Regulars at the “New Cons” working men’s club, just off Maritime Street, Stockton enjoying a few pints of Newcastle Brown, in between rounds of bingo, the main event every evening.
Does anyone know their names and what they did for a living?
Photographs and details courtesy of Fred Starr.
As can be seen from the way that these gentlemen are sitting round the table and the classic “eyes down” posture, in one picture, they could only be playing bingo, not dominos
My recollection was that Newcastle Brown Ale was the standard bottled beer on Teesside and put one in the league of superior drinkers. I also understand that, at least, proportionately, more of this was drunk on Teesside than up in Newcastle.
I also have to point out that playing Bingo with two or three cards requires a great deal of attention. I could barely keep abreast of the calling of the numbers with just one card.
I am surprised the men would be drinking Newcastle Brown Ale as the Teesside beer was noted as the best and strongest in the country by most beer drinkers. As I remember the favourites where BASS, WORTHINGTON ,VAUX, JOHN SMITHS ,and what we used to to call boys beer CAMERONS, later on came TETLEYS, I remember my first experience of TETLEYS IMPERIAL at the Horse and Jockey, after three pints my lips went numb, I knew this was a strong beer after that.. Looking into the games room at the domino players they all appeared like zombies with a glazed look in their eyes, this was before the police were up to scratch on drink driving. I remember inviting my neighbour Tom White for a beer at the Horse and Jockey, he was a Londoner and not used to the strong beer. We Drove home to Hartburn with him at the wheel and me steering from the passenger seat. When I think back I get a cold shiver at the thought of what we got up to in our younger days..
Although I cannot remember his name, the man in the single photograph was a friend of my Dad. Along with Pop Cockcroft, of Garbutt Street their social hours were spent in the old Cons Club in Barrett Street, Portrack. The man in question often called at our house in Buxton Street to see my Dad. Back in those days he had a large growth that almost covered the right side of his face. He was operated on to have it removed, the photograph identifies the scars left afterwards.
The middle one, with the glasses on is Billy McGlade. of St Anns Terrace
The man in the cap is “Cappy” Lee who I used to work with at Swan Hunter shipyard in the 1970’s I never did find out his christian name or see him without his cap on. I believe he passed away around 20 years ago, a lovely fella who always has a good bit of craic even on a miserable Monday morning
I believe the bottom one was called Brewster and worked at the Bowesfield Sheet works