A view of Stockton & Billingham Technical College from Grangefield Road, Stockton c1959.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A view of Stockton & Billingham Technical College from Grangefield Road, Stockton c1959.
Picture Stockton Archive 
Great to see Billingham Tech., is still remembered. I was there from 1960 to 1963 to get my O&A levels. I remember Mr.Hedley (Geography), Mr Lightfoot (Geology), Mr. Moore (Art) and Mr Parkin who taught us to converse in ‘proper’ English to those who do not reside in the N.E.
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I noticed a mention of Mr Moore. Can anyone give me further details. He is the teacher who set me on life course.
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Hi my mum attended the Technical college up to 1953/4. She was doing secretarial courses in particular shorthand. Her name was Nora Pearson and lived in Hartlepool. Does anyone remember her?
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Does anyone remember the youth club at the Billingham Technical College. My memories are very vague but I seem to remember table tennis and someone swallowing a large moth that had flown in the window.
There was at least one trip out on the moors somewhere.
I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me from that time in the 60’s. Get my email address from the site organisers.
I lived on Tintern Avenue near the church. My dad Len Rodgers worked at ICI like everyone else!
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This must be the Stella Rodgers I played dolls and prams with when we were about 4 years old! I am Sandra Dalrymple nee Thompson and I lived on Corfe Crescent. Your neighbours were the twins John and David Humphries.
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I went to the college in 1984 to 1986. Great time there… I wish I could remember the name of the art tutor who also ran the gymnasium?
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I attended Secretarial course 1965/67 would like to know if it would be possible to get copies of my certificates which I have lost over the years.
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I attended the college round the 80’s in the Drama department and remember Ken Parkin very well, those were the happiest years of my life and everyday I wonder whatever happened to my friends, such as Peter Malloy who had an amazing singing voice and Gary Anderson (I think his last name is) he was a very good comedy script writer who loved Morecambe & Wise, I did bump into one of the guys many years ago, Jeff Stevenson he was in “Starlight Express” at the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End.
Lynn Hutton was asking about Ken Parkin and how did he tragically die, well from what I was told he died from Hypothermia Lynn that’s as much as I know.
I would love to hear from any of my old friends from the Drama department, I hope your all well and successful in your life.
love Steve.
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Poor Ken. Guess we don’t always get what we deserve in life.
Lynn.
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Hi, Gareth Scratcherd here. I was on the drama foundation at the same time, my Dad was head of the science department. I caught up with Jeff Stevenson on FB recently and he is a writer director in LA…. Even been in Star Trek I believe 😉 not been in touch with anyone else unfortunately.
Hope all is well with you. I work in theatre management now …..
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I owe a tremendous debt to Billingham Technical College who took me in after my failure at a nearby Grammar School. The education provided was a good all round one and as well as gaining the qualifications to go on to University I played football and rugby for the College and was in the drama group which put on popular Christmas shows for other students in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Such happy times during which I made some very good friends whilst finding myself with the help in particular of Frank Ward who taught me English.
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I went to Stockton Billingham Tech in the 60s, Billingham campus. Studied O-levels and A-levels science department. A fantastic college good dedicated teachers. Had a modern theatre specialised in cultural and liberal studies. Played drums in a band called the spheres every Friday lunchtime. Happy days!
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I attended the ‘Tech’ from 1964 to ’65.
During my time there I remember seeing two people who were later to become very well-known; one was the actor, the late Richard Griffiths and the other the film director, Frank Rodham – perhaps some of the contributors who studied drama knew them personally?
Whilst at the college I opted for the Domestic Arts course (I was a grammar school drop- out and this sounded the easiest and shortest course); I just wanted to get a job and earn some money. I passed the exams attached to the course but somehow didn’t get around to picking up the certificates.
However, some 25 years later there was an article in the Gazette which said the college had a pile of old certificates that had remained uncollected. I went along and lo and behold, there they were, after all that time!
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This photo would of been taken from Grange Avenue not Grangefield Road, Grangefield School was opposite to Grangefield Road.
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Sorry anon, this would be taken from Loweswater Crescent, I live in Grange Avenue which faces the school fields. Also many of the contributers to this theme attended the Billingham site, not the Stockton site which was all forms of engineering, not drama etc.
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Bill, weren’t they just great days as apprentices, on day release plus a further two evenings every week? How did we find the time to both attend the college, do the required amount of homework and lab works alongside the employer drawing office requirements?
Joe Harle (maths) made the subject really enjoyable, which all my previous mentors had failed to do, and I still have a love of “numbers” to this day. I remember Harry Henderson (thermodynamics), Sam Henderson (structural engineering and metallurgy), and the terroriser Jack Southern (mechanical engineering and theory of machines). To be taught by those lecturers was a privilege and an honour as they were the very best. However, how we both managed a Higher National, circa 1971, remains a mystery. 🙂
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I was just making the point it was not taken from Grangefield Road, granted with you being a resident of the area your knowledge of local roads is better.
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Hi Dennis, yes, I remember Jack Southern indeed, a good lecturer, but as you say, a real frightener. I remember he called everybody in our class, Bill, all except me!
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I attended the college 1964/66 studying drama. Ken Parkin was the teacher. I remember going to the bowling alley in the town.
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Hello Pamela. It’s good to see that someone else rembers Ken Parkin. His death was quite tragic. I also attended drama classes as part of a General Studies course. I recall Mr Scripps, Mr Windsor, Mr John Moore, Mr Cagill amongst others who taught there. Like you, I attended between 1964 and 1966. Very happy times indeed.
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Hi Tony,
I studied drama at the tech from 70-72 and had a ball. Ken Parkin and Ella Hardy were terrific and I remember it as one of the happiest times of my life. What happened to Ken, though? Knew he’d died and you mention that it was ‘quite tragic’ which is bugging me. I know it’s a long time ago but could you let me know what happened, please?
Many thanks, Lynn Hutton
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Regarding Ken Parkin. He died in strange circumstances after going missing from North Tees Hospital. He was found in a disused warehouse near the Cricketers’ Arms pub in Stockton. I remember Richard Griffiths and Pamela Blackwood et al as I appeared on stage with them both in a production called “Salad Days.”
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Hi I know this may be a random question but is this the same Tony Garret from the CHC. Hope u don’t mind me asking but if it is I worked with u on billingham regen at the Billingham site of Stockton & Billinghsm college
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Hello Lynn. My word it is the Tony of North Tees CHC! I remember you too. What was the project about again as there was so much going on at the time. Good to hear from you.
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Hi Tony, Yes good times, remember doing The Crucible and being the understudy for the part of Betty Paris. Now living in Australia I was unaware of the cause of Ken Parkin’s death, very sad. Kind regards to you Tony.
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Hi Pamela did you go to college with my cousin Susan Jackson, she later went on to do drama and had a few roles in various TV dramas, one being “When the boat comes in.” and also Wurzel Gummage.
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The name is familiar so pleased she did so well.
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I will never understand the logic of succeeding Governments of the day. This area The North Of England was and should be the heart of an industrialised area. People who didnt pass the 11 plus some went on to Tech Colleges some of the worlds greatest Civil Mechanical and Electrical engineers went on to or came from Technical Colleges and main stream apprenticeships. That is why we no longer have a strong manufacturing base because each government tried to impress some sort of stigma about grass roots education and mainstream apprenticeships.
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I attended from 1970 to 1972 on a pre-nursing/catering course,best days of my life.
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I attended Stockton Technical College in 1956/7 to learn Shorthand and Typing. Does anyone remember my friend Winifred Armstrong from the same class?
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Hi all, When I stumbled on the picture at the top of this page I got a little cold chill remembering riding my old Norton Dominator in the drive way in the fall of 1966 when I was an apprentice plater at the Malleable works on Portrack Lane,Stockton and then realizing that that experience changed my attitude to education.At High school in Hartlepool I did not do very well as a result of the military style discipline in the place but when I entered the hallowed halls of Stockton Billingham I realized that teachers could be humane,technicaly astute and effective..all at the same time. I went on to become a senior faculty member of the Welding Technology department of Ontario,Canada”s leading Technical college where I try to live up to the model set by the faculty who taught me first year craft before moving on to Longlands for the Technician level courses. Kevin Furness,Ontario Canada
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I attended Nelson Terrace from Sept. 1953 to July 1955 on a full time 2 year course. We took 6 GCE “O” levels in Maths,English Language,Physics,Engineering Drawing,Chemistry & Metalwork. The teachers included Mr.Smith, Harrison,Scratchard and Harry Lamb who taught PE in a tiny Hall. Names I remember were M.J.Idle, Barry Dunning,Billy Wilson,Revel Atkinson,Miller, Trayling.Mr.Smith formed a football team and bought 10 shirts [we were successful]. We played snooker in our lunchtime in the snooker hall at the far end of the High Street.Several lads joined the NEEB, I took a Student Apprenticeship at ICI Wilton and played football for Blackhall CW,Horden CW, Whitby Town and joined AEI Rugby as a test engineer in 1960.All my memories of Stockton Tech. were good ones. My wife and I have been happily retired in Norfolk for 8 years.
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I went to S&B Tech (or Stalagluft 3 as we used to call it) from the period 70 to 74 whilst I was an apprentice at Pickerings Lifts. I used to nick off a lot as I was a drummer and would rather play in a band than attend college. I got my General Certficate in Eng but failed my ONC. I eventually got sacked from Pickerings because of my truancy! I used to have a Suzuki T200 motorcycle at the time if anyone remebers me from that. I eventually got a degree in Physics at Newcastle Poly in 86 and am now an IT Project Manager so I did”nt totally mess my life up!
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Norman. Arthur Lumley was a true Gentleman. I lived 3 doors from him in Oakwell Road. Socialised with him and he taught me at the Stockton Tech. He had a family of 3 with David, Shiela but I can”t remember the youngest boys name (Raymond I think). He was a very keen gardener and grew Crysanths which he entered in local gardening shows. He always supplied my father with cuttings.
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I read the comments about Arthur Lumley, he was a cousin of my father Arthur Sudron. My grandmother”s maiden name was Lumley. I taught Metalwork at Brackenhoe Technical School and Arthur was the Head of Department. How interesting to read about Arthur after all these years.
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I Went to Stockton & Billingham Technical College Painting and Decorating Dept. Back in 1978 part-time and Stockton & Billingham Technical College campus as well, I did a number of part-time courses at Stockton & Billingham in all 3 campuss, the 2 Stockton campuss and the Billingham campus as well and now all 3 campuss have been demolished. I look back with happy memories of the “Campuss” it is sad to see all the old buildings go even My Old School is waiting to be demolished as well. Don”t we need these Schools and Technical Colleges anymore? or do we do wot Las Vegas does? demolish all buildings older van 10 years old. Wen I left Stockton & Billingham Technical College I Went to Swan Hunters at Haverton Hill shipyard Back in 1978 to 1979. Most of the old buildings that I remember no longer exist on Teesside, and I will be only 45 in 2007 watt is going on? Some of the old buildings that I remember: Saltergill School opened in 1971 and closed on 25/07/2005 for the last time, never to open again as a School. The architect of the School won an award for the design of the architecture of the building, architect award 1971. For Photos of the School see: http://www.srsfb-1970s.org.uk Hospital Closed: North Ormesby Hospital Closed and demolished. Middlesbrough General Hospital Closed on 13 August 2003 and demolished 2004. North Riding Infirmary Closed on 15 August 2003 the eye and ENT departments at North Riding Infirmary transferred to new accommodation at James Cook University Hospital. North Riding Infirmary has close down and it is likely that a well known local landmark will soon be demolished and the site redeveloped. The Infirmary opened in 1864 and, at the time of its closure, will have served the people of Teesside for 138 years.
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I used to go to Tech between 1986 and 1988. I got a National Diploma in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering while i was there. I went on to do a Honours Degree in Engineering at Huddersfield University. I look back with happy memories of the “Tech”. I know this time period is a lot more recent than some entries, still, it was 20 years ago. It is ironic that I actually live on the site now. Brambley Green, my house is located where the right hand side labs once stood.
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Hi Bob, Yes, Jack had a brother George,quite a bit older than him. The meat stall Fairs were the same as the draughtsmen Fairs. They must have been rolling in money! Sorry Colin if you read this. Re the friends holiday to Switzerland, I remember I worked all the overtime I could get to finance the £35 for the trip.(spending money on top of that) The basic working week then was five and a half days. For all the previous six months I did every Saturday afternoon,sometimes Sundays,when work was available. Also some evenings also. The mode of travel to Switzerland was overnight train through France on wooden slatted seats.Talk about numb bum! Were we glad to cross the Swiss border! There would”nt be many lads of nineteen in Stockton in 1956 that managed to get abroad though!
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Hi Alan. It”s a good job you keep me right. Yes Jack Tunney worked at Smiths. I remember now that when I mentioned his foreman Jack Wood he scowled at me and said he and the rest at Smiths hated him. As for the Fairs brothers I can”t remember them at Heads but I do remember some Fairs Brothers who had a meat stall in the Town. Did Jack Iceton have a brother called George. My wife had a friend who died some years ago and her husband was called George Iceton. As for Jack I have no idea of his whereabouts.
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I shall correct you Bob, hope you don”t mind! Jack Tunney worked at J.B.Smith”d not FB. Do you remember his accurate impersonation of Robert Mitchum? I note you worked at Heads. I was very pally with Colin and Brian Fairs, both were draughtsmen at Heads. They were also Trinity Youth Club members. In 1956 Jack Iceton, Colin Fairs, Peter McCarthy and I went to Switzerland for a two week holiday together. We drank the place dry. Colin Fairs later ran a travel business called Fairs/Lloyd travel,maybe he still does.
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I started my night school career Nelson Terrace in 1950 and transferred to the new Technical College in Bishopton Lane on opening. I remember an old gentleman who was teaching English at Nelson Terrace once telling us “Would you believe that my father was a Boilermaker”, intimating he had reached such towering heights as an English teacher after such humble beginnings. Mr Smith was his name and he looked like the typical English Gentleman, does any one else remember him. Being an apprentice Templatemaker (Boilermaker) myself I realised that there was no bounds to what you could achieve if you passed your exams. I would think many of Mr Smith”s students would have greatly surpassed Mr Smiths achievments during their careers in Engineering.
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Hi Alan. It”s you who has to jog my memory. Faces yes but names I don”t remember much. You name them I will say “yes” or “no” if I know them. I did know Jack Tunney, he was one of the Foster Brotherton lot and seemed to be a good mate of Jack. I would say that they were older than me I caught up with them on passing exams and advancing further on. There seemed to be a few from FB and the Council. I finished at nightschool when I was 22 because of a failed exam and a year out. I do remember before finishing there in 1959 there was a new Tutor who was dealing with the S1 students. Would that be you? Another part time Tutor I remember was Stan Raw, who taught me Building Science. He was a Director at Norman Stonehouse just off Bowesfield Road.
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I enjoyed your recent comments Bob. Jack Iceton was a good friend both at College and socially. He was my best man at my first wedding,I recently heard on a grapevine ( and I”m not sure how reliable a one) that Jack had passed on. Have you any knowledge on that? I had lost touch and have not seen him since 1967. Did you come across Jack Tunney or Bridson at college. Bridsn eventually became a clerk of the works for the local authority. Peter McCarthy,who I mentioned in an earlier e mail,went on to lecture in Carpentry and Joinery in Cheshire somewhere.
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Hi Alan. I”m the same. I cannot remember you. But mentioning Ray Robinson, I did know him and later worked at Hills when he was there. Jack Iceton I also knew together with Stan Porter and his friend Barry ? who had the Double Glazing business that his sons own now. Barry Swainston. If you remember Ray, very tall. I am the same. I served my time at Head Wrightsons. Like you Jim Carter took an interest in me. I was the one who did all the Tech Drawings in his file. For the S3. I received the top marks for the North of England and at the presentaion at the end of Term I received a 2ft boxwood rule. It caused a lot of problems with Joiners working with me. “Lend me your rule Bob.” On using the full length to measure they were counting it as 3ft per measure instead of the 2 ft length.
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I read your comments with much interest Bob. Like you I was at the Building Dept,. from the College opening in 1954 and was taught by both Arthur Lumley and Jim Carter. Sadly your name does not ring any bells for me. I must be getting senile!! There are many coincidences between us. I lived in the same street as the Co-op joiners shop and went there for my sawdust for the rabbit hutches as a boy. Arthur must have been working there then. Litle did I know he would be lecturing me several years later. After demob from Army n.s. I worked for a time at Laddercraft Ltd. I was told that Jim Carter was the best foreman thay had ever had. He went on to a lecturers position at the Tech and drove me forward to the City and Guilds Full Tech Cert. What a small world! Fellow friends and students I remember were Harry Hill,Pete Shankland Ray Robinson and Peter McCarthy. Did you get to know them?
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Hi Alan. I think you mean Arthur Lumley. I attended the joinery classes at the Tech from 1954. I attended the day course and 1 night. Arthur Lumley lived 3 doors away from me and took me in his car to nightschool for the night session. He along with Jim Carter helped me to acheive my City & Guilds Cert. Arthur was a full time teacher in joinery at M”bro Tech and before teaching served his time at the Stockton Co-op and later Foreman there. He left the Co-op to become a Teacher. He was also a grower of Crysanths and won many prizes when showing them.
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Most utility companies and big firms have their own training schools now. It was a condition of my apprenticeship that I attended evening classes,and regular reports of satisfactory attendance and progress were handed in. I signed on at Stockton Technical College in Nelson Terrace for Maths, Drawing and Science and additionally Workshop Practice, the Workshop class was not on the school site but was somewhere behind the High St. in the Thistle Green area, a wooden building well built and secure, inside was a perfectly equiped workshop, it had everything. The teacher was Harold Williamson, a relative of a previous contributor to this site Tony Williamson, Harold Williamson was without doubt the finest practical engineer I ever met and a superb teacher,many things I learned in his class I was able to put to good use during my own career. Mr Williamson had been a Chief Engineer at sea and lost an eye while cutting a cast iron pipe with a hammer and chisel, he had a brother Joe who had a haulage business on the Bishopton Rd. end of the “Moor” midway between Newtown Co-op and Stockton station. Mr. Williamson often brought parts of lorries to class for repair or renewal so we had a real hands on usefull job to get on with. Interesting times.
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Another Williamson was Ken the well known Norton footballer and cricketer the brother of Joe.
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I have just re-read Alan Wealleans comment regarding the need for Technical Colleges. What do Stockton youngsters, wishing to make their way in an Engineering or Craft career, do now that this excellent College no longer exists? I eventually carried out a very successful Engineering career in several European countries where the companies that I worked for (mainly petro-chemical)were highly complimentary of the depth of knowledge and experience I had gained in England. I have my old employer ICI and this magnificent Technical College to thank for that. Perhaps they really were “The Good Old Days”.
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I entered full time craft teaching in January 1963. Whist teaching I was on a part time in-service course on the principles of craft design when who should I see as a fellow student on the same course but Alec Lumley,the excellent lecturer who taught me craft theory and drawing. Proof that you are never too old to learn.
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I attended a part-time Carpentry and Joinery course from 1954 ( the year the colledge opened) until 1957 when I transferred to a Ordinary National course in Building Construction at Longlands College,Middlesbrough. Stockton/Billingham college was demolished in 2003 and new housing already covers the site. Don”t we need Technical Colleges anymore? I remember A.A.Thompson being the Dept Head and Alec Lumley and Jim Carter being superb lecturers.
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My name is Alan Chape and I’m a recently retired member of the college staff. I’m working for the college putting together an archive of memories of the college to celebrate ten years of its most recent incarnation. Would you be interested in contributing?
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I attended a part-time engineering course at Stockton Technical College from 1954 to 1961.After a couple of hiccups I was awarded a Higher National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering. I remember Joe Harle and the two Hendersons as lecturers.
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Hi Ged, My name is Alan Chape and I’m a recently retired member of the college staff. I’m working for the college putting together an archive of memories of the college to celebrate ten years of its most recent incarnation. Would you be interested in contributing?
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