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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.
Comments
Interesting to read about your parents Wendy. Neil has tried to phone you a couple of times recently. Hope you are well and have settled into Ella's house.
Regards Estelle Oloman
Posted by: Estelle Oloman at June 16, 2008 8:38 AM
HI MY NAME IS NONA QUINN. I LIVED IN THE FARM HOUSE CALLED GRANGE LANE FARM WERE ONCE YOU PARENTS LIVED. I WAS BORN THERE IN 1941. IT STOOD OPPOSITE A FARM WHICH IS NOW THE COACHMANS PUB ON BURNT HOUSE LANE. MY FATHER NAME WAS JOHN ELVIN, MY MOTHERS NAME WAS MEGGIE ELVIN. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES OF THE FARM. I CAN REMEMBER A PART AT THE END OF OUR FARM HAD BEEN BURNT. I STILL LIVE IN WHICKHAM NOT FAR FROM YOUR SELF IF YOU COULD PLEASE LET ME KNOW ABOUT ANY PICTURES OF THE FARM ,WOULD BE APPRECIATED .THANK YOU
Posted by: nona quinn at August 19, 2008 9:28 PM
Sorry, we have no photographs other than what appear in the photo galleries.
Posted by: Whickham Web WanderersERERSe at August 20, 2008 8:24 PM
Hello there, I was born in November 1941 at Hawthorn Cottages where the lower end of Grange Lane turned right beside Pattinson's nursery gardens. My father Joseph had a small painting and decorating business and my mother Jennie was the local district nurse for many years. My dad and grandfather were avid pigeon racers while my mother was a member of the golf club on Fellside Road. I vaguely remember the name Nona Quinn but I'm sorry to say, for the life of me I don't know why.
When I played and roamed the area as a child I remember what is now the Coachmans pub, was occupied by Mr & Mrs Kelly and along Burnthouse Lane towards Whickham was Rutter's farm and the other way towards Hole Lane, Sunniside was Ord Sandersons farm, who I last saw collecting glasses in the said pub. I picked taties for Ord on many occasions and was rewarded in a very meager way by a usually drunk Mr Sanderson. However I suppose it was my just rewards for ruining many of his straw stacks after me and my mates had tunnelled and made dens in them. A Captain Bennet lived in Westacres in those days later to be occupied by Alec Watson the builder. Names I played with in those day you may recall, Alan Jackson (died from hole on heart at 11) Beryl and Freda English, Ian Robson. Alan & Richard Robson, Mervin and Kelvin Ashley and sister?, Pat O'Keefe, Margery Bright, my own sister Pamela. I'm now retired and living in Cumbria, but I still look back on my happy childhood, when nobody locked their doors and you roamed your surrounding country side perfectly safely, as long as you were home for tea. If you read this, please respond with your comments.
Best regards.
Mike Robinson.
Posted by: Michael Robinson at May 17, 2009 10:02 PM
I lived next door to Mr & Mrs Oloman in Grange Lane and remember Billy and Betty Oloman living next to the Parochial school which I attended.
I also remember Mike Robinson and his sister Pamela, we went to the Newbiggin dance school a few times together. Like Mike I also now live in Cumbria.
I was also born in a nursing home at the corner of Cornmoor Road and lived in Whickham in the same house for forty-five years so I can relate to everything and everyone Mike referred to.
Yours Sincerely.
Fay Toase
Posted by: Fay Toase (nee Richardson) at June 3, 2010 9:20 PM
Hello Fay,
of course I remember you as Fay Richardson, a good friend of my sister Pamela. You would live near Margery Bright, Corbett's and captain Bennet of Westacres. So you now live in Cumbria, well my wife Kathleen (from Lobley Hill) and I have lived in the small market town of Wigton for the last 40 years. Would you happen to live anywhere near? Maybe it would be nice to meet and m chat over old times. Hoping to hear from you.
Regards, Mike Robinson.
Posted by: Mike Robinson at July 28, 2010 10:12 PM