Memories of Middlesbrough

John McFarlane

Sorry, but this slightly worries me. My uncle was John McFarlane, who for my memory taught at Stainsby School as the Head of Bell house. But I have heard of people describe him as 'Spanky'. I don't know if he worked at High Bell, but it's very possible. Interestingly, I now work for the firm of architects who are building a new school on the Stainsby site.

Its a Small World - Clifford Wilson

Hi, I was interested to see you were in 4p Clifford as I was also and of course Dickie Purvis was a familiar name to me as he became School Captain with me as Vice. Our House if I remember rightly was Dormans, which is where I had my first job for a very short time - in other words i worked for Dormans but not for Long! You would have to be from the Boro to appreciate that 'joke'!I was also interested in the fact that you were in Royal Signals for 2 years. I served in Royal Signals 27 years basically as the result of George Harmers advice and recommendation. He was dead right I loved it and served all over the world only left for family reasons but having reached the rank of Captain from that of a Beverley Boy Soldier. In fact the year i left I was due to become Major. So I owe a lot to good old Hugh Bell and in particular George Harmer. For your particular interest I served in Bielefeld, 4 Div Herford and 22 Signal Regiment Lippstadt where I was the Anglo German Liaison Officer which I enjoyed. My first posting was to War Office as a Cryptographer and then off to Korea with further posting to Singapore, Hong Kong and Cyprus (twice) where I served with 9 signal Regiment formerly 2 Wireless. Its a pity we never met. I still attend reunions so if there are any names you would like me to see if I can trace for you, let me know. Kind regards John culbert

Cargo Fleet

I have many memories associated with this church in as much as it was where I went to Sunday School and my brother James was an Altar Boy and chorister. During the war years my mum ran the "Castrees" fish and chip shop in the market square right opposite the church. Her name was Rebecca Wilson but she was always known as "Becky". Although these times were not good ones because of the war, black outs etc., that little shop was packed from opening to closing and created a fantastic place of togetherness. A place to meet and support each other.
I remember walking from our home in Chester Street, Cargo Fleet, to the shop and home again after closing when all the cinemas and pubs had closed. I look back with fondness on those times and have often wondered if there is anyone who remembers my mum and also anyone with memories/photos of Cargo Fleet. I do hope this stirs up some memories for you.....Cliff Wilson  

Hugh Bell School

Seeing Norman Jackson's reflections on the teachers of Hugh Bell School conjured up all sorts of wonderful memories. I agree totally with his description of the two headmasters, "Taffy" Evans, the cane toting, foot stamping disciplinarian and Charles Harmer, a gentle man but with a persuasive manner. Mr. Evans at times took us for music and he would always push "Sweet Lass on Richmond Hill" to the point where we got fed up of it. I remember once the class singing Sweet Lass on Richmon Dill and we all thought he was going to "blow a gasket".
Looking at Norman's list of teachers I was reminded that my favourite subject was Maths with "Buller Madden". His teaching methods would certainly be outlawed today but in most cases got results. I am sure ex pupils will remember his entry into a classroom filled with silence, mark the register and then go to his "cane cupboard". Having selected his favourite for the day he would hit his desk top a few times and then start going around the class, "area of a square, you don't know get out, circumference of a circle, you don't know get out", and so on until everyone in the class had been asked a question on formulae. The "get out" instructed those who hadn't answered correctly to go to the front of the class where they would be caned and sent back to their seats. I have to say that I was never caned and can still remember all those formulae some 60 years on. Unfortunately there were those who were caned quite a lot, one in particular was a lad called Arthur Lee.
When I started at the school I was very small for my age and I know my parents worried that I may be bullied. However they need not have concerned themselves for two of the tallest lads in the class kept an eye out for me namely, "Polly" Wharton and "Dicky" Purvis. My best pal was Fred Kirby until his family emigrated to Australia.
Leaving school I went to Smith's Dock where I did an apprenticeship as a joiner, followed by two years National Service with the Royal Signals. Much of my army time was spent at NATO HQ in Germany where I was squadron chief clerk and this experience changed my view on the future totally. Instead of joinery I decided that commerce was to be my future occupation and thankfully was offered a position at Cochrane's as a transport clerk. That started a career in Transport and Distribution for the next 39 years.
I hope these "memories" stir someone else into sharing and in particular I would love to hear from any of my former classmates in 1a, 2a,3 p and 4p in the years 1945-1949....Cliff "Willie" Wilson.

Hugh Bell Teachers

Reading John Culberts memories, I was reminded of my own time at Hugh Bell from 1947 to 52. I believe Hugh Bell to have had the most significant influence on my future career together with the Southfield Road Baptist Scouts.

It made me try to think back to the teachers. They were in my opinion all sound and decent men. Anyway this is how I remember them. I would appreciate any corrections or additions if only to help maintain the memory of a fine institution.

'Spanky' Macfarlain - Craft
'Fred' Pickering - Commerce
'Buller" Madden - Maths and Deputy Head
'Charlie' Maingot - French
'Jock' Macbretty - Geography
'Baggy' Jones - English
'Pop' Fowley - History
'?' Backhause - Science
'Mick' Proctor - PT

I remember my two headmasters as 'Taffy' Evans and '?' Harmer. The former very tough and the latter gentle and learned.

Norman Jackson

Opening of Albert Park

My great grandfather, Mark MIDGLEY was a member of the First North Yorks Artillery Volunteers. He was in number four battery for 11 years where he rose to the rank of sergeant-major.
I have news paper cuttings of him celebrating his 90th birthday (1941) in which he recalls those days. He remembered the visit of the Duke of Connaught when he opened the Albert Park in Middlesbrough 1868. He was a member of one of the artillery detachments which fired a salute. He says it poured down all the time "we got drenched to the skin, and received  a shilling each for it."

My Old School - John V. Culbert  

I attended this school around 1945 to 1949. In my final years I was School Vice Captain and represented the school at football, basketball, athletics and swimming. I was Middlesbrough Schoolboy Swimming Champion 1948 and played Water Polo for the Middlesbrough Junior and Senior Team. I also took part in the Mile Swim in the RiverTees starting at Yarm and in the 2 Mile Swim in the River Wear (Durham). In the latter event I was 9th out of 99 Swimmers, the rest mainly adults. I went on to Middlesbrough Constantine Technical College achieving a London Unversity Matriculation in French and English Language after 1 year of a 2 year course.