Lee Road Party in 1953 in honour of Queen Elizabeth's Coronation
I recognise Mary O'Neill front row left and I assume the Wilkinson's and Mrs Fox are somewhere in the background but look at the rest of the happy crowd - not a sad face amongst them. All dressed up and rarin' to go.
The Waldon's of Stapylton Street
Brian Waldon sent me these ages ago - and seem to typify the late forties and early fifties period with top left - Gran Harrison and Gt Gran Cox , Mam Waldon, brothers Brian and George with cousin outside of 10 Lee Road - next a trip to Eston Hills c 1948 with Gran and Grandad Harrison and one special trip to Seaton Carew in 1951. Bottom pics are in the back yard of 56 Stapylton Street with Lassie in 1949, next - wearing the latest beachwear fashion at Seaton - of hand knitted swimming costumes, a studious Brian at Sir Wm Worsley in 1955 and a very rare picture outside the prefabs in the early fifties. What a wonderful collection - which I tried to do justice to - as a large collage to keep the happy family together.
Laing Street Family Photos
Teresa Walsh sent these to me a while back. She's the taller girl top left with a friend in the back arch of 58 Laing St and top right outside her house front. The middle picture is of David Davies playing in a six piece band before a fox trot. In the bottom section Teresa is sitting with her mother Mary Walsh formerly Haslock - who is standing behind in the yard of 60 Laing St. Bottom left is of Joseph and his family - in a very early WW1 studio picture with whom is I assume are his wife and three children - relatives of Teresa's. Another wonderful collection!
The Binns Family
Elaine Meadows (Tyerman) sent me these a while ago of the Binns family through the ages - Top left Arthur and Charlotte Binns formerly Butler - Mum's wedding - the Binn brothers Arthur and Ken Binns top right. Bottom left are Iris, Angel and Keith Moore - a great school football team in a stadium - is it South Bank's football ground? And Grandma and Grandad Binns in the fifties. Absolutely fascinating - and deserves even more information. Where they lived - date of the wedding - and names - if possible?
The Street Party Evans St/Alexandra Road? 1953
I originally assumed this was Evans Street - catering for the residents of Alexandra Road - as the photograph was supplied from the families of Jones/Brown/ Cherry Smith who lived nearby - but not everyone agrees and we'd welcome someone to recognise someone on the pictures and throw some light on the situation. What do you think? Is it South Bank?
Someone must be still here to tell us - surely ?
Here we are with a comparative picture supplied by Peter Duffy formerly of Grangetown which seems to be definitive. A photo taken in the 70's seems to confirm it is Evans Street. The yellow arrows make it self explanatory and the angle of the photo almost a perfect match. Thanks a lot Peter... I wonder where the party people are now. The person in the jaunty trilby and camel coat appears to be the famous dance instructor Phil Whitcomb who had a place in Redcar Road South Bank - the Conservative & Unionist Social Club - where many people in the forties and fifties made their first 'quicksteps' and foxtrots before venturing onto the dance floors of the Coatham and the Pier Ballroom. One girl - Colleen Murray b 1947 - who attended Sir William Worsley School - has become internationally famous after being a pupil of Phil's at the age of 12 - now living in New Zealand - continues to train champions - many now living overseas and dancing under the New Zealand flag. Some have returned - turned professional and pass on their knowledge to future generations with others teaching in other parts of the world. What a wonderful legacy for Colleen and Phil !
The Road from the "werks"
A painting of Grangetown in the fifties illustrates how lively the place was - along this road to the works. When I first saw this painting in Middlesbrough's Mima last year or so - it brought back so many memories and I was so grateful that someone had taken the trouble to paint it - probably from a vantage point in the Lyric Cinema. I lived a few yards from this road filled with the noise of clattering boots and dark-coated men hurrying home for tea.