Local Folk
The Rising Sun, Sunniside
The Rising Sun.
The Sun Inn, situated on the corner of Sun Street and Sunniside Road, was opened in 1841, William Wilson being the Licensee. He was succeeded by William Rutherford (1850), William Surtees (1856), Robert Storey (1861) – although his wife Dorothy ran the pub with the aid of her daughter whilst he worked at Marley Hill pit, - Robert Reuben Storey (1873), and James Davison (1879).
Margaret Davison, nee Brabban.
At this point the pub was now named the Rising Sun. James had married a widow, Mrs. Margaret Brabban (the daughter of Robert Storey), and when he died Margaret continued to run the pub, helped by her son William Brabban, until her death in 1907.
Then Joseph Davison became Licensee.
Joseph and Louisa Davison
with their children.
When he died in 1915 at the age of 39 years his wife, Louise, continued to run the pub. Their son, Jimmy Davison, took over in 1934 and along with his wife, Ivy (Johnson), ran the pub until 1955. Their son, Stuart Davison (married to Joan Strong), chose to follow an electrical career so Arthur and Doris Scorer left the Marquis of Granby to take over the tenancy. When Arthur died in 1978 Doris ran the pub until her retirement in 1983.
The Marquis of Granby in 1938.
Viv and Tom Brown, followed and during their time the pub was refurbished and an extension was made into the house next door.
For the rest of the century there were several landlords who were there a relatively short time. An exception was Harold Turner.
Fire Service
Dunston Fire Brigade-(Circa1904) in Beresford Street, Dunston. This was an unofficial fire service started by Jimmmy Goulburn
The officer in charge was Mr Jimmy Goulbourn (sitting on the waggon).
Ted Joynson
Ted Joynson, is well known on the region's athletic circuit thanks to a career spanning more than fifty years. Ted began running when he did his National Service in the Royal Artillery after the war. He began competing seriously in the army when he was became Regimental mile and three mile champion, and after his demob in 1948 he joined Gateshead Harriers and has competed ever since.
His army experience marked the start of a five-decade love affair that has left Ted as keen as ever to get to the winner's rostrum.
When Luke Edwards interviewed Ted in 1999 he wrote, "Ted is slim and athletic and moves around with an agility that makes a mockery of his pensioner status. He arrived a couple of minutes late for our meeting on an uncharacteristically warm day in the North East. It is no exaggeration to say that he literally bounds over to greet us. His mind is electric and he has an instantly likeable personality and a sharp sense of humour.
Running has been a part of his life for so long that to carry on in the sport comes naturally.
In 1953 he was club champion after running the 6.25 Chowdene race in 33.58 - 40 seconds inside the record. That year he finished 20th in the Morpeth to Newcastle race and 11th in the NE cross-country.
In 1954 Ted was picking up prizes in the local mile handicap races and he won the first ever Paarlauf held in this country with Stuart Wilkie. A Paarlauf is a complicated relay originating in Sweden, They ran 3 miles 345 yards in 50 minutes.
In 1955 Ted won the Gateshead four mile race and the trophy for being, "The most diligent runner in the club".
Ted continued to run until the early sixties but had a nine-year break from the sport while he gained engineering and teaching qualifications. Ted is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Designers.
He took a teaching post at Gosforth High School and began running again in 1972 aged 47.
In 1973 Ted picked up the first of his many vet awards, first over 45 in the Croxdale "10". The next year he embarked on his campaign, which is far from over.
1974 1st British 50-54 years 1500 metre Championships
1975 50-54 age group
1976 1st British 5000
1st Northern 1500 and 5000
2nd British 1500 and 5000
1977 2nd British 1500
1st Northern 1500, 5000 and Marathon
3rd in the World Marathon in Gothenburg
1st World Vets Marathon - Hanover
3rd World Vets Cross Country
1st British Marathon - 2hrs 49mins
Emil Zatopek presented him with his medal.
1978 1st Northern 5000
1979 5th World 1500 in Toronto
1980 He won the commonwealth 25k in Edinburgh.
1981 Ted won medals in the British 800, 1500. and 5000 metres.
By 1984 Ted was in the over sixty-age group. He ran the London Marathon in three hours. He has run all over the world and has many stories to tell.
In the late sixties he did his winter training with Brendan Foster at Gateshead grammar school.
In 1985 Ted had a badly broken arm and shoulder when he got pushed over at the start of the North Shields Road Races. Typically he fought back and won two silvers in the British 800 and 1500 and bronze in the 5000 at Meadow Bank in 1985.
The high point of 1999 was when he was one of three local athletes chosen to carry the torch at the opening ceremony of his 5th Veterans Olympics held at Gateshead International Stadium in 1999.
The low point was when a car knocked him down whilst taking part in a Marathon in Malta. The routes are usually clearly marked and well stewarded. The woman driver was very apologetic and nearly fainted when Ted said he was continuing the race.
Further on he had a near miss with a bus and a speeding taxi. Ted stresses that he was wearing a bright orange vest so should have been clearly seen.
He has competed in 89 Marathons- 12 London Marathons, 35 Morpeth Road Races and has over 4,000 medals.
Ted is still running. "As a pensioner I'm proving that you can really go for it in your later years. There is nothing to stop you."
His daughter Linda and grandson Christopher Lamb are also runners.
It is his ultimate ambition to run a marathon when he is 100.
Photo gallery
Miss Melvin
Miss Melvin was a Headmistress of Whickham Front Street Infant School. She lived in Whaggs Lane and survived into her 90s.
Thomas Blythe
Tommy owned Birtley Bricks, the bricks were stamped BBB, he lived in Dinsdale House, Burnthouse Lane, Whickham. There are brick pillars on the opposite side of the lane where his garden gate was, steps led to this gate and there were owls on each, the garden which was behind the gate is no longer there. He was a very jolly fellow and well liked in the neighbourhood.
Joseph Wilkinson
'Pop Joe' as he was called, owned a mineral water factory in Gateshead at Tyne Road East. He lived at Chase Park House in Whickham. On the estate wall in Front Street he built shops.
The house he built in Millfield Road, is now known as Whickham Villa Nursing Home. Chase Park House was sold to the Council. It was used during the 2nd World War for the war effort and pulled down afterwards.
Lily Butler
Lily was a noted milliner with a clothes shop in Whickham, ladies came from as far away as Hexham to buy her hats. She married late in life to Billy Fishburn, the postmaster. Unfortunately, he only lived a few years after the marriage. She then retired and went to live in a bungalow at the top of Carr's Bank. Lily was a very nice person and well liked in the area.
Lily Butler's shop window
in the 1960's
Thomas Easey
Tom Easey lived at West Farm, so-called because it was West of Dunston and Gateshead. He was a gentleman farmer and was famous for winning two races at Blaydon Races in one day on the horse called Spoiled.
Tom drove a 4-in-hand for Venture Coaches because it was thought to be a prestigious thing to do. Venture Coaches were owned by the Priestman family, who lived in Shotley Bridge. They also owned Priestman Collieries, some of which were in Whickham District. Their horses, whose names all began with "V" were kept at Ravensworth.
Colonel and Mrs Woodley Thompson
Mrs. Thompson insisted on being called Mrs. Col. Thompson, she had one of the first cars in the district and a chauffeur, Jack Hare, to drive it. She would not allow smoking in the house, even her husband had to go into the conservatory to smoke.
Mrs. Betty Oloman born on a farm in Burnopfield delivered milk to Whickham district by horse and cart. One day some children were pestering the horses when Mrs. Col. Thompson was walking down from Whickham Park dressed as she usually was in tweeds, pork-pie hat and a walking stick. She berated the children and then turned on Betty, trying to insist that Betty went to the police as soon as she had finished her round as she, Mrs. Col. Thompson, would not tolerate this kind of behaviour in Whickham.
During the summer, if it was a hot day, the servants at Whickham Park opened the kitchen window, Betty would then pass the cans of milk over the window-sill, it saved her going round to the back door. One day she was seen by Mrs.Col. Thompson and was 'court-martialled' on the spot.
Mrs Ismay
Mrs. Ismay lived in Woodhouse Lane, Clockburn, Whickham, it was an ash track at the bottom end of what is now Whickham Golf Course near the Holmside Abbey ruins. She had a sweet shop in her front room and a vegetable stall in the garden. She was taken to court and fined for not having a licence to sell, she told the Magistrates she had never had a licence and was doing a good trade and didn't see why she needed one. There was no water or electricity in the cottage and water was drawn from a well.
Ganny Willis
Ganny Willis lived next door to Pink House. She was the widow of a First World War naval captain. Between the wars she started a sweet shop in her kitchen, the sweets displayed on the kitchen table. Children would sneak in and try to steal the sweets. She became noted for chasing children along Front Street.
The School Board Man
I don’t know if they still exist but up until the 60s at least, one of the most feared officials for school kids was the School Board Man. The role of this gentleman was to wander the streets looking for kids who were playing truant (or playing the wag as we used to say)..
In the 50s and 60s in Swalwell, the School Board Man was a gentleman called Mr. Foster. A short, bald, bespectacled and moustached character in a Burberry raincoat, Foster would lurk around corners waiting to pounce on unsuspecting truants. If caught, you were generally dragged by the ear to your parents who would be lectured to by Foster on the erring ways of truants with a warning to ensure that you attended school.
On many occasions Foster would be spotted in the distance and we would run like hell to ensure that he didn’t catch us. He would never chase you but would yell after you that he would get you next time - he often did! Foster disappeared sometime in the 60s and was never replaced.
Does anyone else remember him?
From David Newton now resident in The Philippines.
Jack the Porter
Jack Lightfoot, a porter at Swalwell Station, was moved to Shotley Bridge but as he still shouted "Swaaalwell" when trains were approaching, he was soon moved back again!
Mr Robert Boyd
Robert Boyd and family moved to 5, Prospect Terrace in 1932. He built a wooden hut in his garden measuring 8ft by 10ft and continued his cobbling business there. Later, with help, he moved the hut in sections to his selected site opposite the Methodist Chapel, Sun Street. There it stayed. Robert retired in 1961 but son Ernie carried on the business. Ernie spent 56 years as a cobbler aided by Brother Jimmy who spent 30 years in the business.
Ernie carried out repairs for generations of some families and dealt with famous people like Lord Gort, Hughie Gallagher the footballer, Dr. Miller and Father Pickering of Byermoor. His little hut was bulging at the seams with shoes at all stages of repair, identified with chalk. He liked nothing better than a little chat! Ernie retired in 1986. The Burdon Park Luxury Housing Complex surrounded his little hut but there it remained until 1993 when he allowed it to be demolished so that an existing garden could be extended.
Margaret Robinson
In the early 1920s, Mrs Margaret Robinson kept a shop in her back room of Napier House. She made toffee apples and sold them to day trippers at Washingwell.
John and Bella Lister
In 1914 John and Bella Lister retired from Grange farm, Whickham to Grange House, Streetgate.
Billy Kendall (born 1906)
Mr Kendall was born in 1906 at High Row, Marley Hill. 
At the age of 14 he went down Marley Hill Pit for 10 shillings a week, working shifts of 9 to 10 hours. He worked at the pit for 48 years.
In 1938 he sat his Deputies Certificate, after being coached by a teacher from Marley Hill School. He also had to take a hearing and sight test.
As a deputy he had to take a Glenny Lamp down the pit to test for gas - the smaller the flame the more gas there was. He had to go down on Sundays to take measurements.
Eventually Bill became a Training Officer at Marley Hill Colliery following a 3 months safety-training course at Middlesbrough. He had to take the trainees for six weeks to the Morrison Busty at Annfield Plain. He retired at 64 years.
Bill was Secretary of Marley Hill Welfare Hall, which is now Marley Hill Community Centre.
Bill remembers:-
* the grass on the football pitch being withered as the result of its proximity to the acid plant at the Chemical Works.
*Elizabeth Kendall, nee Simpson had a shop in her house. She made meat pies for sale and sold basic foods, black bullets and yeast, as most women baked their own bread.
*Once a week the storeman from Burnopfield CWS coming round with his horse and cart selling everyday necessities.
*Eating chocolate sandwiches and ones with just sugar in them.
*When canaries were used to check for gas.
*When the pit ponies were pensioned off.
*Allotments, pigeons, leeks and chrysanthemums.
*The many deaths and accidents down the mines, particularly one when a man had his leg blown off.
*When the pits were taken over by the N C B in 1947.
*He is still known as his nickname of Lovely, which came about when he was an overman. If he wanted to compliment some one on their work he would say "lovely, lovely".
Mrs Ellis, caretaker at Marley Hill School (born 1908)
Mrs Ellis started in 1945 and was there for 18½ years.
There were 10 outside toilets, which regularly froze in the winter.
She was paid an extra 4 shillings for lime washing the toilets.
The meals for 150 pupils arrived in containers from Burnopfield Central Kitchen. There were 3 helpers.
Mr Bellerby, the Headmaster, lived in the School House for which he paid 2 guineas a week rent.
4 tons of coke was delivered to the school each month. It was dumped in the yard and she had to shovel it into the boiler house. There was often a heap of coke lying in the schoolyard.
Mrs Elllis helped at the Coronation celebrations in 1953, which was held in Marley Hill Welfare Hall. The Burnopfield Co op loaned a television set for the day and it poured down with rain. Mrs Ellis was responsible for the staff toilets.
Her salary when she retired was £4.14.6d per week with 2 days extra pay for her length of service!
Mrs. Nellie Ralph
Nellie sold fish and chips from her scullery that she had cooked in her set-pot!
Mrs Polly Wringer
Polly had a shop in her front room selling sweets and pop. When she was she ninety had a boy friend who was ninety three. He used to visit her in his pony and trap.
Mr. Jack Johnson
Jack was born in 1901 and died in 1980. He was a well-known character in the area being the butcher in Reed's shop. He used to slaughter animals in a yard at the back of the shop. Jack was a very cheery person who always had time to ' pass the time of day' with you. When he retired he became 'Lollipop Man' for the children at Marley Hill School never failing to be on duty in all weathers.
Granny Dawson
The legendary Granny Dawson was a regular sight in Dunston early in the century. She spent a lifetime working at her family's Market Lane Dairy, herding and milking cows and delivering their milk from her float seven days a week.
Mr Morrison
Mr. Morrison was the owner and manager of the Imperial Cinema known locally as the 'Bottom Hall'. It opened twice-nightly six nights a week, changing films each Monday and Thursday, and had a film and a short as well as the Pathe News. Films were then classified into A and B films.
There was also a Saturday matinee for children, which was very popular; entry was one penny or two pence for the back two rows, which had plush seats. Some parents gave their children two pence with the intention of keeping them away from the riff-raff in the penny seats- little did they know that one penny was spent on sweets and their offspring met their friends in the penny seats!
When there was a film on involving cavalry and Indians or cowboys chasing baddies, the row of the stamping feet and the yelling was deafening! Mr Morrison did a wonderful job of controlling the children and the fleas, by continuously walking around shouting chocolates, chewing gum and cigarettes or squirting 'Flit' everywhere.
Before the Second World War,at Christmas-time, every child was given an orange. He also provided the tea at the Dunston Church School Christmas party.
Billy Griggs, 1903-1989
Billy Griggs moved to Wellington Road from Blyth when he was just three years old, and spent almost all his lifetime as a barber, having started as a lather boy when he was ten. When his employer went off to fight during The First World War, Billy gained experience in all aspects of the business. When his employer returned and forced him to take a cut in wages, Billy at the age of 16, decided to strike out on his own.
He opened for business in a wooden hut in Railway Street, where he stayed until it was demolished. He then converted the front room of his home into a shop. Dunston's "Billy the Barber" was cutting hair in this shop until he was 80. Even after retirement he continued to trim hair for his family. In 1983, Billy and his wife Hilda celebrated their Diamond Wedding. Billy died in 1989, aged 86.
Joe Chucks
Joe Chucks a well-known character in the twenties lived in Athol Street.
He was a sawdust man. He collected sawdust from the sawmill and supplied local butchers shops and pubs.
At the annual carnival he entertained the crowds with his antics on the slippery pole. He regularly took part in the annual road race in Dunston when he again entertained the crowds. On these occasions he wore shorts and had his head shaved and painted like an Easter Egg. He usually came in last, which was not surprising as he had frequent stops for liquid refreshments. One year he won the race, but it was said that he took a short cut through the Park!
He also played football. Perhaps you have a story to tell about his exploits during this activity!
Joe had a friend called Teddy Whipps. Teddy had a wooden leg, which he sometimes removed and used as an offensive weapon!
Tom Brymar
In the 20s Tom Brymar, who was known for his odd sayings and manners, ran the smallest ferry across the Tyne. Tom's ferry, a small rowing boat operated from near Clayton & Davies the ship breakers to Vickers Armstrongs. He would row across for only a penny; by the Second World War he charged 6d. Between trips he was to be found at The Skiff Public House.
At one time he owned a motorbike and was involved in an accident.
Alex Johnson, teacher at Whickham County School, Front Street from 1949-1962.
After nearly seven years of war I returned home, went to Training College and finally in September 1949 I began teaching at Whickham County School. The Headmaster was Mr Ron Kennedy, a perfect gentleman, and a friend of Mr. Maurice Chevalier, the famous French singer and actor.
The staff was made up of Mr. Emmerson, Mr. Kempton, Mr. Ruddick, Mr. Bramley, Mrs Winskell, Miss Hutchinson, Miss Harbit, Miss Longstaffe and Miss Veitch with Miss Boyd as Cookery Teacher. I was given the 10+B Class which I thoroughly enjoyed, as well as being Physical Education Master.
I loved the children of Whickham and loved teaching. I was seldom home straight after school for I ran a Puppet Club, an Adopted Ship Club, a Nature Club, Athletics and a Football Team.
The children made most of my puppets and I have them still today. All the pupils enjoyed our shows and we gave shows to hospital children. I would pile children into my Ford 10 Prefect, put the puppets into the boot of the car, balance the theatre on the top of the car and away we went. The star of the show (the witch) was Eunice Sharp.
I adopted a ship on behalf of the School It was M.V. Laganfield, an oil tanker, and although it gave me lots of work, it also gave the children lots of pleasure. We plotted the ship’s voyages on a large scale map in my classroom and the children wrote letters to the crew.
When it docked in the Tyne there was great excitement for we all went down to see it.
The crew were mostly Chinese and allowed the children to “take over�? the vessel. A lovely meal was always provided and the children took gifts to their favourite crewmembers.
The Chinese visited Whickham and the fathers of the pupils introduced the visitors to the delights of Whickham Social Club. Mr. Fatkin, the Chief Engineer, presented a model of the ship to the School, and it hung in the school for many years.
Every Christmas the crew made a collection amongst themselves and sent me a large sum of money to give the club members a party, which I did and which was always greatly enjoyed.
In 1955 I took a party of schoolchildren to Blankenberg in Belgium and in 1960 I took 50 children to Italy to Rome to see the Olympic Games and to have a seaside holiday in Rimini.
Rimini 1960
In 1962 I had booked a trip to Spain, and although I had left the school to start my own private school I promised to fulfil my obligations.
In 1993 we had a reunion perhaps one day we can have another?
Reunion 1993
To hear the full story of Mr. Johnson’s time at Whickham School you can buy the audio CD or cassette Miscellany of Memories Part 2, available now.
The Whickham Boys.
The Whickham Boys were a group of men who frequented the Woodmans Pub, especially on a Sunday Night when they were not performing at one of their many charitable functions. They came about because Whickham Choir, a choir with strong choral traditions disbanded in 1958.
Some of the members wanted to continue singing so they decided they would not only try and recruit new members, they would also change their musical careers by singing songs from the shows with a little comedy thrown in as well.
This they did quite successfully for many years, raising thousands of pounds in the process for their many charities. Many organisations in the region benefited from their kindness and hard work, the biggest beneficiary was the Edith Brough Children's Home at Whickham.
Mr Boulton
Mr Boulton lived at Stronsey in Broom Lane and was the first man in Whickham to have a telephone. The number being Whickham 1.
Dr. Bennett
An eminent eye surgeon who lived at Westacres in Grange Lane. He was the first surgeon to replace the retina in eyes at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. A popular man, who doffed his black trilby hat to everyone he met.
William and Norman Baty
Bill and Norman are brothers who still live in Whickham. In their younger days they were well known international cyclists. They are still very much involved in cycling, even taking part in 100 mile rides.
Norman had a cycle shop in Dunston. It was opposite the Cross Keys Public House and next to Roberts the Printers. These have now been demolished.
John Hogget
He owned Hogget's Food Products, a factory off Redheugh Bridge, he was noted for having produced the first flavoured potato crisps. He kept horses in a field on Broom Lane where the Health Club is now. He died on the 2nd February, 1980, aged 69.
William McKeag
William McKeag lived in Whickham at the corner of Millfield and Cornmoor Roads. He was a Solicitor, a Member of Parliament for Durham City and became chairman of Newcastle United Football Club. He was an Alderman and twice Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne. He always wore a pince-nez. He was a well-known figure in the district.
Lord Armstrong
Lord Armstrong was born and brought up in Shieldfield in Newcastle but was sent to a Dame School at Beech House, Front Street, Whickham.
William Bourne 1848-1926
William Bourn was a local historian and published histories of Whickham and other villages in this area. He was born in Whickham and attended Whickham Parochial School until 13 years of age when he left to work in Newalls Rope Works in Dunston. He later worked at Stephensons Engineering Works and Armstrongs Elswick Works both in Newcastle. In 1891 he was appointed School Attendance Officer until l913 when he retired through ill-health. He contributed to the Monthly Chronicle and the Parish Magazine as well as writing histories of local villages and families.
Thomas Heron 1899-1977
'Skipper' Heron became Scoutmaster of 1st Whickham (St. Mary's) Scout Troop in 1916. Skipper was awarded the Medal of Merit for outstanding service in 1937 and appointed District Scout Leader in 1949. The Silver Acorn, one of the Scout Association's highest awards for dedicated service to scouting was awarded to him in 1955. He retired from scouting in 1976, a presentation was made to him in January 1977and he died in July 1977.
One of the biggest events of his scouting life was a play presented in St. Mary's church hall in Whickham in 1923 to raise money for the troupe to attend the Empire Jamboree. The Jamboree was attended by scouts from 25 countries as well as the founder of scouting Lord Baden-Powell and author Rudyard Kipling.
Miss Margaret Dryburgh 1890-1945
A Dutch woman sparked off a far-reaching chain of events when she donated a collection of music manuscripts to California's Stanford University ten years ago. For the meticulously handwritten manuscripts were far removed from any usual musical composition.
They were choral arrangements sung by 30 Dutch, British and Australian woman imprisoned by the Japanese during the Second World War. To cope with captivity the woman formed a choral group in their prison camp on Sumatra, Indonesia. The inspiration for this was Margaret Dryburgh.
Margaret was born in Sunderland, the daughter of the Reverend and Mrs. W. Dryburgh. The family moved to Swalwell in the 1900's where he was the minister at the Presbyterian Church at the Ebeneezer Chapel in Market Lane. The family was very well liked in the village and they were all keen and talented musicians. Margaret became a qualified teacher and taught for a short time at the village school before going to China in 1919 as a missionary.
When war with Japan started, contact was lost, but in April 1942, after the fall of Singapore, she was found to be in Sumatra in a Japanese prisoner of war camp for women and children. 
Soon she began arrangements of classical works for a 'Voice Orchestra', where types of humming sounds were used for each instrument. She taught the other inmates how to produce these sounds and concerts were put on to raise morale. From memory Margaret Dryburgh wrote down pages of music from baroque to contemporary with the help of Norah Chambers, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London.
With only their memories to guide them they reproduced musical scores for over 30 orchestral and piano works by composers, which included Handel, Brahms, Chopin and Beethoven. Even the Japanese soldiers were amazed at the women's talent and used to listen at the door when they sang their services. The Saturday night gatherings grew so large and loud, that the guards peering in at the windows and climbing on to the dustbins, for a better view could not ignore them. They took to inviting themselves, sitting in the front row on cane chairs while the woman sat on the ground.
One of the pieces written by Margaret was the 'Captives Hymn', which was sung every Sunday at worship in the camp. 
Its main feature was the absence of bitterness or hatred of their captors, despite the dreadful conditions they endured.
Together the two women rearranged the scores for choral singing, condensing a 15-minute movement of a symphony into a 5- minute choral work without losing its sense of balance and flow. Unless needed for vocal ease, the new scores remained faithful to the original keys.
The choice of syllabuses to be sung was left to Norah Chambers. To keep the programme a surprise for the other captives, she rehearsed the orchestra in a sooty shed behind the kitchen, without so much as a pitch pipe for an aid.
Constant hunger and disease took their toll and Margaret died on April 21st 1945 after reciting Psalm 23, a matter of months before the war ended. She was buried on 23rd April 1945 among the rubber trees of "Belau Camp on Sumatra. On March 2nd 1951 Margaret was reburied in the Dutch War Grave Cemetery in Java. 
A year after the compositions were handed over to Stanford University, a women's chorus in California performed them in a series of concerts.
The story of the women and their music captured the audiences' imagination. It is thanks to a Dutch survivor, Helen Colijn, that their amazing spirit and Margaret's story lives on in her book which was later made into a film. The film -makers contacted Bill Fletcher, who played the organ in the Swalwell Chapel where her father was minister, to find out about her Tyneside background. The film,' Song of Survival', was shown in Britain on Channel Four.
In December 1997, a film, called 'Paradise Road', was released that showed the women's struggle to survive a horrific time in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp in Sumatra during the Second World War, Margaret Dryburgh, was played by Pauline Collins.
Wards 9 and 10 at Dunston Hill Hospital were renamed 'The Margaret Dryburgh Ward' because of the hospital's connection with the Far Eastern Prisoners of War Association.
Michael Reed (nicknamed Mr. Venture)
Michael Reed, the son of Jack the only surviving Reed brother, was always interested in the business and as he got older was allowed to go to the shareholders meetings as his father's representative. He was not allowed to say anything but just to write everything down. Michael well remembers the day in 1969 when his father told him that he'd supported an approach from the Northern Bus Company to sell Venture Reed. He was very, very upset but it was a very good offer at a time when the future of Consett Iron Company, a major source of revenue, was in doubt.
Northern promised to retain the Venture name and livery, but this was discontinued a couple of years later and it seemed that the Venture had gone forever. In 1980, Michael was running a garage and car dealership when, he was visited by a member of the North East Bus Preservation Society. The subject turned to buses and of course Venture Buses and resulted in Michael becoming an N.E.B.P.S. member.
Shortly afterwards came the news that JPT 544, the sole complete survivor of 60 Daimler CVD 6 vehicles delivered to Venture from 1946 to 1948, had been found behind a London pub in a rather sorry state. Venture had converted this particular bus into a motor caravan for use by employees who took it on their holidays.
After wondering whether he really wanted a sick Daimler the vehicle was collected (on a low loader) by enthusiast Ted Heslop. The bus when it arrived was not a happy sight. Water had penetrated the roof and the interior was in a very poor state.
Time being at a premium he advertised for a coach-builder to come and do the work. The job centre sent over a Jack Farrel, a pattern maker by trade, which was not what he wanted but he said, " give me two weeks and I'll show you what I can do".
The result was that Jack was there for seven months and achieved fantastic results. The engine overhaul was done in house. Six years later l had realised half way through the project that the coach would have to pay for its self. He eventually acquired three more vehicles. The Daimler is very popular for weddings and other private hires. Michael or "Mr Venture", as he is nicknamed, has no plans to start bus services but his one ambition is to have a running day with all four surviving Venture vehicles operating from Consett to Newcastle.
William Anthony Hopper
William Anthony Hopper, resident of Steetgate, was the grandson of Andrew Hopper of Baldwin Flatts Farm, Dunston. He served in the Royal navy during the First World War and as a special constable during the Second World War.
He was an all round sportsman, playing in his younger days for Ashington F.C. when the club was a member of League Division III (North) and then was associated with Whickham Park A.F.C.
He served as a governor for both, Whickham Cottage Hospital and the R.V.I., Newcastle.
Will Fenwick
Will Fenwick lived at Westview and in 1910 was a travelling draper though earlier in his life he worked with his father at Marley Hill Pit. He was born at Streetgate in 1872 the son of Luke Fenwick, toll collector at Fuger Bar in 1871. Will was one of the stalwarts of Sunniside Methodist Chapel being a lay preacher, superintendent, class leader and society steward over many years. In 1937 he was serving on the management committee of Whickham Cottage Memorial Hospital.
Mr and Mrs Edward Reed
Mr and Mrs Edward Reed, parents of Reed Brothers, Motor Bus Proprietors lived at Haydon House which was built for them. Edward, an engineman at Marley Hill pit, died at Streetgate in 1915.
Joseph Harrison
Joseph Harrison (1876-1954) lived at Seaton and worked on the Tanfield Railway. In 1891 he was the switch lad at the bottom of Baker's Bank and lived as a boarder with Ed Shotton, platelayer, at the railway cottage, Fugar Bar. Joe was a prominent member of Sunniside Methodist Chapel and could spin a good yarn, especially to the young folk. His wife Betty (nee Wallace), baked tasty teacakes and sold them in her sweet shop at Seaton in the 1930s.
Rev. Alan Gales
The Rev. Gales was the longest serving vicar of St. Cuthbert's Church, Marley Hill from 1963 - 1994. He was very popular with all his parishioners, always being available and mixing freely in the community.
Mr. Vic Dillon
A well-known builder in the area, Mr. Dillon dedicated his life to the Federation Brewery and Sunniside Social Club in particular. He was on the board of management at the Northern Club Federation Brewery from 1968 and was Brewery Chairman from 1974 until his death in 1984.
Mr. Lawrence Dewhurst
Mr. Dewhurst was Headmaster of Marley Hill Council School from 1885 -1913. He was highly respected in the area and was involved in all aspects of life in the community. Even in retirement people would consult him for advice. Mr. & Mrs. Dewhurst and their 7 children were the first occupants of the School House. On retirement they moved to a new house on Metal Bank (Sunniside Road) called 'San Souci' (translated - 'care free'). He was organist of St. Cuthbert's 1883-1920 and died in 1926. He is buried in the churchyard. Dewhurst Terrace in Sunniside is named after him.
Dr Thomas Nicholson Wilthew
Doctor Thomas Nicholson Wilthew lived at Hillcrest until 1922 when he moved to Ravensworth Road, Dunston. He had a day surgery at Whickham in 1914 and another at Swalwell in 1934.
Charlie Challoner
Sergeant Major Charlie Challoner of Cyprus Crescent Dunston served in two world wars and was at one time Chairman of the Eleven Club and also of the Dunston branch of the British Legion.
William Ritchie.
William Ritchie worked on the railway. He lived in 31 Holly Avenue Dunston and served right through the First World War with the Northumberland Fusiliers. It was a railway battalion equipped by the railway and handed over as a battalion, complete with horses, wagons and men who were all railway workers. This battalion was recruited at York. In 1966 he was Chairman of the Eleven Club in Dunston and was also president of the Dunston branch of the British Legion. He used to spend Armistice day selling poppies in Dunston.
James Goulbourn, 1871-1955
James, a butcher by trade, was a very well-known and well-respected personality in Dunston at the beginning of the century. He was very involved in many aspects of the community and died aged 84 after a very active life.
As a young man he could be seen riding his bicycle around Dunston. He was still riding his bike at the age of eighty. He was the instigator of many organisations and events in the local community.
Here are some of his activities as told by his grandson Tom Goulbourn. As well as running his own butcher's shop he was; 21 years on Whickham Urban District Council, Captain of the first Dunston Fire Brigade, Captain of The Lord Collingwood Rifle Club, Founder of The Dunston Mechanics Institute (1913) which he always referred to as the "abode I love" (known locally as the Abode of Love) and founder of the now extinct Eleven Club.
He was a Special Constable from 1914 to 1945 when he was awarded a long service medal with two bars.
On the outbreak of the First World War he formed the Dunston Rifle Club into a company. This was the same as the Home Guard in the Second World War. He used to march them up and down Cloddy Lonnen, near where The Metro Centre is now. He led them on a pony, whilst a conveyance followed behind with a barrel of beer. They attended a rifle range to practise shooting.
James had a medal made for each of the members.
When they met in the Mechanics Club to celebrate the Armistice in 1918 James suggested they should form The Eleven Club which would meet each November the 11th to commemorate Armistice Day.
He also owned a horse drawn charabanc and a pony and trap. He used the charabanc to transport various groups around the district and on occasions decorated it for the Dunston Carnivals.
Gallery - James Goulbourn
Whickham U. D. Council 1910
Fire brigade 1904
Rifle Club
Rifle club Challenge cup
Garbutt Cup Certificate
The caravan
Carnival 1928
Carnival Certificate 1928
James Goulbourn and friend
Fred and Jean Howitt
...were the landlord and landlady of the Coachman's Public House and always had a good display of flowers around the pub.
Fred and Alan Martindale, a customer, built the large planters which stand outside. The stone they used was from Sam Curry’s Electrical shop on Front Street and the soil too was donated by David Foggin from the grounds of his property. Jean won first prize in the Britain in Bloom competition for the best kept commercial premises.
Fred restarted the Leek Club and won second prize in his second year.
In the late 1970’s The Coachmans was used as a school-room by the pupils of the Parochial School because of a caretakers strike. Television cameras took pictures to publicise the use of pubs during the strike. Jean said that the cleaners had their work cut out cleaning everything in the early morning before the children came. She also remembers the time after a refurbishment when there were no ladies toilet facilities in the bar area. The ladies had to go out of the bar and walk around the back of the pub and into the lounge area where there were toilets. Alterations were later made to access the toilets from the bar by knocking a hole in the wall between the bar and the snug.
Memories of Bill and Betty Oloman
Billy the youngest of four children to Mr and Mrs Oloman was born, in a house belonging to his grandparents, on the 22nd January 1922. Billy's grandfather was the coachman to Mr Hunter (of the Tyneside ship building family). The cottage was the Coachman's Cottage, Grange Farm, Burnthouse Lane. The Hunter's lived in a big house on Burnthouse Lane.
There was a fire at the big house. It was so badly damaged they did not bother to rebuild it. There was a small section which was habitable. An elderly brother and sister belonging to the Hunter family did stay there for a short time. They were quite elderly and died shortly after the fire. Billy said there were a number of houses along Burnthouse Lane including Laundry Cottage, Dinsdale House,(which was built by Blyths of Birtley Brickwork fame), Green Shutters and Appletree House.
Billy thought it quite amusing that his grandfather who was a teetotaller lived in a house which one day would become a pub.
Billy's father, William Oloman, was a time-served joiner and a clerk of works for various councils. During the war he worked as an assessor for the War Damage Commission.
Billy's father built a house on Grange Lane for his family to move into.This property is still standing and is near Westacres Avenue. The house was named 'Dryburgh' for Pastor William Dryburgh, who had been a Presbyterian Minister at the Ebenezer Chapel, Swalwell. The Oloman family, having been Presbyterians at one time, had great respect for this gentleman. Pastor William Dryburgh was the father of Margaret Dryburgh who had died in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp.(see People of Note,Swalwell)
Billy and Betty Roberts married in the Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin on the 17th November 1942. Unfortunately they would only have three days together before Billy had to rejoin his regiment. They would not see each other again until December 1945 when Billy came home for a month's leave.
Betty's father had come to Whickham to work as a manager at Easey's farm. The whole family had to help out. When Betty got older she drove the milk cart delivering milk. She was offered the job of Dairy Maid with a cottage to live in so was able to provide a home for Billy when he returned from the war. The cottage on Windy hill was demolished to make way for The Broadway.
Betty and Billy have one daughter Wendy who was born in 1947 and a couple of grandchildren.
Bill and Betty have lived for several years in Park Cottage, School Lane, Whickham. They have been prominent members of the community all their lives. In 2002 they will celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.
Park Cottage near the old
Parochial School buildingOnce confirmed into the Church of England, Billy became a very active member of the Parochial Church Council, Sides Person, Server, and Reader. Billy was Church Warden for St. Mary's for several years. Betty has always been a very active member of St. Mary's Parish Church, working on many things including several fundraising events.
Billy had the distinction of being the first Conservative Member on Whickham Urban District Council.
Billy Oloman died in Febraury 2007.
Memories of My Younger Days by Thelma Liddle
Betty Oloman's father worked at Easey's Farm in Whickham and Betty used to deliver milk by means of a horse drawn milk cart to local houses and the shops. The milk would be in big churns and the people would pour the milk from the churns into jugs. As Betty had to pass our house, in Cheviot View, to return to the farm, she would often give us a lift to school. This really was the treat for the day, going to school on the milk cart. Easey's Farm is where the riding stables are today.
In those days, north beyond Cheviot View, there were no houses. It was all just fields, which were called the Banky fields. Almost every winter, it never failed; the children were out on their sledges sliding down the hill.
After the war, in about 1945, Thelma remembered that they held bonfires on the Church Green; the Church Green was not what it is like today, in fact, the green was quite rough and not landscaped. There were bonfires there in November and they also held special bonfires there to celebrate both Victory in Europe and Victory in Japan day. Also bonfires were built in the Rectory field.
Thelma remembers seeing the one in the Rectory field. She said it was absolutely enormous and everybody was there. After that it sort of caught on. Every May they would have a May Queen. They would have a bonfire the night after the May Queen had been picked and the May Queen would go through the village on a decorated float.
Nearly every year one of the Scott's girls would be chosen to be May Queen. This went on for about eight or nine years. The bonfires held in November were also held on the Church green.
Ron and Thelma related a story which Skipper Heron told them about an incident when war had been declared. He and somebody else had hidden all the church silver and other church items so that if ever any Germans came up this way they would not be able to get the silver from the church. They hid it underneath the altar.
They also attended many evenings down at the Old Scout Hut. One in particular, which stands out, is when Skipper Heron showed them some wonderful old slides of the Life of Whickham. These slides, by the way, were not the plastic film of today, but made of glass.
The scout hut was a popular place for dances and social gatherings, typical old fashioned dances and socials where the girls all sat on one side of the room waiting to be asked to dance and the lads on the other. The Miners Welfare, now Whickham Sales room, held dances and this was the most popular place for holding wedding receptions.
There was a sweet shop called Donaldson's where they bought their sweets. It was absolutely wonderful when the sweets came off ration and we could have the choice of the shop.
Bill (William ) Thew. Morpeth U3A
"Living in the Colliery houses, Broadpool Green, an idyllic spot built in the middle of a "Parkland" with surrounding fields, trees, copses and views to Sheriff Hill and Penshaw Monument."
"A night watchman together with his coke brazier and canvas shelter. He was an elderly man who stayed there all night tending the red oil lamps along the road workings.
When the snow arrived it was everyone to the "Chapel Fields", these being the fields between Whickham and Swalwell. What a ride this was and what a walk back."
The Church Green wasn't green and was a rough surface where the annual "Hoppings" came and where all other events were celebrated, such as the Coronation of George VI with singing, processions and bonfires etc.
In Church Chare the large hall was used for Silent Films and when the chairs were moved for roller skating.
"The Woodman's Arms Public House was a house with two rooms, the bar and the singing room or best end."
"The Gibside Estate was used during the last war as a training ground for the Army and the Home Guard for grenade and Sten gun practise etc., the canteen being in the now derelict hall."
" When Gateshead Council took over Whickham Urban District Council the village lost its identity and became a suburb."
I enjoyed my childhood in Whickham, and these are just a few of my recollections.
John Handy (born 1904) remembers
After leaving school in July 1919, having difficulties finding work and finally finding work in October as an office boy at Hall Laidlers Shorthand School, Grainger Street, Newcastle.
Walking to Swalwell Station each morning to catch the 8.40 train to Newcastle, then running to Grainger Street, arriving just in time at 9am. returning in the evening and finding the walk up the hill so much harder!
His father giving up his job at Armstrong Whitworths to build three terrace houses in Whaggs Lane, living in one of them and eventually buying houses in Dunston the rents of which supplied their income (supplemented by occasional building jobs)
Leisure time spent as scorer at Whickham Cricket Club and travelling by bicycle to away matches at Swalwell, Blaydon and Ryton whilst the others travelled by open topped charabanc- very uncomfortable!..
Progress from a bicycle at 21 to a 2 stroke motor cycle made at Scotts of Elswick, then moving on to a BSA.
A Whickham man named Taylor, who lived in Burnside Lane making cars on Scotswood Road, made perhaps 40 and then gave up. Finally progressing to a car himself when he married and moved to Newcastle.
Working as a supervisor of the shorthand writers (all male who had to achieve 200 words a minute and worked at courts in the area and various Government Enquirers in the North of England) receiving and arranging the typing of the text.
Retirement 1971.
Returning to a new bungalow at Whickham, built on land he had known as a farm and seeing many, many changes. Finding new houses, roads, shops, schools and many local landmarks gone. Whickham at least twice the size.
"I have seen many changes since 1971 but still enjoy living in Whickham where I intend to end my days".
Stan Wallace remembers his parents
His parents were Elizabeth and Nicholas (known as Cissie and Nick).
Cissie was the oldest of ten and more or less responsible for the nine siblings. As a young girl she worked at Carr's Pawnshop and at Miss Barnard's Drapers Shop on Ravensworth Road.
Nicholas's mother a widow remarried when he was fourteen. His stepfather did not want him in the home so he moved into lodgings.
Before he married Cissie he worked at Dunston pit, then joined the army and was sent to France but was sent home to work in the pit (it was the only bit of luck he had!). At that time Nicholas worked at Dunston Colliery. On losing his job at Dunston he went to work at Backworth Colliery.
They moved into rooms behind a Butcher Shop next to the Plough Pub in Killingworth Village. Unfortunately he was soon again out of work. When she wanted to visit her mother she had to push her two small sons in a pram to the Teams where her mother lived. Eventually they got a rented house in Clavering Avenue, Dunston where Derwent Tower now stands, but still no work.
In addition to all the mundane house chores, his mother did washing for other people.
Some of you will know what the "Means Test" was in those days. It meant you were given "dole" if you were not working.
One local man who was on this tribunal had the gall to call my father 'work-shy'. Nothing could be further from the truth! He cobbled boots and shoes, cut all our hair. I was never in a barber's shop until after I was married.
He had an allotment garden where he had hens and ducks and grew all of his own vegetables. My brother and I sold these from door to door in Dunston, getting a penny here and a half-penny there. It all helped!
He made beautiful furniture which is still in use to this day sixty years on. There was a treadle lathe in the bedroom where he turned the legs for tables and chairs. I can still smell the everlasting glue pot always on the boil on the gas stove. When it was dark nights, my brother and I helped father to carry planks of oak wood from Newcastle, along the 'Rabbit Banks' to Dunston. This was necessary in case anyone informed the dreaded ' Means Test'
Except for six weeks work labouring making the bowling green at the new Dunston Park, he was on the dole for thirteen years.
After this period of idleness he got on the short list for a dustman's job for Whickham Council. He was a short man and being desperate for a job, any job, I remember him standing in front of the mantelpiece after stuffing newspaper into his shoes to gain extra height because the minimum height for a bin-man was 5'3" and he was just under.
Imagine a short list for a bin-man's job.
He didn't get the job but the next time that it came up he got it. Whether joining the Labour Party had anything to do with it I don't know.
Later in his life I got him a job as a crane driver at J.W. Ellis, Swalwell.
Father died aged 82 and mother died aged 85. I have fond memories.
Photograph supplied by Audrey Simpson nee Wallace.
Bill Urwin's Memories of Dunston. (born 17th May 1916).
Bill now retired lives in Whickham, he remembers the early days when he lived in Dunston.
His parents lived in Davidson Street when they were first married. Bill was born in 1916 Davidson Street, and moved to Dunston Road (previously known as Asylum Lane) just before he started school. He lived just below Park Terrace which consisted of seven pairs of flats originally built for the workers at the Asylum. Dunston Road at that time was just a rough track.
He attended Dunston Church School from 1922 until 1934 when the school closed and he transfer red to the Hill School for his last two years. Whilst at the Church School, the head teacher died, and the whole school attended the funeral. The Reverend McIntosh took the service.
When he left school in 1936, as there were no jobs he was sent to ‘sign on’ and told to attend the “Dole School�? with several others at Blaydon.
They received no ‘Dole Money’ but a voucher for the return bus fare from Dunston. They spent half a day being shown how to make bread tins with loose bottoms from sheet metal then spent three and a half days playing football because there was nothing else for them to do.
So back to looking for a job again!
He sometimes worked at Kennedy’s Market Garden which was on the site of the old asylum and was run by two brothers, George the businessman and Billy the gardener. The Kennedy’s lived in part of the old asylum, which at that time was lit by paraffin lamps. They used the pavilion, (which in asylum times was used as a dance hall for the inmates) for storage and bringing on plants. The pay was penny hapny per hour.
At other times he worked for Jack Havis who had a small dairy herd and paid twopence per day. If Billy Kennedy found out you had been working for Jack Havis he would not give you any more work. Jack and his sister Mabel, delivered milk daily by pony and trap, the milk being transported in large urns and measured out in gill, pint or quart measuring jugs into the customer’s own container.
He remembers :-
Morrison, the owner and manager of the Imperial Cinema known locally as the ‘Bottom Hall’. For more information see People and Cinemas sections.
The Albert Picture Palace known as the "top hall". 
In the 1920’s Mr. Clark, the manager at the Staithes built the white house that is still on Dunston Road, it was modelled on the main building of the asylum and was near to the site of the asylum.
The two ferries across the Tyne that the workers used to get to the factory. See Transport section for more information.
In 1926 the miners digging for coal in the Banky fields and as a result of this a workable seam was found that became known as the Watergate Seam.
The dedication of the War Memorial on Remembrance Day when Dunston Brass Band and the Silver Band performed and the Scouts and Guides marched, there as well as civic dignitaries
Dunston Silver Band playing each Sunday night opposite the Hill School in summer.
The Dunston Silver Band was third one year at the Durham Festival.
Dunston Band had a banner and the name was spelt DUNSEL probably a miss-spelling of Dunseil the original name for Dunston.
Dunston Park was opened in 1930. The work to develop the park was carried out by men on the dole! Prior to the opening, people used to walk over the spare ground to get to Ravensworth Road.
When the Ambulance Station was built on Dunston Road,(where the present petrol station now stands), in 1939 because of the coming war.
During the Second World War there were wardens working as lookouts from the top of the Power Station using ordinary binoculars. They worked in shifts, two at a time, looking out for enemy planes. It was thought that Dunston riverside area and Vickers Armstrongs on the north bank of the Tyne were targets for the German planes.
Extra staff were taken on at the Power Station some came down from Scotland and some were European Refugees. Local people were encouraged to offer lodgings
At the end of each shift outside the Power Station children would wait to ask the men if they had any bait. This also happened outside Vickers Armstrong where the children there would shout- “sportingmanorbaitleft�?- obviously the bait for themselves and the Sporting Man for their unemployed dad! The sandwiches were almost always bread and jam.
During the war Bill was exempt from the forces because he was in a reserved occupation making tanks etc., and when ships were damaged and sent to Dartmouth for repair, he was one of a team sent from Newcastle to repair them.
He was on duty for St. John and helped, despite working 12 hour shifts at Vickers, to ferry wounded personnel from Newcastle Central Station to various hospitals in the area.
He also worked at Dunston Hill Hospital when able to.
Bill was employed at Vickers Armstrongs’ from 1932 until November 1980, when he retired. Four members of his family were employed there, three brothers and their father. They all served and gained their apprenticeships as Fitters and Turners.
He was a member of St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, for forty-seven and a half years. Being the longest serving member in the north, he received a certificate for long service from the Lord Lieutenant of the County to commemorate this. He already had a certificate for forty-five years service.
For the full story listen to it on our Audio CD
Maisie (born 1908) remembers. (Maisie lived in Dunston until 1954.)
Running messages for neighbours and receiving half a slice of jam and bread as a reward and being sent back to return the money and apologise, on the occasion she accepted a halfpenny!
Playing games in the street. Her favourites were Ring a ring a roses, cannon, hidey, skipping and knocky nine doors!
Going to the matinees at the Imperial and Albert Hall cinemas- entry was 1d or 2d.
Working as a telephonist at the Coke Works, then owned by Mr. Reichswald.
Earning 25/- a week ( a big wage for a women in the 1920s) which went to her mother who returned 5/- pocket money. (She lived at home until her marriage in 1937).
Saving 1/- a week to buy bedding, crockery, ornaments for her bottom drawer.
The many foreign ships coming into Dunston Staiths.
Tramcars the only transport.
Dr. Foster travelling to visit his patients on a bicycle.
Standing in the back yard in a queue in all weathers to see the doctor at the surgery.
Washing day! Getting up early to light a fire under the setpot, ladelling the boiling water into the poss-tub, then "bang, bang, bang" with the poss-stick.
Wearing artificial silk stockings and only once affording to buy a pure silk pair!
Her father working as a trimmer at the Staiths.
Maisie remembers a hard, but very happy life " We didn't have much but we had happy times, making our own pleasure".
"We were not ashamed of what we were, or what we had not".
"It's what you do that matters!"
Maisie Kay (Mary Jackson) born December 1908, interviewed January 2000.
Florence Wood's Memories of her father and of Dunston Hill Hospital
My father, William Henry Thompson, was born in West Hartlepool on the 31st March, 1894, the eldest of six children. He left school at 14 and went to live and work on a Yorkshire farm.
When the First World War broke out in 1914 he volunteered immediately and joined the Green Howards. He was in the second contingent to arrive in France, when the first army arrived, the Kaiser, when informed of the number of men in it, said 'that contemptible little army', these men then became known as the 'old contemptibles'.
The second army was much bigger so no comment was made about them. The second army marched across France to the front line, with full pack. They became tired and thirsty and so stopped at street pumps for water, only to find that some of the French had chained these pumps so the British army could not get water. They continued tired and thirsty until they reached their camp for the night.
Sometime in 1916 my father was wounded in the leg and after being sent to the field hospital was sent to England to recuperate for a few weeks and then sent back to France. In 1918 he was wounded in the arm and while he was lying semi-conscious in a shell hole with his arm outside it, a stray bullet hit him in the wrist. This time during his recuperation in England the war ended, so he did not go back to France.
At some point during the war, the Germans sent gas over the British lines which badly affected my father's lungs . In later years because of his weakened lungs, he developed pleurisy every winter and pneumonia a few times. The doctor informed my mother that his body was at least 20 years older than his age because of what he went through during the war.
It was then found that his arm, wounded at the elbow, had not been set properly at the field hospital, so the ends of the bones did not join completely. The ends of the bones not joined together began to decay and so he had inflammation and great pain for the rest of his life. The wrist and leg wounds healed completely but bits of shrapnel worked their way out of his leg right up to the year he died.
In 1935 he was sent to Dunston Hill Hospital as it was thought they would find something to relieve the pain and inflammation. My mother visited him there every week. There were many men in the hospital who lived there all their lives as they had no-where else to go. Some had relatives, but because they were badly wounded or shell shocked, the relatives would not have them back. All the men wore blue suits in the hospital. After a few months he returned home but wasn't much better, so he was sent back in l937. Again my mother visited him every week, and on one memorable occasion took we three children with her. I remember the train journey to Newcastle and then a bus from Marlborough Crescent to Whickham. We were made a great fuss of by the men as they rarely saw children. One very cheerful man had had his legs amputated at the knees and he could move faster on his stumps than most of the other men on their feet. He would jump from the floor to his bed and then jump from bed to bed around the ward. He had a wonderful spirit and kept the ward entertained with his antics and jokes. Again my father returned home after a few months but never returned to the hospital because of the Second World War. He died in 1958 aged 64, which was quite a long life considering his health and experiences. He and my mother were married 35 years but she was a widow for 45 years as she lived until she was 101 years old.
John Handy, born 1904, remembers.
Whaggs Lane as a mud track with very few houses, following his older sister to the Parochial School when she returned from lunch and the teacher allowing him to sit in a corner of the classroom, a large space divided by chairs into two classes.
Starting his school life officially at the new primary school on Front Street in 1910 and his sister joining him there.
Seeing Dr. Andy Smith riding his horse to visit patients.
Yearly visits to the culvert near Duckpool Lane to see young foxes, also seeing ducks on the pond.
Wandering freely on Gibside and Ravensworth Estates.
Making bats and balls with which to play cricket.
Playing football in winter with local lads in the Junior Football League and on one occasion with the Queen Mother on one of her visits to Gibside!
Royalty regularly visiting Gibside, travelling from Newcastle Central Station by coach.
Wearing clogs during the First World War.
Playing Knocky Door Neighbour and Jack Shine a Low, name for Miner's lamp.
Attending the annual flower show and games in a field at the bottom of Rectory Lane.
In his last year at school helping the Head Teacher with his war work, i.e. selling savings bonds etc.
Val McSkimmings remembers .
"My grandfather, a pitman sitting on his back doorstep in Lonnen Drive, Swalwell cleaning his boots with Dubbin."
"When I was six years old, sitting on our back doorstep with my brothers and sisters waiting for our grandfather to call on his way home from his shift at Blaydon Burn pit. He always saved some of the jam sandwiches from his bait to give to his grandchildren. We waited and waited but he didn't come that day. Later we were told that he was dead, killed by a roof fall at the pit."
"My mother telling me about her and auntie Elsie walking to Swalwell Bridge to catch the Venture bus (because it was cheaper) to travel to Robertsons in Newcastle, where they both worked as dressmakers. They did this to save a ½p a journey, one old penny a day. The money they saved was used to pay for a week holiday at Whitley Bay!"
A Sad Childhood Memory.
On February, the 13th 1933, Thomas Lynn (61), an unemployed miner and his wife Mary Jane Lynn (63), were found dead by their son in the upstairs room at 5, Cook's Buildings where they had lived for over 40 years. They were both suffering from terrible injuries. The state of the room indicated that there had been a grim struggle though the neighbours had heard nothing.
Henry Cotterell (21) employed as a putter at Whickham Colliery, occupied the same house as Mr and Mrs Lynn. Henry and his wife returned home about 11 o'clock to find the house in darkness. He knocked on the door but it was not answered, he kicked the door but there was no response. He went to his sister's house, Mrs Howell, who lived a few doors away in the same building. He obtained a key and a knife and returned. With the knife he pushed the key out of the lock but the key he had did not fit.
He then sought out his brother-in-law, George Lynn, who lived in the same street and he also informed Police Constable Atkinson who was on duty in the village. George managed to get the window open and discovered the tragedy.Constable Atkinson then forced the door open.
When Constable Edward Atkinson burst open the door a terrible spectacle met his eyes. Lying face downwards behind the door was the body of Mrs Lynn, she had head injuries caused by a blunt instrument - a heavy poker smeared with blood was found on the floor. In a corner was the body of her husband, his throat had been cut and the main artery severed and at his side was a blood stained table knife.
There were signs of a struggle, broken crockery scattered around the room and other signs of disorder.
It is thought that Mr Lynn was suffering from *nystagmus and had been receiving compensation. He was employed by Whickham Colliery but had not worked for the last two years.
When the funeral took place, Mrs Lynn's body was taken into church and then buried in consecrated ground. Mr Lynn's body was left at the bottom of the steps before the church and was not buried in consecrated ground.
Alma Willis lived near Mr and Mrs Lynn as a child and knew them well, she remembers her father saying at the time, "He didn't murder his wife, he took her with him."
*(Nystagmus Rapid involuntary movements of the eyes, that may be from side to side, up and down or rotary. It may be congenital and is associated with poor sight. It also occurs in disorders of the part of the brain responsible for eye movements and their co-ordination and in disorders of the organ of balance in the ear or the associated parts of the brain.)
Tess Larmour (born 7th January 1923).
She spent the Second World War Years in the ATS.
Tess remembers sad and happy times.
When the German Coke works employed 200 people and the acid plant and the tar beds were another source of employment.
Tthe miners in Middle Row, back -to -back houses with six shared toilets at the end of each street.
The deputies living in Post Office Row and these houses had "proper" toilets.
The pit communities were very close, everyone helping each other.
How the miners’ lives revolved around the pit, the chapel and their allotments.
How the women’s lives revolved around the pit, the children and their home, they had to rise early for washing, cleaning, cooking. They led very busy lives but always made time to tidy up and to get washed and changed before their man came home from the pit. They had to have the hot water ready for the bath at the end of the shift. In an evening the women’s entertainment was to sit outside in the street and chat to their neighbours.
The fear when the pit siren sounded and everyone gathering at the pit yard for news of casualties. The ambulance was kept at the Hobson Colliery and unfortunately was frequently in use.
1949 she remembers the wages robbery at Marley Hill pit.
Social life revolving around the Primitive and Wesleyan Chapels.
One of her earliest chapel memories is learning and saying her “piece�? for the Easter Anniversary.
Making mistletoes with holly and mistletoe at Christmas, the smell of the fruit and vegetables at Harvest Festivals and the yearly chapel trip.
The yearly school trip on the first Friday in July when the children and their mothers filled two buses.
Polly Winger who had a shop in her front room selling sweets and pop who, when she was ninety had a boy friend who was ninety three and used to visit her in his pony and trap.
Nellie Ralph selling fish and chips from her scullery on Fridays that she had cooked in her set-pot. She still managed to have a wash as good as anyone else.
Tess moved from Marley Hill when she was eight years old.
Violet Watts born 1912.
The cokeworks at Marley Hill
Violet moved to Bensham when 8 months old but spent a great deal of time with her grandparents at Marley Hill until going to work in London in 1932. Her Grandfather worked at Marley Hill Cokeworks (known as the "German Cokeworks"). She remembers watching him looking after his pigeons and him sitting on the back doorstep knitting socks.
Services Beyond the Call of Duty
William Richardson was born in Sunniside on the 25th of August 1905. He married Ethel Miller in Christ Church, Dunston in 1927; they were married for fift