Thornaby memories
Here are memories of Thornaby and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Thornaby or a Thornaby photo.
17 Caledonia Street
I was born at 17 Caledonia Street in 1958, delivered by a lady known as Aunty Didd who lived across our street. The second son of Billy and Gwen Mason, originally from Cannon Street, Middlesborough. Yes Rosemary, the street was cobbled with high curbs. The shop was owned by I think Jimmy Spyte (Spyties) who was also a fireman? Our mam would send us with a note (written on the back of a sugar bag) to get groceries on the slate to be paid at the end of the week, we got a little bag of sweets if Mam paid on time. All the kids would play out in the street and we used to play football aganst the police station wall, no one ever complained in those days. We went to the Misson Sunday School on New Street (Mam still has our booklets with the stamps in). Dad worked as a welder at Kennedy Gratings next to Minnories Garage, Stockton (where I would later serve my apprenticeship as panel... Read more
The Langcake Family
Does anyone remember the Langcake family who lived in Thornaby on Thornaby Road? Great Aunt Ruth Langcake was a teacher, Queens Stret School, unless I'm mistaken, she lived with her blind sister Isabella/Bella. My dad, John Albert Langcake's father was a Policeman and he lived in Lanehouse Road, he married France Doreen Roberts. Any info about this family would be great.
RAF Thornaby
I was stationed at RAF Thornaby for three years from 1954, and was welcomed into the community. I made friends with my namesake, Pat Whelan, and was invited to his home for some good parties. I also remember the Malloby family. There was a lad who worked in the cookhouse as a civilian washroom worker and I hung about with him and his mates at the Italian cafe. I also remember the pub at the Thornaby side of the bridge closed half an hour before the one on the Stockton side, as then Thornaby was in Yorkshire and Stockton was County Durham. We used to run over the bridge to get extra drinks. Also I recall going to a dance in Stockton and the entertainer was Lonnie Donegan at the start of his career. All told you were great friendly people to a stranger. I'm 73 now. I was a cook on the drome, hope someone add something who was also around then.
My Home Town....
I was born in 1972 and moved to Thornaby in 1973 where I spent my life until the age of 24. People used to tease me that I was brought up in Thornaby and I was nicknamed 'the roughian'. People would say don't get on the wrong side of her (meaning me!) as I would punch their lights out! The more I defended the town, the more I was ribbed. So Thornaby has a reputation which I am not sure how it came about. I was brought up in Balmoral Avenue which is still a lovely road with 'nice' people living there. I went to Harewood Infants, Westbury Juniors and The Dene (as was) and I regard myself as having a 'decent' upbringing. I don't swear necessarily, I drink in moderation, I don't beat anyone up and I haven't been to jail....yet!!!! So I was wondering if anyone out there could tell me when in fact the quiet little place in Teesside became known as a rough diamond? A X... Read more
Memories of Cleveland
Day Out From Thornaby
Do you remember ?
Thornaby Road when it was nothing but a twisting lane all the way to the New Inn
or the long walk to the Half Moon Inn (another one),
the two mile cottages,
snagging turnips after a day's swimming at Leven,
the old corner shop just on the Leven Bridge forever being hit by wagons,
the lady who owned it trying to create a nature reserve in the pool,
getting the bus from the Fox Covert to Thornaby - a treat in itself,
what about the log on the River Leven,
bet you thought it was only Ingleby residents who knew about that, well we swam there as kids.
My Era - Stockton Revisited
I was 28 years old at the time of this photograph, living at Roseworth, with wife, Doris,and daughter, Judith, aged two. Married at St Peter's Church in 1947, with Rev'd J McGill officiating, a 'wartime' wedding really, with rationing in place, and I in a khaki uniform with royal artillery brass in place, Doris in a treasured but borrowed weddding gown - coupons were reserved for more pressing items then. Two years after the photograph and we three had embarked on the 'Empress of France' from Liverpool to Montreal, Canada, then by train for four days to Edmonton where the oil and gas business, on which I had pinned my hopes, had faded somewhat. Within weeks Pacific Petroleums Ltd had identified my value and we drove 500 miles or so on gravelled highways to Fort St John, living there for the next seven years. We moved east in 1964 to Montreal, influenced by a career move and the chance for a better education for Judith, who became fluent in French... Read more
Localbands1960/1970
bands/1960/1970
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."
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... Read more
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