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Dinner Ladies 1972/3

Our beloved dinner ladies are back, pictured resting from their labours at lunch time.

Back row: Cynthia White, Eileen Mead, Maggie Marley.

Front row (seated): Gwen Husband, Margaret Sivills, Jeanette Found, Margery Wilkinson, Sadie Curnow.

The Archive asked: “Please have we got the names correct?Keith Curnow has settled things: “You certainly have Sadie Curnow correct. I am her son, Keith, she was the wife of Norman and mother of three son’s, Steve, John, and myself.

Image and some names courtesy of Cynthia White, thanks to Barbara McBurney for supplying the missing name and many thanks to Keith Curnow for the confirmation.

Doing the Double – 1921

Winners of the East Cleveland League and Cleveland Cup in 1921 – Loftus.

Back row: A. Andrew (Scorer), C. Breckon Snr. (Umpire), S. Lindsley (Groundsman), J. S. Hebron, H. McCann, J. Harmer.

Middle row: Re. T. C. Booth, C. Breckon Jnr, F. Robinson, R. Slater, Archibald Toase, W. Toase, A. Bidmade, R. Dyson Nutt.

Front row: W. Mott, J. Ward, R. R. Davey (Captain), J. W. Hardy, G. Gott.

Image courtesy of Terry Shaw.

Help Needed!

I was very interested to see the recently photograph of officers of the 13th (Loftus) Battalion Home Guard and I seek the help of fellow Clevelanders to solve a family mystery.

Attached is my maternal uncle, Joseph White (born 3rd October 1896) in uniform at the wedding of his brother-in-law Clarence Brown on 25th March 1940 at Liverton Church. He appears to be wearing three medal ribbons. They could not be WWII ribbons as those were not issued until after 1940, but he was old enough to have served in the latter part of the 1914-18 war which would make him eligible for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Indeed, it is conceivable that he might have been in France between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915, at which latter date he would have been 15 but there is always the possibility he lied about his age when volunteering or we have an incorrect birth date for him. If he was in France, then the third ribbon would be the 1914-18 Star. Graham recalls him being in the Home Guard but The Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow could not find any records for him. [Note: The Home Guard Records held by the Ministry of Defence are apparently far from complete].

I recall him being in the Home Guard as I went with my father, when on leave from the RAF, when he joined with Joe on rifle range practice at the foot of the shale heaps at Liverton Mines. The Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow could not find any records for Uncle Joe, however, The Home Guard Records held by the Ministry of Defence are apparently far from complete.

I seek help, asking if anyone has photographs, or lists of names, of the squaddies of the 13th (Loftus) Battalion Home Guard. With best wishes – R H Graham Suggett

Charltons Mission Football Team

A further request for assistance! Jim Farmery having contacted the Archive regarding: “This is my grandad Ernest Farmery in goal for Charltons Mission Football team – don’t know the year but would appreciate any information? My Dad was born in Guisborough in a mining family living in Charltons terrace as he called it. I’d love to know more about my Cleveland heritage – my Dad was really proud of where he came from and his family. He was one of four lads all born in the area – Eric (my dad) and uncles Alan, Gordon and Cyril. My gran (his mum) was called Beatrice May Farmery (nee Craig. His Grandad was called Ezekiel Craig and they lived in Charltons Terrace – he was a lead miner from the Lake District who move to Cleveland in the 1870s to the work in the ironstone mines. My dad became a deputy in an ironstone mine in Lincolnshire where I grew up.” Colin Hart has assisted with: “Guisborough Church League Division 1 March 1922; Charlton’s Mission 4-2 North Skelton B C; Police Charity Cup Third Round March 1922; Guisborough P C v Charltons Mission.”

Can anybody assist in this intriguing family history search?

Image and information courtesy of Jim Farmery; thanks to Colin Hart for the update.

Smith’s Dock Ladies Football Team?

Another mystery which the Archive would welcome assistance with: the photograph above came to the Archive from Bryan Stubbs who asked for help identifying the members of this ladies football team, a possible date and location. the information Bryan can supply is: “I came across this photograph when clearing out my mother’s things recently after her death. The lady in the centre with the ball is my mother’s mother, my grandma. She was born in 1901 and was called Leah Margaret Edwards, becoming Stimpson when she married in 1922. I know she worked at one time for Smith’s Dock, painting ships and lived in South Bank but I can’t find out whether this is Smith’s Dock Ladies football team. She may have played for other teams in the area as well. Also what is the event. There seems to be quite a crowd in the background!”

After discussions with fellow Editors it has been suggested that the location might be the old Middlesbrough ground at Ayresome Road; also the team strip might be that of Bolckow Vaughan. Please can anybody assist in solving this mystery both for the Archive and Bryan Stubbs?

Image courtesy of Bryan Stubbs.

Towers School – 1947?

Towers School, Saltburn; a whole school image from c.1947, the only person that is identified is Diane Turner (second from the right on the second row). The image was originally featured in ‘Remember When’ – Evening Gazette – taken from a cutting. Can anybody assist with names and a confirmatory date?

Cutting courtesy of Eric Johnson.

An Edward Fletcher Engine – 1884

This 2-4-0 locomotive, number 40 of the “40” class, designed by Edward Fletcher was built at the Darlington Works in 1882; and was the last of four engines built for the Stockton and Darlington. Fletcher was a Northumbrian born and bred, and had assisted in the construction of the Rocket and had been the Locomotive Superintendent for the NER for almost 30 years from 1854 when the NER was formed until he retired 1883. After he retired the North Eastern Railway ended the individuality of the Stockton and Darlington. The engines had 6′ 6″ driving wheels and 17″ x 24″ cylinders. No. 40 was withdrawn and cut up in 1909.

Image courtesy of John G. Hannah, information by Eric Johnson courtesy of “O. S. Nock British Locomotives Calalogue Vol. 5A.

Thomas Fishburn Robinson

This studio image is of Thomas Fishburn Robinson, born in Alston in Cumbria in 1849 and a long time resident of Liverton Mines. He and his wife Hannah Mary (nee Bowers) were the grandparents of Graham Suggett. Thomas was a deputy at Liverton Mines ironstone mine, being there from 1901 till after 1911, he died in 1924. He was the father of Florence Brown and great grandfather of Graham Suggett.

Image and information courtesy of Graham Suggett, additional information courtesy of Ancestry.

Granny Robinson

Pictured in the front garden of their bungalow at 1 Lower Cleveland Street, Liverton Mines, is Hannah Mary Robinson (nee Bowers). She and her husband lived in the village for many years, Hannah died in 1936.

Image and information courtesy of Graham Suggett their great grandson; additional information courtesy of Ancestry.

Guisborough Grammar School Form 1 Alpha – 1966

Guisborough Grammar School’s Form 1 Alpha gathered in 1966 for the class photograph: Back row: Alan Wright, Graham Hodgson, Anthony Ward, Steve Wright, Barry Miller, Pete Sanchez, Andy Over, Robert Liddell, Michael Champney.

Middle row: Dave Shorten, Alan Trigg, Peter Madden, Ken Tod, Ralph Levy, Steve Walker, John ‘Sprout’ Houghton, Peter Mason, Alan Pearson, Graham Ormerod.

Front row: Andrew Holman, Andrew Day, Sean O’Rourke, Peter Thomas, Mr Anderson (Form Teacher), Michael Pearce, Tony ‘Tosh’ Smith, Robert ‘Scratch’ Ward, Andrew Tyas.

Andrew Day who sent the Archive has memories this time: “I started at Guisborough Grammar School in January 1966 and was plonked in form 1 Alpha. It was a bit of a baptism of fire for our family. We moved from Southend on Sea to Guisborough in that dreadful winter of 1966. I started at Guisborough Grammar School and my sister one year my senior went to the Laurence Jackson School. We were ribbed mercilessly at first at school due largely I believe because of our southern accents. Still, as time moved on we grew to be accepted and our times in North Yorkshire became a very rich and rewarding time for us all, especially our mother who to the day she died, wanted to move back north.”

Image and names to date courtesy of Andrew Day, thanks to John Poulter, Steve Walker and Bob Liddell for completing the naming.