This photo is of a group of Portrack residents on a day trip to the seaside in the late thirties. The trip was organised by the Portrack Cons Club located in Barrett Street.
Courtesy of Richard Scott.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Conservative voters in Portrack, like my family, kept their heads down, especially at election time. But although non-political, the Conservative Club was a bit superior to the other pubs in Portrack Lane
My grandparents come from Wales to live in Stockton just after the first world war. They had ‘rooms’ in Barret Street but in different houses. The men shared one house and the women another so they could fit more people into a room.
My Grandad, Tommy Cook, was a committee man up till he died. I remember going on the Club Trip to Seaburn, double decker bus leaving from Barret St, two shillings pocktet money and a load of candy, thought you died and gone to heaven. I don’t remember what year they moved to the new club on Maritime St. However, the club trips were still Seaburn and it was always something to look forward to.
The Conservative Club in Barrets Street had a church like exterior, with a very tall pitched roof facing onto the street. This bit of the building covered an entrance porch in which barrels of beer were stored. When it was raining, some of us kids, from the Barret Street mob, would go inside and sit on the barrels, in those days massive wooden ones of course. We were okay until we started making a noise when we would be kicked out.
The Conservative Club became none-political following one of the General Election campaigns, probably in the late 20s or early 30s, when the Conservative candidate bought a round of beer for the people in the club. His opponents accused him of bribery, and as a result the Club declared itself non-political
I went to school with Avril, lovely girl – long time ago now.
Nice photo Richard. I recognise your Dad – Dickie Scott(extreme right standing) & and your mum next to him. On your mums right, Aunty Ria (Marchant). Standing high at the back 2nd from right, Uncle Alf (Marchant). They must have got a day off from the fish shop. Alf and Ria lived at Tilery, I visited them and their three lovely daughters Pauline Avril & Christine. I always found it ironic that in a staunch Labour stronghold they all belonged to the Conservative club (None political of course)