Northwich
Cheshire
13th Nov. 2000
Dear Alf Pawsey
Canny owd Hebburn
I am prompted to write to you after seeing your monograph on Hebburn - loaned to me by my Cousin Terry. This Internet is proving to be a wonderful vehicle in bringing people together. I didn't know of Terry until a few months ago and now find, through him, I have 21 cousins the majority of whom I didn't know existed. And now here I am writing to you!
You have obviously expended considerable time and effort on your researches and are to be congratulated on having done an excellent job. Reading it has certainly set the memories flooding back. For example, your photograph showing Tungates immediately reminded me that between the shop and the Conservative Club was Tom Utley's Dairy and beyond Chisholm's was Shepherd's Shoe Shop. On the opposite corner, facing the main road, was Sam Hudson's Paper Shop. Sam had a brother Claude who operated in one of the shop's back rooms as a barber. And nearer home, on the opposite side of the road from where we both lived, was Farries Sweet Shop; Avery's Greengrocery and on the corner a garage owned by Robert Cooper, the retired Police Inspector.
As a youngster I vividly recall a blacksmith's forge on the main road between the pub (The Argyle Hotel?) and what later became Whitworth's Fish and Chip Shop on the other corner. It was fascinating watching the blacksmith shoeing horses.
Your Brother Ernie and I were contemporaries. I particularly recall envying him his overflow bedroom and den in the garden. We played cricket together, our pitch being on a clearing at the far end of the Park. In the mid 1930s the Reyrolle Cricket Club engaged a 'pro'. His name, to the best of my recollection was Joe Arkle. He used to coach the two of us. Ernie was serious about it; I was not since I got little encouragement. I used to study the piano and my music teacher actively discouraged me from playing the game because of possible damage to my hands.
Your mention of Mr Beck as being in charge of the choir prior to the arrival of Mr Kindly has me puzzled. I was in the choir at this time and have no recollection of him. However, it may well have been as you state but his tenure must have been brief. Prior to the arrival of Mr Kindly, the Choirmaster was 'Bunty' Freeman. He lived in or near Felling and travelled to St John's by a car not exactly noted for its reliability ( I fear we were not without some blame here - it actually caught fire on one occasion). 'Bunty' was very popular with the Choir and was an excellent organist. His leaving was much regretted by us. It came about following a most unseemly row with the Vicar. Evensong was on Wednesdays, followed by choir practice. How we all hated this service. It seemed so pointless since most times the only worshipers were Ogle Whitley and his wife putting-in an obligatory appearance with George applying himself as organ blower. On this evening his services were not required; the Choirmaster was missing. He arrived later and Vicar Smith vented his anger on him and said things in front of us all which could not be overlooked by 'Bunty'. He resigned.
Mr Kindly was not liked by us Choirboys. He had the look of a zealot with his hot intense dark eyes. He had a thin reedy voice and a most unfortunate manner. He was also a poor organist and had to often get Tom Wardle to deputise for him.
I recall Vicar Smith's leaving us. One of his going-away presents was an electric lamp standard. What the parishioners had failed to realise was that the vicarage he was going to had no electricity!
The new incumbent, Vicar Stone, did not really hit it off with his new parish and he didn't stay long. We were sorry to lose his curate Geoffrey Surtees. He had endeared himself to many of us - not least to several of the young women in the parish who saw in him a prospective husband! We didn't know what to make of the Rev. Cameron on his arrival. Quite early-on people began talking of his slipshod appearance. It became increasingly obvious that he took his meals in his vestments, his surplice acting as a napkin - and it showed.
You mention 'Ernie' Munro as being one of the choristers. I remember him as a pleasant, jolly, man. He was killed whilst on duty as an Air Raid Warden. The bomb which killed him - a near-miss for nearby Reyrolles - fell on or in near proximity to the Warden's Post.
Your reference to the Church Lads Brigade has me puzzled once again. I believe there was a Troop attached to the Church but it was long before your time. No, operating alongside the 'Life Boys' was the 2nd Hebburn Company of the Boys Brigade, formed in the early 1930s by George(?) Goss as Captain with Alf Pape, your Brother George and Norman Ashman as Lieutenants. Ernie and I were two of the other ranks. Following several fund raising efforts, a band was formed. I become a bugler with Ernie being saddled with a second-hand side drum. His was the mind-numbing function of beating out the marching pace. This drum required regular cleaning of its decorative cordage with Blanco, most of which seemed to transfer itself on to Ernie's clothes during parades.
As we grew older we drifted apart, with Ernie preferring to pursue the girls! He had very good taste as I recall. His last 'steady' was Eva(?) Black, a well endowed young lass. We met shortly after the news of Ernie's death. She looked shattered. Poor Eva. Poor Ernie.
I suppose you must at one time have been aware that by virtue of your Father's position in Reyrolles yours was the most widely known name in the area. I don't know whether his remit included the engaging of all shop-floor personnel but it certainly included the engaging of school leavers. One of his better known stock questions at interview was his seeking to know 'how many thousanth's there were in an inch'. I believe some of the answers were very illuminating!
In the caption to the photograph on page 33 you mention Sam Oakes house. I used to deliver the Church Magazine to him when he lived at No.1 Alfred Street. A solidly built, dour, unfriendly looking man. What used to surprise me was the ravishing creature who at times used to open the door to me. His daughter perhaps? It seemed so unlikely.
He obviously had illusions to grandeur for he built this enormous house on marrying (so gossip had it) the woman who had nursed him during a spell in hospital. In calling the house 'Over Acres' people rather felt it was not just a house name but that he was making a statement. Small-time builder makes good, perhaps?
It is more than likely that you already possess a copy of the enclosed scan of the photo taken at a Brigade camp at Hawthorn Towers since it had a wide circulation at the time. If not, and you would like a copy, I will arrange it.
Well Alf, I could go on and on for you have certainly stirred up the old brain cells but for the moment, enough is enough. But not quite. My regards to your wife Rhoda; I wonder if she remembers me? Our paths to the office used to sometimes coincide and her company was always a pleasure. As I recall she was already married to you so you must be near, or have already reached your 60th wedding anniversary?
Yours sincerely
Alf Nicod
PS. In rereading the above, I am beginning to have second thoughts about 'Ernie' Munro. Am I confusing him with Jack Bruce? Whoever, I am positive of one thing: he resided at the lower end and on the odd numbered side of Hall Road. You can take it from there.
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