I was born in Balaclava Street a stones throw from the station, me and my mate John Murphy used to play football in the entrance to the station using the two open ends as the goals. It was great on a rainy night because we had our own covered stadium. Long before Wembley.03/03/2012 10:07:29
I was born in Stockton in the Robson maternity home on Bowesfield Lane and have been looking for Alan Bowman for many years. I wish to thank him for being the such a good teacher at Richard Hind. A great pleasure also to see the names of Alan Prosser and Paul Twizell, both schoolmates from ‘Raggy Hind’.14/02/2012 00:16:45
I was at Richard Hind School from 1960 to 1965
and remember well a fine Teacher and wonderfully eccentric character known as Dizzy.
He taught Physics and Mathematics and very well too. Stockton station has many memories for me, the most deep being the fact that the last time I saw my Father was on Stockton station. As a train called the Highwayman pulled out of the station, with me on board bound for London, and Gatwick Airport to Canada, for a student visit, I waved to him, and he waved to me..That is the last time I ever saw him..He died from a heart attack whilst I was in Canada.
Dizzy Bowman, was indeed our Science master at Raggy Hind. His van, an ex post office Morris J type, hand painted Dark Blue, was known as the Dizzy Van. He did live on Durham road, opposite the Durham Road Chippy, halfway up the bank, next to the dentists. He ran evening “Crusaders” classes at school, with Sunday outings. A favourite was walking over the top of the Transporter bridge. To us, his first name was Dizzy! The Dizzy Van disappeared amid rumours of Dizzy overturning it on Billingham bottoms roundabout at 40 mph. He probably just traded it in for the Landrover!
“Dizzy” Bowman’s full name was Alan Mathew Bowman.
I too was a student at Richard Hind School 1959 to 1964. He was my science teacher. He was absolutely train daft and ran the school “Railway Club”. We stayed after school each month to watch “Railway Roundabout” films.
One memory was a trainspotting trip he organized circa 1963 from Stockton, via York to Leeds (toured two sheds), and then on to Doncaster (shed and the “Plant”). What a day, and great memories!
Regarding ‘Dizzy’ Bowman. I am pretty certain his name was Alan. I had contact with him through a bible class called Crusaders which met in Dovecot St and he occasionally took one or two of us from Crusaders to go trainspotting and photographing. I remember on one trip going in his van which did not have seats in the back (no health and safety then). But we always had a good time. On another occasion he had a land rover and we went to Shap and Beattock to see a special train.
In the 1970s, I had the pleasure, as a teenager, of taking a holiday job with Jack Marriott (a friend of the family). He was a real ‘old school’ photographer, and a gentleman, who always had time for me. I remember trying to help catalogue his seemingly endless archive of glass and film negatives. But, as a keen amateur photographer, I remember the thrill of working alongside a true professional. Happy days!
I believe this to be the same Alan Bowman who in the 1980″s was living just off the old A177 road adjacent to & overlooking the site of Thorpe Viaduct – the house is still there – if you are heading towards Thorpe from the Horse & Jockey, as you start to drop down the bank on the Thorpe bypass the old road is on you left, Alans house stands in a prominent position in the field on the west side of the old road, it has a yellow veranda on the north side.
I also remember the Stockton Station Master Mr Bowman and his son “Dizzy” Bowman through their association with the Newtown Methodist Church. Regarding the whereabouts of “Dizzy”, elsewhere on this site (ref. t6259) Steve Smith refers to a Dizzy Bowman being Science Teacher at Richard Hind School between 1966-71. I wonder if this person is the same “Dizzy” Bowman we are talking about. Can anybody help?
Hi Colin, I remember Dizzy Bowman (Nickname) I knew him at Newtown School & his real name was Alan. He was a very clever boy & finished up going to the Grammar School on Norton Road. I often wondered where he finished up.
The Station Master at Stockton Station during the late 40s & 50s was Mr Bowman. Lived on Durham Rd near the chemist. He was involved with Newtown Methodist Church, ran the Sunday School. He had a son with a nick name Dizzy Bowman,(can anyone remember his real name?)round about my age. I remember when I was working as a taxi driver for Tommy Rea, picking up a fare from near the Mile House. Mr Bowman had held up the London bound train for my fare to board
This is Stockton Station as I remember it, yes it was cold as the wind blew straight through. It was well run always clean and tidy and the staff took a pride in trains being on time. Mr Moiser very kindly gave me Freddie Moisers (Chief Signals Inspector NE Region) Gold Northern Goldsmiths pocket watch. If on the platform he would always check the departure time by flicking the front of the watch open. Happy Days.
This looks like a photo taken in North Eastern Railway days, as the train is made up of what look like short carriages, probably four or six wheeled, with a “birdcage” brake van. Notice the raised glazed lookout for the guard on the nearmost vehicle. Typical N.E.R. earlier vehicles
Great picture! Although I”ve only used Stockton station once, it certainly seems to hold a lot of history. Thornaby station is better connected these days and since it was refurbished in 2003 its now got staff, a shop, ticket office and a decent platform. Has THornaby station changed much since the 50″s? Its right next to the THornaby town hall too. Does anyone have any old pictures of thornaby station?
This was a very draughty station! My parents always preferred to travel from Thornaby Station, the services to the coast seemed to be better from there. On the far platform was a Stockton and Darlington Railway coach mounted on a plinth, and yes I and many another young trainspotter tried (and succeeded) to get inside it. I remember that it was very dusty!
I was born in Balaclava Street a stones throw from the station, me and my mate John Murphy used to play football in the entrance to the station using the two open ends as the goals. It was great on a rainy night because we had our own covered stadium. Long before Wembley.03/03/2012 10:07:29
I was born in Stockton in the Robson maternity home on Bowesfield Lane and have been looking for Alan Bowman for many years. I wish to thank him for being the such a good teacher at Richard Hind. A great pleasure also to see the names of Alan Prosser and Paul Twizell, both schoolmates from ‘Raggy Hind’.14/02/2012 00:16:45
I was at Richard Hind School from 1960 to 1965
and remember well a fine Teacher and wonderfully eccentric character known as Dizzy.
He taught Physics and Mathematics and very well too. Stockton station has many memories for me, the most deep being the fact that the last time I saw my Father was on Stockton station. As a train called the Highwayman pulled out of the station, with me on board bound for London, and Gatwick Airport to Canada, for a student visit, I waved to him, and he waved to me..That is the last time I ever saw him..He died from a heart attack whilst I was in Canada.
The Dentist was Jimmy Armstrong. Is he still in business there?
Dizzy Bowman, was indeed our Science master at Raggy Hind. His van, an ex post office Morris J type, hand painted Dark Blue, was known as the Dizzy Van. He did live on Durham road, opposite the Durham Road Chippy, halfway up the bank, next to the dentists. He ran evening “Crusaders” classes at school, with Sunday outings. A favourite was walking over the top of the Transporter bridge. To us, his first name was Dizzy! The Dizzy Van disappeared amid rumours of Dizzy overturning it on Billingham bottoms roundabout at 40 mph. He probably just traded it in for the Landrover!
“Dizzy” Bowman’s full name was Alan Mathew Bowman.
I too was a student at Richard Hind School 1959 to 1964. He was my science teacher. He was absolutely train daft and ran the school “Railway Club”. We stayed after school each month to watch “Railway Roundabout” films.
One memory was a trainspotting trip he organized circa 1963 from Stockton, via York to Leeds (toured two sheds), and then on to Doncaster (shed and the “Plant”). What a day, and great memories!
Regarding ‘Dizzy’ Bowman. I am pretty certain his name was Alan. I had contact with him through a bible class called Crusaders which met in Dovecot St and he occasionally took one or two of us from Crusaders to go trainspotting and photographing. I remember on one trip going in his van which did not have seats in the back (no health and safety then). But we always had a good time. On another occasion he had a land rover and we went to Shap and Beattock to see a special train.
At the end of the southbound platform, near to the Bishopton Road bridge was a huge water container, full of goldfish.
In the 1970s, I had the pleasure, as a teenager, of taking a holiday job with Jack Marriott (a friend of the family). He was a real ‘old school’ photographer, and a gentleman, who always had time for me. I remember trying to help catalogue his seemingly endless archive of glass and film negatives. But, as a keen amateur photographer, I remember the thrill of working alongside a true professional. Happy days!
Hi Colin I think it was “David” He wasn”t dizzy he was highly intelligent.But he looked it with his thick rim glasses.
I believe this to be the same Alan Bowman who in the 1980″s was living just off the old A177 road adjacent to & overlooking the site of Thorpe Viaduct – the house is still there – if you are heading towards Thorpe from the Horse & Jockey, as you start to drop down the bank on the Thorpe bypass the old road is on you left, Alans house stands in a prominent position in the field on the west side of the old road, it has a yellow veranda on the north side.
I also remember the Stockton Station Master Mr Bowman and his son “Dizzy” Bowman through their association with the Newtown Methodist Church. Regarding the whereabouts of “Dizzy”, elsewhere on this site (ref. t6259) Steve Smith refers to a Dizzy Bowman being Science Teacher at Richard Hind School between 1966-71. I wonder if this person is the same “Dizzy” Bowman we are talking about. Can anybody help?
Hi Colin, I remember Dizzy Bowman (Nickname) I knew him at Newtown School & his real name was Alan. He was a very clever boy & finished up going to the Grammar School on Norton Road. I often wondered where he finished up.
Re: Dizzy Bowman. I think he was called Alan. He was a Maths teacher at Raggy Hind during my incarceration there.
The Station Master at Stockton Station during the late 40s & 50s was Mr Bowman. Lived on Durham Rd near the chemist. He was involved with Newtown Methodist Church, ran the Sunday School. He had a son with a nick name Dizzy Bowman,(can anyone remember his real name?)round about my age. I remember when I was working as a taxi driver for Tommy Rea, picking up a fare from near the Mile House. Mr Bowman had held up the London bound train for my fare to board
This is Stockton Station as I remember it, yes it was cold as the wind blew straight through. It was well run always clean and tidy and the staff took a pride in trains being on time. Mr Moiser very kindly gave me Freddie Moisers (Chief Signals Inspector NE Region) Gold Northern Goldsmiths pocket watch. If on the platform he would always check the departure time by flicking the front of the watch open. Happy Days.
This looks like a photo taken in North Eastern Railway days, as the train is made up of what look like short carriages, probably four or six wheeled, with a “birdcage” brake van. Notice the raised glazed lookout for the guard on the nearmost vehicle. Typical N.E.R. earlier vehicles
Andrew re Thornaby Station :- Go Search Dara base insert “Thornaby” scroll “Railway Station” .
Great picture! Although I”ve only used Stockton station once, it certainly seems to hold a lot of history. Thornaby station is better connected these days and since it was refurbished in 2003 its now got staff, a shop, ticket office and a decent platform. Has THornaby station changed much since the 50″s? Its right next to the THornaby town hall too. Does anyone have any old pictures of thornaby station?
This was a very draughty station! My parents always preferred to travel from Thornaby Station, the services to the coast seemed to be better from there. On the far platform was a Stockton and Darlington Railway coach mounted on a plinth, and yes I and many another young trainspotter tried (and succeeded) to get inside it. I remember that it was very dusty!