Middlesbrough

Its a Small World - Clifford Wilson

Hi, I was interested to see you were in 4p Clifford as I was also and of course Dickie Purvis was a familiar name to me as he became School Captain with me as Vice. Our House if I remember rightly was Dormans, which is where I had my first job for a very short time - in other words i worked for Dormans but not for Long! You would have to be from the Boro to appreciate that 'joke'!I was also interested in the fact that you were in Royal Signals for 2 years. I served in Royal Signals 27 years basically as the result of George Harmers advice and recommendation. He was dead right I loved it and served ...read more here
Contributed by John Culbert

Hugh Bell School

Seeing Norman Jackson's reflections on the teachers of Hugh Bell School conjured up all sorts of wonderful memories. I agree totally with his description of the two headmasters, "Taffy" Evans, the cane toting, foot stamping disciplinarian and Charles Harmer, a gentle man but with a persuasive manner. Mr. Evans at times took us for music and he would always push "Sweet Lass on Richmond Hill" to the point where we got fed up of it. I remember once the class singing Sweet Lass on Richmon Dill and we all thought he was going to "blow a gasket".
Looking at Norman's list of teachers I was reminded that my favourite subject was Maths with "Buller Madden". His teaching methods would certainly be ...read more here
Contributed by Clifford Wilson

Hugh Bell Teachers

Reading John Culberts memories, I was reminded of my own time at Hugh Bell from 1947 to 52. I believe Hugh Bell to have had the most significant influence on my future career together with the Southfield Road Baptist Scouts.

It made me try to think back to the teachers. They were in my opinion all sound and decent men. Anyway this is how I remember them. I would appreciate any corrections or additions if only to help maintain the memory of a fine institution.

'Spanky' Macfarlain - Craft
'Fred' Pickering - Commerce
'Buller" Madden - Maths and Deputy Head
'Charlie' Maingot - French
'Jock' Macbretty - Geography
'Baggy' Jones - English
'Pop' Fowley - History
'?' Backhause ...read more here
Contributed by Norman Jackson

My Old School - John V. Culbert  

I attended this school around 1945 to 1949. In my final years I was School Vice Captain and represented the school at football, basketball, athletics and swimming. I was Middlesbrough Schoolboy Swimming Champion 1948 and played Water Polo for the Middlesbrough Junior and Senior Team. I also took part in the Mile Swim in the RiverTees starting at Yarm and in the 2 Mile Swim in the River Wear (Durham). In the latter event I was 9th out of 99 Swimmers, the rest mainly adults. I went on to Middlesbrough Constantine Technical College achieving a London Unversity Matriculation in French and English Language after 1 year of a 2 year course.
Contributed by John Culbert

Cargo Fleet

I have many memories associated with this church in as much as it was where I went to Sunday School and my brother James was an Altar Boy and chorister. During the war years my mum ran the "Castrees" fish and chip shop in the market square right opposite the church. Her name was Rebecca Wilson but she was always known as "Becky". Although these times were not good ones because of the war, black outs etc., that little shop was packed from opening to closing and created a fantastic place of togetherness. A place to meet and support each other.
I remember walking from our home in Chester Street, Cargo Fleet, to the shop and home again after closing when ...read more here
Contributed by Clifford Wilson

Opening of Albert Park

My great grandfather, Mark MIDGLEY was a member of the First North Yorks Artillery Volunteers. He was in number four battery for 11 years where he rose to the rank of sergeant-major.
I have news paper cuttings of him celebrating his 90th birthday (1941) in which he recalls those days. He remembered the visit of the Duke of Connaught when he opened the Albert Park in Middlesbrough 1868. He was a member of one of the artillery detachments which fired a salute. He says it poured down all the time "we got drenched to the skin, and received  a shilling each for it."
Contributed by mark gatenby