My family lived at 51 Bickersteth Street and this was found amongst family photographs. I have done some research and have some names of the families living at numbers 42 – 53. The street are gathered together for some kind of Street celebration, can anyone shed any light?
Photograph and details courtesy of Catherine Wilks.
Lived in 68 Bickersth st
Mother Joan O Keeffe then Ozols
I lived in 70 Bickersteth Street, one of three sons of Martha and George Hudson. My older brother Norman and younger brother John, both now deceased. Regards, Cyril Hudson.
I knew Willie quite well from St. Cuthbert’s school. If the street party was to celebrate the coronation then I have a theory as to why there were hardly any men in the picture. Coronation day, June 2nd 1953, a national holiday, was cold and rainy. A lot of the streets in Parkfield delayed the kids’ party until another day when the sun was out and all the men were at work. I have a similar picture of the Ellicott Street party and there isn’t a single man in it.
Would love to see your picture posted Jim…
It’s on the site somewhere. If you google Street Party in 1953 you should get it.
Why I wonder are there only 2 men in the photo, one an elderly gentleman and the other just a young man ?
Thankyou to everyone for showing an interest in the photo. Family have now said a Mrs Brown lived at No.46. She is in the photo with children.
Cath, are you related to Willie Waites, who lived in Bickersteth Street?
Is that Willie the Gazette lad from the High Street?
Yes! He was my dads younger brother.
Probably the Coronation celebration, 1953.
Wonderful photo!! Was Bickersteth Street in Parkfield area?
I think this was taken in the 40s . My Dad Teddy Waites, the only man in the photo (looking slightly out of place). My Nana Hilda Waites and great Aunt Vi McGurk are also in the picture, they lived at No. 51. Other names known are : Mrs Kneafsey No. 52, Mrs Barker No.47, Mrs Collins No.49, Mrs Hardwick, Olive and Vera ?, Mrs Doughtie No.50, Mrs Douglas No.42.
I would love any information about Parkfield area around this time.
My grans house was number 77 where we lived until I was 4 in 1959. She was called Violet (Vi) Pheonix, married my grandad Tid Smith who died in a railway accident when my dad was 12. I’m called Terry Smith after my Dad.
Vi remarried to a chap from Hetton le hole called Stan Owen who passed away from a heart attack a few years later. My gran, now Vi Owen lived in the house until it was subject to compulsory purchase for demolition sometime in the mid 60s when she moved to live with us in Hardwick.
Other randomn memories about ‘Bicky’ as we used to call it are: halfway down ‘May’s’ shop. Neighbours names the O’tools and the Ozols which, I believe to have been of Polish decent.
Hope these ramblings are of interest.
We lived in no. 77 in the 1960’s…Brown family…
Bout 1963-68… My sister was born in the living room
My Dad grew up on Bickersteth Street. Is the Mrs. Barker, Olive Barker? She was my Grandmother. There were eight children in the family. My dad is Peter, now living in Canada. He attended Bowesfield School.
I think he was friends with Ronnie Waites, is he any relation to you?
Dad’s just found another photo of the Street and recognised it as his own, his Dad’s Surname is Lennon and his Mum’s is Peacock and he was born in 1963. Not sure if this will help in anyway.
At a guess from the dress of the ladies it was 1945, VE day celebrations.
It looks very much like a Street Party celebrating the end of WW 2. The hairdos look like that era. Notice that there is only one young man present. These street parties were held all over the Stockton area. I attended one as a little girl in Haverton Hill. Alternatively it could also be a Coronation Day party for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. I notice that the street surface appears to be wet and, as I recall, that was a very wet day.
I’m guessing its Coronation day which would be 1952. Judging by the flags and street party. I was born in Bickersteth Street bit not sure of the number. Maybe before my time though. Hope its not though as piccies are rare for bicky street. If anyone doesn’t know this is over the road from Halfords and next to the Trinity Church. Knocked down now.
We used to live at no. 66 Bickersteth from 64-68ish. Brown Family. Gordon and Marlene Brown had kids Karl, Michele and Terry. I was only 2 when we moved… Remember nothing tbh
Was your ma. Little Joanno 68 my mum and us lived there
Mam married a Latvian mum was called Joan Ozols nee O Keeffe
Had 5 children
We lived at 66 Bickersteth Street from when I was born in 1946 till 1950 when we moved to Cecil Street. My mam and dad were Jean and Arthur Oakley living with my mams parents Alfred and Isabel Robinson who had lived there some years prior to that.