I took these photos of Stockton North Shore Branch in August 1968. North Shore Goods Station had closed in January 1968, having been built as the Stockton & Hartlepool Railway’s station in 1841. Passenger trains were diverted to the present station, which the Leeds Northern Railway opened in 1852, in 1853.
Originally Norton Road was crossed on the level and trains ran into the station on the left of the view of the office block. By 1968 a concrete bridge took the railway across the road. I also include the view from that bridge, looking north, to Clarence Coal Depots, Stockton Gas Works, and the railway to North Shore signal box on the main line. You can see Stockton North Marshalling Yard in the distance. Clarence Coal Depots were on or near the site of the Clarence Railway’s station, which had opened for passengers in 1835, and was replaced by the later stations.
We’ve had some more sad news sent to us about another much valued contributor to this website. Joseph Norman Kidd passed away on 16th November aged 92 years. Over many years he contributed to the archive with stories of people and events, particularly related to the railway, that he experienced during his time living in Norton-on-Tees.
Our condolences go to his wife Joyce who told us the news and wished us all well in continuing to share people’s memories on Picture Stockton.
Here is a photograph first sent to us in 2007 showing Private J. Norman Kidd, No. 4 Squad, A Company, DLI Army Cadets, with a link to the original post where Norman shared his recollections of his time in the cadets.
The Flying Scotsman on a visit to Stockton, taken at the station showing the overall roof, now long gone sadly, in April 1966. I was very fortunate in those days to have a permit for taking pictures at the lineside and still only a teenager so I did not get into trouble with that policeman on the platform.
We’ve had some sad news sent to us from Ben Brown about one of our regular contributors, Granville Cooper:
Sadly I wish to report of the death of a well known Teesside Sportsman Granville Cooper who has contributed many articles to this site over the past years.
Gran as we all knew him died aged 86 years after a mammoth battle with leukemia over the last ten years. Gran died in Bristol on Saturday 14th November. He was a one of the longest surviving sufferers of this very debilitating disease.
Gran has posted many articles on this site over the years. He was a top class centre forward playing for Billingham Synthonia and and Whitby Town for many seasons, being top scorer at Whitby Town during his stay there. In later years he played for Head Wrightsons in a very successful Teesside league team. During his National Service in the Royal Air Force he was stationed in Singapore where he won the player of the year award for the top league.
Gran served his apprenticeship at Head Wrightson Stockton Forge as a template maker and graduated to a draughtman position before embarking on a career of Construction Management. Gran was Construction Manager for BP and Foster Wheeler for many of the European major projects in his position as Construction Manager and on several occasions had the prestigious position of introducing the Queen to the top people of many successful projects. At times his staff numbered over 2500 employees. Gran is a shining example of what local talent can achieve with the right sort of attitude to their careers.
He will be sadly missed. RIP Gran Cooper.
Granville Cooper meets the Queen in Cologne , 1992.
Greg Cooper, Granville Cooper’s son, has also sent us these lovely photographs to accompany this post.
Granville and brother Ernie in Australia
In RAF uniform whilst doing national service in Singapore in the mid 50s
With sister Pam in Spain
Holding a cup final cup playing for the RAF during national service in Singapore in the mid 50s – he scored a hattrick to help win the match
1 David butler 2 Anthony Ridge 3 John Sawdon 4 Craig Palfreeman 5 Me 6 Michael Pearce 7 Terry Fahey 8 Kenny Etherington (deceased) 9 Mike Harrington(deceased) 10 Les Wilson 11 Mick Brewster 12 Paul Metcalfe 13 Phil Lipton 14 John Boyle 15 Ian Macintosh 16 Peter Burns 17 Terry O’Conner 18 Phil Davison 19 Mick Thompson 20 Ged Burns 21 Ken Williams 22 Mark Redhead 23 Stephen Woods 24 Stephen Connolley 25 Mick Twomey 26 Paul Cohen 27 Mrs. Short 28 Patrick Keane 29 Martin Smith (Smyth) 30 Joseph Gaffeney 31 Paul Saint
This railway carriage was sited outside the John Walker Square to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. It is an incredible 45 years since this event and the 200th anniversary of the railway opening is now only five years away.
Photo one shows three men posing on MV Vanja, built on Haverton Hills shipyard. I suspect one of the three men to be my father’s very good friend, Frank McGee who lived at High Clarence. He is on the left in the darker coloured overalls, if indeed it is him?
The second photo shows my father Jack Cushin quite possibly on the same ship with my older brother Malcolm Cushin – An open day perhaps prior to launching?
