The High Street in Stockton. Photograph kindly donated by the husband of the late Doreen Thomas (Author of Strike a Light – the Story of John Walker) 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
The High Street in Stockton. Photograph kindly donated by the husband of the late Doreen Thomas (Author of Strike a Light – the Story of John Walker)
Gerald Goldston Chartered Accountant, occupied the actual area that Johnnie Walker invented the Friction Match. The Lucifer I think it was called. My wife, who was then Miss Marie Kennedy, worked for Gerald in this particular office. Gerald insisted in introducing Marie to his clients as our Miss Kennedy even when Marie was eight months pregnant with our first child. A very nice gentleman Mr Goldston, who expected his staff to work hard but was a good employer. He was a steam train buff and liked nothing better than train spotting on the old LNER line.
We would meet up in the Commercial Bar before going around the Town. I would often see Norman Toulson in there practicing on the board . One of the people I was with was Arthur Phipps, who you knew Gran, at the Forge Drawing Office. We have probably met in there without knowing.
Brings back memories of the fifties with Double Maxims in the Commercial Bar and a game of darts. Bob Harburn, Bob Wallace and Norman Toulson were star players of those days used to call in. Benny will be particularly interested in photo. I am surprised it did not draw more comment. The United bus would be off to Redcar via Thornaby and Acklam. I think the 74 went to Darlington and Hartlepool. Forshaws, the tobbacconists were nearby, they used to be first in putting the Boro scores in their window on a Saturday afternoon.
The building at the centre of this photograph was where John Walker invented the friction match. Masterman”s was the site of Walker”s chemist shop No.59 High Street. The Building was owned by printer and stationer and mayor of Stockton Thomas Jennett who had his workshop where the Woodroffe shop front is. Jennett was the apprentice and then partner of Robert Christopher who opened the town”s first printing office there in around 1770.