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1. Meet Mrs. Howard
 | Mrs. Howard and her daughter Dorothy study old photos
Ethel Howard was born in 1910 in Queen Street but later lived in Emerald, Warwick and Pym Streets. She went into Nursing at the age of 15 and served until she retired at 60, the last 25 years being a schools' nurse - or, as many called her, "Nitty Nora the Head Explorer"!
Born a Bowden, she married Reginald Howard from Bishop Auckland, a union blessed with a daughter named Dorothy.
Ethel's husband was an optician and, although there was a need for lens makers, Reg felt duty bound to join the RAF Volunteer Reserves at the outset of World War Two.
Tragically Reg lost his life in an air crash on the 28th of August, 1941 when their daughter was just eleven months old.
Ethel had lost the love of her life on their second wedding anniversary and never remarried.
In 1967 Ethel ventured on an aeroplane for the first time when she went to Canada to visit her daughter who had moved there. She was very nervous and never undid her seat belt until they landed.
She travelled with Mrs.Addison from Costa Street who was going to visit her son John. Ethel said Mrs.Addison sat all the time clutching a long box on her knees. On arrival they were asked if they had anything to declare. Were they carrying any meat products? "Nothing to declare" was the response; but immediately through the gate Mrs. Addison waved the box and shouted to John "I've got your savaloys and pork pies!" |
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2. The Bowden Family
 | A 1915 photo of the Bowden Family
Photo from Dorothy Howard
Taken in 1915, the photograph shows James Edward Bowden, his wife Emily Jane (nee Cummings) with their young brood. Ethel Bowden (pictured on the left) was a mere 5 years old and was born in Queen Street, South Bank and attended Cromwell Road School and Victoria Street School. She is now 94 years young and lives in Normanby.
About the photo, she was concerned (after 89 years!) that her knickers were hanging down! |
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3. The Cummins Connection
 | Ethel's mother and Grandmother at 114 North Street in 1907
Photo from Ethel Howard
On the step, Emily Jane Bowden holds son John Robert while daughter Edith holds the hand of her Grandmother, Emily Elizabeth Cummins - known to all as Granny Cummins.
Note the footscraper sunk in the wall. |
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4. Visit to Redcar
 | Ethel's parents get out the sandwiches (about 1907)
Photo from Ethel Howard
Emily Jane and a bespectacled James Edward enjoy the ozone after walking from South Bank along the Black Path. |
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5. Girls!
 | Four Generations of Girls
Photo from Ethel Howard
Seated is Granny Cummins while her daughter Emily Bowden stands left and Grandaughter Mabel Hargreaves (Bowden) holds her daughter Dorothy Ann. |
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6. Granny Cummins
 | Emily Elizabeth Cummins outside her "Garrett" house in 1932
Photo from Ethel Howard
Granny Cummins lived opposite Emerald Street in one of the "Garrett" houses at 114 North Street, which was next to the cut through to the allotments where Danny Ireland cut hair in his shed, and on to the Pudling. |
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7. Here is the News!
 | Granny Cummins, 85 year old widow, still working as a coal dealer
Newspaper cutting from Ethel Howard
Ethel had kept a 1940 Gazette newspaper cutting featuring her grandmother, in which they mis-spelled her name...
"Granny As Coal Heaver - At South Bank
(By a Gazette Reporter)
Eighty-five is no age for a man to be heaving coal around...
But for a woman..!
Today I went to South Bank, to North Street. There I met Granny Cummings - age as aforementioned. She's little and frail. Her face and hands were wrinkled through the passage of years, the black knitted woollen cap covers straggling hair, long since grey.
But as I watched amazed, she picked up a 56lb weight as though it were a packet of butter, and shovelled half a hundredweight of coal in the scale pan for one of her customers.
When I tried to swing the same weight above my head I nearly burst a blood vessel.
Neighbours of Granny Cummings crowded round when we - the cameraman and I - arrived.
They told us how Mrs. Cummings, widow of a farmer, was to their knowledge the oldest woman making a living on Tees-side.
"I DON'T FEEL OLD"
Said Mrs. Cummings: "I'll keep it up till I'm a hundred. Old age? I don't feel old!"
For nearly 40 years she has been a coal dealer. Her storeyard adjoins her home where she fends for herself. Her customers are people who buy by the stone, or even in smaller amounts. For poor folk can't always afford to get hundredweights - and that's where Granny Cummings beats the big traders.
Her income - apart from her coal - is 10s a week old-age pension. She adds a penny from her profits, and pays the rent.
"Sometimes I give my coal away." she told me. "If people have nothing I can't see them freeze."
The history of this amazing woman?
She was born in Lincolnshire and married a farmer. Then she moved to Normanby.
When farming didn't pay, they took a public house. Then 40 years ago, Robert Cummings died, and his widow started the coal business which is still flourishing today.
COAL DUST COSMETICS
Nothing can break the indomitable spirit of the widow. She has had broken arms three times, a leg and thigh once, and several ribs, when she was crushed by a cart. But every fracture has mended perfectly.
Granny - everybody calls her Granny - has had seven children, has 10 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. All but one are married.
I could not resist asking Granny what she thought of the young folk of to-day.
"All right," she said. "But they think too much of powder and paint. Give me coal dust every time!"
I don't know if this article had anything to do with it but Granny Cummings died a few weeks later. |
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8. North Street
 | North Street neighbours gather round Granny Cummins
Newspaper cutting from Ethel Howard
Michael McLoughlin wrote in from Brisbane, Australia...
Glad to hear about... "the lady still going strong at the age of 94 years. Must say - what a big surprise to me and such a column you have put together for the site - the pictures and the narrative makes it all so interesting for folks still alive who have a deep feeling for the times of South Bank passed.
I only required one look at Granny Cummins in her coal yard on North Street and how I recall my mam sending me to Granny's with an empty bucket for two-pennyworth of coal. How I ever managed to carry that over-flowing bucket of coal back from North Street to Lower Oxford Street at the tender age of six years of age I do not know. It very much sounds like some charactor out of a Charles Dickens novel. The imagine on Granny Cummins photograph is exactly how I remember this coal lady.
My friend Betty Huddlestone was formerly Betty Bowden of Upper Graham Street and... lives in Mount Isa, a place where her son Michael is Chief of Police in that remote city in Queensland. However over the past year I have never had a visit from Betty or any response to my letters.
I tried to phone her in Mount Isa only to be informed that Betty is not listed in Mt. Isa. Not to be outdone I even left a message on Michael Huddlestone's answering machine for him to contact me about my concerns regarding no news from his mam Betty. I have also sent many e-mails to Michael but alas no replies.
Ethel Howard and her daughter would have much to offer about the history of South Bank. I noticed that her husband lost his life during the last war. I can forsee you having some feedback about your excellent addition to the slaggy site. Michael."
I wondered if Betty (Bowden) was any relation but Dorothy says not.
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9. Aldershot 1914-18
 | James Edward "Jim" Bowden trained at Aldershot
Photo from Ethel Howard
Jim is in the doorway with the sweat towel round his neck and the cigarette in his mouth. He was in the Yorkshire Regiment and trained at Aldershot although he never saw active service. |
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10. Bob Bowden
 | The scouts, all South Bankers, at Great Ayton in 1922 or 1923
Photo from Ethel Howard
l-r: John Robert "Bob" Bowden, John Higgins, Cecil Hall, Alan Barres, Mr.Bradley. |
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11. Purple Heather Patrol
 | 1st South Bank St. John's Girl Guides 1923
Photo from Ethel Howard
In 1925 the 1st South Bank Girl Guides won a Shield which had always been won by the Girl Guides at Saltburn High School and was therefore all the more appreciated.
Back row l-r: ?, Frederika Truother, Connie Lewis, Eleanor Hird, Violet Adams, ?, Ethel Bowden, ?, ?, ?, ?.
3rd row: Hannah McBirthey {with flag), Connie Bennett, Elsie Dawson, ?, Ethel Greenwell, ?, Olive Hunter, ?(Codd St), Ena Maxwell's daughter, ?.
2nd row: ?(deaf and dumb), Elsie Landells, Bella Bradwell, ?, 2 Headley sisters, Agnes Halfpenny, ?, ?, Mary Smith.
Front row: ?, ?, ?, Gladys Ireland, ?, ?, ?.
The two Headley girls were leaders from Eston House and showed "How to set a dining room table"! |
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12. Morris Dancers
 | Victoria Street School (Central) 1922
Photo from Ethel Howard
Three names are C.Bullen, D.Bean and L.Howells. |
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13. Floral Dancers
 | Victoria Street School (Central)1922
Photo from Ethel Howard
3nd from the left is K. Whitelaw who later became a teacher there and was known by her married name of Mrs. Moore!
Other names: 1st left L.E.Smurthwaite, 4th left (seated) R.Wilson, 5th left E.Mett, far right B.Watson. |
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14. Snowflakes!
 | Victoria Street School (Central) 1922 Dance of the Snowflakes!
Photo from Ethel Howard
Seated at back Rene Wilson, next to her Dot Lillystone.
3rd row: ?, ?, ?, B.Watson, Ena Atkinson, ?, ?, Dorothy Bevan.
2nd row: ?, P.Watson, ?, Ena Little.
Front row: Doris McKay, Marjorie Blair, Marie Smith, Eveline Hamilton. |
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15. May Queen
 | Victoria Street School (Central) 1922
Photo from Ethel Howard
May celebrations were not only confined to St.Peter's. The Central had their own ceremonies.
In 1922 the May Queen was Rene Wilson with Dot Lillystone as the Maid of Honour.
On the left of the archway are D.Hunter, Dorothy Bevan and Ellen Storey.
On the right E.Jackson and Greta Simms. |
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16. The Maypole
 | Victoria Street School (Central) 1922
Photo from Ethel Howard
Back row l-r: ?, Rene Brown, O.Hunter, ?, ?, Minnie Burrell, Q.Walker, ?, Amy Watson, ?, B.Dickson, C.Taylor, Adelaide Peverell, Cora Taylor.
In between there is one girl at each end. Left ?, right Daisy Patterson.
Front row: ?, Violet Adams, J.Symonds, Ethel Bowden, Frederika Trewatha, May Bell, D.Bean, Hilda Stone. |
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17. Confirmation
 | Dorothy Howard is confirmed at St.John's 1954
Photo from Ethel Howard
Back row: Janice Stevens, Sister Barnes, Peter Garnett.
Front row: Dorothy Jackson, Beryl Matthews (became a Doctor), ?, Dorothy Howard, Judith Smith.
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18. "Anyone for tennis?"
 | Ready for tennis in 1927
Photo from Dorothy Howard
l-r: Marjorie Burns, Emily Mank, Adelaide Peverall and Betty McClumpha.
Emily Mank was Ethel Bowden's cousin and lived in Pym Street. She had a brother Ernest who married Betty Doble later in life and moved to Warwickshire. |
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19. Titty Bottle Park
 | Ethel Bowden poses in the park for the camera in 1925
Photo from Dorothy Howard
Dorothy adds...
Note the marcel waves (I assume that must be the hair style? After all I'm only an ignorant male!), the hospital in the background and the less mature beech trees in 1925, some of which have been felled recently. |
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20. Redcar Sands
 | Ethel Howard and Ida Saunders in 1960
Photo from Dorothy Howard
Ida Saunders (now deceased) had a corner shop in Warwick Street. Her children were Derek (deceased), Jean and Judy. |
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21. Garden Friends
 | Linda Robson and Ethel Howard in 1948
Photo from Dorothy Howard
Dorothy wrote:"Linda lived in Pym Street with her brother George until his death but now lives with/is in the care of her niece Jaqueline Mannering Taylor.
George and Linda were presented to Princess Diana when she came to South Bank to see the "refurbishment efforts" some years ago. Their family home remained a time capsule - much as Ethel remembered it from her childhood. It is now boarded up. I wonder what happened to the contents? Seemed to me they should have been put intact into a local museum." |
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22. Red Head and more!
 | Ethel Howard in 1966 as "Nitty Nora the Head Explorer!"
Photo from Dorothy Howard |
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23. 1914-18 War
 | James Edward Bowden in the Yorkshire Regiment
Photo from Dorothy Howard |
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24. Redcar Day 1928
 | James Edward Bowden and his wife Emily Jane paddling
Photo from Dorothy Howard |
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25. 43 Warwick Street
 | Sisters Mabel and Ethel Bowden on the step in 1925
Photo from Dorothy Howard
Dorothy adds: "It's hard to think of the effort which went into scouring steps and windowsills and "swilling" fronts when one looks at South Bank now!" |
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26. Glimpses into the past
 | Ethel Howard relives memories with a stereoscopic viewer
Photo from Dorothy Howard
The viewer is dated 1895 and originally belonged to Ethel's grandmother "Granny Cummins".
Who needs a telly with 100 channels when you can see memories in 3D? |
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