Homepage
Old South Bank
The 1940's
The 1950's
The 1960's.
The 21st Century
Victoria Street School
Cromwell Road School
Princess Street School
St. Peter's RC Schools
The Boys Clubs
Military Service
Leisure
The Achievers
The Characters
Slaggy Tales
Ex - Pats Index
Maps & Aerial Pix
Reunion News
The Pubs and Clubs
Smiths Dock & Gala Days
Remember...?
The Entertainers
More Slaggy Tales
Some Slaggy Islanders
Pub and Club Activities
Ex-Pats Gallery
Other Schools
Religious Establishments
Reunion 2002 Pics
More Slaggy Islanders
Special Articles
The 1970's
Smith Family Album
Bert Earl
Yet More Slaggies
Farewell
Reunion 2003 Pics
Don Albitis
The Trolleybuses
Terry Larkin
South Bank Football
Blackpool Excursions
South Bank Tomorrow
For All Ex-Pats!
Remember When
Reunion 2004 pics
The Bowden/Howards
Reunion 2005 Pics
Rix Pix 2005
Tears for South Bank
PLUGS
This Is Your Life
Clan McManus
Chard Reunions
50th Anniversary
Reunion 2006 pics
Williams/Bottrill/Hughes/Whitehead's
Reunion 2007 pix
Work
2008 On...
The Artists
Contact Information for South Bank Nostalgic Society
Links for South Bank Nostalgia Society
Guestbook
|
1. Having a crack!
 | May 2002
Someone said "We know what you looked like then but how about now?!" Cheek! We haven't changed a bit - have we?
Well, maybe a bit... My friend Allan Thompson had a stroke six years ago and his health fluctuates somewhat although his sense of humour sees him through and a few of us call to see him every fortnight for the crack.
Pictured above are Jack Sowerby, Derek Tye, Allan Thompson and Dan Pluck. Phil Tranter and Colin Townsend have also started to call but weren't there for this pic. We might swap it at a later date.
In the next photo me and Jack changed places. |
|
2. Old Codgers!
 | Changing Places
Substitute Dick Fawcett for Jack Sowerby. |
|
"Crock"
 | Emerging into daylight!
Last week (May 7th, 2002) I went down to South Bank to take a couple of photos for the site and stood opposite the Commercial for a shot. As I took it a figure emerged from the depths and I recognised him immediately. It was Peter Larkin nicknamed "Crock", coming out to go to the "Alice"! I thought I hadn't seen him since the sixties (coincidentally in the Commercial! See "Pubs and Clubs/The Commercial) but as we chatted I remembered seeing him at Eddie Larkin's funeral. Seeing as I've started this page "Now!" here he is.
If I carry this theme on, particularly at the re-union in October, I dare say some ex-pats might get a few shocks!! |
|
Derek Lively
 | Two shots of Derek who lived in North Street near the Mission
After his National Service Derek worked for fourteen years in Stevenage ("Darn Souf") before returning up North and he has lived in Stockton for the past thirty years. |
|
Jimmy Collins
 | | Jimmy in the Cleveland Normanby |
|
Ray Ward
 | Ray pays a visit
Look out for new pics after the Re-Union in October. |
|
South Bank Market
 | John French with Tom and Sheila (Ryan)Crouchley
7/6/2002. Old South Bankers meet in the market which is only a shadow of its former self and is now held behind Middlesbrough Road next to the old Peter's Club. |
|
Congratulations!
 | Sisters Val and Barbara Wilson
Pictured in Jac's Diner, Redcar, Val and Barbara get ready for a snack. Barbara in particular likes "cafe society" especially since her boyfriend proposed to her in "The Bakers Oven" up the Boro - and she has the ring to prove it!
I can almost hear those old violins playing fine tunes!!! |
|
Colin (Judda) Jones
 | Colin Jones at home with friends.
The Jones's used to live at 92 South Terrace. Veronica now lives at Hutton Rudby with her husband Roy Henderson while Colin is in Ontario, Canada, with his wife Judy. They have just had a get-together with friends and Colin sent this e-mail and pic.
"Hello everyone,
We regret that most of us will be unable to join you at the reunion. However one of the couples may just manage to make it. We wish everybody a grand old time at the event. Enclosed is a picture of us taken recently.
From left to right: Roy Henderson,Mike Byrne, Veronica Henderson (nee Jones), Marlene Byrne (nee Chard), Judy Jones (nee Wilkinson), Colin Jones."
|
|
Kenny Wicks
 | Kenny Wicks 13/6/2002
Kenny is still working although he intends to retire later this year. He is a mine of information about South Bank and should really be the one to do this site but, as he says, he has no interest in computers or the World Wide Web! He might change his mind when he's retired! |
|
Fifty years on!
 | Childhood friends re-united
Veronica Jones, Marlene Chard, Jean Jordan and Joan Robson.
When Marlene (Chard) Byrne came over from Hamilton, Canada, her sister Jean Chapman arranged a small re-union for her at Parklands which used to be Smith's Docks Club. This photo and the next eight were taken there last night - 25th June 2002. |
|
Peter Snaith and John Wilson
 | Peter with Dorothy and John with Marie Hall
John hangs on to his beer like a true Slaggy Islander! First time I had seen Peter for something like 45 years and he hadn't changed much!
As I noted the above photo was taken on the 25th of June. On the 15th of September I received an email from Jean (Chard) Chapman informing me of Peter Snaith's death which was a shock but I wasn't able to attend the funeral. My condolences to Peter's family and his partner Dorothy. |
|
Jean Chard with Brian Briggs
 | Brian with Jean
Ex South Terrace and ex landlord of the King William pub at Skelton, Brian is now a Councillor for Skelton and Brotton. |
|
Joyce (Williams) Turner
 | Joyce Turner nee Williams
Joyce is a friend of Ann and Les Binns in New Zealand and came over to tell me how much she enjoyed the site and reading the ex-pats pages. |
|
Maxine and Jean
 | Maxine Redman chats to Jean McKenzie
Jean McKenzie approached me to ask who I was and had I gone to the Central. I explained and added that my wife had gone there and pointed her out but she had her back to us. When I told her that she had been Marion Nixon she literally ran over to her calling her name! They had been neighbours in childhood and Jean hadn't seen her for years so they had lots to talk about. |
|
Jean and Joan
 | | Jean Jordan and Joan Robson catch up on things |
|
The Two John's and Ian.
 | | John's Chard and Smith flank Ian Hanson |
|
Marlene and Friends
 | Marlene with old friends
Less of the "old"! Included in this shot are Val Dales with her hand on Marlene's shoulder, Maxine Redman and Barbara Kent sat next to her Nora Cavanagh and Joyce Williams in the foreground. Dimly in the background near the window are Keith and Brenda Robson.
I've just realised that I didn't get a shot of Marlene with her husband Mike Byrne, also an old Slaggy Islander. |
|
Dave Hopwood
 | Dave makes a point to Roy Henderson
Although I have known Dave for a lot of years I hadn't realised that he was a South Banker. (I thought he was from Grangetown! I unreservedly apologise for this slur!!) He was born in Aire Street and later lived in Upper Princess Street. Most people will know Dave as a drummer, as I did, and when I get the Entertainers page sorted out he will feature on it.
By the way, Roy is the husband of Veronica Jones but not a Slaggy Islander, poor fellow! |
|
Chess Man
 | Gerry Walsh
Here's a man you'll be hearing more about. Born in Napier Street, Gerry became an International Chess Champion and now travels the world as an International Chess Referee! It was only by coincidence that he happened to be in the bar of Parklands when we were in the Lounge and Joan Robson and her husband James Averre pointed him out. |
|
Kenny Conway
 | Kenny Conway at Grosmont. Photo by Jack Sowerby.
Raised in Connaught Street, Kenny was one of a large family which included brothers Jimmy, Joe, Ronnie and Robbie.
In his working days Kenny was a blacksmith at Smith's Docks. Now a spritely 74, Kenny likes nothing better than getting his walking boots on and heading over the moors with Jack Sowerby where they enjoy checking out old mines and investigating our industrial past. |
|
The Kelly's In The Peter's
 | Four of The Kelly's in September 2002
Terry Kelly sent in this up-to-date photo taken in the Peter's Club.
l-r: John, Paul, Terry and Tommy.
I remember Terry when the fattest thing about him was his glasses! Good living, son? |
|
Pat Harrison
 | Pat captured on Redcar High Street 29/6/02.
|
|
Norman Pinchbeck
 | Norman in 2002
Norman always had entertainment in his blood and played and sang with various groups and duos over the years until he foresaw the karaoke going to take off and started up his "Norman's Croaky Karaoke" which prove to be very popular and has built up quite a following. Norman can be seen every Thursday in The Cleveland, Redcar when you can judge for yourself - or join in! |
|
Margaret (Earl) Moore
 | Margaret 1/7/002
Margaret's father is Bert Earl, now 84 years old, the former chimney sweep. |
|
In The RAFA Club
 | Tommy, Joe and Kevin
Pictured together in the RAFA Club in Redcar (opposite the boating lake) are Tommy Searle, Joe Shackleton (husband of Jean Loughborough) and Kevin Doyle. |
|
Peter Connolly
 | Peter Connolly in Aldi
Pete was ex Middle Princess Street. |
|
Mick Murphy
 | Mick on Redcar High Street
Mick Murphy was born in Oxford Street 73 years ago. One of his brother's, Eddie, played for the Boro. His Grandmother lived on Clay Lane and was known as "Pikelet" Taylor. |
|
Les Davison
 | Les in Redcar market
Les Davison was born in Wear Street then lived in Pym Street. He attended Sir William Turner's Grammar School (Coatham) in Redcar. See also: Leisure/Man U! |
|
Clive Cooper
 | | Clive Cooper is ex King Street |
|
Big Bernie Hugill
 | | Bernie is the son of Joan Taylor |
|
Marian (Cox) Kirsop
 | Marian in Redcar
When Marian takes her lunch break from her job in Greenwoods (Gents Outfitters) it's an opportunity to get in a quick bit of shopping! |
|
Willy and Jean (Cropper) Watson
 | | You meet the best people in Greenwoods, Redcar! |
|
The Kirton Girls
 | Jaqui and Sandra Kirton
The Kirtons lived in Napier Street. |
|
Georgie Morris
 | | George lived in Cleveland Street |
|
Ray Kilding
 | Well travelled Ray Kilding
Ray was born in Low Lackenby and then moved to Keir-Hardie Crescent when the South Bank estate was built. |
|
Richie and Maureen (Dodds) Sharples
 | Richie's deaf side!
Richie and Maureen in The Cleveland, Normanby. |
|
Tommy Barrows
 | Tommy Barrows - but look in the background!
Tommy is ex Aire Street and elder brother of Colin, Dalla, Weifey, Kevin, Audrey and Mavis.
In the background is Tommy Phillips and his wife! |
|
Ged Organ
 | Pictured at Redcar Cricket Ground
Ged is ex Upper Princess Street and son of Terry Organ of Smith's Docks fame! |
|
The Walker Brothers!
 | Howard and Brian Walker ex South Terrace
As a founder member of Redcar Amateur Photographic Society I'm ashamed to say I let the side down by not having a camera with me one day when I met Steve Gollogly and his wife on holiday from Canada. (See the Ex-Pats Gallery). However, I've had my camera with me every day since and today (8/8/02) it paid off when I bumped into Brian Walker with his brother Howard who used to live next door to me in South Terrace.
I've seen Brian's younger brother Howard about Redcar now and again over the past ten years but I hadn't seen Brian since 1953 when he moved to Redcar. He later worked at Dorman Long's and then contracted all over the place, finally settling in Ontario, Canada.
He was telling me that although he had worked all over the world and was based in Canada he had kept his British (Slaggy Island) nationality and carried on paying taxes here! The sun must have affected him!! (Okay, Ruth?!)
Elsewhere on this site, Colin Jones asked if I had seen Brian, so if he sees this he'll be up to date. How about a pic, Colin, for the Ex-Pats Gallery? |
|
The Vikings Are Here!
 | The keyboard player is a Dane from South Bank!
Like I said in the previous story it's been a funny old week... but of course, the week wasn't finished. On Friday night I went down to my local The Cleveland, Redcar (behind The Lobster) and there was an excellent group on called China Grove. I was with a friend called Mally Teece who is also a musician and I remarked that I had seen the bass player before somewhere.
At half time Mally decided to have a word with the band and as there had been reference to the keyboard player being from South Bank I went with him. The bass player immediately greeted me with "Now then, Dick, how'yer doin'?" It turned out I'd worked with him about fourteen years ago! Unfortunately, the old grey matter not being what it was I can't remember his surname but he's called Mike.
The keyboard player was called Jan Simonson and now that I was near him he looked a bit familiar. He was from South Bank but they said he was Danish and I suddenly knew who he was! "Did they also call your dad Jan?" I asked. They did and now I was certain. "Your dad was blonde, wasn't he?" I said which was a bit daft as all Danes are blonde, aren't they! Then I told him he was not like his father but like his mother's family. "In fact," I said "You look like your Uncle Tommy!" And he is!
I'm on about my old friend Tommy Searle and I was spot on. Jan's mother is one of Tommy's twin sisters, Yvonne. Yeah, definitely a funny old week!
For the record I'd never met Jan before although I remember being told when he was born and just to finish this off I'll get back to Mally who, when talking to the band found that they used to play for the band that Mally plays for now - a good rock(?) outfit called Striking Back!! |
|
Two for the price of one!
 | Blackie Gibson and Kenny Dent (Rowden)
I bumped into my old mate Blackie (carrying shopping for his wife - as you do!) and within a minute Kenny Dent walked into us!
I've got to tell you about Kenny. We were in the same class at Cromwell Road in 1946 after which he went to the Central and I went to Coatham - and I never saw him again until last year.
I was with Jack Sowerby in Redcar Highstreet when I suddenly saw and recognised Kenny standing outside W.H.Smiths (waiting for his wife to carry her shopping, etc.!) He had a beard and was 55 years older yet he hadn't really changed! Must have been the cheeky grin!!
Jack thought I'd made a mistake when I said "Kenny Dent!" because he had only known him as Rowden. This must have been through adoption or something but I never got a chance to ask. Let's hope Kenny sees this and puts the record right.
Anyway, I never saw Kenny again until he bumped into me and Blackie today (14/8/02). |
|
Tommy and Colin
 | Tommy Phillips and Colin Dobson
I finally caught up with Tommy Phillips on Redcar High Street. If you look at the Tommy Barrows photo you'll see Tommy with his wife in the background. I had taken a pic of Tommy at the same time (I thought!) but something must have gone wrong - result no photo.
This time I didn't want anything to go wrong but just as I lined him up Colin Dobson (ex Cromwell Road) came into view so I got two old (!) Slaggy Islanders for the price of one! |
|
Terry Coulton
 | Terry in The Cleveland, Normanby
Ex Surrey Street, Terry Coulton is a regular in The Cleveland these days. His family used to have a newspaper shop and were related to Peter Minza and the McGees. Terry's uncle, Tommy Coulton, was a pal of Wilf Mannion and, while he was a nice fella, he had the unfortunate habit of singing "The Grandfather Clock" at the drop of a hat. I say unfortunate because it had about fifty monotone verses! |
|
Freddie Floyd
 | | Fred keeps fit on his bike! |
|
Ged Wyke
 | Ged Wyke with his horse Flash!
Our friend John O'Neill was going to the library when he snapped Ged Wyke and his horse and passed it on to me.
It seems that he's loved horses ever since he was a small child when he was taken to Appleby Fair. He said his ancestors were gypsies and the other side came from Montserrat where the Wyke name apears to have come from early Dutch settlers! All these years I've known him and didn't know any of that. Talk about a dark horse!!
Come to think of it I photographed Ged about twenty years ago at a trotting event at the rec. I'll have to dig out the neg!
Up to date...
I put this story on here two or three years ago but last week (7/05) I bumped into Ged's brother Tommy who had plenty to say about it. He said it was a load of rubbish and cast a slur on his family and told me to get it off.
I couldn't remember the details and thought it might have been an attempt at a joke on my behalf so I set about finding it.
It wasn't a joke. The story is above and its what Ged told me. However, reading it now, it strikes me that maybe Ged was winding me up, after all he has a good sense of humour as well. Whatever, its there until Ged asks for it to be removed. |
|
Davey Rich
 | Davey - still going strong!
Always known as Davey Rich (son of Kid Rich the boxer) the actual surname is Richards. Involved with music from way back, Davey is still going strong with regular gigs in The Cleveland, Redcar (behind The Lobster) and in The Standard. |
|
Stan Moore
 | Stan - the Ex man.
Stan Moore, ex South Terrace, ex son-in-law of Bert Earl, and ex landlord of The Standard, (but still a nice bloke!) quietly enjoying The Cleveland atmosphere. |
|
"Round Eston to get to South Bank"!
 | Surprise Frank Ainsworth!
Frank Ainsworth had come across this site and spotted some old friends in the Ex-Pats Gallery living in New Zealand. He contacted Ann Binns by e-mail and included a photo of himself. She, in turn, passed it on to me to demonstrate the way in which the site helps reunite old friends in this electronic age! So, like I said...
Frank Ainsworth...Surprise!!! |
|
50. When Adams was a lad!
 | Two pics - "Now" and "Then" of Jimmy Adams
James Keir Adams, variously known as Jimmy or Kit, was born in York Street and brought up in Albion Street. Later he lived in Normanby before moving to Redcar where he still lives with his wife Vera (Veronica Shackleton) whose brother Joe is married to Jean Loughborough.
He attended school at the Branch End until it was closed during the war and was transferred to Cromwell Road and then on to the Central.
At the age of fourteen Jimmy left school in 1946 and started work at John Clark's, Printers, on Nelson Street. Later he joined the army becoming a sergeant in the Royal Armour Corps.
Jimmy has clear memories of the German plane crashing near the Junction and the ack-ack post on the tip and later memories of his service in Malaya. However his proudest memory concerns Bill Short the Grangetown VC holder featured on the Cardboard City site. He recalls Bill's dad showing him his son's Victoria Cross and recounting why it was awarded. |
|
51. "We supped some stuff!"
 | | Tommy Searle and Friend in the RAFA Club, Redcar |
|
52. John Porritt
 | | John Porritt, spotted in Redcar, is now the steward of South Bank's United Club |
|
53. Slaggy Island Flowers
 | Jean Kent likes this photo because "It doesn't show my wrinkles!"
l-r standing - typically in a bar!: Jean Thompson, Rita Shingler, ?, Jean Kent.
front, legless: Maureen Dodds, Katy Sharples. |
|
54. Jeff Blakeman and Alice
 | Jeff and his grand daughter Alice
I had just come out of the United Club (see Pub and Club Activities page 43-46) and bumped into old friend and one time workmate Jeff Blakeman right outside the door! He was being dragged around by his young grand daughter Alice and I know the feeling having one very similar - haven't I Maddy!!
|
|
55. Hell's Angel!
 | Arthur Massey on wheels!
As I talked to Jeff Blakeman someone on an electric buggy glided up behind him, signalling me not to let on. I carried on talking until a nudge made Jeff jump. When he saw that it was Arthur Massey he decribed him as a Geriatric Hell's Angel! Arthur just laughed and glided off.
|
|
56. Idris and Freda Coles
 | Idris and Freda Coles in 1990
A nice photo of a couple who celebrated 60 years married in June 2006 sent in by daughter Jan Burns. Their wedding photo is on the 1940's page.
I recognised Idris immediately (known locally as Taffy) from years ago when we had allotments up Skippers Lane and also working at Cargo Fleet. |
|
57. Harry Phillips
 | Harry Phillips and his son Glenn
Harry should rightly be featured in the South Bank Characters page and sometime I'll write about him there.
I had wondered about the date of the photo and Harry's family think it was about 1972 but he looks younger to me! |
|
58. More Coles
 | Freda Coles nee Rudge
Photo from Jan Burns nee Coles
Jan's mother Freda Rudge was born in 1925 in 70 Upper Oxford Street. In the photo Freda could be between 12 and 14 dating it to 1937 to 1939. |
|
59. And More Rudges
 | Freda, Gran and Aunt Winnie
Photo from Jan Burns nee Coles
Gran was Esther Jane Rudge nee Atkinson and she lived at 70 Upper Oxford Street with her husband James Wilfred Rudge until, in the late 1940's, they moved to Simpson Close. Both Freda and Winnie were born in number 70 and Winnie in later years was well known as a lollipop lady at the Saint Peter's Church zebra crossing. |
|
60. And Atkinsons
 | Uncle Thomas Atkinson and son Harry
Photo from Jan Burns nee Coles
Another photo from the Family History of Jan Burns: "Uncle Thomas" was presumably the brother of "Gran" Esther Jane Rudge and lived in Cromwell Road off Harcourt Road. Harry died at the age of 21 from pneumonia. |
|
|
