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Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
 | 42 Aire Street on the left
Episode two of the new series of Auf Wiedersehen was on the telly on Sunday (5th May 2002) set in Middlesbrough. The tale is about the Geordies being contracted to take down the Transporter Bridge (as if!) and using illegal immigrants from Kosavo and Serbia to do the work. The work force were taken in a bus to their "digs" in a derelict house, supposedly in the Boro but actually in Aire Street, South Bank!
Jack Sowerby phoned me, having also picked up on it and thought it was number 54 where I had lived in 1958 but I knew it wasn't. Tuesday (7th) I went down there to check it out and realised that it was actually number 42 where Jack had lived!
Incidentally, while we're on about coincidences, Keith Craddy told me he had also lived in my old abode at number 54 in 1980. I wonder? Any more for any more?! |
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Art
 | Real Art
I took this photo last year and I know I've got it on the 21st Century page but bear with me. I don't know who painted these two derelict houses in Harcourt Road but whoever did is a real artist when you think of the rubbish they put on in the Tate. I show it again because they are now pulling it down. (See next pic). |
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Art-less
 | Lost Art
I took this photo on the 7th of May 2002 as the demolition men start flattening this and then round the corner into Aire Street and Hawthorn Terrace. I wonder what they're going to do with Costa Street? |
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Burglars!
In the days when everyone knew everyone else, even the criminal fraternity weren't averse to doing someone a good turn when the chance arose.
One South Banker, who will remain anonymous but whom we'll call "Horace" for this story, went into Bakers Gents Outfitters on Lorne Terrace and ordered a suit. They measured him up and said it would be ready for him in a fortnight.
Before the fortnight was up a couple of burglars broke in and set about gathering whatever it was they were stealing. In the course of their business transactions one of them recognised a name pinned on a suit so they rolled it up and took it with them.
When Horace opened his door in the morning he found his suit on the step in a bag and quickly whisked his unexpected present inside.
The next day Horace went in to the shop and the manager apologised to him, explaining that they had been burgled and his suit had been stolen.
"Oh" said Horace. "Well in that case I don't think I'll bother. I'll just have my deposit back"! |
Dust To Dust
 | 54 Aire Street bites the dust 14/6/2002
We bought number 54 for £800 in 1958 and two of our daughters were born there. One day, when Marion was tending our first daughter in her pram outside the house, an old man passing remarked that he could remember fields being there when he was young. I wonder if, in years to come, an old man might say that he remembered houses being there years ago!
It was a suitably depressingly gloomy day when I returned for a last picture!
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Going Next... Pet!
 | Jack takes a last look 14/6/2002
Jack Sowerby went with me to Aire Street and took a last photo of his old house where the Auf Wiedersehen series dallied briefly (and just in time!).
We both agreed that we felt strange seeing the demolition of the houses where we had experienced part of our lives. |
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A Final Look
 | A final look down Aire Street 14/6/2002
I'm saying "a final look" but you never know. In a few years I may go back to see trees and shrubs in blossom - but there again it might be a rubbish tip! We'll have to see how the council performs but if past councils are anything to go by.... |
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Humour Undiminished!
 South Bank humour is unchanged
At the end of Aire Street near the crossing is a surveillance camera on a tall mast. Someone has added a cryptic caption on the base: "Spy in the Sky"! |
PS - The Flying Spud
I got an e-mail from Peter Evans in Australia with lots of names that I hadn't got around to including on this site and now Peter's done the job for me. Cheers Peter!
I was informed about this site by Norma Williams who lives at Normanby and is a very good friend of my wife Sylvia (A Grangetown girl). Norma was married to Les Williams of Cromwell Road, South Bank but unfortunately Les died a few years ago.
I was born in 76 Cromwell Road in 1935 and my brother Harry lives now in Appleton Wiske near Northallerton. I came to Australia in 1969,and now have retired and live in Tewantin on the sunshine coast, an hour and a half's drive north of Brisbane, Queensland.
I remember you fairly well and, perhaps you can confirm this, but I recall when you were about 12/13 you had a pet fox, which you used to take around on a lead, or am I imagining this? Not exactly Peter. I was married and lived in Aire Street when I had the fox which I called Guy (Guy Fox?!) About 1960. Dick.
Anyway when I was a kid at school, me and Harry knocked around with Blackie and Colin Gibson, their cousin Alan Dawson, Johnny Harper of Ann St., Alistair Walters (Scarborough St.), and Ossie Edwards (Oliver St). Living in Cromwell Road were also John and Owen Doyle, Alby Atkinson(who died suddenly when he was about 37) and Audrey Binns who lives in Wollongong, N.S.Wales, Australia.
You mentioned Jimmy McCullouch - I knocked around with Jimmy when I left school and we worked together at Cargo Fleet offices, together with Frank Hifield and Dave Dodds of Queen St. Jim died of cancer when he was 21. I also knew Tex
Roden of Pym St, I think he was in the South Bank boys scouts at the same time as me with a few others - Brian and Eric Silk, Jimmy Briggs, Eddie Phelps (who also died very young).
Anyway congratulations with the site, it brings back a lot of nice memories. Incidently I lived in Ings Road, Redcar from 1960 until we emigrated
to Australia.
I knew Dan Pluck's brother John pretty well, who also worked at Cargo Fleet, John is my age. I have not read all the information on your site, but will be going through it all, it is a great idea, and reminds me of Terry Gilders "Remember When" which I get sent out from the U.K. from Sylvia's eldest sister.
Anyway Best Regards,
Peter Evans.
PS.Ask Blackie Gibson if he remembers a night him, Colin and, I think, Alan Dawson came to our house when Mam and Dad were out and we put some spuds in the hot ashes to roast. We took them out to eat and one was bad so, I think it was Blackie, went into the backyard and came back in to tell us he had thrown the spud away and it went straight through the back bedroom window of a house in Pym Street. There was no one in the bedroom at the time but the next day Mam told us about this lady finding her bedroom window broken with a roast spud on the floor!
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Warrenby - Another Victim
 | A Warrenby Postcard from the collection of Tony Marriott of Redcar
One of the places to explore on our bikes as kids was Warrenby or, to be truthful, to pass through en route to the Breakwater, maybe calling at the shop for a bottle of pop. In our young adulthood we discovered the Club, a friendly place with the familiar "turns" on as in all the clubs in the area.
While South Bank might have been mortally wounded by Council Planning Warrenby was killed stone dead - but not forgotten. The wife of an ex resident, Sheila Barker, has made sure of that by joining the ranks of the Web Masters and her site can be accessed by clicking on: |
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Cardboard City
 | The Lyric, Grangetown.
A friend of mine said I should expand the site to include Grangetown but I said it should be done by a Grangetown-ite. Then I got an e-mail from Johnny O'Neill which I'll put on here:
Dear Dick,
Just to let you know that I think the site is quite brilliant and very interesting. I've been thinking on similar lines with the accent on the older history of Grangetown St Marys and even made a slideshow CD of the old pics......but a Grangetown site may have already been done or in the process of being created...Is there a website on Cardboard City ?
I also have some old snaps of South Bank which would probably look better on your site...if you have the space ?..but only an internal photocopy snap of York St School.....classroom with about 80 children c 1900......If you are interested.. and one of a loco c 1910..+ a group of blastfurnacemen outside the Victoria...and the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1914....a couple of old school snaps c 1910..one of Princess St...the other ??Class 1 in 1900 ....+ old postcards of Nelson St and St Peters without the Clock c 1900what size would you prefer...kb ?
How in fact did you create the site..was it fairly easy ..and how long has it been on the web ? Did you use a special program?..You certainly have made it comprehensive...with a lot of interesting pages and links. Do you think there's a possibility of one like yours with this is the North East Communigate Banner ?? or is that exclusively yours ??
Although I have actually lived in Normanby Road South Bank now for over 30 years ...my formative years were in Grangetown..where my mates and I were often puzzled by the abusive term cardboard city hurled upon us by Slaggy-islanders......I suppose it made South Bank residents feel stronger knowing that this was somehow connected to steel-making and their timid neighbours in cardboard prefabs were obviously weaker...but as I entered Dorman & Long's Steelworks in the fifties and my horizons broadened...I began to mix with these strange slaggy islanders - like : Norman Petford (St Peters photo), Terry O Connor, Bobby Adams (Cargo Fleet)Mick McCoy (who all lived and played in the puddling or puddy as I remember it...) and became partially reconciled to their aggressive natures..especially as I was desperate to see films in the Empire or Hippodrome or Majestic...South Bank appeared a haven for the film buff in those halcyon days......Grangetown was reduced to one cinema only as you know...the LYRIC.
By the way...you are not related to Neil Fawcett the computer buff are you? He was a friend of my son Simon a few years ago.
All the best,
John O'Neill
I replied to John and, as they say, the rest is history! To see John's site click below on Cardboard City.
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Shinwell Prefabs
 | Shinwell Crescent from Ann (Congerton) Binns
Ann Binns (nee Congerton) from Little Munro Bay, Whangarei, New Zealand sent this photo taken about 1963. On it is her mother Rita Congerton, good friend Winnie Mescus and Ann's daughter Angela. (See also: Slaggy Tales/Prefabs & Monkeys,
and Ex-Pats Gallery) |
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Brian Briggs' Photo Album
 | Eston Urban District Council Members
Recently I met Brian Briggs (ex South Terrace) at a reunion at Parklands - which used to be Smith's Docks Club. (See Slaggy Islanders Now!)
Brian used to be the landlord of the King William IV at Skelton but then he followed in his father's footsteps and became active in local politics. At the present time he is the Parish Chairman of Skelton and Brotton and hopes to go on to the Borough Council.
He said he would send me some photographs of his father when he was Chairman of the Council and I reproduce them here.
While, like Brian, I've always been a Labour supporter I've always believed that Councils need a rein and a vocal check - which they tend to ignore, anyway. My viewpoint unfazed Brian who said that's what democracy is all about!
Here's his pics!
This first one was taken in July 1958 at Wilton Castle and appears to be the Eston UD Council, although the only face Brian recognises is Jack Gavin, extreme right, midway up. |
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Briggs Photo 2.
 | Official Gathering. No Date.
Mrs.Margaret Briggs 5th from left, Councillor Briggs centre back. |
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Briggs Photo 3.
 | "Chair of Office"
"Looks like 1959. Mam and Dad got the chair of office. It could be Mrs. Mole in the middle shaking Dad's hand and the other two are Mr and Mrs M.Baker, Clerk to the Council. BB." |
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Briggs Photo 4.
 | | 1959-60 Mrs Briggs talking to Mr Baker |
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Briggs Photo 5.
 | Another 1959-60 engagement
In this pic Brian is caught in the background behind his mother.
If you have any comments to add to these photographs please write in. |
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Briggs Photo 6.
 | A cutting for good measure!
Brian Briggs married his sweetheart Margaret in 1960 while he was doing his National Service in the RASC. |
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Whit Sunday Trip 1949
 | Photo from Marian Kirsop (nee Cox)
Marian (Cox) Kirsop writes:
This is a photograph taken on Whit Sunday 1949 at Ruswarp near Whitby. It was a bus trip organised by Mrs.Stirzaker who lived next door to us in Lower Napier Street and we used Buxton's buses. Any time they had more bodies than seats they put a few stools in the gangway!
People standing in photo (l-r): ?, Mrs.Stirzaker, Maude Brown, ?, Mary Blakeman, Mrs.Hall, Winnie Alwright, ?, ?, my mother Winniw Cox, and then my grandmother Mary Ann Llewellyn.
Kneeling (l-r): ?, Winnie Hollands, Norah Benton.
Sitting: John Hall, ?, Winnie Blackett, ?, and me sitting on the end.
Winnie Alwright had a fish shop on Middlesbrough Road near West Terrace. John Hall lived in South Terrace and I think he was with his gran. Mary Blakeman used to work in Thubrons shop in Lower Napier Street. |
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Looks Familiar?
 | A different view of a landmark
In a different universe South Bank might have developed like this! Just a bit of fun. |
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A Coronation Party
 | 1953 Street Party. Photo from Alex Jinks.
I had sent out an attachment to the ex Slaggy Islanders I had in my address book publicising the forthcoming reunion at the Normanby on October the 8th. Some of the recipients were Ex-Pats and it was just to alert them to the fact the event was to take place in case they wished to send a message.
I received a reply from Alex Jinks in Australia which showed that one of the good things about this site is the fact that people regain contact with old friends through the Guestbook. He sent me the above photo which he'd obviously sent to Albert Mead and here is the two-way correspondence.
"Good Morning Dick,
Thanks for the invite but I can't see me getting to Normanby in time for the re union!
However would you consider the attached photo for your Slaggy island web site.
Included in the photo are some of the many "Earls", "the Mead Mob" and a "Jinks" (not me) along with other that are mentioned in the following text.
Below is an email I received from Albert Mead
Good Evening Alex,
Yes, I recognise the photograph, I know I've seen it before. Ours (the Mead family's photo) will no doubt be hidden in some corner of some drawer in one of my brothers or sisters homes - I think.
I recognise one or two people.
Top left: The lady holding the 2 x children - her name is Mrs. Foley, (she is still living. I have seen her a couple of times recently) but I don't know who she is holding.
The little face peeping out from behind her is one of my brothers, Alan - he will be 55 now.
I am the boy with the head of hair next to him.
Next but one, the boy wearing the tie, is John Earl.
The little girl with the bandage on her leg is one of my sisters - Barbara.
The blonde haired boy stood in front of her, is he one of your family?
The fourth face to the right (the girl showing her teeth) is Margaret Earl.
The third girl to the right, just to the left in the photo of Margaret is her sister, Jean Earl.
We see Jean quite occasionally through church meetings. I must remember to tell her about you.
I don't seem to remember any body else's name though.
Thank you for letting me see a picture of my 'youth'.
Kind regards,
Albert
Many Thanks, Dick,
From Alex - Downunder"
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Odds and Ends
Hi-ho Silver!
Did you hear about the South Banker whose brother-in-law was a plumber? His central heating was on the blink (a modern tale) so he mentioned it to his sister thinking to get a cheap job done. Waste of time. She merely warned him that there were a lot of cowboys about.
"Yeah!" he said. "And you married the bloody Sheriff!"
Count er... Feit?
Tommy Holvanhill told me a tale off years ago concerning a character he called The Count and naming him as Tommy Richardson. However, I had heard of The Count who lived in Grangetown and was a McElvaney. (See Cardboard City website).
So... an imposter or mistaken identity? Whatever, the event Tommy related took place down at Eston Jetty where Tommy Richardson found a scaffold baton. He leaned the plank against the top rail of the barrier erected to prevent people falling into the river and went back to where Percy Spoor had leaned his bike. Mounting it, he pedalled furiously on to the jetty and straight up the plank to go sailing straight over the railings and into the murky waters of the river down below!
Coming back to the surface he swam back to the jetty and hauled himself out. Then, taking a rope with him, he dived back in the river and retrieved Percy's bike!
Is there anyone out there who can confirm Tommy Holvanhill's story?
Bullets
Tommy Holvanhill also recalled being taken along Napier Street when he was very small to see the bullet holes left in the wall of Finkie's Pawn Shop by a German plane. I'd never heard of this and was dubious. However Jack Sowerby said he wouldn't be surprised and he was sure that a great many bullets had been sprayed around the town by one side or the other during air raids. He then told me that in the fifties they had had to get a man in to replace a couple of tiles on their roof in Jackson Street and he had discovered a bullet there!
The 1948 Olympics - South Bank
Derek Tye and Dan Pluck recalled being excited with news of the 1948 Olympics which inspired them to hold their own Athletics meetings "round Dick's back"! This being round the back of Dick Walkington's Aire Street house, there being a bare patch of waste ground between Dick's and Wards scrap yard.
They organised themselves with Michael Pluck and John Addison, held races, high jump, pole vault (with a stick) and "standing broad jump".
Their enthusiasm lasted some weeks and they carried on the competitions and kept records of each event!
It could well have been this that inspired Dan to later join the Middlesbrough and Cleveland Harriers before going in for weight lifting. |
Lena Groves in 1958
 Photo from Billy Groves via his son-in-law Jim Wentworth
Billy has sent us three photos of his Grandmother, Lena Groves. Lena lived in 7 Branch Street and her husband George used to be a hairdresser. (Is that the same as a barber? I ask because there's a bit about South Bank barbers on The Characters page. Dick)
Here Lena is pictured age 63. |
Lena Groves - 100 Not Out!
 | An Evening Gazette cutting from Billy Groves
This article was published in the Evening Gazette in January 1994 to celebrate the 100th birthday of Billy Groves' Gran Lena. Sadly she passed away in January 1997 shortly before her 103rd birthday but she had enjoyed a good innings.
"Remembrance of things possed
Centenarian Lena Groves was born way back in 1895 when Queen Victoria was on the throne.
She remembers penny farthing bicycles on the bumpy roads of South Bank and clearly recalls the relief of Mafeking in the Boer War.
The remarkable 100-year-old, formerly of Branch Street, South Bank, lived alone until she was 99.
She believes she was one of the last housewives in the country to use a poss tub - a wooden hand-operated forerunner of the washing machine.
"Rum in your tea"
Lena, who now lives at Eston's Pines Nursing Home, and was married to the late George Groves, a well-known South Bank barber, said: "A secret of long life is keeping active and a drop of rum in your tea!"
She has one son, five grandchildren, ten great- grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.
And she was proud to receive a tele-message from the Queen."
Reading the article, I wonder if the reporter actually knew what a poss-tub was?!
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Lena Groves and Friends
 | Photo from Billy Groves via Jim Wentworth
Billy sent this pic but didn't know what year it was taken and he can only identify three people on it.
Back l-r: Lena Groves, Harry ?
Middle:
Front: ?, Annie Feeney (Haley) |
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Three Ages of Marlene Tranter
 | Left: Child. Centre: Young Teen. Right: Young Woman.
Here we see three ages of Marlene Tranter (now Dales). The left pic is from Princess Street School; in the second Marlene is showing off her dance costume in Pearl Street; the third is of Marlene blossoming into womanhood.
Marlene has now made a name for herself as the organiser of the Reunions. These started off as being just for the Central Girls, later including the Boys! Now there is hope of encompassing all who remember South Bank as Slaggy Island. |
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Jean Morris
 | Penny Reed's Mam, Jean Morris
I received this photo and e-mail from Penny Reed:
"This is my mother Jean Morris who was born and bred in Slaggy Island....does anyone remember her or have any older pictures than this that we can have a look at? I would be grateful if someone had an old one they could dig out and put onto your site.
A few details about my mam...she was born in 1933 in South Bank, lived in Cleveland Street as a kid and she went to Cromwell Road School then on to Victoria Street.
She was one of 6 kids, Margaret, Tommy (Tucker), Jean (my mam), George, John and Paul. Her mam and dad were Phoebe and Arthur (Arty) and we found this site by accident!
Mam remembers playing on the puddy as a kid and having sneaky looks in the dead house which was beside the blacksmiths which gave her many a nighmare! She has lots of memories of her childhood which we will be glad to share.
Penny"
Keep them coming, Penny.
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The Cemetery Walls
Last year there was a report out on the state of the cemetery walls and how it was going to cost a fortune to repair, which sent Eddie Healy into reminiscence mode because as an apprentice bricklayer he had worked with his craftsman teacher on the same job nearly fifty years ago.
Eddie told me how he had been taken on as an apprentice bricklayer for the council and reported to Cleveland House on his first day with another new starter who was to work in the offices – Paul Daniels. Eddie was sent to the Teesville depot to learn his trade under the care of a man he called “Old Tom” and it was with him that he honed his skills by rebuilding the cemetery walls. He talked of Old Tom with a lot of affection and sent me a poem that he had written to his memory.
Old Tom
I can remember a day a long time ago
When we sat in your cottage the fire all aglow.
Me just a boy and you an old man –
Sometimes I made tea in that battered old can.
I studied those pictures across chimney breast
Your sons – Soldiers and Sailors all put to the test.
They never came home – they all died for a cause
On land and on sea in the Second World War.
Like the man in the painting with the boys at his feet
You pointed like him at the incoming fleet
But too late for your wife who’d suffered the most.
As I sat there so quiet just eating my toast
In that old miners cottage at the foot of the hills
I listened to Tom recall his Ironstone skills.
“Down pit as a boy – yet worked as a man
As hard and as tough as anyone can.
Pushed trucks full of ore up to the pithead
A boy grown to manhood then you were dead.”
He sucked on his pipe which he had started to fill.
Now all of them gone except him and Bill.
He’d heard the prop crack as he laid at the face
With stone on his back thick dust in his space.
As he coughed and he choked and climbed out of the mine
They dragged him to safety but damaged his spine.
He never went back to that hole in the Hills
Now old Eston mine with water has filled.
Tom in his moleskins always tied at the knee
His strong crooked hands all the scars you could see.
Me just a boy and you an old man
We worked as a team with that battered old can.
From Eston to Teesville we’d push the handcart
Another repair for Eston Council we’d start.
We’d meet Eddie Igo in the hut in Lime Road
Then down through the Larches the cart bearing a load
The next stop is St. Helens in the Cemetery old
It’s stonework needs pointing or so I was told.
I climbed up the ladder to the top of the church
And I carved our initials in the lead from my perch.
The year ’55 – I’ll never forget it at all
For three arduous months repairing stone wall.
With Eddie and Tom checking old Council Plan
And me making tea in an old battered can.
I remember those days – those times long ago
As I sit in my chair with the fire all aglow.
The lesson I learnt from those two wonderful men
Was ‘Never give up – you can start out again’.
Like Job in the Bible when God left his side
The Lord’s always there like an incoming tide.
E A Healy
15/5/99
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Glamour Puss
 | Jacueline Smith by a Daily Mail photographer.
Ex Bevanlee Road, World Champion Skydiver and beautiful to boot, no wonder the News photographers did their utmost to get Jackie in their sights.
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Cross Street 1
 Kathy Bullock in Cross Street back alley with "Peggy".
In the background is Emerald Street with a corner of the old Labour Exchange just in view on the right. Over the years Kathy had a few dogs and called them all "Peggy"!
Photo from Denyse McLeod (nee Bullock). |
Cross Street 2
 George McVey in Cross Street back alley with "Peggy".
In the background on the left can be seen the back of the air raid shelter built on the waste ground at the corner of Connaught and Nelson Streets. Beyond that the shop on the opposite corner belonging to Thompson's (later Lakes; later still Curry's). George McVey was a Geordie from South Shields who lodged at the Bullock's and was known as "Uncle George". He worked at Smith's Docks for forty years.
Photo from Denyse McLeod (nee Bullock).
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Fresh(ish) Air
 | Kathy Bullock escaped to the fresh air of the Rec with her dog "Peggy".
Raised in the polluted atmosphere of South Bank, residents liked to savour the comparative fresh air up Skipper's Lane; the Recreation Ground on the Trunk Road; or, best of all, "up the hills".
Photo from Denyse McLeod (nee Bullock). |
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Early Lessons
 | Left: Ron Bullock with daughter Denyse. Right: Denyse and friend Valerie Wade in the Rec's luxury pool!
The San Tropez of it's day!! We didn't know any better.
Photo's by Denyse McLeod (nee Bullock). |
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Skipper's Lane
 Denyse Bullock discovers the First Field, Skipper's Lane
Maybe the air wasn't as fresh as the Rec but it was better than the back alley.
Photo from Denyse McLeod (nee Bullock). |
Kathy's Favourite
 Kathy always liked the Rec best -so did "Peggy".
Kathy always preferred to walk her dog Peggy in the Rec. Here they are pictured with a young friend.
Photo from Denyse McLeod (nee Bullock). |
Jackie Smith and the Gorilla
 | [Have you ever seen a gorilla - flying?
From Jackie Smith: "After I left the Army I joined a bunch of blokes who were as serious as I was about competition and they were really fun to be around. I joined forces with them and we entered every competition in the country and overseas and hey, presto, they (we) were good! We were called 'Symbiosis' (we had a symbiotic relationship whereby we all 'fed' off each other's talent). I am not getting all deep and meaningful on you now! Anyway, to cut a long story short, after winning the National Championships (this time in formation skydiving when you do formations in the sky) which we won (therefore made the British Team again), we were nominated for the Prince of Wales Cup after winning a Silver Medal at the World Championships which took place in Chateauroux in France in 1979. So, on top of my Gold Medal in the individual event the previous year, I also gained this Silver Medal in the Team event. (I also won another silver medal at the World Cup, again in Accuracy when you have to land on the small beer mat of a target over 10 jumps. This was in Graz in Austria in 1983 and I hadn't even trained before entering the National Championships to be selected for the British Team). I have digressed, haven't I?
When I was on the Red Devils one of the chaps used to don the Gorilla suit and jump into shows wearing it. Then, on the Red Devil press releases sent out to prospective show organisers, we advertised 'Beauty and the Beast'. The lads used to say that the Gorilla was the beauty and guess who was the Beast! They loved me really! Anyway, when a show organiser phoned to confirm he wanted the team (Red Devils) to jump into his Donkey Derby/Fete/Carnival or whatever he had the choice of either myself or the Gorilla because we used to confirm about 10 demonstrations per day, sometimes more in the summer. The Red Devils comprised of 30 men (sorry, 29 men and myself) therefore we had three teams from within the Red Devils and we all took on a different part of the country on that day. The Gorilla adopted the name of 'Red Fred'. The stakes were high and because I was a girl on an all male team most organisers wanted 'me' to be featured.
Sometimes we would do 6 or even 7 shows a day. We would fly from wherever our aircraft was based (usually Farnborough) and jump into a show, say, at the Manchester Flower Show. We would land our parachutes in the arena, do a nice military style line up in front of the crowd, salute, meet all the dignitaries, hand over the football or whatever and then run to where our parachutes were laying. We had really tight deadlines to keep and therefore had to pack our parachutes as fast as we could and get back into the ground crew's vehicle (grabbing a drink and maybe a hotdog on way to the vehicle) and then drive to the closest airfield where our aircraft had landed awaiting us to board again for the next show.
You can imagine how knackered we all were at the end of the day and then sometimes we had to drive all the way back to Aldershot for our next flight to somewhere far away. We didn't smell very nice on the journey back to Aldershot I can say! But we were all in the same boat! (I'm getting carried away now. I should write a book!)
I will tell you one funny story about 'Beauty and the Beast'. We had been booked to jump into the Beauford Hotel in Bath which had just been built and they wanted both of us to appear on this show. Jim Petherbridge was the man in the Gorilla Suit for this show and he had the key to the hotel, firmly in his inside pocket, ready to open the door when we landed in front of it. We exited the aircraft together and I deployed my parachute only to watch Jim fall, and fall, and fall, further and further away. He was a small black 'dot' below me and I really thought he had major problems and was going to hit the ground. I couldn't take my eyes off him and then what a relief to see his parachute open (which by this time was close to the ground).
Anyway, Jim had had some serious technical problems in that he couldn't see his ripcord because of the hairy suit but he eventually (thankfully) deployed his parachute. Because of his low opening altitude, he wasn't able to land in the 'arena' where the rest of us landed. He landed about half a mile away, in a Vicar's tea party of all things! You can imagine all these people, sitting elegantly, sipping tea out of their bone china cups, little fingers pointing skywards, talking all la-di-dah, when there is a big 'THDUMP' and this big hairy gorilla lands in front of them. They must have thought a gorilla had escaped from Bristol Zoo or something. It was so funny! I can imagine their startled faces, not knowing what was going on! Anyway, Jim took off his Gorilla full-face helmet and revealed a 'human being' underneath, much to the relief of the party-goers.
One of them kindly gave Jim a lift (on the back of his motorbike) and still dressed in his gorilla suit, through the streets of Bath, parachute firmly under his arm, to the Beauford Hotel where the rest of us were waiting for him. Jim had the key to the Hotel after all and the opening ceremony couldn't really take place without it! Jackie." |
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A Slaggy Island Near Miss
I got an e-mail from a George Spenceley from Brambles Farm who has his own Communigate website covering places in and around our "Island" which I enjoyed. I include his mail here and add a link to his site.
"I have been writing memories and stories from my childhood in the 1930,s it
includes my life living in Brambles Farm as a child, School days, and on to my working days that could have interest to the South Bank, Grangetown folk.
Also to those who in the past worked for ICI Wilton. I worked there as a HGV driver for around nine years.
Putting it altogether, although it is more or less personal memories and stories, I feel many folk in the area can relate many of my memories
and stories.
All I ask is take a little look and if you find it of interest link it to your page along with the other sites."
George Spenceley.
Glad to George.
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Make Way For Progress?
 | Reggie Boyle's bank bites the dust.
Photograph from Denis Bell of Redcar.
The demise of Lorne Terrace in preparation for the building of the A66 took place in 1981. I think Reggie had quite liked the idea of having his own bank but he had to move. Now he has part of the old Co-op Building but I bet he wishes the old vacuum tube change system was still in place!
I wonder who the kids were?
"Ada" sent in three names on the Message Board:
Don't know, Robert Walton, James Monaghan, and Mark Sheerin. They're now part of South Bank's history! |
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Arthur Seed Gets The Spade
 | Arthur wonders where to start to bury South Bank.
Photo by Denis Bell of Redcar.
When Asda was about to build it's superstore at South Bank they had a "Sod-cutting" ceremony and Arthur Seed as Chairman of The Council was presented with a spade by the Chairman of Asda. Plenty of South Bankers could have told Arthur what to do with the spade.
Arthur's wife Alma is on the left in the photo.
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The First Sod
 | Arthur Seed in a hurry to get dug in.
Photo by Denis Bell of Redcar.
Good title! Arthur dug the ceremonial sod but many say he didn't dig a big enough hole. However the damage to South Bank was already terminal. Local kids looked on not realising Arthur was digging a cemetery for a way of life. |
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Productivity
 | Arthur was in a hurry to bury the community.
Photo by Denis Bell of Redcar.
The spade got thrown aside once Arthur Seed spotted a digger nearby but Arthur had already done more damage with his pen as Chairman of The Council.
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The Wake Of South Bank
 | Councillors and Asda Bigwigs enjoy the occasion.
Photo by Denis Bell of Redcar.
No good Arthur digging for victory without the backing of colleagues - but not a tear shed for Slaggy Island!
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Asda Superstore
 | Photograph by Jack Sowerby.
Jack Sowerby had the forethought to take a few photographs in November 1981 when South Bank was being murdered. One of the better things was the building of Asda's super store - but why couldn't they do it when we all lived there? In this shot Jack has included the Anchor and Queen's pubs. |
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Town Twinning
 | South Bank - flattened by the Council, 1981.
Photograph by Jack Sowerby.
South Bank, terminally ill with Planners Blight, limped on towards the 21st Century. Which councillor ever raised a hand to prevent his colleagues from killing a community?
In this age of Town Twinning might I suggest Kabul as a suitable partner? Yes I'm bitter. Aren't you? |
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By-pass South Bank
 | Work on the A66 By-Pass began in 1981.
Photograph by Jack Sowerby.
The construction of the A66 was the last straw which sealed the fate of South Bank which is now just a forgotten blot on the landscape for commuters whizzing past in their cars.
I apologise to the brave souls who are the present residents of South Bank if I seem to have written the town off but compared to the community it used to be....
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47. The Stella Maris
 | The Stella Maris in the Sandhole, South Gare, August 2004
In 1973 or 74 my brother-in-law Kenny Nixon and his mate Brian Hugill bought a boat "down the Gare". It was reputed to be 120 years old and originally had been a sailing coble and as such was a "double ender" (pointy at both ends!). It needed a lot of work doing to it as you can imagine and I was asked to give a hand.
They "did something to the engine" while I replaced a couple of ribs, fitted splashboards, duckboards and constructed an engine case after which they painted her and she looked quite respectable.
Last week, I was down the Gare and spotted the "Star of the Seas", looking a bit forlorn and I took a couple of photos. The old girl is now over 150 years old and I'm sure she could be done up again. I wonder who owns her now? |
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