |
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40. Eddie Wicks
 | Kenny Wicks' big brother Eddie in 1951
Photo from Terry Larkin |
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41. Scarborough Trip
 | Dan and Peg Kelly with Ena Mags (Normanby Road) in Scarborough in 1958
Photo from Terry Larkin
(For other trips see "Blackpool" page) |
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42. South Bank Band
 | Marching past the Empire about 1956
Photo from Alma Dales
If anyone can name any of the bandsmen I'll be happy to add them here.
I particularly like this photo because its the only one on the site with the Empire in it. Thanks Alma.
If anyone out there has photo's of any of the South Bank cinemas (even in the background) please contact me.
George Johnson (ex Cleveland Street, Low Lackenby and Connaught Street) wrote in from his home in Australia to match some names to faces:
"The 2nd Bandsman from the right playing the baritone, I am pretty sure is my Father George Johnson Snr; next to him 3rd right is Harold Caswell playing Eb Bass, he's from Grangetown; the trombone player is Tommy Barrowclough (Tall Guy) the other trombone player is me George Johnson Jnr."
Thanks George.
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43. Durham Miners Gala
 | Cargo Fleet Brass Band at Durham Miners Gala in the 50's
Photo from John Chard
Pictured in the fifties at Durham Miners Gala Jean Chard is surrounded by South Bank members of the Cargo Fleet Brass Band Boy's Section.
On Jean's left is George Millard with William (Mac) McNamarra on her right while Alec Hart leans on the fence.
Sadly Mac died earlier this year (2004).
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44. West Terrace Race
 | Street race in West Terrace in 1953
Photo and email from Maureen Coxon nee Chapman
"Hello Dick, I have enclosed a photo Taken in 1953 for the Coronation Party.This was taken in West Tce South Bank. I have named it the West Tce Relay Team.Left to right: Vera Waugh, Doreen Alder, Theresa Chapman (nee Carroll) and Dolly Williams. Theresa won the race and was awarded 1st prize, a powder compact, I am not sure who was 2nd, but if my memory serves me right the 2nd prize was 5 woodbines. Great days, when life was simple and people had time for each other. I nearly forgot,Theresa was my mother. Regards Maureen."
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45. The Carroll Family Photo
 | The Carrolls photo taken in West Terrace back alley in 1952
Photo and email from Maureen Coxon nee Chapman
"Hi Dick, names are l-r: Mary Devaney (nee Carroll), Theresa Chapman (nee Carroll), Kathleen Devaney, Maureen Chapman, Ann Chapman, baby Alan Chapman and Pat Devaney." |
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46. George Johnson
 | An out-of-focus George in 1951
Photo from George Johnson
Now living in Australia, George has fond memories of working in the "top shops" at Cleveland works alongside Trevor Thompson and walking to the Town Hall dances in Middlesbrough nearly every week with mates Eamon McNulty, Jack Feeny, Bob Sadler and Brian Ferris.
The rest of George's story is on the 1940's page under Low Lackenby. |
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47. Lads day out
 | Jimmy, Stan, Matty and Flash in Scarborough
Photo from Phil Lane
l-r: Jimmy Clark, Stan Meadley, Matty Stainthorpe and John "Flash" Flynn. |
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48. Georgie Pugh
 | George is pictured on the right with Bobbie Hodgson
George and Bob worked at Smith's Dock but are pictured here at Whitby(?) |
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49. George Pugh + 2
 | George is pictured centre at Whitby
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50. George with Mates
 | George in park
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51. On the rocks
 | George
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52. Mr and Mrs Pugh
 | George married in 1959
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53. The Hendersons
 | A photo from Kevan O'Hare (see no 51 1960's)
From an email from Kevan O'Hare...
"One more picture attached which may be of interest to some people? Taken in Costa St in
the fifties. My mother's side of the family which was the Hendersons who lived at no 2 Costa St for years. Included are... My mother Marjorie, Nana Henderson (Tilley), Uncle Ally (Harold) living in Redcar, Uncle Billy (Emigrated to Canada in the sixties and was sadly killed in an accident shortly after. I still keep in touch with both of our cousins there.)
Anyway Dick once again thanks for your time and effort with the site.
Regards, Kevan O'Hare"
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54. Fifty Years Ago
 | | Marlene Tranter married Brian Dales in September 1956 |
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55. Low Grange Horse
 | A horse on Dales' Low Grange Farm
I received an email from Keith and Margaret Dales who lived on Low Grange Farm off the Trunk Road for many years. They sent this photograph of a horse simply for the background where you can pick out The Empire (Margaret thought it was The Majestic), St. John's Church and three Slag Tips.
You can also see some of the South Bank Estate, still in the process of being built which puts the time scale in the early 1950's. |
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56. Low Grange Farm
 | To fit in with the previous story of the horse
Low Farm Drive pictured today 16 March 2007.
This farm(land) will no doubt be featured in the future as the council is hell-bent on building here and thereby relocating South Bank.
They are wrong in what they are doing but they are blind to everything except money and profit. I hope their accounts are transparant. |
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57. Relocation
 | Low Farm House
The old farm house is still a good solid house, albeit in need of a little TLC, however I'll bet that when they build on this land they will demolish the house and outbuildings in search of more profit! |
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58. Robby and Mates
 | Lads night out in the 1950s
Photo from Robby Iseton
Robby, Norman Petford and Tony Shannon |
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59. Allan Hughes
 | Allan Hughes (brother of Faley) in September 1956
Photo from Sheri Freidman (nee Whitehead)
Allan is pictured with the Northern League Challenge Cup which was won by South Bank FC in 1955-56.
Chairman of South Bank at that time was Felix Hughes senior who was either Allan's Grandfather or father and Allan took the opportunity to pose with the prestigious trophy! |
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