Tortolano's Icecream

A Memory of Middlesbrough.

My name is Christine Jackson (nee Poole). I lived in Middlesbrough, until the age of thirteen, when in 1972, my family migrated to Perth, Western Australia. We lived in Pallister Park until 1968, when we moved into my deceased grandmothers home, in Percy St (off Princes rd). I loved living, in this part of Middlesbrough and have so many fond memories. There was a great community spirit, with neighbours looking out for one another and it was a common occurrence, for folks to gather around a doorstep, for a good old natter, as the kids played hopscotch, on the pavement.....those were the days! Our very small back yard, ran into a back alley and I often wondered why we had double doors, when we never even owned a car and neither had my grandparents. I discovered, however, that my late grandfather, Guiseppi Tortolano, made his own ice cream and used to walk through the streets, with a big ice cream cart. I am wondering if anyone remembers him? He and my my grandmother, were Italian immigrants, who embraced England and raised a family of seven children, after settling in Middlesbrough. Sadly, in 1940, my grandfather was taken as a prisoner of war and was put aboard the S.S."Arandora Star", which was torpedoed, resulting in his death; ironically, at the time of his internment, three of his sons, were fighting, in the British Army! A very sad story and one, which has often been surrounded with much controversy. I am very much into nostalgia and I would love to hear from anyone who knew of my grandparents. It would warm my heart, to know that their memories still live on; two humble Italian migrants, delighting children, with their home made ice cream!