The crowning of the May Queen at the Unitarian Church in 1950. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
The crowning of the May Queen at the Unitarian Church in 1950.
I rememder a “blackie” Fletcher, not from MILL ST.but went to the tech, and sold paper”s near town hall. We are not related.
Dee Dale – I only know Mill Street West from going to visit my G”ma there in the 1950s, so I was never aware of many other residents, sorry I can`t help you, but I hope that somebody else can?
Cliff Thornton – Mill St West, was there a character in that area known as “Blackie” Fletcher? Also Marty Ruddy? Are you familiar with those names?
Christin Smythe – The “May Queen” is indeed a northern tradition – a fertility rite originally.
Is this “May Queen” pageant a tradition of the North East of England?
The may queen is Pam Price sister of Ian. I remember a lot of the names.I was one of the gang that made a dash from the unitarian church to NICKS house,and played all the pop records of the time. In the early 60″s the gang started going their own ways, either for work or to get married. Would be glad to see any reactions form any named in above.
I lived in Howden Street in the early sixties and seem to remember a bakery ran by an elderly lady named Mrs Tate, I also remember the Bulmer family.
Hello to Cliff & Steven The paper shop on the corner was indeed owned & run by Mrs Rudge but however not part of my family. Strange that with a bit of an unusual name 2 separate familys could be so close together. I have spoken to my mam who tells me that unfortunately they had no family. In an earlier correspondence I mentioned the corner shop on Howden St / Mill St which was an off-licence – my mam has corrected me by naming the shop as Casson”s not Camerons. To Brian Bennison – yes I well remember you from Sunday School days at the Unitarian Church. Also Cliff Keeble / Carol Booth / Peter Bainbridge and many others. Do you remember the xmas parties run by Mr McArthur
Hi David, I remember a Mrs Rudge who either owned or worked in a corner shop at the end of Leeds Street/Mill Street West in the 60″s, any relation?. I lived in Carlton Street from 1960-69.I vaguely remember several shops which were scattered around the area and nearly all located on every street corner, including the dreaded barber shop.
Hi David I am part of the Wilson/Willey/Smith family. Aunt June lived in the last house on the right hand side of Mill Street West and my Aunt Tanna lived opposite. GreatGran wilson lived at number 84. All families doors open to the world and family and friends always welcome. You stepped straight out of the front door and were at the bridge going over the railway lines. Yes Aunt Junes brother is my Uncle Nick. My Mams family, as your Mam will probably remember, are the 7 Wilson Boys, Alf,Charlie,Sid,Johnnie,Walter (with his glass eye),Les and Stan and 2 Wilson girls, Beattie (My mams mother) and Mary.They definitely had big families back then.
David, Your name and many of the others mentioned are familiar. I recall my sister being an “attendant” for one May Queen. Did not the Smiths run the shop on corner of Mill St West? It was there that I first encountered a chewy (or was it bubbly) machine. The shop also ran the equivalent of a Christmas club for the purchase of fireworks. At Billy Harston”s you got quite a severe haircut, the only one in his repertoire; although he frequently used wax tapers, lit at the flames of an old proto-type Ascot, to singe nasal and ear (must be a more correct term)hairs. The shop opposite was, at some stage, called the Dunelm Stores. This may have been an affectation as I seem to remember the son getting a scholarship to the choristers school and sporting a rather classy uniform.
Dave Rudge – I remember a Mrs Rudge living next to my Grandma (Rosa Johnson) in Mill Street West in the 1950s. Would she have been a relation of yours? She must have lived at either no. 20 or 24 as my granma lived at no. 22.
Hi Deborah, I”m sure your Aunt June will remember me as she did ask about me when she last visited the Unitarian church and was talking to my mam. My mam does remember yours and also that you lived in Mill St West next to the barber (Billy Hartson)which is where I used to get my hair cut. That was opposite the grocers store called Holliday”s. You must have been part of the Willey / Smith family who lived at the end of Mill St West joining onto Dixon St. I used to go out with Brenda Smith for a short while in our teens. I also remember June had a brother called Nick.
Hi Dave recently visited aunt June down in Hinkley where she lives now and showed her the photo and straight away she mentioned your name. I told her we had had contact through the Stockton website and spoke about this photo she mentioned “its a small world”.
Dear Brian Next time I talk to Aunt June I will ask her if she remembers you being her cushion carrier I am also wondering if you remember my Mam (Norma Wilson),June and my Mam were cousins.
The photo of the May Queens outside of the schoolroom door is of Pam Price attended by Ann Clavert and ?. The outgoing May Queen is indeed June Willey (who now lives in Leicester) she is attended by Glenyis Hillips and ?. The wee boy carrying the cushion is myself. I was press ganged into doing it because Brian Chipchase who lived in Leeds St got scared and ran off. I”ll get you back one day Brian !!!!
Glenis Phillips and me – Christine Gill! How can you forget me David! Haha!
I am not on those photos however I will be on later years. I also have several photos of May queens in the 60″s. I had to keep coming out of “retirement” to be a may queen attendant as the church was “running out” of girls to do the job.
Have checked and it is my Aunt June she was just going to be crowned. I am proud to have family in this web site as it is such a good way of remembering our local history
I am just randomising the photos and came across the one of the crowning of the May Queen in 1950 and the taller of the attendants I think is my Aunt June (Willey) if it isn”t her then she has a double.