A picture of Holy Trinity Higher Grade School in Yarm Lane. Photograph courtesy of Mr Robert Dicken. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A picture of Holy Trinity Higher Grade School in Yarm Lane. Photograph courtesy of Mr Robert Dicken.
No one in their right mind would have fond memories of this brutal school everyday was hell and the punishment never stopped to his day I still carry the mental assault handed out by the teachers and students
It was a super school when I was there, as a Junior, from 1950 – 54, and sure it was before and after my attendance period.
Mr Salmon, a WW! veteran, was the Dep. and had a finger missing due to war injury. I can recall him marching along the lines of children, with his cane, as we all had to sing St. Patrick’s Breastplate. I mimed but he was really after the Senior boys further back. Mr Nesbitt was the Head and Canon Salter lived along the street in the vicarage. I enjoyed visiting the vicarage between 1700 & 1800 to watch old black & white traditional comedy films. Teachers were all WW1 or 2 veterans, inc. my last teacher there… Mr Byrne a Canadian bomber pilot, who came to Grangefield the following September to teach maths. My maths teacher for all five years there. HTS discipline was well balanced, although the Senior boys may not agree. Pity HTS discipline standards are not in use now. If they were, perhaps, the assaults on 20% of teachers, as reported today [28.3.24], would not occur. Unfortunately, you cannot grind the corn with the water which has already passed the mill!
I agree I was a pupil from 1959 to 1964.
Hello
In reply to your comments on Holy Trinity School. I believe that I am still ”In my right mind” despite being a pupil at Holy Trinity from 1949 to 1953. Perhaps in later years the staff had changed.
When I was there the Head was Mr Nesbitt, the Deputy Mr Salmon and our class teachers were Miss Allen. Miss Watson and Mr Byrne. Virtually the whole year passed the 11+ and went on to either Stockton Grammar or Grangefield having had an excellent Primary Education. I would concede that Mr. Salmon was somewhat liberal with his use of the slipper, for those who deserved it but all other staff were excellent. Having been a teacher myself for over 25 years I consider myself qualified to express such an opinion
Hello Keith, I enjoyed reading your article. I think we might have been in the same class, as your teachers were also mine. Out of 42 in J4, 39 passed both parts of 11+ and the other 3 failed completely. I went to Grangefield. Does the name David Williams or Graham Benzies ring a bell – they were in the class?
Hello Dave
I do remember both you and Graeme Benzies. I also went to Grangefield and I’m sure there will be other names from both schools that we both recognise. I have looked at the class photo of 1954, (availlable on this site) and can recognise most people. I think that’s you on Mr Byrne’s left. I’m second from the right on the second row. I’ve made a Lego model of the school and can send you pictures if you’re interested. Let me know if you wish to do so.
Hello Keith,
Nice to hear from you. Yes I would like to see you pics. How do I find the school photo mentioned? I’m not good at computing beyond the basic.
Best wishes.
Hi Dave
If you go on to Google, or any other search engine, and enter “picture Stockton archive” there are a series of options including schools. Select this and there is a search box where you can enter Holy Trinity. There are then time periods shown. Ours is 49 – 54 I think. Select this one and you can view the photos. Let me know how you get on
Keith
Is there any Holy Trinity School, Yarm Lane people out there from 1963-1967?
My name is John Roger Plane. I lived in Birkley Road Norton, Stockton on Tees and I attended Holy Trinity School from approximately 1957 to 1965. I would love to hear if any body else replies to this posting and also to catch up with them.
I was a pupil a Holy Trinity and left in 1964 I have no pictures from that era. A great pity. If anyone has images of that period I would be most interested.
Yes, I was a pupil from 1961 – 1965.
Kevin Todd
I attended Holy Trinity school from 1961 /65. Bryn Jones known as Taffy. This nickname came about after my first singing lesson at the school and stayed with me for years after. Mr. Nesbit was the headteacher. Mr brown took us for science.
Hi Taffy, i do remember you, we were in the same class, Kevin Todd. I still have a list of names from our class 61 – 65
Have been residing in California US for last 30 years.
Do have photos from swimming team football and athletics group.
Visited UK a few years back, dismayed at the state of Stockton high street and area in general, Norton village still retains a lot of good childhood memories.
Other teachers names, Pinchin Ganner, Tolsin, Price, Nesbitt HM, to name a few.
Hi, I was there from 63 to 67
Hi,
I’m Gordon Finch (Finchy). I was there till 1965. I don’t remember when I first went there. Just obtained a group picture from either 64 or 65. Lots of faces I remember but not so many names. Brought back some good memories.
You had to be seven years old to attend HTS. Like many peers, my name was put down for the school upon my birth. Freemasons and big business was part of my families life. With a science background I am, and always have been, an Athiest, so no interest in Freemasonary. Majority of classmates were in business.
Hello Gordon.
suprise suprise to see your write up.
So thought i would reply to you. Of course we lived in same street being Springfield ave. If you would like to communicate contact the Picture Stockton team at pictures@stockton.gov.uk and they will pass on my email. I do recall we did make contact many years back but may be wrong
kind regards
Tony Chambers
I was there from September 1962 – I came from Roseworth Primary having failed my 11+ – and was there until July 1964. I passed the 13+ and went on to Newham Grange.
Names I remember – Graham Wright, Blackburn, Littlewood, Dodds or Dodd (or Todd?)
Hi Graham I was there from 1959 to 1964 and remember John Aitken, John Stoker, Peter Potts, John Foster, Stuart Fellows.
Best Regards Alan Dodds.
I took the 11+ in 1951 and went on to Sir William Turner’s (Coatham Grammar School). I was in a great class of students and athletes. Most of them went to the new high school in Stockton and I lost touch with all of them, though I remember many names. I do not particularly remember the corporal punishment, however, when I was caught fighting a few times, I had to box the other pupil in the ring. I still have several class photos, including one of the school athletic team with the Stockton Schools trophy. Mr. Nelson was a great headmaster and Canon Salter was very popular. There was an ex RAF pilot named Hodgeson who taught my 11+ class. I believe he was killed at the Thornaby Air Show in 1951. Salmon was a total Ayatollah to the pupils, as everyone recalls, however he used to coach Stockton football team in the 1930s. My Dad was one of his star players. When I told him who my Dad was, he literally beamed at me and became totally nice. I’m not sure how long this lasted. Ian Wigglesworth, who became an MP, and Gordon Lake, who was a terrific sportsman, were both in my class. John Magee was a scary boxer, even at 11. I was 8 when I left Norton Board School, which I really liked, to start at Trinity. It was a great school, I have nothing but happy memories.
Thank you so much for the picture of the school – I wonder if someone could answer a question? My great uncle, Percy Corner went to the above school (he was born in 1892) and stated it was a private school, which his father paid for him to attend. Is this the same school?05/03/2012 11:37:49
It was a Church School and thus fees were payable up to I believe 1918. It wasn’t a private school. The fees were small – a few pence a week.
It has been great reading all these memories from our times. They were indeed difficult times with the war which affected all our lives so much. We lost a lot of friends. I am going to mention Donald Willey, also an ex Trinty lad who went on to either Grammer school or the Sec. I have already told you the story of flying paper aeroplanes when Tommy Sowler was out of class and getting six of the best from Billy Hewitt the Head. Donald was fantastic as a builder of model airoplanes that flew, mine always crashed and broke. Donald however went on to work for DeHavilland or another very big aircaraft designer in or around London. He was tragically killed, found dead at the side of the road after an accident on his autocycle. Nobody ever got to know exactly what happened, he may have been knocked off. It was Donald that introduced me to classical music which he would play on their very posh HMV radiogramme. When it was partytime, Mr Willey would entertain with conjuring and indoor fireworks. Another thing we did was building a boggie with car steering and a handbrake from an old steering box off a car. The problem was it turned the wrong way which could be confusing till you got to know it. The family were Stocktons Bill Posters, and there were other Willey’s in the firm.
Ronald Horton of Norton was another pal knocked of his bike by a Tarslag lorry and killed outright. Another only son. I send my very good wishes to all that I know including Picture Stockton and Bob Harbron for their great work. What a fantastic record for the future.
It was a surprise to read the last paragraph of your article, Norman. Ronald Horton was a relative. I was never allowed a bicycle due to Ronald being killed on his. Did it happen on his birthday, riding his birthday present. I have a framed photograph of him as a baby [about 24 x 16]. My mother was his cousin but the subject was not allowed to be discussed.
Can you, Norman, or anyone else tell me when, where it happened etc., and how old he would be. I got the impression he was 11 yrs old. Any info. would be welcome and can be left for me at Stokesley Library, just say it’s for Dave.
In all the contributors to this Holy Trinity Higher Grade School there is quite a big range. I think that J Norman Kidd and I (1934-39) are the most senior. My youngest brother, by 4 years, Barry Sawyer was a pupil and later joined the staff after training at St John’s College, York. On leaving school he worked at ICI but then went to Coleg Harlech to upgrade his education. His years at Trinity & Stockton Grammar were affected by illness.
He later taught in Billingham and later in Middlesbrough where he became head of Marton Grove School & its successor Abingdon School.
I attended the school from 1951 until 1957. Some of the teachers I remember were Mr Thompson (Tommo), Mr Brown (Brownie), Mr Campbell, Mr Parker, Mr Deighton, and Mr Burns. I suppose most of the male teachers had been in the forces so the school was run like a military camp.
Some of the memories I have are:- Lining up in the school yard ready to file into the classrooms and Nezzie would inspect our shoes for being shiny. He would give a real dressing down to anyone who had not brushed their shoes or had not got creases in there trousers. I remember well the snowball fights in the playground where the seniors would take on the juniors also the long ice slides which were great if you had seggs on the soles of your shoes. I remember being in S2 where Mr Brown was the teacher, if he had cause to leave the classroom he would always say on his return, “Stand up anyone who has been talking while I was out of the classroom”, Of course nobody did. One day when he was out of the room we all thought we would have a laugh. If he asked the question we would all stand up. We thought he would see the funny side of it. He came back in. “Stand up anyone who has been talking”. We all stood up. He told everyone to line up at the front of the class and we all took a turn to be caned. I can imagine the uproar if a teacher did that in this day an age! I have lived in New Zealand for the past 35 years I visited the UK 18 months ago and was amazed how the area around where the school was situated and Teesside has changed.
Ian Aufflick, Do you remember standing next to me in one of Cock Salmon’s singing lessons in the Hall when he stopped the singing and shouted ‘Get outside Ronnie Bowers’! (Ronnie having been talking in a loud whisper during the proceedings). We thought this particularly appropriate in view of the song we had been singing. From then on the modified lyrics became:-
Dan Cupid hath a garden
Where women are the flowers
And lovers’ laughs, and lovers’ tears
Get outside Ronnie Bowers!
I’m an old boy of Holy Trinity school, I was there from about 1940 so during the war. My brother Jack was also a pupil but in the mid 30’s so you may remember him Ken.
I went to Trinty school during the war and can remember Miss Allen, Miss Watson, Sammy Tom Sowler, Mr Parker, Mr Campbell, Cannon Salter and I saw three heads Mr Henderson, Mr Burdon nsd Mr Nesbit. I agree with everyone about the dicipline, it seemed harsh at the time but there was no hard feelings. I left school and became a pro musician and the dicipline served me well in a very difficult occupation. I now live in Spain.
On the 1st March I posted “My time at Holy Trinity was from 1934 to 1935 when I moved on to Stockton Grammar.” Just goes to show how anno domini is showing up! Should have been “to 1939.” I was in Ma Allen”s (Standards 1 & 2), Ma Watson”s (Standard 3), Pop Andrew”s (Standard 4) and then the kindly but firm Daddy Burdon”s (Standard 5).
How many of you remember the School Song “Bright burns the flame kindled here at Old Trinity”? Well, I am pleased to say the words and the music are now available in a new edition of a History of Holy Trinity School. Also the words and music for the school”s Christmas Carol “Sing we Merry Christmas”. The funny thing is I haven”t met anybody yet who remembers this carol. I can be contacted on 01491 681746
I am an ex-Trinity boy who left in 1958. I still live in Stockton, and would very much like to buy a copy of your book.
I was at Holy Trinity in 1958 we lived at The Masonic Hall on wellington Street my parent ran the place I remember playing billiards in the snooker room after school
great times, My name is Paul Clarke still alive. Do you remember Kieth Hardy ?
I will leave my Email .
My time at Holy Trinity was from 1934 to 1935 when I moved on to Stockton Grammar. Amongst playtime games was a sort of fairground involving marbles and one involving cigarette cards. Had to flick a card at other cards propped against the wall! The stallholders” judgement of distance, a sort of line marked out by one”s heel or even “borrowed” chalk, taught particular skills! How many of you know the book “A History of Holy Trinity School Stockton-on-Tees” by Brian G Bucknall published by him initially in 2000 and sold out and then a reprint with addendum in November 2006. A remarkable, thoroughly researched book with many pictures. I have his address. I paid £10. Well worth it.
What a joy to come across this site and re-kindle old memories. Here are a few of my own relating to Holy Trinity Boys School, which I attended from 1948 to 1952. “Cock” Salmon, or “Sammy” as he was sometimes called, had an explosive temper. He loved music, conducting the whole school as we sang those stirring hymns and patriotic songs. (Fishermen of England, Jerusalem, To be a Pilgrim, etc) However, any whispering or giggling would bring him to an apoplectic rage, striding off the stage, elbowing and punching his way through the ranks of pupils until he had his victims and caned them. One senior boy, “Corky” Bell, was reputed to have retaliated and punched him back, for which he was held in high esteem by the rest of us. Canon Salter conducted the morning service about once a month, I think. He had a wonderful way of teaching by amusing homilies and parables, often bringing one or two boys onto the stage to act out a theme with a message on how to live and conduct one”s life. Ascension Day was the school trip, to Barnard Castle, High Force or other places of interest. We”d pile in the buses and sing “We”re off, We”re off, We”re off in a motor car, Sixty cops are after us and we don”t know where we are.” (Over and over again, it must have driven the teachers batty!) Yes, the “dinner time” meal was pretty gross by today”s standards, but we were always hungry.The only thing I couldn”t stomach was that awful sago pudding which we called “frogspawn”. Milk was mandatory, twice a day, crates of half-pint bottles being delivered and stacked in the school yard. I hated the stuff when it was warm and stank. In the winter it often froze, making it more palatable, to me at least. The cardboard tops were replaced by aluminium ones in about 1951. These we recovered, unbroken, and made “flying saucers” by spinning and flicking them from the first two fingers, often sending them 50ft or more. Winter meant slides on carefully nurtured ice on the school yard. “Wellies” were forbidden, only leather boots or shoes, which would enhance the surface. Many of us had steel studs on our shoe soles to prolong their life. (“Segs” could be purchased and hammered in to protect the heel and toe areas from wear.) Remember the inkwell monitors, filling up the pot inkwells in each desk? And those awful steel-nibbed wooden pens? Biros were just starting to appear in the 50″s and were notoriously blotchy at first. Remember the games in the school yard? Mont-a-Kitty, Tee-ally-O, Fox. I don”t think kids these days amuse themselves like this any more. All in all, wonderful schooldays. Yes, pretty strict, with lots of corporal punishment, but I think it made us more resilient and self-reliant; I have no regrets.
Some comments from another area which belong here better. I joined Trinity latish in the first form J1 in 1950, under Miss Allen. Then Miss Watson, Mrs Cochrane and finally Mrs Thomson (I think). I have all school photos but don’t remember all the names. From 32 to 42 kids in a class. David Williamson, Bertie Precious, Tex(?) Richardson, Malcolm Kinnis, David James, Ken Shaw, John Boyes, Bobby Littlefair, Malcolm Liddle. Lots of familiar faces but few names. I often recall to the grandkids our horrible school lunches with billposters’ paste for potato and taking turns bringing sauce to school to stir into the stuff. We had to eat everything! I brought YR sauce and even collected a full set of England soccer players I bought so many bottles. (that last mention is because the grandkids like everyone here have tomato sauce on everything. Even pancakes as I heard recently). I remember 1 day a bull escaped from a Knackers truck (lorry) and ran round the school yard. Cocky Salmon – we had to learn hymns on Wednesday afternoon till we knew them. Since joining a church here 20 odd years ago that’s stood me in good stead, as I still know the standards off by heart. Canon Salter was a great guy. We used to have RI lessons using a book he”d written. Funny how I can remember incidents, but nothing about other students really, or what we did in class!
Ian
I have just tripped over this site and have been reading it with something more akin to incredulity than anything else. As it’s a while since the past post, not sure what happened to the others who appear to have been in a burst of memories eight or so years ago.
But this is really just to say hello again. I remember you well. I gather you’re no longer in ‘The Olde Country’ these days. Should you happen to pick up this (very) delayed response, do drop a line. The Picture Stockton Team will be happy to pass me email address onto you.
To add to the names you listed, Richard Binks is another. If you remember, whenever Mr Nesbit burst into the class to fire his times tables questions at us, any time of the day, he would always look at ‘Dicky’ and say: “There’s good stuff in little parcels, isn’t there, Richard?” (In those days, Dicky was small – even smaller than me and I haven’t grown in the intervening decades either).
If it’s the same person that you call ‘Tex’ Richardson, I remember him as ‘Micky’ Richardson. He was known by his laugh which, when it started, reduced everyone in the class to rubble, such was its force and the downright hysteria he generated. I can remember it even today.
Ronnie Moyes was another name from those days – he used to be captain of football, as I remember. And Jimmy Shaw was another name from the football team.
Mention has been made of Mr Campbell who used to live down the road from us. He had a son Billy, as I remember, who also went to the school.
Canon Salter I will always remember for two main things: his stories about his fictional schoolboy character Brian that he used whenever he gave us his addresses (on a Friday morning?); and ‘the vicar’s cricket’ which I seem to remember was on a Tuesday, after tea. He would turn up at a playing field in Fairfield – where we lived in those days – in his car, with a couple of huge cricket bags in the boot filled with stumps, bats, pads and balls and a game would ensue with whoever had turned up to play.
Was Mike Purnell of our time at Holy Trinity? I think he was. Up to about ten years ago I kept in intermittent touch with him as he used to return to England (from Germany, where he has lived for many years). He came to see his father, Ron, who lived in Hartburn as did my late parents after we moved from Fairfield. We would meet occasionally in The Masham in the village – usually around Christmas time. Unfortunately, I have lost touch with him now that his father and mother have died.
Pete Sowler was another from our day. His father ‘Pop’ has already been mentioned elsewhere here.
And now, after sending this to see if you’re still watching the site (as I gather you’re an IT techie – not remotely surprised to hear that, by the way! – I’ll assume you’ve ticked the boxes below, as have I, to join the forum) I’ll see if there’s any response from dialling the phone number of Brian Bucknell to check if he’s got any copies of the second print run of his book on the history of the school.
Hope to hear from you – and indeed, anyone else who happens to be checking!
John (aka ‘Bertie’) Precious
HI JOHN just reading letter detailing all your time at school I attended Holy Trinity 1949 /1953 all the teachers named bring back a lot of memories and good times my name his Tom Shaw at present living in SA CITY Durban for the past 43 years went back to the UK six years ago big changes anyway like to wish you and family all the best 2015 nice to remember names from the past regards Tom Shaw
JB I remember Canon Salter and his dummy. I never went to his Boys Club though. I remember the Barnard Castle trip but not that the museum was closed. Regarding punishments, there were 2 general non-corporal ones (maybe only J4 – not sure). One was word lists – 1st you had to write out 100 8 letter words, then next time it was 9 letter words and so on I seem to remember passing 12. We always used antidisestablishmentarianism as the longest in the dictionary. I eventually found out what it meant. The other was lines – I remember doing “Manners Maketh Man” 100 times (!). Some genius invented the idea of strapping several pencils together with elastic bands and writing several lines at once.
I am the current Headteacher at Holy Trinity Rosehill Primary School. Last month we found the Canon Salter Cup gathering dust in a cupboard. After some elbow grease and Brasso it shines in our school hall.
We also, proudly, display the foundation stone from the Holy Trinity Higher Grade school.
Back in the early ’60’s I was the recipient of the Canon Salter Memorial Award (New Testament Bible) for services to the school. I used to repair broken windows, clean up the staff room after morning break, and collect the registers and dinner money. I really enjoyed my time at Holy Trinity.
John Bond. Your brother must be Pete the accomplished folkinger/songwriter. Your brother Nigel, a year below at Grangefield, was working in the dole office during my post-graduate bouts of unemployment.
Ian A, yes I wrote plays for a living and then for no living. now I”m a dad second time round and living in Wiltshire (near Bath). Our daughter comes from quite near you – Southern China! Now to more serious reminiscing – I agree that Trinity wasn”t a hot bed of punishment, but lots of people may not be old enough to know that corporal punishment was seen as perfectly normal in the forties and fifties. C Salter was also what some comedian called a “ventridderquiddle” I think, and I certainly remember the Youth Club with tons of comics as well as TT. Having confirmed the “bull” story, can you remember this one – a much heralded school trip to Bowes Museum, only to find it was shut when we got there. My youngest brother Nigel was at Grangefield in fifties – Ken Whitfield, Harry Bradshaw era. Harry Bradshaw was my university tutor”s english master. My tutor was evacuated to Saltburn from the East End. Did you have to bang your knuckles with the ruler in the game you mentioned sometime ago. I have a vague recollection of some such activity. Anyway, I seem to have lost the thread some time ago! It”s lovely to hear from you, Hapy New Year to you and yours. jb
All this reminiscing makes me forget normal civilities. A Happy New Year one and all and hope you enjoyed a good Xmas, We”ve thankfully dropped from 41 over New Year and the last 2 days, and 30 overnight on Thursday to a cool 26 today
John, pleased to hear from you – I just saw how old the dates were on Grangefield comments and thought it might be neglected now. Your boarding school doesn”t sound too good, although you seem to have done well. We were both wrong – I thought it was much earlier – funny how your memory distorts things. I remember Peter Sowler and Ian Murray but struggle with Geoff Anderson. Canon Salter was a nice guy, although I was left cold by our termly (annual?) services in church. Still it;s good to have gone to an old remnant of schooling history, so when I go to one of these reconstructed old places (like Beamish) I can say I used to sit in a desk like that and use an inkwell etc. It was a shock the first time I saw the school had been replaced by a roundabout or part of a road. Then the church was burnt down I gather. Are you still in the Stockton area? We”ve been home to England a few times now we”re footloose and fancy-free, and are dismayed at the run down look of Stockton High Street compared to its past as shown by some photos on this site. Yet there are lots more good looking housing areas around Stockton. We”ll be back again in May-June this year. Do I take it you wrote plays, or was that a sideline? I ended up in computing of course – computer programmer in 1959 before uni even. The iMac I”m using now is unbelievably larger and faster than my first Elliott 402 (- or even my last!). Again pleased to have been involved in history! Alan McLean – I agree that I had a happy time at Trinity. Tales of punishment are probably from much earlier days and hangovers like Salmon – also more from the Senior school. You came after we left – did they still have Ascension Day bus outings? I remember going to Whitby, Roker (? seaside towards Sunderland and Barnard Castle). Was the food still revolting?
ian, I must apologise. blame my glaucoma, but of course it was Mrs Cochrane”s class. Mr Campbell was in the senior bit in the huts up the road, n”est-ce pas? With Mr Parker who played the piano. Coocky salmon was not a slipper in my memory. He was a thin cane with a bit of black sticky tape round the business end and his particular technique was to whack down, and when you had the sense to close your fingers so he missed, he would pause but craftily, as you straightened your hand again, catch you a hefty crack on the knuckles on the way back up. I remember the food as absolutely horrible, including a dreadful black tablet we had to have with it, supposedly to compensate for all the vitamins the war had deprived us of, or some such. If the good people at stockton library are reading this, I”m sure a wonderful collection could be made of stories of all the physical punishments that were standard in those post victorian days. at the boarding school I was bundled off to, I was once hit three times on the bottom with a sawn-off rounders bat – my crime? coming third in class instead of second at least or preferably first. That old academic shadow again. Jusst a few names to maybe jog something. Geoffrey Anderson, Ian Murray and Peter Sowler. I think they all came over to Trinity from Hartburn Juniors, as I did.
I was at Holy Trinity from 1949 to 1953. Miss Allen, Miss Watson, Miss or Mrs Cochran and an older Mrs somebody. Cocky Salmon used to have us learn hymns on a Wednesday afternoon. Anyone remember the meals? The awful potato we used to stir sauce into? Playing a game in the yard with rulers and marbles till the skin came off our knuckles. Lining up and being checked for chewing gum. The advent of bubble gum, Eating winkles in class with a pin. Happy days indeed
I was a Trinity boy from 1953 to 1956 and have nothing but happy memories of good,dedicated teachers and long lost friends. I cannot recall any of the corporal punishment and physical chastisement mentioned in other comments.
i went to holy trinty scool in 1963 to 1964
Thank you Ged for taking the trouble to reply to my enquiries. It is good to know that Ken Walker enjoyed his time with the company. I hope his training served him well.Thousands of apprentises came out of Teesside and I too served my time in Dentistry at Armtitages of Norton. I count myself very lucky after a very shakey start in life. I was taught well by all the Dental Mechanics in the practise at that time. C.V.Armitage would not accept second rate work. Thanks again.
J. Norman Kidd: Although I myself had no particular working knowledge of your uncle`s factory in Church Row, my very good friend at the time served his apprentiship there. His name was Kenny Walker and he started there in 1954, completing his apprentiship in 1959. He always talked well of his employer but, like lots of things, our friendship waned as other things and people entered our lives. I have tried in the last couple of years to track down my old friend Kenny without success. I suppose his employment at Fred Kidd was towards the end of the company`s business life.
Bob Dicken, Sorry to hear you have been under the weather Bob and hope you make a full recovery from your illness. I find this a fascinating site and still care a great deal about the area. Bob Harbron keeps me well informed once a month with Norton Heritage News. I have had no feedback on my Uncle”s firm Fred Kidd & Son Engineers & Brass Founders Church Row. It was them that bought out R.Rogers in the 1920″s – somebody must remember the firm they employed quite a lot of people. They had to compete with some very big companies for labour but some staff stayed for many years like Charlie Lampton. It was flat out during the war producing fittings and couplings for the NFS. All the couplings had to be pressure tested under load It was an invention of a fireproof self levelling non-lubricationg conveyor system called “Flexiroll” that started the rot. It caused a very long legal battle with Fisher Ludlow of Birmingham over the patent. Need I say more. I don”t think that is any reason to write it out of the history of Stockton. More a question to be proud!
Hello Norman Kidd, thanks for your note. I have been following your articles with great interest. I was going to contact you but I have recently been in hospital and I have been not been spending much time on the computer. I am gradually getting a bit stronger. I as you will have seen sent the photo of Holy Trinity Higher Grade School in to picture. Stockton in the very early days when the site first started. I do not think it gets enough publicity. They do issue postcards to distribute; I usually keep some in my pocket to give out. Yes I remember the old days, and when I tell my grandchildren about those days, they often give me some funny looks. This site has gradually improved and they are still up-dating all the time. It is amazing how many Stocktonians who immigrated to various countries have found the site and sent in old photographs of Stockton that they must have taken with them. I watch this site daily and the pictures that people send in is gradually increasing. My Email address is rdicken@gmail.com Bob Dicken
Dear Bob Dicken, We used to correspond when your late and Dear wife was ill some years ago now. I have only recently found this excellent site and you will find I have contributed and commented upon many nostalgic times. We must have been at Trinity at the same time, in 1939 I was in Tommy Sowlers class 4b. So you see I am quite used to referances to the cane, strap and butterpat – “streach the drum lad” was Cocky Salmons words before he let fly on your bum. Mr Hewitt was the Headmaster I got six off him for flying a paper aeroplane and not owning up, of course there was the usual tell tail. For all that, we all learned discipline and like the rest I have NO complaints. Keep well. Norman.
Do any old Trinity boys remember Sammy, ( Mr Salmon or Cock Salmon as he was affectionatly known!), taking the entry of the School for morning assembly. If he spotted a boy talking he would shout to the offender and point his cane ( which he always seemed to have handy) straight at the talker. He then would jump down from the stage and forge his way crashing through the lines until he grabbed the ear of the culprit.Each one in line thought he was the person that Sammy was heading for. My heart froze many times as he seemed to be coming for me!! Happy days in spite of the terror.
I was at Holy Trinity until about 1954 ish. Mr Salmon was the Sience teacher and there was Mr and Mrs Thompson ( his mother ) and the woodwork teacher Mr Parker and art teacher Mr Campbell. Good days and the discipline did me good. After National Service in the R N. I trained as a Butler and have been for the last 40 years. Would be good to hear from old class mates.
Another old boy of Trinity Junior School, attended from 1942-47 where the head teacher was Mr Burdon, with Mr. Andrews with slim cane, Miss Cochrane with a very thick cane and of course Cock Salmon. Remember Friday morning assembly when it was a proud moment for boys to be chosen to read the lesson that morning.
I was at Holy Trinity School when war was declared 3rd September 1939. We were given homework every morning and sent home again returning the next morning with the finished homework. But I seem to remember shelters being built as when the foundations were being dug, bones were found and there was a bit of a debate as to whether they would be from the Castle grounds or Holy Trinity church yard. Yes I remember Cock Salmon with his plimsoll torture instrument. Yes he loved talking about his 1914-1919 war experiences, and lessons were side stepped. I seem to remember the headmaster as Mr Burdon?
I attended Holy Trinity from 1946 to 1954 , Do you remember Harry Salmon , who lost his finger in the first world war whilst cleaning his rifle with a pull through and the rifle went off and took his finger with the pull through ( that what he always claimed ), he was strict took maths if I remember , Mr Thompson was the soft touch he did the sciences I believe I remember a Mr Dyson as I was about leaving Sneaking out the school gate to Brough’s grocery shop for a bag of broken biscuits (before dinner) or if you has sixpence a tin of condensed milk and a tea loaf Were are all those school photographs!! lined up against the wall with the back door to the church behind
I attended Holy Trinity from 1948 till 1956, I remeber well Mr Nesbit, Cambell, Thompson, Miss Watson and Miss Allan. Gordon Jones, ex Boro Foootball Captain was in the same class. Small world!
Hi Dave,
Nice to hear from you after all these years.
We were in the same class, and I’ve just recently made contact with Bill Robinson who is still in Stockton, and John Sidebottom who is now living in Jersey, but due to return for a holiday in April.
Are you in touch with any other old timers ?
Is this the Macca Bailey who lived in Dover Road, Ragworth?, if so I remember when Gordon Jones used to knock about with you and fancied the girl who lived next door to you. Dave Branson contributed in 2003 and I believe he has passed away since.
Yes the same, Gordon (Jackie) Jones was in our class.
So sorry to hear about Dave.
I’m just new to this browsing business, and was that excited when I seen his name pop up I never noticed the date.
I would like to know who I am talking to, but if you wish to remain anon, that’s fine by me.
But I would be grateful for any further information regarding Dave.
Hoping to hear from you soon. Regards Mal.
I remember you Malcolm I lived in Dover Road as well in the late fifties and we knocked about together from time to time. How is your sister Ann and brother-in-law Alf Jennings going on? You had Trevor Cockerill’s family as neighbours.
Thanks for the response Len,
I’m afraid my memory is not as good as it should be.
I think if what is left of it is still functioning, this could be a chance to put it to the test!
I seem to have a mental image of you as I remember the old days.
I picture you as slim built with a fairly square jaw line, and your hair had a quiff those days.
And I think you lived on the opposite side of the road near the entrance to the schools.
Ann and Alf are still living near the Rimswell in Fairfield, and I’m living near the Penny Black in Hartburn, funny how the directions are drawn to pubs.
I might have just discovered the reason for my bad memory!
Anyway I hope I’ve got you right Len, if not please don’t take offence.
Regards Mal
p.s. What was your connection with Dave ?
You’ve got it right Malcolm, pass on my regards to Ann & Alf. I now live in Cheshire.
Sorry I had no connection with Dave.
It’s been great to hear from you again after all this time Len.
Thanks for your input.
I’m going to see Ann and Alf now so I’ll pass on your regards.
Incidentally, I’ve managed to contact Gordon Jones again, he’s living behind the park, on the back lane between the Mile House and the Mitre.
Take care of yourself mate, and all the best. Mal.
Hi Dave my name is Ken Hornby I was in your class …if you have a photo I am sat on Mr Thompsons R H Side Get in touch …we are having a reunion April 2016
I attended Holy Trinity school in 1963 to 1964. I remember Mr.Thompson. He was brutal. I still have the dents in my head from his rubber hammer. 01/01/2005
I attended this school from 1942 -1952 and remember Miss Watson ( her of the wide strap fame!) Mr Salmon ( cock Salmon) Mr Thompson Mr Campbell and The head Mr nesbit. In the later war years we were hurried to the bike sheds during a possible air raid.The sheds were built of concrete but naturally had an open front. Not a lot of protection there then. But probably better than nothing. After the war a new teacher came to the school and regaled us wide eyed boys with stories of air combat against the Luftwaffe.—– Happy days!