Introducing Eddie (Teddy) McManus

I got an email from Ann Breckon (wife of John) who said John's cousin Teddy McManus (I knew him as Eddie) who had lived "darn souf" for over forty years, was hoping to make it to the reunion this year and had sent some photos up for the site. He particularly hopes to meet up with his old mate Derek Skinn and I'd like to see them both again.
I've copied the above photo from the 1940's page to introduce Eddie who is on the left with (l-r) Eddie Lister, Ray Ward and Alan Palmer. In the front - Alan Shell and Norman(?) Rutherford.

Also Eddie included a note with the photo's to say that he'd found the site through Ann and was surprised to find he was a tearaway! (It was the look of the photo, Eddie, nothing personal!!)
Incidentally, Eddie went to Coatham school and was friendly with Frank Fawcett and wondered if he was a relative of mine. Well, I knew Frank and later I worked with him in Cargo Fleet but as far as I know we weren't related however I'm doing a bit of Family History and we'll see where that takes us.

Coincidence! I called in the United Club to leave a poster for the reunion (Tuesday 3rd October) at The Normanby and a voice said "Dickie Fawcett"! I looked round and there was Derek Skinn and I don't think I had seen him since we were teenagers - and he hadn't changed!! Admittedly he was wearing glasses and a flat cap but he still looked the same as when we were kids. Amazing!
I told him about Eddie hoping to make it to the reunion and he's going to do the same. Looks like we're going to have another good night!
I put posters around South Bank and Marlene Dales (Tranter) is putting them around Normanby with Pam Murtha (Gatenby) seeing to Eston and Grangetown.
See you on the 3rd!

Well, Eddie was there on the 3rd (see Reunion 2006 Pics page) but Derek didn't make it. However Eddie later met up with him at the United Club for a chinwag and since returning to Chichester he has found his mind going back to his days in South Bank and has made a few entries into the Guestbook which I'll copy here to save you the bother of looking them up...

Name: Teddy McManus
Posted:13:55 Tue 17th October 2006
Comment:
I read on site about Pauline Higgins being a good singer, well I lived a couple of doors from them in Branch St and her father used to sing when he was on the toilet down the backyard and he had a great voice too, I used to open my back bedroom window and listen to him as well as the rest of the street! His name was Johnny and he had another daughter called Veronica. Also next door to us was a girl called Jose Potter and she played the piano on the BBC on a program that looked for talented youngsters, trouble is I cannot recall what year it was,anyone remember?

Name: Teddy McManus
Posted:13:19 Mon 23rd October 2006
Comment:
Hello Dick. Thanks again for great time at the revival. It set me thinking of the old days with the gang or tearaways as you aptly called us! Going to Eston Jetty and diving in the river off the bottom deck at low tide and the top deck at full tide. Going to Middlesborough Baths,we used to go in the old pool as it was cheaper and paying was it a penny or twopence for Brylcream out of the machine, Happy Days!

Name: Teddy McManus
Posted:13:05 Tue 24th October 2006
Comment:
Sorry Dick,going to the reunion evoked many memories so I have to try and piece them all together through your site, blame Ann(Slieght)and Margaret Breckon, they started the ball rolling and it is gathering speed! I am now in the Princess Alice in the Buffet left corner with all the gang and Muffa Murphy who organized everthing for trips out or who gets the next round in!(he had 8 sisters and lived in the Dutch houses) but the one I wanted to contact was a lad called Arthur who was always doing the Times crossword and was a good friend. On one occasion we were working at Smiths Dock,went out for a drink at dinnertime hour,got back late and the gates were locked so we went down to Eston Jetty and sneeked in as it was low tide and he carried me on his back as the water was comming up and came out in a rash for his trouble. I would like to thank him if you can find him. PS. My daughter said to me the other day "You look miles away" I thought yes you are right I am approx 320 miles away in a North Easterly direction.

Name: Teddy McManus
Posted:13:22 Tue 24th October 2006
Comment:
Hi Dick. I forgot to say it was the early fifties in the Pub and Ted Nugent was the Landlord (kept a good pint) and Madge was the barmaid (always let me know when I had had enough in the nicest possible way)

Name: Teddy McManus
Posted:12:58 Thu 26th October 2006
Comment:
Sorry Dick, I'm back again. Refering to my last message. After 3 days going through the alphabet I finally remembered Arthurs last name whom I wanted to get in touch with,well it was Grant so if you are out there Arthur please contact me. I had a flashback of Coatham as well, Ian Denny was in my class and he said his dad was the Motorcycle Sidecar champion of the world,do you remember him? think he owned a garage in Redcar.

Ian Denny is still going strong and still has the garage on the Front in Redcar. Ian's dad was a Champion in the Sand Racing which was held on Coatham Sands and between Saltburn and Marske. I'll put a link after this to our camera club (Redcar Amateur Photographic Society - RAPS) and if you look at the photos of Jack Wright you'll see some old sand racing shots. Dick.