These photographs were taken by John Chesney and show famous British actress, Dame Anna Neagle, visiting the RAF Association on Bridge Road. Courtesy of Joyce Chesney. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
These photographs were taken by John Chesney and show famous British actress, Dame Anna Neagle, visiting the RAF Association on Bridge Road. Courtesy of Joyce Chesney.
My father Thomas Owen was a foreman bricky for Arthur Robinsons for years until it shut down.
Thanks Peter, Park Terrace was the site address for deliveries etc. ‘Wobbly Goblin’ – where do they get these names from?
It is now a night club that goes under the name of ‘Wobbly Goblin (progress eh). I think the road is known as Park Terrace.
Gran, that was the original RAFA club, the one built in the seventies replaced the original club. If I remember correctly it was built behind the Magistrates court.
If the RAFA club is the one in the block just along from the Metropole, I and a few of my pals who had done our National Service in the RAF in the fifties were members of the club in the early 60s. We used to go there for a game of Darts and have a go on the Tote Numbers.
I left the area in 1964, so believe that Pat is right.
The RAFA club was not built until the seventies so the early sixties is out as the date of the photo.
Just had another look at the top photo, and the gentleman standing immediately behind Anna Neagle is Lenny Tinkler, who is possibly still associated with the RAFA club. I am a friend of his wife Jean, and we always used the club in the 60s and 70s for social events for our keep-fit association.
Anna Neagle appeared in a play at the Hippodrome in the early sixties (possibly 63) which I went to see, think it was a murder mystery. Could these photos have been taken then? Clothes look right for that date.
The gentleman in the photo greeting Anna Neagle is my late father-in-law, Squadron Leader Charles W Chesney.
Bob Crinson and Albert Liddle started up Crinson Liddle Construction and it is still operating with their sons Stewart Crinson and Tony Liddle at the helm.
Other name, Albert Liddle, started company with was Bob Cranson or Crinson who was QS for Arthur Robinson builders, got the old brain working overtime to remember name.
Eric remember you very well, as you say AR did many clubs in the area in the seventies which of some you mentioned I worked on.
Alan, no sorry the fifties was way before my time working for Arthur Robinson builders, I was still serving my apprenticeship in the fifties. My time with the company was in the seventies and the late Billy Bumford was the MD, others working for the company in my time were the late Frank Bellwood, Albert Liddle, Maurice Gibson, plus more who’s names now elude the memory. Albert Liddle started out on his own with the QS from AR name gone and I believe they are still in business in the Middlesbrough area.
The late Billy Bumford was with Arthur Robinsons a lot of years, he was also a good footballer captaining Head Wrightsons & the Queens Club two very good teams. As well as being a good lad he was no shrinking violet in the face of confrontation.
Further to my post of 09/02; My aged and tired memory banks have had a flash of imspiration. The General foreman or site agent for Arthur Robinson on Stainsby School was Norman Barker. Did Bill Charlton ever work with him? In the Fifties, ( I know it’s a long time ago), I got the impression that Arthur Robinson himself was running the show from the offices in Linthorpe Road. ( Opposite the area of the Linthorpe Assembly rooms). Are you familiar with this period Bill?
I worked for the late Frank Swainston’s architects firm and the RAFA club was designed by his Partner Dennis Shields. Bill Charlton must be the same one who set up on his own account and built my house extension… mid seventies? At that time the firm did a lot of social club work.viz: National Patriotic Thornaby, M&D, Queens Club, St.Mary’s Grangetown, St.Peter’s South Bank, Lakes Redcar and others. Bill Bumford went on to become MD of Robinsons before it was closed down.
Billy Bumford was in fact Managing Director of Arthur Robinson builders and a very nice man and also a big Boro fan.
I served my Apprenticeship with Arthur Robinson, the Middlesbrough builder from 1953 -1958. Two of those years were spent working on Stainsby School. General foreman was Bill ?, he was an ex Royal Marine and awesome with his fists. Problems with tradesmen, who had served at the end of the war, and obviously fancied their chances was quickly sorted out side the site office. Neither Bill Charlton or Billy Bumfords names are known to me.
Wasn’t the late Billy Bumford the Quantity Surveyer for Arthur Robinson Builders?
I was general Foreman on the RAFA club which was built by Arthur Robinson Builders in the early seventies, is it still open.
The top photo 2nd left is the late John Manuel who was a foreman welder at Head Wrightson’s Bridgeyard, Thornaby, he was also a well known local football referee in the sixties. He was a gentleman.