What’s this page all about ...?                Click here to find out

Hi,

This is a photo my dad Peter McAuliffe a seaham lad had saved on his computer with the words ( my seaham gang ) attached to it can anyone tell me who they are i think it would have been taken in seaham probably in Adolphus street about 1940's early 50's or any story's at all my dad died in 2003 and I am writing a book for my family so any info would be great.

Thanks

Lorraine Mcauliffe

Hi,

Here's a copy of photo of 5th Seaham Silver Scouts Band who used to practice in the Mission Hall beside Eastlea School. In the front row centre Rev Oswald Hogg, Fred Venner scout leader the conductor, Mr. Barstead

(I think). My dad 2nd row 2nd right Fred Turnbull. About 1950.

Marion Johnson

 

Thanks marion, great photo's. Does anybody have any other names? E-Mail Me

Hi,

Here's a photo of 5th Seaham Scouts band just before the war.

 

Marion Johnson

 

Can anybody give me any names of these fine young men?

E-Mail Me

Hi,

I was born In Sunderland and I am working my family records, I find that I had ancestors at 68 Marlborough street , Dawdon. Which I guess is Seaham Harbour. The name was Campbell. The appearance is in the 1891 census. Do you know if this was a house address or a shop with flat above? The lady in question was a Margaret Campbell , widow ( Born in Scotland ) , whose daughter Mary Frances Married a local lad by the name of John W Wilkinson. I grew up in the Sunderland Wilkinson household ( 1950-70 ) with my grandmother Bertha and her brother Jack Campbell Wilkinson.) I had heard that there were relatives in Seaham , Hartlepool and Easington. I wonder if they are still about. The Wilkinson man claims he was born in Easington but gives Seaham instead , later . I am following both the Campbell and Wilkinson line.

Thanks again.

Len Smith USA

Does anyone remember Seaham Light Orchestra?

As a member of the Second Violin section we played many charitable concerts and also at Seaham Sanatorium when it was a TB hospital. I remember one Christmas concert we did there and the young girl patients getting up to dance but Matron took a dim view of this and made them sit down.

Some of the pieces we played stirred the emotions and being Christmas time, young homesick girls wiped away their tears.

Some of the orchestra were, (Back Row l to r) Jack Sanderson (drums) Nancy Oxley (piano)

(Front l to r) Arthur Crozier, Dickie Hocking, Mr. Roberts (5th R) 1st Violins

(Centre) young Reg Steel, Norman Heckles (cello)

(Front r to l) Cyril Allen, and me. 2nd Violins

Mr Steel (standing) was the Conductor.

 

Some of these people may still be with us; I would be interested to know.

 

Kind regards,

Les Alexander

 

Wow, that's a great photo Les, thanks a lot. Do you know any of those in the photo? If so please let me know.

 

Yes, I remember Nancy Oxley. Worked at Seaham Council Offices on the seafront in the late 1940s-early 50s (I was there!). Had a brother named Raymond, I believe. Where is she now, I wonder?

Norman Flack

 

Hi again,

With regard to picture of Seaham Light Orchestra, I knew some of them, I think . Jack Sanderson lived in Nelson Street opposite my grandmother, his son Jackie, was just a bit younger than me. The last I heard he was playing a lot of golf. Norman Heckles was foreman of the Greengrocery Dept at Dawdon store where I worked in the early to middle fifties. I also knew a Reg Steel in the early sixties, he had brothers Ray and Dek, but I can't tell from the photo if it is him.

Jack Wilkinson.

 

My mother Sally Veitch is a good friend of Nancy who lives in Dene House Road. Does anyone remember Sally and Bill Veitch who were on the committee of Seaham swimming club in the very early sixties? I had some wonderful times taking lessons from my Dad, Bill Veitch! And by the way Dad is 94 and on the 6th Febraury Mam will be 90. It must have been all that sea air that has kept them going!!

 

Gillian Stewart (nee Veitch)

 

Whilst perusing 'Seaham Harbour - A Photographic Archive' last night, I came across a photograph of the Seaham Light Orchestra in all its glory. And sat at the front was a bloke I knew when I was around 10 years old. His name was (is) Arthur Crozier. I used to be friends with his brother and we knocked about together for most of my childhood. The thing is it brought back many memories of time spent with this young man ( he would have been in his early 20's). He had a shed in his back yard that was a veritable Aladins cave for any right thinking boy. Full of Aeroplane parts, lead soldier moulds and that smell of balsa wood and glue that today would be frowned upon as bad for your health. We would spend hours chatting with him as he worked on his latest plane, some with (to us) massive 6 foot wing spans. We would trudge up the golf course heading for the local tip as it had a high cliff front overlooking the golf course. From there we would launch these magnificent aeroplanes and, fingers crossed that they wouldn't end up in Ash Crescent or turn east and drift out over the Harbour, watch them climb and swoop over the course. I have no recollection of ever losing one. Another of the little things we got up to was to make our own model soldiers with a set of beautiful leads molds he had. There were Grenadier Guards, and Blues and Royals. They were all formal and stood to attention, but they were our pride and joy, just knowing we had made and painted them ourselves. I was 12 when we left Union Street and lost contact with Malcolm and his magical brother, but seeing Arthur's picture last night brought those young childhood memories back. When Glue wasn't addictive and lead soldiers were seen to be fun and not harmful.. This would have been around 1956-1959 time.

 

Ray Scollen

 

 

Next

 

Previous

 

 

Top