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Three Seaham Lads in Blackpool early 1960's Mosey Bell on the right anyone name the other two?
Lucy
How about it, do you know these lads? E-
Doing my family history any information about Cornish Street Seaham or the Venner family or Moorish family all where miners one died in 1880 mine explosion Samuel Thomas Venner .Any imformation would be great.
Many thanks.
Noreen This may interest Noreen:
Samuel and Joanna Venner(nee Norish) came to Seaham about 1870 from Gunnislake Cornwall with their family William, samuel, John, Moses, Tom, Rachael and Joanna.In 1880 Samuel and William Morish were killed in the 1880 disaster at Seaham Colliery.In 1897 another son Tom, my great grandfather was killed at the same Colliery.
Photo 1 The Venner family about1900, the lady in the centre is Joanna Morish
Photo 2 The gravestone at Christ church Seaham
I researched the family history some time ago and I would appreciate knowing which branch you come from.I may have some other photos of interest.
Marion Johnson
Stumbled on your website today (28-
Will now regularly check your website, hopefully to read updates.
Doug Weatherall
Ponteland. Doug, thanks for your contribution and I hope you enjoy the site. How about some more detail? I'm sure you must have some stories to tell........
Hello Doug,
Congratulations on your maiden message to Seaham Scenes. Looking forward to reading some of your memories of Seaham and perhaps your professional history.
You are lucky to have a lifelong friend like Jack Webb. He is a member of Seaham Family History Group at Seaham Library and when he is in attendance you can rely on him to lift your spirits with his "wicked" sense of humour. He is never short of an answer and has a great recall of the old days. He was certainly on form this morning and had me in tears with his one liners. Of course he has mentioned you and some of your exploits of old!! You would be most welcome to drop in any Wednesday morning.
Cheers for now
Raymond Thompson
Seaham Family History Group
How nice to hear from Doug Wetherall, he does not mention that he was a well known football writer. I wonder if he is still a big Sunderland Fan?
Marion Johnson
Hello
I think Doug Weatherall is underselling himself. He is acknowledged as one of the best sports writers in recent times for the North East. He was the North East sport reporter for the Daily Mail for many years with countless reports on the BBC as well.
I was lucky enough to get to know him when I worked at Sunderland AFC in the 70s.
Hope you are enjoying your retirement, Doug.
John Phillips
Sicklinghall North Yorkshire
Hi Peter,
Sending you a few photos that may interest you.
Allan Fulcher.
Alan may be a man of few words but, he makes up for that in generosity by sharing these wonderful photos.
If anybody has any names to add to those in the crowds etc. please email me
Hi Peter
The drummer to the left playing the kettle drum is Fred Welch who also played at dances with my dad Fred Turnbull.
Marion
I discovered the Seaham Scenes web site last night and surfed and read with enthusiasm and increasing excitement as I recognized the areas around the town I was born in (1967). I am pleased to hear of increased activity and regeneration after a couple of decades of "bad news" for the town. I enjoyed, particularly the pics and news on my old school at Dawdon (sadly no more). I am currently located in Toronto, Canada, and I am hoping that I can enlist the memories of residents to piece together my family history and to, hopefully, make contact again with my father and my step family.
Firstly, my grandparents: What I remember: Sally Ann and James (Jim) Porter lived at 73 Derwent Close up until they passed away within (I think) a very short time of each other in the mid to late 1970's aged around 80 plus. She was blind and he was deaf...what a couple they made. She died (I like to think) of a broken heart shortly after he passed. They attended the Blind Class (sorry if politically incorrect nowadays) in a shack on Strangford Road next to the steel railway footbridge which is no longer there. I attached a group pic of the class from I guess the 1960's or early1970s. Also a cut epic of the two of them on a club outing.
Next my mother, Anne Thompson, b. 1937 d. 1993. I understand she was adopted by Sally Ann and her first husband who was an insurance salesman shortly after birth (that is what I was led to believe but have no evidence). She married my father, Brian Kirtley, at St John's church. He worked for a bakery then and when I met him some years ago he was a Stage Hypnotist (Kirk Munroe). Any history at all on Anne Kirtley (nee Thompson) would be welcomed. The "Aunt Mona" pic attached is from 1956 of Anne, Sally Ann and Aunt Mona(?). Also the pic with the parrot drinking the pint is in the Phoenix Pub and has Anne, Brian and Arthur(?).
Finally my father: My brother Terence (1965) I (1967) were born at 6 Grants Crescent where Brian lives (as far as I know). Both my brother and I have the middle name Spencer, as he was born days after Winston Spencer Churchill died. I have a memory of them owning or running the VG grocery store on Princess road but it's very brief. My parents split around 1973. Brian married Jean Brogden. A few years ago I visited them briefly but recently then have not been able to establish contact. Perhaps they moved? I would dearly like to be connected to them and my step siblings, Lindsey and her brother. Attached is a pic of Brian in 1956 with, presumably, his father in the garden of Aunt Dora(?). The most recent picture is of Brain and Jean and myself the day I visited them at 6 Grants Crescent.
Whatever help anyone can give me with my search would be most appreciated.
Regards,
Gavin Spencer Cresswell (formerly Kirtley)
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Wow, thanks for the excellent photo's Gavin, relly 1st class those, its not very often I get called sir so I thought I should reply. I'm glad you like the website, its a labour of love. Eevry now and then I think of packing it in an then I get somebody like yourself who discovers the site and really enjoys browsing and then.... best of all ..... you send in a contribution!
Thank you sir!
PS
Emails can be addressed to Peter, but if you want to be really polite and formal you can call me sir if you want, (like the editor of the Times), hardly......
Can anybody give Gavin the polite young man from Toronto any assistance...... E-
Just discovered your fantastic website and as I am doing research into my family ancestry I was wondering if anyone can help.
It is the Rowell family (father side), and I have traced back to William Rowell b 1851 in Shotton, but worked at Seaham Colliery ( I think) as an Engine Fitter, lived 19 Vane Terrace 1881.
Mother is a Hutchinson , and my grandfather was Billy Hutchinson. He worked at Vane Tempest as a welder and also in later life sold tropical fish /made fishtanks at Bankhead Fisheries near the pit.
Any help with dates, anecdotes,maiden names of wives, etc, would be gratefully received.
Keep up the great work on this splendid website.
Alan Rowell
Does anybody have any info for Alan? E-
This is the photo taken about 1950 of the wedding of Bob and Nonie Dichburn. Does anyone remember them?
The wedding took place in the Catholic Church near to the Railway Station.My Dad Eric Pike was Best Man and I think the bride and groom were called Nonie and Bob Ditchburn. The wedding took place around 1950 and I believe the couple emigrated to Australia shortly after. My Dad and Bob both worked for the Prudential Insurance who had their office in Church St. Dad said the couple opened a Transport Cafe somewhere in Australia.
More help needed.
I have had an email from a Lady in Canada who would like to contact any of the Mileham family. as she putting together a Family Tree to give to her grandson.
Many Thanks
Ann Hansen (nee Pike)
Does anybody have any info for Ann? E-