The wartime wedding of Jack Donkin and Joan Wilson at St. Joseph's Church in 1943.

Some of the Burn Valley Ladies Bowling Club on the green, circa 1941.

Another group of ladies from the Burn Valley Ladies Bowling Club, circa 1941.

Emma Herbert (nee Herring), outside the changing rooms at the open-air swimming pool in 1940.

Taken in Mildred Street where she lived and the North Cemetery wall is in the background. The car probably belonged to Mason's who had a garage where their wedding and funeral cars were kept at the end of the street.

My mother Katherine Jameson (Scott), a dressmaker of 103 Hart Road
By Joan Brown

My mother, Katherine Jameson, lived in West Hartlepool where her father was a Police Constable. She went to work as an apprentice milliner and dressmaker in 1906. The fashion was for large decorated hats, and the basic shape was made first in buckram, covered in cloth or velvet, and flowers and feathers finally added. Dresses and skirts were full length, frequently featuring small covered buttons down the front, and on the sleeves; all made by hand of course.
Mother was paid nothing during the first year and few shillings the second. She made all her own clothes and every evening sewed for her mother and three sisters, working by gaslight. The photograph was taken about 1911, mother is the girl wearing the turban and Russian style tunic. I love this photo, as it shows how fashion was being influenced by the Ballet Russe productions. Mother always followed fashion trends, and when we looked at old photographs of her, could always tell me what she was wearing at the time – “ that was a tussore silk coat, a Breton straw hat and Spanish leather shoes with silver buckles”.

In 1916 she borrowed £25 from her mother and set up her own shop and dressmaking business in Annfield Plain, living in one room at the back of the shop. In six months she had paid her mother back. This venture ended in 1919 after she had been ill in the flu epidemic. In 1921 she married my father, Charles Scott. They bought a newspaper and tobacconist shop in Poplar Grove. In 1931 when I was two they sold the shop and mother opened a hat and dress shop at 103 Hart Road, which ran successfully until mother retired in 1948. Dresses were altered free and hats re-trimmed to suit, with the help of Miss Annie Trotter, who worked for mother for many years.
Mother never used a pattern when cutting out a dress and all sewing was done on an old Singer treadle machine with a boat-shaped shuttle: an incredible workhorse, which would go smoothly from sewing georgette to leather. Clothes had to last a long time in those days and I remember one lady coming for a new hat and complaining that hers had faded. She had only been wearing it every day for five years! During the war, some hats were made from re-cycled old ones, and I remember mother holding all new stock up to the light to see if there were any holes in them. She used to go to Robinsons, a wholesaler in Newcastle, and I sometimes had a day off school to go with her as a treat.

Mother lived until a week before her 92^nd birthday, and was still doing crochet and tatting. She only wore glasses to read, and never had a cataract; quite remarkable considering the amount of sewing she had done in poor light.

The photograph was taken in November 1947 and according to the NDM, the cat was called Upsy, was grey and 9 months old. It belonged to Renara one of the variety performers at the Empire that week and the photo was taken outside the theatre. He was apparently presented to Renara at the Camberwell theatre and had since travelled over 6000 miles in his short life. He was trained to have a lead incase he became lost in strange places !  

He was called Upsy as his owner was a friend of Tommy Handley. (Does anyone know why?)

HHT&N 149

The 1943 marriage of Lilian Smith to Stanley Bainbridge of Egglestone at St Luke's. Evelyn Smith is the matron of honour.

Typists on the steps of the Railway Offices, Mainsforth Terrace, in 1946. Betty Bradley is in the front row, far right.

Mary Scurr (second from the left), and other members of staff from the Registrars Office in 1948.

Mrs. Marian Bunn (nee Metcalfe), Sheila Tunstall (?), Mrs. Lea Brown, and Betty Longmire (aged 16), shopping down Lynn Street on a Saturday afternoon.

From left to right, the three sisters, Violet, Joan and Olive Forstad, standing at the back of their mother Jane's house in Pelham Street during WWII.

1948. Eveline Robinson (nee Kell, right) and Olive Burton (nee Mortimer), talking a walk on the beach while visiting their Aunt Minnie Craggs who lived on the sea wall near the Middleton Ferry.

George, Joe and George Jnr Craggs photographed in 1948.

Enjoying the sunshine in Outram Street in 1949. On the left is Nancy Bond, who worked on the trolley buses; on the right is Winnie Connor; and in the centre is Annie O'Boyle holding baby Leo Bond.

The four Mudd lads behind the Park on the way to Elwick in 1945. From left to right: Eric, John, George and Brian.

William Whitfield and Joan Parkinson on the day of their engagement in 1941. William was a ship's Radio Officer, serving on the ships City of Florence and the Danby.