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LOCAL HISTORY: North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project

September 1, 2016

Fishing Boats at SeaGoing to work for many of us is fairly mundane, and the prospect of being injured or killed rarely crosses our minds. There are professions, however, where death or serious injury is a daily hazard.

It is a fact that commercial fishing is still the UK’s toughest and most dangerous peacetime occupation. There are currently around 12,000 fishermen in the UK, and while there is evidence that fatalities have declined over recent years, the number of serious injuries suffered by fishing crew still remains high. Over the years thousands of fishermen have lost their lives at sea, and amongst these there are many who have sailed through Tynemouth Piers never to return.

There are over 30 principal fishing ports in the UK, with North Shields being widely recognised as the biggest prawn landing port in England. Many of these ports have memorials to remember those fishermen who have died at sea, yet North Shields is without one. Henry Howard is a retired local fisherman who was born in Dublin and fished out of Eire for 25 years, principally in the notoriously dangerous waters off Iceland and the Russian coast. Henry moved to the North East in the 1960s, and for a number of years worked on trawlers sailing out of North Shields and it was he who first raised the idea of erecting a local memorial in 2015.

From there the ‘North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project’ was born. Although Henry is the emotional heart of the project, a number of dedicated community based volunteers have been recruited to help realise his dream of creating a permanent and fitting memorial to those fishermen who have sailed from the port of North Shields and have perished at sea just doing their job.

The project, which is based at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre in North Shields, already has the support and backing of much of the community as well as that of North Tyneside Council, the Fishermen’s Mission, the Association of Retired Fishermen and many local businesses.

A site has been identified close to North Shields Fish Quay and it is proposed that the memorial be erected there as a piece of ‘Destination Art’ – something people will travel to see. It will be a fitting tribute to all our fishermen who have been lost at sea.

Designs have been submitted by local sculptors and people can view and vote for their favourite on our website, www.nsfhp.org.uk/vote, until October 17th.

Project volunteers are working on various initiatives with local schools and community groups to help raise the estimated £75,000 needed to achieve our goal. If you would like to help us, and raise the profile of our rich fishing heritage, please visit our website www.nsfhp.org.uk or email us at nsfhproject@gmail.com.

To keep up to date with our progress, follow us on Twitter @nsfh_project or search on Facebook for North Shields Fishermens Heritage Project.

by Charlie Steel © 2016

Charlie SteelFurther reading for many of Charlie’s articles can be found in his books: ‘Monkseaton Village’ (Vol. 1 & 2), ‘North Shields Public Houses, Inns & Taverns’ (Part 1 & 2), ‘Tynemouth Remembered’ and ’Whitley Bay Remembered’ (Part 1 & 2) , all published by Summerhill Books.

More information on www.monkseaton.info and on the Monkseaton Village Facebook Page.

Filed Under: Charlie Steel, Features, Local History

ALL AT SEA: Coasting

September 1, 2016

British Workman‘British Workman’ lived up to her name – with an average of eleven ports per month, she was a 12,000 ton tanker that was permanently ‘on the coast’ meaning that she only traded between Great Britain, Northern Europe and Scandinavia. A story that went the rounds of the Company claimed she arrived in Swansea with ‘British Workhouse’ painted on one bow. The Company was not very impressed!

However, some years before, she had sailed twice through the Suez Canal bound for Haifa, in Israel. Consequently she was banned from the Canal to spend the rest of her long life ‘coasting’, carrying mainly diesel and heavy fuel oil for ships and a lighter fuel for central heating. She had been built in 1949 by Harland and Wolff at Govan and was broken up in 1967.

On 1st November 1960, I joined her at Grangemouth in Scotland as Third Officer and was promptly assigned to the 12-4 watch. It represented more responsibility as every one else was sleeping between midnight and four in the morning, though it was a lonely watch usually assigned to the Second Officer.

The Captain was a ‘coasting man’, having spent some years on that trade, and knew most of the ports that the vessel called at. He said that if you went past Lands End you would fall off the edge of the world!

I spent eleven months on this ship and enjoyed every moment of it, including the ‘graveyard’ watch and, of course, the many ports that we called at, such as Honningsvaag, (Honey Bay) on the northern tip of Norway where we spent most of the voyage under pilotage, sailing through the fabulous Norwegian fjords. Trondheim, Tromso, Aalsund, Stamsund and Harstad were also ports of call in Norway, whilst Helsingborg in Sweden was a regular stopover where we could take the ferry four miles across the sound to Elsinore in Denmark, where Hamlet’s castle stood proudly on the headland.

Other calling points in the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia included the strangely named Lulea, Pitea, Skelleftea and Sundsvaal in northern Sweden. Further south were Gavle, Stockholm, Norrkoping, Karlshamn, Karlskrona, Trelleborg and Malmo. In Denmark we visited Copenhagen, Aalborg, and Aarhus plus, less often, Esbjerg and Fredericia.

The ship was well known at Skagen on the northern tip of Denmark where the pilot boat brought mail to the ship, as well as the pilot for the sea passage through the Kattegat minefields. Fifteen years after the war the residual mines were still considered dangerous and swept routes called NEMEDRI (North Eastern and Mediterranean Routeing Instructions) routes were buoyed for safe passage to all ships.

It was an interesting time, particularly for our old ship whose maximum speed was ten knots with a following sea and a radar we called a forty mile radar – when it was working we could see for forty miles, but mostly it only worked for forty miles so we learned to navigate without its benefits!

by Terry Took © 2016

Terry Took was born in Yorkshire but has lived in Tynemouth for over 50 years. He spent 45 years in the Merchant Navy which included 27 years as North Sea Pilot. He then spent five years as a lecturer at the Marine Department of South Tyneside College.

He is now an Elder Brother in Trinity House.

If you have any comments or would like to contact Terry then please e-mail him at pilotone@pilotone.plus.com.

 

Filed Under: All at Sea, Features, Terry Took

LOCAL HISTORY: Whitley Promenades

July 30, 2016

The Central Lower Promenade in the 1930sPrior to the 1870s there was no seafront road connecting Whitley Bay and Cullercoats; the route along the seafront between these points was simply a narrow and hazardous track, situated close to the cliff edge, with the only buildings of significance being Whitley Manor House along with a row of six houses known as Whitley Park Terrace, which were situated on what became the site of the Spanish City.

In 1893, work began to lay out the new upper promenade road between East Parade and Rockcliffe, including landscaping work to create the ‘Corkscrew Stairs’ near the Esplanade, which led to the beach on the seaward side.

When work was completed, the official opening of the Promenade took place on Saturday 27th May 1911. The ceremony was performed by the Duke of Northumberland, after which he walked several dignitaries and council members to Rockcliffe School for afternoon tea.

A few years later, work began on laying out the new Southern Lower Promenade, which runs from a point opposite the Esplanade to Table Rocks. It was opened in June 1932 and incorporated a large paddling pool.

The Northern Lower Promenade was constructed in 1914 with a northward extension from Panama Dip being added in 1926. Some features of this promenade included an interesting art deco style drinking fountain, erected in 1937 to commemorate the coronation of King George VI, and a design set into the paving stones depicting the four cardinal points of the compasses.

Substantial shelters were built and, in June 1936, 25 wooden chalets were erected and let out by the council to visitors and holidaymakers at a rent of £15 per year. They were built on circular concrete bases which enabled them to be manually rotated to engage the maximum amount of sunshine. With the onset of World War 2, access to the beach was restricted, and in 1940 the military authorities requisitioned all the chalets and paid the council £1,520 compensation.

In succeeding years, a number of proposals were brought forward to replace the chalets, which were rebuilt in 1959 with a further 25 added in 1960. They were removed in 1990 due to increasing vandalism.

In 1922, the Central Lower Promenade was constructed and stretches from a point near Watts Slope to the Corkscrew Stairs. This promenade incorporated a number of retail units which served the needs of the many beachgoers and holidaymakers, though in recent years these units fell into disuse. Structural surveys in 2010 indicated concerns for the stability of the overhead pavement and, despite many protests, a controversial demolition programme began in 2015. The area is still awaiting improvement work.

by Charlie Steel © 2016

Charlie SteelFurther reading for many of Charlie’s articles can be found in his books: ‘Monkseaton Village’ (Vol. 1 & 2), ‘North Shields Public Houses, Inns & Taverns’ (Part 1 & 2), ‘Tynemouth Remembered’ and ’Whitley Bay Remembered’ (Part 1 & 2) , all published by Summerhill Books.

More information on www.monkseaton.info and on the Monkseaton Village Facebook Page.

Filed Under: Charlie Steel, Features, Local History

ALL AT SEA: Back To School

July 30, 2016

The college as it is nowI enrolled at South Shields Marine & Technical College at the end of September 1959 for a three month course which was, basically, a crash course to pass a Second Mate’s examination.

This included mathematics, navigation, seamanship, English, cargo work, chart work and signals, which I would, together with my classmates, be examined on by the Board of Trade at the end of the course. There was also an Orals examination on Rules of the Road for Preventing Collisions at Sea: basic seamanship and ship knowledge and everyone dreaded this. All this would be taken in the space of one week, a daunting task. The overall pass mark was 70%.

Signals was a separate examination which included Morse code, semaphore, and knowledge of the International Code of Signals, with a pass mark of 98%! The latter subject was a system of sending messages by flags, the first part involving single flag ‘hoists,’ each flag alphabetical and with a meaning. For example, ‘B’, which was a red burgee meant ‘I am carrying explosives’ and the ‘X’ flag,  a white flag with a blue St Andrew’s cross meant ‘Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals’.

There was not a great deal of time for frivolities and from day one we were immersed in the various subjects, rapidly filling our notebooks with knowledge to study at home and revise nearer to the examination date.

I lodged with a wonderful family in Julian Avenue, South Shields, for £3-10s (£3.50) per week but, as the Company only paid for two months of the course, money was rather tight throughout – another good reason for not indulging in student pastimes!

Unfortunately, my savings were rapidly dwindling towards Christmas so I booked the examinations for the week beginning 21st December, with the Orals hanging over until the New Year; a costly mistake because I failed the lot!

I am forever in my landlady’s debt for she let me have free lodgings until I had obtained the Certificate, which I repaid when I returned after a five month voyage.

In January 1960, I became a qualified Second Officer but would sail as a Third Officer until I was promoted in July 1962.

My first ship as Third Officer was on ‘British Commander’, 12,000 tons deadweight, and ‘coasted’ from the United Kingdom to Scandinavia. I left that vessel in July 1960 to have some well-earned leave, but due to a seamen’s strike I was asked if I would join the ‘British Sailor’, 28,000 tons, on the Tyne, and sail it, along with another ten Third Mates, to the anchorage at the Nore in the River Thames. Essentially, although signed on as Third Mates, we were there as crew.

As the ship sailed down the Tyne we were called all kinds of nasty names and had potatoes thrown at us as various points but we managed to get past unscathed to return home some three days later.

by Terry Took © 2016

Terry Took was born in Yorkshire but has lived in Tynemouth for over 50 years. He spent 45 years in the Merchant Navy which included 27 years as North Sea Pilot. He then spent five years as a lecturer at the Marine Department of South Tyneside College.

He is now an Elder Brother in Trinity House.

If you have any comments or would like to contact Terry then please e-mail him at pilotone@pilotone.plus.com.

 

Filed Under: All at Sea, Features, Terry Took

NORTHUMBERLAND AND BORDER WALKS: A Long Time In Coming

July 30, 2016

Clennell StreetA number of factors had conspired to scupper our country walking plans over the previous handful of months so, as we made our way north on a delightful summer morning, we travelled more in hope than expectation. But optimism quickly grows and, after a very pleasant pit stop in Rothbury for a much-needed caffeine kick, we were soon pulling onto the village green in the tiny settlement of Alwinton.

It had been a long time in coming, our first trip back to Coquetdale for nearly eleven months, but at last we were about to start our wander into the nearby hills. It was the ideal place to begin our day, mimulus, foxgloves and meadow cranesbill tumbling down to the Hosedon Burn, swallows sweeping low over the surrounding grasses and the pretty stone-built Bridge End Cottage a perfect picture-postcard backcloth.

The distinctive mellow song of a single blackbird caught our attention as we crossed the narrow wooden footbridge over the crystal-clear burn and then, with a signpost pointing towards the distant Border Ridge, we headed up the ancient line of Clennell Street. This track, which runs from Alwinton to Cocklawfoot in Scotland, has a history dating back to time immemorial and has over the centuries been used by smugglers, peddlers, reivers and drovers. These days it serves those more inclined to recreational pursuits: walkers, runners and mountain bikers.

The buildings of Alwinton Farm were quickly left behind as we followed the rough, stone-strewn track uphill, sheep-filled fields and the River Coquet over to our left, Clennell Hall and the River Alwin away to our right. A brief stop to admire the view towards the wooded Harbottle Hills and then upwards again, contouring the flanks of Castle Hills and on past tree-shrouded Clennellstreet Cottage.

The track, now grass-carpeted and gentle on our feet, continued its uphill trajectory and, as the gradient began to ease a little, the views towards shapely Clennell and Silverton Hills and the lonely ruins of Old Rookland opened up. Ahead lay the southern, recently harvested fringes of the vast Kidland Forest and, as we paused to cast our eyes along the undulating horizon, we were able to pick out the animal feed store close to the site of the long-gone youth hostel of Wholehope.

We had reached the extreme point of our walk and, with the pangs of hunger beginning to remind us that it was way past lunch time, our thoughts turned to the tuna-packed poppy seed bun we had bought just before leaving Monkseaton. So, without any discussion, we back-tracked a short distance, left the main track behind, headed steeply uphill and then, some 364 metres above sea level, we settled down for a leisurely break high above the delightful and secluded valley of the Hosedon Burn.

The wall to wall panorama from this modest height was dominated by the nearby pyramid-shaped, bracken-clad Lord’s Seat and the straight-edged plantation wrapped around the head of the Alwinton Burn. With our legs stretched out and the warm breeze brushing past we were happy to be back in one of the most beautiful parts of Northumberland.

by Geoff Holland © 2016

Geoff HollandGeoff Holland is a regular contributor to a number of magazines and the author of four books of self-guided walks, ‘The Hills of Upper Coquetdale’, ‘The Cheviot Hills’, ‘Walks from Wooler’ and ‘Walks on the Wild Side: The Cheviot Hills’. All books can be purchased online from www.trailguides.co.uk. Geoff, who has lived in Monkseaton for over 40 years, also operates the award-winning website www.cheviotwalks.co.uk. His poems have appeared in a number of publications.

Filed Under: Features, Geoff Holland, Northumberland and Border Walks, Walks

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January 20205th December (2019)27th, 30th, 31st December (2019)
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November 20208th October28th - 30th October
December 20205th November26th, 27th, 30th November
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