This photograph may interest ex Malleable steelworkers.
It is of my Father-in-law David Black on his retirement in 1976 together with his wife Peggy. He is being presented with gifts from Nelson Etherington who I believe was the then MD of the Stockton works. Looking on is Colin Allen who took over from Dave. I’m afraid I do not know the other lady in the picture next to Mr Etherington. Dave Black started with the Malleable sometime in the 40s / early 50s working in the time office but eventually ended up as Welfare Manager where he was very well respected for assisting the newly retired or bereaved or anyone else who needed help. Unfortunately Dave suffered a stroke in 1983 but carried on until his death in 1990. It would be great to hear from anyone who knew Dave.
Photograph and details courtesy of Dave Rudge.
I started as a Trainee Personnel Officer at the Malleable in 1964 where I worked until 1974. I knew Dave Black when he moved from the Wages Department and replaced the then Welfare Manager Arthur Sladden. Thomas John Nelson Etherington was indeed Managing Director and was famous for wearing those dark glasses to counter migraines. He was also famous for his chain smoking Capstan Full Strength and objected to smoking filter tips which he referred to as spats and would tear them off when offered one.
He promoted me after asking me to work at Teesport Oil Refinery every Sunday for no pay and said it was great for my development……he was so right in pushing me on in my career.
The other lady in the picture is Mrs Jean Cutts, wife of Works Engineer Maurice, and she worked as a Comptometer (early mechanical calculator) Operator in the Wages Department.
I recognise Nelson Etherington. My father Robert Baillie (Bob) worked at the malleable in the 70s. Anyone remember him?
DALE JONES.
YOUR GRANDFATHER’S FAMILY LIVED IN JACKSON STREET. THEY LIVED NEXT DOOR TO MANNIONS. I REMEMBER THEY HAD A DAUGHTER CALLED LYNN, I AM PRETTY CERTAIN THAT AFTER YOUR GRANDFATHER MOVED FROM PORTRACK HE OPENED A BIKE SHOP IN HUME STREET, STOCKTON. I DON’T WHERE THE FAMILY MOVED TO AFTER PORTRACK, JOHNNY WAS YOUR GRANDFATHERS NAME
Thanks I know my grandad moved to Hardwick after they left Portrack because my dad remembers it but he was only young so can’t tell me much, its a shame all the shops my grandad had are gone I would love to see where they were. I know that Lynn and Shirley are my aunties and Terry and Barry are the only uncles left as Allan died about 15 years ago and Trevor died before I was born.
Brian and Colin Allen were part of the popular Allen O’ Neill dancing school at Norton Saint Joseph’s School Hall in the 1960’s and 70’s. Brian did a lot of teaching and I remember Colin helping out with the drinks, catering, fee collection and other organisational duties.
I worked with Colin Allen and knew Dave Black very well. My Father, Tom Dixon, used to work in the joiners shop, after an industrial accident he became Commissionier in the main office working directly for Nelson Etherington. When my father died in 1980 both Colin and Dave were a great help to my mother. I could never thank them enough. John Dixon.
This caught my eye as my brother was called David Black, no relation to this Dave Black. We lived at Roseworth and my brother Dave was run over and killed at Norton duck pond in 1962 whilst traveling to Alloms the newsagents in Norton. Sad day.
Two boys, one of them from the Jones family, drowned in the Malleable reservoir around 1950. There was a huge funeral in Portrack. I am sure the story would have been in the Evening Gazette. The Jones’ had a small shop just off Portrack Common
Fred, the Jones family were my family. My grandad who owned the shop died in 2005 so I can’t find out any information about the rest of my family so any more information would be a big help.
Not so much to do with the works but I was immediately drawn to the person in the photo on the far left, did Colin Allen live at the top of Craister Street in Tilery?
Yes I think you are, John and Colin was a leader at the Kiora Youth Club in the fifties and was always a popular and friendly chap.
Colin Allen had a twin brother called Brian who worked in the Invoice Department. Ray Old was the manager. Brian ran a dance school in Stockton for many years. I worked with Brian, Colin worked along the corridor in the Estimating Dept. Both were real nice friendly colleagues and great characters. I remember Nelson and Dave by sight but not to speak to.
The Allen twins Brian and Colin were ballroom dancers who used to dance at the Smith and Jacques Dance School which used to be held in the old Malleable Club.
Brian I believe at one time was the Northumberland and Durham Jive Champion at dancing. In 1967 he was manager of the Portrack Shamrocks a under 21’s youth football team, started from the Steelworks invoice dept.
Does any one remember the boy who drowned at The malleable? John Jones or his family, they had a motor bike repair shop on the corner of Jackson street and Portrack Lane any information would be great thanks. Dale
Ken Howells on January 23, 2005 at 12:00 am said:
Coming home from the Plaza on the way to Portrack my brother Dave and I were caught in an air raid and took shelter under the bridge. My Dad had come to meet us and took us home – he said under the bridge was probably not the place to be. He was right, after the war the Gazette published pictures from the Luftwaffe. The bridge was one their targets – just past the bridge going to Stockton there were some steps leading up to a resevoir – a good friend and classmate of mine (Baily Street) Johnny Jones drowned there aged 11, his parents had a shop on Portrack lane – we were in Mrs Greens class – what a wonderful teacher – after St Anns it was like coming out of the dark into the light.
Reply ↓
F Starr on January 23, 2005 at 12:00 am said:
Ken Howells mentions Johnny Jones and his pal who died in the reservoir on the Malleable Works. The year was round 1950. It was believed that they had been playing Tarzan, swinging over the reservoir, and one of them fell in. He was pulled under by the pumps and his friend jumped in to try to save him, but he too was pulled under. There was a very big funeral, forming a prcession down Portrack Lane. It was well reported in the Evening Gazette
I remember an electrician who drowned in a night shift incident when the steel post he was resting a ladder against faied through rust and corrosion causing him and his ladder to fall into a water hydraulics sump or similar, don’t know his name though.