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Believed to be Harry Wrightson blacksmith at Loftus Forge in 1900, with John Ward Hopper (who was apprenticed to Harry Wrightson) on the left. John Ward Hopper was the Grandfather of Maurice Toulson of the Loftus Town Crier. Loftus Forge was built by Lord Zetland at the turn of the century, in what was then his timber yard, with his estate office nearby. The forge was rented to Mr John Wrightson for £15 per year. John Smith advised us: “I’d question this as Harry wasn’t born until 1901 in Guisborough (unless there is another Harry). It might be his Father, John or the date may be incorrect? Harry was my Grandmother’s cousin and I remember going to stay at the forge in the 1960’s.”
The gentleman holding the horse is unknown. Can you help?
Image courtesy of Olive Bennett and thanks to John Smith for that update.
All dressed up and nowhere to go, moustaches well-groomed and caps on at jaunty angles; I wonder what this group of men were waiting for? Are they going off somewhere or just waiting for the girls to pass by?
The Archive hasn’t a clue who these men were, or where they were – at a guess it might have something to do with the distinguished-looking gentleman with the cane in the middle of the group. Can anybody help us out?
Wayne Raspison tells us: “The gentleman in the middle is Thomas Vincent Raspison my great grandfather. I was led to believe the picture was taken on a church outing but I don’t know where. I think it would have been around the late 1920’s as he died in 1930. Originally from Gravesend in Kent he came to the area in the early 1870’s to find work originally in a printers shop and then as an ironstone miner. He lived in High Row for most of that time and married a local girl Elizabeth Thomas. I have this obituary from a newspaper cutting.
‘Obituary Death of Mr. Thomas Vincent Raspison: On Wednesday, last week, the death took place of one of the most familiar and best known personalities of Loftus, in the person of Mr. Thomas Vincent Raspison. The deceased was a widower, his wife having pre-deceased him about 16 years ago, and had attained the ripe age of seventy-nine years. For some time he had been in failing health, and his death followed upon a seizure. On his retirement as an ironstone miner Mr. Raspison assisted Mr. W. J. Robinson, auctioneer, and had a very jocular manner in carrying out his duties, and his genial presence will be greatly missed. The deceased was a keen lover of sport, and was one of the pioneers of the Loftus Athletic Sports Club and a member of the Committee. For about forty years Mr. Raspison officiated as the town bellman, and for thirty-five years he was organ blower at St. Leonard’s Parish Church, and recently, as a mark of appreciation of his faithful services, the choir and members of the congregation presented him with a handsome testimonial, which he highly appreciated. The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon at the Loftus Cemetery, there being a large and representative gathering. The first portion of the burial service took place at St. Leonard’s Parish Church, which was conducted by the Rev. C. Ramsden (Rector) and Captain Halls (Church Mission). Two of the deceased’s favourite hymns were impressively sung “Lead, kindly light,” and “O God, our help in ages past,” and on the procession leaving the church the “Dead March” (in Saul) was played by Mr. C. Trevillion, the organist. The coffin bore several beautiful wreaths and floral tokens of esteem, including one from each of his four sons.”
Many thanks to Wayne Raspison for that update.
An awful lot of children here, from the very small to the almost adult. The non-conformist churches, in general, were more philanthropic than the orthodox church and organised events which encompassed their whole congregation. In this case all of the children would have been driven up here (possibly on the back of farmers’ wagons, although by this time possibly even in a charabanc or motor bus) and treated to a picnic in one of the local farmer’s fields. Games and competitions, usually with prizes, would ensue and in the late afternoon all would return home again happy and sleepy (all except those who never won a prize, perhaps?). My mother used to tell me of similar events that she had participated in (funnily enough she was christened into the Congregational Church), she always spoke of them with fond affection.
Image courtesy of Olive Bennett.
Believed to having been photographed at the entrance to the then Royal Hotel in East Loftus (large building in the background being the United bus garage); we don’t know when this photograph was taken, but some of the men on it are:
Standing at the back: Harry Guy, Noel Pearson
Front (left to right): Don Pinkney, ??, ??, Bob Morrison, ??, Ernest (Cocky) Cockburn, Alf Pearson, ??, Bob Pearson. Ian Pearson tells us: ”To the left of Don Pinkney is Lenny Calvert. Behind Alf & Bob Pearson I think is Tommy Morrison.” Eric Trembath tells us: ”Directly behind Ernie Cockburn is Al Davey, it is Tom Loy Morrison.”
The rest of the men I cannot name, can you?
Image courtesy of Joan Jemson; thanks to Angela Cockburn for naming her Great Uncle Ernest Cockburn of East Crescent, also Ian Pearson, Eric Trembath and Lee Guy for the updates.
We were very impressed by this image and we are now advised by Paul Clarke: ”The man in the photograph is my late father Eddie Clarke, and the boy is Keith Simpson. The boat was owned by my father and later went on to get the boat ‘Boy Paul’ built at Sandsend. This photograph appeared in and was taken by a photographer from The Northern Echo in about 1961-1963”. A. N. Andre has advised: “The Sea Rover boats of which there were two; Sea Rover I and Sea Rover II originally belonged to the Simpson family.”
Thanks to Stephen Steyert and Paul Clarke for the missing information, also to A. N. Andre for the update..
Loftus British Legion Social Club, in the 1970s, on Grosmont station waiting to board the train to travel to Filey for an outing which included lunch. The annual trip involved a coach trip from Loftus to NYMR at Grosmont, travel to Pickering and then coach trip to their lunch, etc.
Left to right: Bob Todd, Fred Wilson, Percy Temple, Alf Burnside, Dan Laity, Jack Drew, Charlie Watson, Bob Carter, Ted Money, Jonty Smith, Ray Stevenson, Alex Kuczewski, Lewis Wildmore, Tim Lines, Alan Patton, Dick Steyert, Andy Armstrong, Frank Binks, ??.
Image courtesy of Joan Jemson and thank to David Archer; only one left to name does anyone know?
Do you remember seeing Charlie in Loftus? (Telling whether I do or not will give my age away!) Here he is the day before his retirement with him is Buzz Havelock, Gerard Readman and C E Bibby the town cleaners. ”
Image courtesy of Maureen Hogan (from a Loftus Town Crier calendar) also thanks to Pat and Maureen Hogan for the updates.
The boys at the pool: standing at the back John Grey and Peter Ellwood.
On the bank (left to right): ??, Michael Bowers, Bobby Morrison, Terry Blades.
In the water is Terry Grey.
Help with identifying the last un-named young child would be appreciated.
Image and names to date courtesy of Joan Jemson.
In the sun drying out after the swim.
Sadly the girls standing at the back are unrecognisable, however the boy far right is Peter Ellwood, but who is the boy on the left – help please?
Sitting in the sun (left to right): Bobby Barber, Terry Blades, Bobby Morrison, John Grey, Terry Grey, Michael Bowers.
Image courtesy of Joan Jemson.
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