The Magical Mystery Bus Tour with Time Traveller Martin Peagam took us on a trip to the past.. We began with a visit to the site of the old Stockton Union Workhouse in Portrack Lane and ended with a walk along the original 1825 track-bed which runs through Preston Park, with many other stops in between.
Norton Heritage Day: The next bus tour departs from Norton Library on Saturday 26 May at 1pm. Booking required. Call 01642 528019 for more information and to book.
Picture Stockton Archive 
In that fifth picture you can just see one boat. That is where my father in-law, Norman Preston used to moor his boat!
There were several club boats moored their on the Thornaby side of the river, it is now a Marina.
My wife and I used to enjoy using her dad’s boat to travel downstream to Yarm. The world looked completely different from the water, all beautiful countryside!
On Regatta Day we attempted to motor as a club, towards the river mouth, but unfortunately my spare petrol was pinched, and we only got as far as the Tees Bridge at Middlesbrough! But all such great fun!
To conclude the Regatta, Norman and I used to enjoy the sing song in the club/pub. One of our sailor, club members played the guitar – sea shanties of course! Such glorious memories.
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You may find this hard to believe but I wished I had come to Stockton just to take this bus tour. Firstly, I have a liking for studying bus design and this one is a lovely example of the period when flat-fronted vehicles became fashionable. I was sad to see the old Globe cinema looking shabby, I hope there are plans to save this delightful art-deco building. It must be listed, surely. I remember the Rank Four Mill missing in the riverside shot and the Victoria Bridge I cycled over every day on way to Head Wrightsons where I worked. And the Police Station in Church Road where I took the entrance exam to join the Police but in the south, not Stockton. Success in this took me away forever from the town where I grew up. Let me reassure Stocktonians, they still have a town to be proud of. Living in the London area, I was at Wembley last Sunday to see Stockton Town play in the FA Vase Final. Sitting on the terraces surrounded by people who spoke with an accent I recall from my youth brought a smile to my face.
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Hi. Do you remember Tommy Dover, my dad, who worked at Head Wrightsons. I was born in Stockton, now live in Rotherham. Regards Sandra Dover
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Hi Roy, no need to worry about The Globe, restoration is underway, but it’s currently at the stage of looking worse before getting much better.
https://en-gb.facebook.com/TheGlobeStockton/
https://www.stockton.gov.uk/globe
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Hi, would the parents of Norman possibly be named Annie & Thomas?
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