The Happy Wanderers puppets on Dovecot Steet in Stockton. The puppet show raised thousands of pounds for charities. c1998. Photograph courtesy of Mr Robert Harbron. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
The Happy Wanderers puppets on Dovecot Steet in Stockton. The puppet show raised thousands of pounds for charities. c1998. Photograph courtesy of Mr Robert Harbron.
There was also a Ragworth Sunshine Corner as well!I think it was run by a Mr Harold White-a lovely old gentleman.
Roy Parkin asking for those who remember Sunshine Corner on the sands at Redcar says: “Mid 50’s to mid 60’s time, might have been there earlier.” Well as early as mid 1930″s I would say. A regular feature of our Redcar holidays – with free sticks of rock for the venturesome youngsters who would go on stage and sing solo – such as “Now Zacchaeus was a very little man….” I have just dug inbto one of my files and found a page from “Remember When” of May 17 1997 headed “Pioneer of a seaside Gospel. Uncle Tom”s corner.Redcar man Tom Thompson first started on 22nd June 1930! In 1933 he lked more than 300 services during a 17 week season.
I went to Sunday School at the Methodist Chapel at the top of our street[Craister St,Tilery ]and we used to sing the following Sunshine Corner oh it”s jolly fine It”s for children under 99 All are welcome,seats are given free Tilery Sunshine Corner is the place for me. That must have been in the forties,happy days!
My father used to pick up slogans and songs and repeat them, I remember him singing “Sunshine Corner, it”s the place for me, it”s for children under 93, xxxsorry, one line missing from my memoryxxx, Redcar”s Sunshine Corner is the place for me!” I was always enchanted by it, if I had a time machine it”s one place I would love to go!
I remember Sunshine Corner on the sands at Redcar. I even remember the song we used to sing Something like:- Sunshine corner is a merry time All for children under ninety nine Good refreshments seats are given free Redcar sunshine corner is the place for me!!! Jesus wants me for a sunbeam was also sung regularly.
Hello Roy Parkin, I certainly remember Sunshine Corner, held on the sands at Redcar in the 40s-50s. We went there regularly for a week almost every year. I also vividly remember singing “hymns” and one of the persons – I think it was the chap who played the piano/organ saying. “I”ll give half a crown 2/6d. to any who can answer this question”. It was a Biblical quote and I shot up my hand with the correct answer. Sadly I”m still waiting for my half-crown. Instead I received a paper scroll with the words”Jesus loves a little one like me” or something like that.It WAS OVER 60yrs ago and I can recall Alan Gale & the Wavelettes (I think) performing on a stage set up on the beach as well. Oh it does bring back some lovely memories. I”m a fairly new contributor to this site and I love it, I spend most of my spare time perusing it.
Sunshine Corner. Does anybody remember Sunshine Corner on the beach at Redcar during the summer months? I remember going there and being disappointed when it was not there, I think it was run by some religious organisation or other, stories being told and songs being sung, quite a crowd if I remember rightly. Mid 50’s to mid 60’s time, might have been there earlier or later may even be there now, does anybody remember Sunshine Corner. Roy.
Sunshine Corner was started and run by my Great Uncle Tom (Thompson). I believe from the early 1900s to 1950 when the beach “theatre” was destroyed in a storm. Uncle Tom was an evangelist and true Christian who worked tirelessly to help people in the area and provide a form of entertainment for the population, young and old, when very little else was available or could be afforded. He married Nancy and went to live in Blackpool (must have liked that sea air?) they had one child, Ethel. He wrote several hymns, which can be found in todays hymn books. Anyone, aware of Sunshine Corner will I’m sure remember the song: Sunshine Corner oh it’s jolly fine, It’s for children under 99. All are welcome seats are given free. Redcar sunshine Corner is the place for me! RIP Uncle Tom…. Paula
Pupets in the High Street One of the pleasures of the Puppet show was the generous donation given by those around In the early 90s it enabled Mr Les Brown donate to the purchase of a Guide-Dog , which took place at the Guide-dog Centre , Middlesbrough, where a golden retriever “Heidi” was named . The Happy Wanderers and Puppets were presented to the Duchess of Kent, in Whitby Spa 12th June 1996 , during the naming of the ports new lifeboat,for their work on behalf of the R N L I. We still meet hundreds of Children , but the most poignant was in the Metro-Centre Gateshead , where we had the privilige of dancing with a group of blind children, who showed no fear as they whirled round with “Heidi”, “Lilani “and “Otto” to the street organ. Regarding the dancers over the years ,we still have folk coming to us saying , we remember you at saltburn Victorian festival or Barnard-Castle Fun-Days many years ago To all who donated over the years “Thank You” and we are still around
Puppets in the High Street. These puppets, made in Germany , were purchased by Mr Leslie Brown of Toy-shop fame In 1989 he started showing them in aid of local charities Guide-Dogs being his first, over the next 7 years , with the assistance of Mr Cyril Hay and Mr Robert Harbron as Organ-Master/Puppeter raised many thousands of pounds for R.N.L.I ,Butterwick Hospice,Red Cross etc displaying as far as Germany and Holland, its local from York to Gateshead (Metro-Centre) that have been the main display . The Pupets have appeared on T.V from Whitby and are a regular at the Butterwick Fair on Norton-Green since 1989. On Leslies death Nov 1996 he beqeathed three puppets to his friends that they may continue the good work. The photo is of Cyril with “Lilani”and “Heidi” in Dovcote Street on one of our Friday Puppet shows 1993-1996. Our last outing was at Ripon Kirkgate “Christmas Fair” 5th and Ripon Christmas Market 12th Dec 2004. where donations for the R.N.L.I were collected from an enjoyable occasion.