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1. Peter Minza.
 | The Newsagent's on Nelson Street. Inset, Peter Minza. (The bike is outside Dr.MacFaul's surgery).
Do you remember Peter Minza's papershop on Nelson Street?
If you are one of the many people who could tell a story of Peter...or indeed any aspect of life in Slaggy Island please email me your recollections, which will go in the appropriate page.
I've got to tell you about the pig!
One of Peter's customer's suggested that he could make some extra cash by buying a piglet which he (the customer) would rear with his own pigs and then they would sell it and split the proceeds. As the piglet would only cost a couple of pounds and they would be splitting about £90 Peter readily agreed and handed over the cash.
True to his word the man looked after the pig until it was full grown and then told Peter it was time to go to the pie factory with it. They would get it into his van, the man explained, and Peter could get in the back and hold its head to keep it quiet.
"Not likely!" said Peter. "You get in the back and I'll drive!" The man agreed but before they set off Peter insisted that he turn the pig round.
"It might bite me!" he declared.
At first, all was well until the pig's bowels loosened on the side of Peter's head and shoulder! You can imagine Peter's yells and expletives! After stopping and cleaning up as best they could they went on to complete their business before returning home.
I called in his shop later and he confronted me with "Can you smell me?!" whereupon he told me what had happened. He said he'd had about twenty baths and he could still smell the pig!
Eventually he saw the funny side but he never went into the livestock business again!
Unfortunately Peter died in his forties and I'm sure that everyone who knew him will still miss him.
Originally, the papershop was owned by Peter's Gran who brought him up and showed him the ropes from an early age. Then, when she died, he inherited the business. Almost immediately, his sense of humour came to the fore as he scared young customers by making a tapping noise with a stick and telling his wide-eyed clientele that it was his Gran, sat in a rocking chair, upstairs!
Peter's sense of humour!
My wife came in in a state of shock.
"Guess who's died!" she exclaimed, forgetting momentarily how many people lived on this planet.
"Er," I started to calculate...
"Alma Cogan!" she interrupted. "And guess what..."
"What?"
"They played one of her songs on the radio! Guess what it was!"
"What?"
"I'm In Heaven!"
That was enough. All this was in the sixties sometime and yes, we're still married. Amazing, isn't it! However, I had heard enough to draw some conclusions.
"You've been to Peter Minza's, haven't you" I said.
"Well, yes" she said.
Do I have to spell it out? I knew Peter's sense of humour. Yes, the singer had died but no they had not played "I'm In Heaven"!
Actually, I think my wife was disapointed!!
Postscript: It's A Tragedy
Today (12/1/03) came the news of the death of BeeGee Maurice Gibb and, unbidden, Peter Minza popped into my mind because I know exactly what he would have said....! You live on Peter, without a doubt!!
Peter's "Decoration Blues".
Peter looked exasperated when I called into the shop.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Here," he said. "Come and have a look at this!" and he led me into the room behind the shop which I could see had been newly decorated.
"Look at that" he said. I looked. It wasn't my cup of tea but if that was what he wanted...
"Yeah," I said. "Alright."
"Alright!" he repeated "Look at it! Every other strip is upside down!! The useless sod!"
I must admit I'd never noticed until he pointed it out to me but once seen it stuck out like a sore thumb. Peter was pulling his hair out!
When he calmed down he admitted it was his own fault for getting a young lad who lived a couple of doors away to do it in order to save money. He shook his head.
"I should have known better" he said "Especially as he buys his comics here then brings them back and says he's read them!"
The Lad in Question!
I might as well slip this in here! The lad Peter referred to was Richie Taylor; big for his age and quite a sense of humour. In fact, it wouldn't have surprised me if he had made the wallpapering mistake deliberately!
He lived at his Gran's a couple of doors from Peter's shop and they had a lodger named Cyril who was in the habit of having a few pints in the Station Hotel on an afternoon then sleeping it off in the chair before going out at about 9.30 for the last few.
On one occasion the sight of Cyril's prone body, snoring in the chair, was too much of a temptation for Ritchie. Reaching up the chimney of the open fire he retrieved some soot and gently blacked up Cyril's face and bald head. Then he put the clock forward from 8.30 to 10 before waking Cyril, telling him he had slept in if he was going to the Station. Still half asleep, the lodger stumbled out of the house in a panic. No time for a wash!
He dashed into the bar and was startled at the response as everyone burst into laughter. Cyril was not amused and Ritchie kept out of his way until he cooled down!
Sometime later, Ritchie repeated the stunt using lipstick with the same effect. |
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2. Four views of Peter .
 | | Peter Minza (hungover) in his shop |
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3. "Our Lass"!
 | My wife, Marion, in the 60's
My wife hasn't changed much over the years except that her talking muscles have definitely got stronger!
By the way, did I tell you what was Top Of The Pops on the 19th of May 1958, the day we got married at St John's church?
It was Connie Francis singing "Who's Sorry Now?" We had a good laugh over that but we ignored the omen!
If there's one thing my wife hates it's the expression "Our lass"! Makes a good title though! |
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4. Mick Foley
 | Mick Foley in his Moggy 1000
Mick was always the life and soul of any party but after his marriage broke up he changed. Then he went down South, moving from place to place until he disapeared. He was last spotted in Cornwall many years ago. |
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5. Dan Pluck at ICI
 | Dan playing with railway sleepers
Dan joined ICI in 1965 and when a stack of Railway sleepers needed to be taken to an upper floor in a building, Dan didn't wait for the crane - he casually carried the lot upstairs, finishing before the crane arrived! |
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6. Backalley
 | Napier/Millbank backalley
Terry McMillan, ex-Millbank Street, sent an e-mail which I include here:
Hello Dick
I have attached a jpeg image you might find interesting.
It shows the back street between Upper Milbank Street and Upper Napier Street with the "Peter's clock" in the background. It's from a photograph I took sometime between 1966 and 1968. The objects on the ground are a dustbin lid, a car tyre propped against the wall and two mean looking dogs in the distance.
The end of the back street turned left and opened onto Upper Napier Street and waste ground we called the common where we held bonfires on Nov. 5th. The buildings shown at the end of the alley in the photo were the rear of the shops on Middlesbrough Road. The shops were Suttons sweet shop on the corner of Upper Milbank street and Middlesbrough Road, Hills bakers shop, Attwells vegetable shop and Wilson's women's fashion shop near to the corner of Napier street.
Thanks Terry. If I remember right there were some advertising hoardings on that bit of common next to Wilson's.
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7. "Talking of Back Alleys..."
 | Kids playing in Nelson Street back alley about 1968
Nelson Street back arch crossing Connaught Street with West Terrace in the distance.
Some of these kids were called Fixter. |
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8. The Boy Fixter
 | The Fixter boy happily playing in the alley in 1968
He looks to be about four years old then, making him around 34 now! Anyone know him? |
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Harry Burns
 Harry spending an afternoon in the bar of the old Albion Club
One afternoon in 1968 I took a series of photos in the old St.Peter's Club on Middlesbrough Road and in the downstairs bar and upstairs room of the old Albion Club in Albion Street. I have only recently found some of the negatives.
With any of the photos I have to decide where to put them and, in this case, it's easier to put them on this page than in the Pubs and Clubs page. |
At ease in The Albion
 | | Lenny Upton was another regular in The Albion and worked at Cargo Fleet |
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Hon Sec?
 | | Jeff Lister - I think he was Club Secretary in 1968 |
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Bar Talk
 | Two members consult the Hon Sec
Out of shot, another member is too busy studying form. |
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13. "Oweny" Doyle
 | Owen Doyle poses outside the old Peter's Club
First out of the Peter's, Owen waits for the lads before going to the Albion for the racing and the crack.
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Johnny Betts
 | Johnny Betts has a bit of fun with Owen Doyle
I was glad to find this negative as I always liked Paddy's Dad and his sense of fun and songwriter Peter Betts featured him in his song "They Don't Write Songs Like They Used To". Vin Garbutt recorded the song which can be found on Vin's website. (Look at The Links page). |
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Upstairs in The Albion
 | The Lads get settled in!
Owen Doyle, Les Bell and Don Reed enjoy the crack between studying form, nipping to the bookies, and deciding who's round it is. |
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Are You Sure?
 | | Don Reed holds the floor but Tony Kelly has his doubts |
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Dominoes and Gordon
 | L: Albion domino player. R: Gordon Westcough.
That one afternoon spent in the old Albion Club in 1968 now seems like something special but it wasn't. It was just like every other afternoon. The only difference was that I had a camera with me and to lull my unsuspecting models I used it for a while without a film in it until they stopped feeling self conscious. The wonder is that more shots weren't out of focus!
Why didn't I do it more often? |
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Don and Tony - Plus Tom
 | Tom Scarf walks past Les Bell and Don Reed
The light wasn't too good in the Albion so the shutter speeds were quite slow. |
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Mr. Donald Reed
 | | Don was still sure I had no film in the camera! |
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More of Les and Don
 | | Just what it says on the label - Les Bell and Don Reed |
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More of Owen Doyle
 | | Owen was too busy studying form to notice a camera |
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Conversation
 | | Setting the world right |
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The old Peter's Club
 | Les Bell, Owen Doyle, ?, ?.
I need a memory jog on two names (I'll kick myself when you tell me) and I wonder who the kids were? 1968. |
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"It's not my round!"
 | | Owen Doyle and Les Bell outside the "old" Peter's Club 1968 |
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The Piercy's
 | Joyce and Sid with baby Lynn in 1962
Photo from Lynn Craddy (nee Piercy)
Sid, from Clay Lane, married Joyce Gidney from Jackson Street and they are pictured here with babe in arms Lynn who was born in Queen Street. The family later moved to Scarborough Street. |
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The Piercy's On Holiday
 | Mealtime at Butlin's, Filey.
Photo from Lynn Craddy (nee Piercy)
Sid and Joyce with sisters Glenda and Lynn. |
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The Piercy Sisters
 | Glenda and Lynn
Photo from Lynn Craddy (nee Piercy) |
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Cousins
 | Cousins at play on Redcar beach in 1964
Photo from Lynn Craddy (nee Piercy)
L-r: Lynn Piercy, Janet Weldon, Susan Williams. |
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Lynn With Cousins
 | Lynn Piercy with big cousin Janet Weldon and Billy 1964
Photo from Lynn Craddy (nee Piercy)
Lynn tells me this is at the back of South Terrace but I can't figure out where!?! |
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The Craddy Brothers
 | Keith and Stephen Craddy in 1965
Photo from Lynn Craddy (Keith's wife) |
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Angela Lewis
 | Outside 8 Emerald Street in 1962
Photo from Angela Craddy (nee Lewis)
And of course Angela grew up to marry Stephen Craddy pictured in the previous story.
PS> Notice the budgie! |
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Mother and Daughter
 | Winnie and Angela out the back
Photo from Angela Craddy (nee Lewis) |
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Julie and Angela 1961
 | Julie Outhwaite and Angela Lewis in Emerald Street
Photo from Angela Craddy (nee Lewis) |
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Angela and Christine
Angela with little sister Christine August 6th 1961
Photo from Angela Craddy (nee Lewis) |
Harry Lewis
 | Harry, nearly too fast for the camera in 1961
Photo from Angela Craddy (nee Lewis) |
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Harry Lewis gets motorised
 | Harry tries out George Wilkes' scooter
Photo from Angela Craddy (nee Lewis)
This was taken in the back alley of Nelson and North Streets with the Station Hotel in the background. Just behind Harry is Mrs. Wilkes with Harry's daughters Angela and Christine. |
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Mr. Carter of Emerald Street
 | Mr. Carter, sitting on the step, gets a breath of fresh air
Photo from Angela Craddy (nee Lewis) |
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38. The Commercial Bar
 | ?, Rose Craddy and ? behind the bar in the sixties
Photo from Stephen Craddy
This photo is on the Pub and Club Activities page but I like it so much I don't hesitate to include it here in case you missed it.
If you know the identities of the other two ladies please send them in. |
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39. Honeymooners
 | Margaret Richardson with her husband Tommy Monoghan on Honeymoon
Photo from John Richardson
In 1960 Margaret Richardson from Surrey Street married Port Clarence lad Tommy Monoghan (now deceased) and they were pictured in Trafalgar Square while on Honeymoon.
Both John and his sister Margaret now live in Australia. |
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Alec Jinks - Plumber
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Photo from Alex Jinks
"This is a photo of my Dad, Alec Jinks. It was taken in 1961 at the rear of 21 Cross street with Connaught street shown on the left of the photo. Dad had started up his own plumbing business and the sign he is holding was attached to his bicycle in an attempt to drum up extra business. Long time friend Jack Smithson and Dad worked the South Bank area for at least a couple of years before non paying clients forced Dad back into the regular workforce.
Not too long afterwards the Jinks' moved to Scarborough street before emigrating to Australia in 1963. Alex Jinks."
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41. "Our Team"
 | Costa Street Kids 1962
Photo and e-mail from Elaine McKenzie (nee Tranter)
"Just thought you might like this photo of my husband Neil McKenzie. It was taken around 1962/63 in Costa Street with Princess Street school in the background.
L-r: ?, ?, ?, Ian McKay (who now lives in Queensland and is related to Neil), the blond lad on the end is Ian McKenzie
(Neil's older brother) and Neil is at the front on the trike!"
An email from Jo Jesson filled in the blanks...
"Hi Dick!
Just wanted to add some names to the "Our Team" photo. The missing names L-R are: Vivien Moy, Michael Kenny, Peter Moy. Michael lived in Costa Street whilst the Moy brothers lived in Africa but frequently visited their grandmother, Mrs Moy who lived near the bottom of Costa Street.
With best wishes
Josephine Jesson (nee Dent)" |
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42. Chucky Stokes
 | Chucky Stokes of Beacham Street
Photo from Terry Larkin
I didn't know Chucky but not long after I put his photo on this page I read of his death in the Gazette.
My condolences to his family. Rest in Peace, Slaggy Islander. |
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43. Brian McTurk
 | | Ex Jackson Street Mack and his wife Betty in Redcar in the 60's |
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44. Marion Fawcett (Nixon)
 | | My wife Marion at Staithes - Angela Bunn in background |
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45. Staithes
 | Another Staithes pic of my wife Marion (Nixon)
Trip run by June Dixon of Costa Street |
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46. Sammy Stevens
 Sam, husband of Betty Richards from Aire Street, on Staithes trip |
47. Lol Osborne
 | Lol and his wife Margaret
Photo from Lol Osborne
Thia was taken in the Wilton Club during a "Perspex Social Evening"!
The club, as Lol puts it, is now burnt to a frazzle. |
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48. Bennett's Corner
 | Bennett's Corner on market day
The market was held in Lorne Terrace on a Friday and teemed with life.
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49. Nelson Street
 | Nelson Street about 1960
Photo from Jack Sowerby |
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50. South Bank Market
 | The Friday Market on Lorne Terrace about 1960
Newspaper cutting from Jack Sowerby |
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51. The O'Hare Brothers
 | Brian, Kevan, Baden and Barry O'Hare of Costa Street
An email from Kevan O'hare...
"Hi Dick, This is Kevan O'Hare, ex SB lad now living in Western Australia. I have touched base on a couple of occasions before. I came across a photo which was taken of myself and three brothers round about 1967. It was taken, if I remember right, down by the scrapyard between Harcourt Rd and Skippers Lane, and I think there used to be a football field there?
Anyway please feel free to use it if you need to.
From left to right we have:
Brian, now living in Strensall (ex Green Howard),
Kevan, living in Bunbury W.A.(ex R.N.),
Baden, living in Spalding-on-the-Moor (ex Army),
Barry, living in France but soon to be joining myself and family here in Bunbury W.A (ex R.N.).
I had a quick visit back to the uk last year and caught up with relatives etc in the Smiths Dock Club in Normanby. Some of which you would know - John Chard and John's sister Jean and husband Bob.
They did a good job of organising members of the family to be there and we had a good night out.
Anyway Dick i will stay in touch a little more often in future and well done for putting and keeping this site in order.
Just remembered that in the ex-pats section (if I could be included that would be great) there's a family of ex S.B. living in a place called Donnybrook, which nobody seemed to know where it was in W.A. Well, it's about 30 minutes inland from myself in Bunbury down the South West corner of W.A.
Affectionately known locally as "DONKEYBROOK", Nevertheless a nice quiet small country town.
(The night before I received this email I was in the old Smiths Dock Club - now called Parklands - with the Chards and some old friends having a reunion with their sister Marlene, home from Canada!
Looks like I have to do a bit on the Ex-Pats page now but Kevan has sent another photo and info which will go on the 1950's page. Dick.)
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52. Night Out
 | A night out at the club
Photo from Marlene Dales
Back row l-r: Ray Hunt, Dave Lincoln, Joan (Finn) Hunt, Gordon Tranter, Bobby Affleck.
Front Row: Audrey O'Hare, Lilian Readman, Anne Affleck, Sylvia (Earl) Tranter, Marlene and Brian Dales. |
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53. Kenny Greenup
 | Kenny flogging his fruit and veg from his horse and cart
Photo from Paul Boden |
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54. Spinsters Night Out
 | Girls night out in The Cleveland(?) in the 60's
Photo from Vince Jones (Thailand) via Robbie Iseton
l-r: Joan Saunders, Ivy Grayson, Barbara Wilson, Ann Buckley, don't know, Rita Buckley, Kath Clarke, Kath McGarrell.
Robbie was short of a couple of names which were provided by my wife Marion (Nixon). |
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55. Girls to the Left
 | Left side of the previous photo for a better view
Photo from Vince Jones (Thailand) via Robbie Iseton
l-r: Joan Saunders, Ivy Grayson, Barbara Wilson, Ann Buckley... |
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56. Girls to the Right
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Photo from Vince Jones (Thailand) via Robbie Iseton
l-r: Rita Buckley, ?, Ann Buckley, Kathy Clarke, Kath McGarrell. |
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57. Banty Bird's Wedding
 | The wedding of Tommy (Banty) Bird to Margaret
Photo from John Chapman
l-r: Kenny (Blackie) Watson, Lillian Bird, Tommy (Banty) Bird and his new wife Margaret, Jean Bird, John (Shorty) Chapman.
I have no names for the two young girls. |
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58. Highland Wedding
 | Shorty Chapman with Joe Hayes after Grand National Trip
Photo from John Chapman
It was 1969 and Highland Wedding won at 100-9.
John didn't say if he had backed it but it looks like he wouldn't remember anyhow!
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59. Teddy Boy
 | John wears the gear!
Photo from John Chapman
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60. Kenny Watson
 | Kenny (Blackie) Watson
Photo from John Chapman
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61. Epitome of Cool!
 | Freddy Floyd and Derek Tye of Costa Street
Photo from Derek Tye
Derek said the photo was taken next to the fence along the side of St.Peter's School by a relative called Kenny Reece of Oliver Street.
I remember Kenny with his bottle-bottom glasses and cheesy grin. He had been a joiner before becoming a projectionist at the Hippodrome and then working for Charlie Amer at the Sporting Club. I'm sure he's already on this site somewhere... |
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62. No 8 Warwick Street
 | Colliers/Duffields/Prices and Youngs in 1961/62
Photo from Ray Price
Ray Price wrote in and attached a photo in which he identifies everyone outside number 8 as follows:
L-r: "My Aunty Joan Collier (nee Duffield), her daughter Judith, my Gran Ettie Duffield, Joan's son Brian, my Brother Tony, my Mum Dorothy Price (nee Duffield), Florrie Young from next door number 10, her daughter Joan and her daughter, and me, Ray Price from Nottingham".
I knocked around with Jack Young in the fifties and Ray would like to get in touch with Peter, Joan and Margaret Young if they're out there...
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