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Guestbook

1. Happy Anniversary

Harry and Ann (McLean) Watts celibrate 40 years of marriage

South Banker Ann McLean brought Doggie Harry Watts out of the cold 40 years ago and Harry still can't believe his luck!

Congratulations to the happy couple - as they say!

2. Thongs for the memories!

Only a Kiwi would make a pressie of matching thongs!

Ann was gob-smacked!

3. Harry was happy

"Just a thong at twilight!"

4. The Watts Family

Together to celibrate a milestone

5. Ann Binns' Earings

Ann fancied some new earings...

(You wouldn't think she was drinking lemonade, would you?)

6. The Earings...

Another view of the earings

7. And why Ann needed them!

Balloon earings help the equilibrium!

8. John and Kathy Richardson

From Surrey Street to Wollongong in Oz - John and Kathy

An up-to-date photo of John Richardson with his wife Kathy enjoying the good life in downtown Wollongong!

9. Tommy "Sonny" Wyke

Sonny with "Thorntree" friends at South Bank market

10. Tina Smith

Tina with her Grangetown Hubby Geoff pictured in Redcar

11. Joe and Kathleen McLay

Joe and Kathleen (nee Giles) on Redcar Front 10/9/03

A bystander casts an eye on Joe's suspect elbow!

12. Denny and Shirley Breckon

Denny and Shirley (nee Carter) in Redcar High Street 10/9/03

13. Barry and Sylvia Johnson

Barry and Sylvia (Floyd) Johnson with Grandaughter

Heading for the market (music stall) on Wednesday (17/9/03) with Jack Sowerby, I spotted Sylvia Floyd (ex Costa Street and sister of Freddie) sat with her husband and grandaughter enjoying the Redcar sunshine. After a few pleasantries she said "There's our Elsie over there!" and pointed to the next picture...

14. Elsie Floyd

Elsie with her husband Jim McGlone and Ray Ward

This was fortunate as Elsie and Jim were enjoying a last walk around Redcar before flying home the same day to Nelson Bay near Sydney in The Land of Oz.

15. Two Floyds Plus

A group shot - Jim, Elsie, Sylvia, Ray, Jack, Barry and Grandaughter

As usual I'm behind the camera.

16. Carol Thurston and Robbo

Carol with her husband John Robinson near Redcar's Blue Clock

Ex South Banker Carol is the sister of Barry Thurston.

17. Alan and Mary Jones

Alan Jones and his wife Mary (nee Hasson)

Mary was from Miles Street and Alan from Normanby but when they married they lived in King Street. They are pictured on the High Street, Redcar.

18. John and Marie Wilson

John and Marie (Hall) Wilson in Redcar 24/9/03

19. Richie Sharples

The latest photo of Richie 24/9/03

20. Edna (Betts) Collins

Edna in Redcar

I always do a double take whenever I see Edna who is the double of her mother! Edna (ex Connaught Street) married Cardboard City snooker hero Brian Collins whose claim to fame was that he beat John Spencer when Spencer was a force to be reckoned with in the snooker world.

21. The Snake!

Ged McPartland has carried the nickname of "Snake" for over fifty years

Ged got the nickname because he was so thin and wiry "like a snake" and when I met up with him in The Plimsole Line in Redcar for the first time in over thirty years I found him just the same. Although he went to the Peter's he's looking forward to joining the reunion next Tuesday (7/9/03) at The Normanby.

22. Jack and Ray

Jack Sowerby and Ray Kilding in Redcar - a far cry from Hollywood!

23. Chris Lane

Chris Lane is happy in his work keeping Redcar clean

Chris lived nextdoor to the Osbornes at 4 Bevanlee Road until he was sixteen and moved to Redcar.

24. Enjoy a break in Redcar

The Oriental Cafe

You've probably noticed the number of ex Slaggy Islanders that either live in Redcar or visit it especially on Market Day which is Wednesday.
After walking around a while the sea air brings with it an appetite and there's no shortage of places to eat. We've got MacDonald's and KFC and a very good meal in the Plimsole Line which always seems to be full. Also there's no shortage of Fish and Chip Shops.
Me and Jack Sowerby's favourites are Jac's Diner and a Redcar newcomer - The Oriental Express in Station Road, just off Coatham Road. If you like Chinese food then this is for you. Cooked by a Taiwanese Chef, the lunchtime menu is priced at just �3.20! Brilliant!! The evening menu is still only �5.00. You can't go wrong - if you can get in.
Prices have gone up slightly but still �3 odd and the food can't be beaten! I'll see you in there!!
Taiwan Chinese Food

25. Rosie Austin

Rosie pictured a couple of years ago

A well-known Slaggy Islander, Rosie lives in Rugby near Coventry but keeps in touch with old friend Alan Thompson.

26. Mick Harrison

Mick and his wife in Redcar market

Always a stalwart in South Bank football circles, Mick's knees are giving him problems now.

27. Chris Tudor

Chris Tudor - ex Anne Street, now Redcar

28. Pat Mackin and Family

Pat and his Family at the Vin Garbutt concert

29. Freddy Floyd

Fred pictured with Jack Sowerby in Redcar

30. Kenny Conway

Kenny finds his favourite singer on CD at Redcar market!

31. "Any Rag/Bone?"

South Bank Rag'a'bone Man Tommy Scott

South Banker Tommy Scott is a career rag'a'bone man and proud of it and he taught the late Harry Rennard the ropes. He is also proud of his roots which show a family connection to the Fosters.

Looking at the above photo of Tommy you might get the idea that being a rag'a'bone man pays - but things aren't always as they seem...

32. Tommy Scott in Redcar

The real photo of Tommy Scott in Redcar - with Traffic Lights stuck on his head!

I took a poor photo of Tommy Scott (careless) so I gave him a better background in the previous story. Sorry Tommy. Come back to earth!

33. Malcolm Martin

Malcolm Martin delves into the past with modern technology

34. Neil and Elaine (Tranter) McKenzie

Neil and Elaine (ex Costa Street) at home in Oz

Although they live in Australia (see Ex-Pats) they are still Slaggy Islanders and keep in touch. Elaine writes: "...we have John and Dora (Neil's parents) with us on holiday at the moment. Thought you might like to add these piccys to your website. Dora and John visit us every two years which is marvellous for me and Neil. They are celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary this year (April 17) and because we can't be there to celebrate we thought we would throw them a party over here. The night was a huge success, and there were a few former South Bankers there too (we can't get away from
them!!) They will be back in sunny South Bank for Easter!"

Any photos and names of other ex-pats?

35. Dora and John McKenzie

Dora and John have an early Golden Wedding Anniversary in Oz

36. Kenny Wheatley

Kenny outside his Grangetown home waiting for his son

37. John and Kenny Wheatley

Kenny and his son - "We're off to the club!"

I hadn't seen Kenny for years but he didn't waste any time. "See you, Dick. We're off to the club!"

38. Les Girls

Maureen Sharples (Dodds) has the girls round

Photo by Richie Sharples
l-r Standing: Pam Murtha (Gatenby), Jean Evison (Kent), Marlene Dales (Tranter).
Seated: Katey Sharples, Maureen Sowerby (McMillan), Marion Fawcett (Nixon), Maureen Sharples (Dodds).

39. Kenny Fish

Ken's bit in the battle to keep Redcar clean

Going down the town I passed a council worker who looked as if he was going to speak so I gave my customery nod and "Alright?" as I carried on. His voice caught me up.
"Don't you recognise anybody?" he complained. I stopped and studied him. He looked vaguely familiar.
"Where do I know you from?" I asked, feeling guilty at my faulty memory.
"British Steel" came the answer. I studied him some more.
"You've put on a bit of weight" I guessed.
"Yeah," he laughed.
"And you're wearing glasses!" (I was still none the wiser).
"Come on," I conceded. "Who are you?"
"Kenny Fish."
"Bloody Hell!" The covers fell off my eyes. "Kenny! Of course! I don't know how I didn't know you!!"
It was as if I'd only seen him yesterday instead of the best part of thirty years ago! As I recall he lived in Passfield Crescent then.
Nice seeing you again, Ken.

40. Four Slaggies Meet

Five with me!

l-r: Mel Franklin (Upper Milbank), Eddy Healy (Scarborough Street), Ray Ward (Upper Graham Street), Sylvia Hall nee Fawcett (my sister; South Terrace now New Zealand).

41. Phil Lane

Phil Lane ex Bevanlee Road

42. Peckish - Again!

Jac's Diner is now The Pig Inn

Our old haunt Jac's Diner has new owners and they have done a good job on refurbishing the place. The prices are a bit higher than before but so is the quality and the servings which are both excellent and large! The Pig Inn title is well deserved and I heartily recomend it.

43. Christmas 2004!

Santa outside Redcar Lifeboat House (Santa's Grotto!)

Photo by Jenny Emmerson
Christmas Comes But Once A Year!
I thought the days when the navy "shanghaied" recruits were long gone but I was wrong! Redcar's formidable 90 year old Historian and "Lifeboat Lady" Vera Robinson (MBE) waylaid me and before I knew what was happening I had a new suit and a bag of goodies to give to kids in the hope of enticing their parents to spend a little on the stalls in the Lifeboat House. The good ladies manning the stalls raised �500 for this excellent cause. (Donation can be sent directly to:
The Lifeboat House, Esplanade, Redcar (and mention Santa!).
At one point a little girl asked me "Santa, why are you wearing a tie?" Luckily it was a comic tie with snow and a red-nosed reindeer on it and she was very satisfied with my answer that Rudolph had given me it for Christmas!
Another little girl asked why I was wearing glasses and was happy when I said it was to read all the names on the presents.
Eventually I ran out of the small gifts provided by the Lifeboat Women and took out a tray of sweets, asking kids if they had seen my reindeers anywhere as they had wandered off with all the presents on the sled. No one knew but one little lad had a thought. He pointed over to the boats on the sea front and said that they might be hiding behind the boats!
Next Christmas don't forget to have a look in the Lifeboat House - you might see me. Santa!

44. Lol Osborne

Lol with green fingers

Photo from Lol Osborne

45. Lol's wife

Photo from Lol Osborne

46. Willy Gallagher

Willy in 2005. See him on the 1950's page!

Hair today...?

47. Willy and Wife

Willy Gallagher with his lovely wife Eileen (Conway)

Pictured in the M & B store in Redcar.

48. Happy Birthday, Kid!

Tommy Searle's 70th Birthday

Tommy Searle is having a surprise Birthday Party TONIGHT (19/12/2005) in the Eston Labour Club on Fabian Road. I've waited until now to put this on here in case anyone let the cat out of the bag. For the record he thinks he's going to a Charity Do and if he smells a rat we'll be having a party without the principal guest! SO SAY NOWT!!!

49. Christmas Greetings...

This is my Christmas Card for friends this year...

50. Merry Christmas

Best Wishes To All from Marion and Dick

(I'm wearing a false beard!!)

51. Tommy's Party

Tommy Searle enjoys his night at the Labour Club

Actually, Tommy was born on the 24th of December to give his mother Lizzie a memorable Christmas present!

52. The Twins

Tommy's twin sisters Yvonne and Lorraine

Tommy's niece Sylvia (Brown) is in the background with her husband Derek Smith.

53. Derek and Sylvia

Derek and Sylvia Smith (nee Brown)

Sylvia is Tommy's niece.

54. Father and Son

Paul poses with his old Dad

55. And Mam makes Three

Paul and Tom are joined with Kath

56. Tom's Nephews

John and Peter, son's of the late John Searle

57. Family Group

A small part of the family pose for the Slaggy Island site!

58. Carer?

The barmaid looks after the old folk!

59. Lady In Waiting

You see the strangest things when you have a camera handy!

This young lady wanted to dance but her dance partner chose a hasty exit - so she decided to wait for him in comfort!

60. Surprise!

Strictly come dancing!

61. Rosalind

My young sister-in-law Rosalind Byers (nee Nixon)

Rosalind was born in Lime Street and then lived in Uvedale Road until she married Dave Byers from Marske and moved to Redcar. Their two children (Karl and Rachel) are now in their early twenties. Incidentally, Karl was born in Sidney, Australia where they lived for a few years.
28.1.06

62. No Chicken!

Yours truly, now knocking on a bit. How did that happen?

63. John Doyle

John Doyle and his grandson Ryan McCarthy

I was just coming out of my house one day when John happened to be walking past with his grandson and we walked round to Station Road together. I was heading down to the beach to photograph the filmset but John preferred the High Street.
Incidentally, when I sort out the many photographs I have taken of the Redcar set for the film "Atonement", I will put a selection on this site, mainly for the ex-pats.

64. It's that man again!

Tommy Searle as The Galloping Major

65. A Real Toff

Just in case you didn't believe it was Tommy...

66. Norman Ward

Norman Ward snapped in a Redcar shop

67. Ged the Red

Ged Banks returns to see his old home

After living and working down south for forty years Ged returned north after his wife died five years ago, living first at Overfields but now relocated to Redcar.