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so that we can make sure
that we can plan for the
right number of people –
telephone 0191 389 3143
or email catherine.button
@btinternet.com.
At last we are able to
celebrate the completion
of the re-furbishment of
t h e t r a i l , a n d h a v e
planned a launch event in
April for this. At the time
of writing, all works have
been completed except
the installation of the
new boards, and the
team have assured us
that this work will be
done soon. The new ‗Mill
Lane‘ sign stands proudly
at its location next to the
path up to Viador from
the Market Place, the
information leaflets are at
a wide range of locations
i n t h e t o w n a n d
throughout the region at
tourist and hospitality
v e n u e s , a n d t h e
directional studs in the
p a v e m e n t s a r e a l l
correctly sited, f irmly
fixed, and facing in the
right direction! The celebratory launch
event will take place at
the Parish Centre,
Church Chare, on
Friday 20th April from
3.00-4.00pm. Kevan
Jones MP has agreed to
attend and say a few
words, and we expect
good attendance from
the range o f i nv i t ed
guests. There will be a
display board of photos, a
slide show, and a chance
t o l oo k a t t he n e w
Heritage Trail website.
W e h o p e f o r s o m e
representation from the
p r e s s i n o r d e r t o
publ icise the tra i l to
residents and visitors
alike. The event is not
open to the public in
g e n e r a l , b u t g r o u p
members and Friends of
the Heritage Group are
a l l we lcome . I f you
would like to attend,
please let me know by
Wednesday 18th April
Heritage Trail – Launch Planned
M e e t i n g 2 n d
November 2011.
Margaret Headley from
Wheatley Hill Heritage
C e n t r e g a v e u s a n
excellent talk about the
Victorian Pit Women of
1881.
These l ad ie s had no
schooling except what
they had learned at their
mothers knee. Once they
were married to their
miner husband they were
expected to take care of
the home, have and care
for the children, nurse
any ailments or injuries,
make ends meet and be
virtually the only parent.
The miner himself took
very little part in the
h o m e o r p a r e n t i n g .
Although he worked a 12
hour shift, his wife was
on call 24 hours a day.
Newsletter Date 21st March Volume 2, Issue 2
Chester le Street Heritage Group Newsletter
Special points of
interest:
Chester le Street a city
in the world continues.
Bullion Lane School
Inside this issue:
―The Speed of
the Cape‖
2
99 Years Ago 3
Chester le Street
A City in the
World. Part 7
4
Chester le Street
A City in the
World cont
6
Bullion Lane
School
7
Forthcoming
Events
10
Victorian Pit Women
earlier, at Chester-le-
Street, P.C Shields had
s t o p p e d a n o t h e r
runaway for which he
had received 12/6d. It was a fairly common
o c c u r r e n c e f o r
policemen throughout
t h e C o u n t y t o b e
awarded an average of
12/6d for their ‗pluck and
promptitude’ in stopping
runaways. The powers
that be must have been
impressed by the speed
displayed by P.C Shield
in awarding him an extra
2/6d. In 1917, Cpl. Shields was
wounded in action as a
soldier in WW1. He
returned to police duties
i n 1 9 1 8 . O u t r u n a
horse ? Yes. A bullet ?
No !!.
H an d cu f f
Key.
Page 2 Chester le Street
She kept their tiny pit
c o t t a g e ( a t y p i c a l
example of which can be
seen at Beamish) spik
and span. She took great
pride in that and in the
few precious articles
they possessed. The
miners would ―follow
the coal‖ moving to
different fields and his
wife would pack and
orchestrate the move
then unpack and start all
over again. This could
happen regularly. Strong
and resilient ladies, no
schooling but a wealth of
Victorian Pit Women cont
ability they could expect
no longer than a 60 year
lifespan which in 1881
was not bad considering.
They knew no different
way of life having come
from a pit family them-
se l ve s s in ce m iner s
always married miners
girls as they knew the
life. If a miner was killed in
the pit the family was
homeless and penniless.
The wife would have to
find a husband quickly
but by the same token if
the wife died the miner
would also have to find
another quickly. Margaret also told us
about Pet e r Lee . A
gentleman, a miner who
later did much to ease
the l i f e o f a m in ing
family. He was so well
thought of that years
after his death, when a
new town was built, they
named it Peterlee. He is
buried in Wheatley Hill
Cemetery and his grave
is a listed monument.
Ann
The Speed Of The Cape
I t i s c o m m o n
knowledge that during
the early decades of the
20th century the horse
played a key role in the
delivery of goods and
transport of people .
N e e d l e s s t o s a y
numerous acc ident s
occurred when horses
w e r e s t a r t l e d a n d
galloped off. One such
incident at Chester-le-
Street demonstrated the
a th le t i c ab i l i t y o f a
p a r t i c u l a r l o c a l
Constable. In January 1915 a horse-
drawn North Eastern
Railway delivery wagon
was standing in Front
Street, Chester-le-Street
when a motor furniture
van approached from
behind. The horse which
was not wearing blinkers
was a la rmed by the
vehicle and suddenly
bolted with the cart. Enter the gallant P.C
John G. Sh ie ld . The
patrolling officer, who
was wearing his cape,
spotted the incident and
r a n a co n s i d e r a b l e
d i s t a n ce b e f o r e h e
over took the horse
which had just got into
i t s s t r i d e wh e n h e
reached it. P.C Shield
running alongside seized
the harness and stopped
the runaway. A l o c a l c o u n c i l l o r
witnessed the incident
w h i c h , b u t f o r t h e
p r o m p t n e s s o f P .C
S h i e l d , c o u l d h a v e
resulted in serious injury
or fatality to the horse
or pedestrians, due to
the density of the traffic
in the main street. The
Counc i l lo r wrote a
letter of praise to the
local Superintendent. In February 1915 P.C
Shield was awarded the
princely sum of 15/- in
acknowledgement of ‗his
pluck and promptitude‘. A c o u p l e o f y e a r s
Page 3 Volume 2, Issue 2
ground. No damage
was done and no one
was injured. If the same
And We Think Roads Are Dangerous Today !
Volume 2, Issue 2 Page 3
99 Years Ago – March 21st 1913 As reported by Chester le Street Chronicle
In October 1932 the
C h e s t e r l e S t r e e t
Chronicle reported—
While William Willey, of
South Pelaw Colliery,
was driving a colliery
horse along Front Street,
Chester le Street on
Thursday, the animal was
startled by the noise of
the engine of one of
L o r d S c a r b r o u g h ‘ s
motorcars. It backed and
collided with a horse and
cart belonging to the
Chester le Street Urban
Council, both horses
being thrown to the
happened today I‘m sure
someone would have
suffered whiplash !
Motor Bus Service Gateshead and District
T r a m w a y Co m p a n y
intends, at an early date,
t o c o m m e n c e t h e
running of a service of
motor buses between
Low Fell and Chester le
Street. The step has
been taken at the urgent
r e q u e s t o f t h e
i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h i s
particular district. Three
or four buses will be
engaged in the service
a n d t h e p r i n c i p a l
stopping stages will be
Low Fell, Teams Colliery
Waggon Way, Coach &
Horses Inn, Station Lane
Birtley, Barley Mow Inn,
Lambton Park Gates and
Chester le Street. The
fare from Gateshead
High Level to Chester le
Street will be 6d. The
buses are timed to make
the journey in half an
hour each way and will
run from 8 o‘clock in the
morning to 11 o‘clock in
the evening. The buses
w h i c h a r e o f a
substantial as well as
smart appearance have a
seating capacity for 34
passengers, 16 inside and
18 outside and they are
30 horse power. The
first two buses arrived
at the Sunderland Road
T r a m w a y d e p o t
G a t e s h e a d o n
Wednesday afternoon
Where there
is blame,
there is a
claim !
Modern reproduction of a bus of this period.
Can you
Help ?
Wanted !
Bicylcle for
Malcolm !
No, don’t worry,
it’s not a “swap”
Malcolm is
looking to acquire a late
1930’s early
1940’s bicycle to
go with his
WW2 “display”
which features
his trailer pump and
his “appliance” !.
If anyone has or
knows of anyone
with such a bicycle please
get in touch with
the heritage
group.
The Deanery of Chester
- le-Street cont inued
under one crown until
on July 26 1608, King
James I by letters-patent
under the Great Seal
granted to Sir James
O u c h e t e r l o n y a n d
Richard Gurnard Esq.,
(or Green), citizen and
clothier of London, and
to their heirs etc., the
Deanery , P rebends ,
Rectory and Vicarage of
the Collegiate Church of
Chester- le-Street in
trust for the family of
Hedworth. Thus for generations
the Hedworths were
spoken of the Decanal
House with its barns,
buildings and granaries,
― n o w w a s t e a n d
ru inous‖, and of the
―Thrussel tithes,‖ tithes
of lamb and wood within
the parishes of Chester,
Tanfield and Lamesley
usually known as the
―Thrush Tithes.‖ For many generations
the Hedworths were
spoken of locally as ―The
Deans of Chester‖ and
the patronage or, as it‘s
t h e n s t y l e d , ― t h e
impropriation,‖ of the
living of Chester-le–
Street remained with
them until 1747 when
John Hedworth , the
great great grandson of
the John referred to in
1614, died leaving two
daughters one of whom
marr ied S i r R ichard
Hylton of Hylton, Bart,
f o rm a l l y M u s g r a v e ,
Mary and St. Cuthbert,
but I decided to do so a
few weeks ago. Alas, I chose a most
unfortunate day, and not
only because the work
of the restoration was in
full spate ! Din, dust and
smoke pervaded the
precincts; the Lumley
warriors lay under a pall
of grime; the Anchorage
was locked up as it is
apparently used partly as
a boilerhouse; the nave
was filled with planks
and scaffolding, and even
the sky was overcast to
increase the gloom. However I did manage
to pick my way into the
chancel to admire, as
f a r a s I m i g h t t h e
i n t e r e s t i n g m u r a l s
which epitomize the
long history of the site,
the beautiful reredos,
windows ancient and
modern, piscinal, clergy
s t a l l s a n d o t h e r
remnants recalling the
e a r l y C o l l e g i a t e
C h u r c h . W h e n
conditions permit, we
Chester-le-Street A “City of the World” Part 7
Cambridge. After 1604
the stipend of the living
was reduced to £10 per
annum without house or
glebe; in fact, as we shall
see later when we deal
with the Anchorage, the
Rev . Mr Wi l l i s , t he
perpetual curate in 1616,
was so poor that he was
forced to claim quarters
i n t h e A n c h o r a g e
attached to the church
tower.
GEORGE WATSON
It was not until the Rev.
N i c h o l a s C o n y e r s
m a r r i e d B a r b a r a
H e d w o r t h o f t h e
Deanery in 1715 that
he r f a t he r re s i gned
certain tithes he passed
as impropriator for the
augmentat ion of the
living. I have forgotten how
many years ago it is
since I last visited the
Parish Church of St .
Page 4 Chester le Street
whose daughter Eleanor
married William Joliffe,
Esq., M.P. The younger
d a u g h t e r o f J o h n
Hedworth married Sir
Ralfe Milbanke. Thus in 1850 we find
their grandchi ldren,
Charles Joliffe and Lady
Byron, exercising joint
o w n e r s h i p o f t h e
D e a n e r y . T h e
impropriation passed
through various hand
until it finally rested
with the University of
shall return to enjoy the
many treasures to be
found here. In the churchyard, now a
garden o f rest , i s a
tombstone which stands
amid the debris behind
the incongruous war
memorial . It is erected
t o t h e m e m o r y o f
George Watson. The
inscription reads :- ― In
m e m o ry o f Geo r ge
Watson , an eminent
mathematician of the
County of Durham, who
died 9th July 1853, aged
“The
Deans of
Chester.” A Title won
by the
Hedworths
Lady Byron One time
owner of the
Deanery
Caricature of
―Wor‖
Geordy‖
64 years. Erected by his
pupil George El l iott .
M.P.‖
REMEMBERED. Sir George Elliott, the
famous mining engineer,
o n c e r e s i d e d a t
H o u gh t o n H a l l a n d
Rainton Hall. At Shiney
Row, where he was
born in Chandler‘s Row,
he is still remembered as
―The Bonnie Pit Laddie‖
who climbed the ladder
of fame. At ten years of
age he became a trapper
b o y a t W h i t e f i e l d
C o l l e g i a t e C h u r c h
consisting of a Dean ,
seven prebendar ies ,
three vicar-chaplains and
four vicar-deacons. The present church
clearly contains much of
this edifice which lasted
until the Suppression—a
fact proved by the Early
Engl ish architecture,
though it is doubtful if
any portions of the first
stone church of 1040
s t i l l rema in , except
perhaps in the deep
foundations and here
from the building by the
monks, who fled from
Lind isfarne with the
body of St. Cuthbert, of
the first wooden shrine
and Cathedral Church at
Chester-le-Street on a
site provided by Prince
Guthred and King Alfred
the Great. Some 50 years after the
removal of the See to
Durham a larger stone
Rectorial Church served
the parish until 1285.
T h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r
Bishop Bek founded the
a n d t h e r e i n t h e
masonry.
BEFORE 1286 It has been customary to
ascr ibe the ex i st ing
building to Bishop Bek
apart, of course, from
t h e v a r i o u s l a t e r
restorat ions . Boy le ,
however, who is by far
the best o f Durham
County historians points
o u t t h a t w i t h t h e
exception of the spire
(1409), the architecture
shows that it was built
Page 5 Volume 2, Issue 2
Colliery, near Penshaw
Stat ion and actua l l y
owned this colliery in
1864 and worked it until
it closed in 1879. In
Wales he acquired a
wire rope and cable
business and laid the first
Atlantic cable from the
s.s. Great Eastern. He became M.P . for
North Durham in 1868
and a baronet in 1874.
The tower and spire of
West Rainton church,
the stained glass in the
e a s t w i n d o w a t
Houghton Church and
the north wall of the
nave by some friends
from Canada.
FIVE STAGES The h i s to ry o f t h i s
interesting church falls
easily into five stages: 1.The Episcopal Church
from 863-995; 2. The f irst Rectorial
church from 995 -
1286; 3. T h e C o l l e g i a t e
Church from 1286 -
1547; 4. The PARISH Church
under a perpetual
curacy from 1547 -
1865; 5. T h e S e c o n d
Recto r i a l Church
f rom 1865 to the
p r e s e n t d a y a n d
including the Millinery
F e s t i v a l a n d
Restoration of 1883. Stages 1 and 2 have
been discussed already
and cover the period
the chancel windows at
Penshaw are instances
of his liberality. George Watson‘s red
g r a n i t e t o m b s t o n e
m a r k s h i s g r e a t
g r a t i t u d e t o a n d
appreciation of one who
by his teaching enabled
Sir George to ―hitch his
wagon to the stars‖. Sir
George was buried in
the old cemetery at
Houghton-le- Spring in
1904. In the churchyard are
steps leading up to the
Lambton pew gallery
built by Bonomi in 1829,
beneath which lie the
first Earl of Durham,
John George Lambton,
the f i rst Governor-
General of Canada and
his son Master Lambton,
better known as the
―Red Boy.‖ It is strange that no
other epitaph marks
t he i r r e s t i n g p l a ce
except for a plaque in
m e m o r y o f t h e
Governor set up on
Sir George Elliot
John George
Lambton
As Governor
General of
Canada
Master Lambton
The
Red Boy
long before 1286. The most ancient parts
are the north and south
walls of the chancel and
to these it is impossible
to assign any definite
date with certainty. The
south wall for instance,
conta ins three 13th
Century windows, but
theses, says Boyle, ― are
evidently insertions‖. M o s t o f t h e
pre-Conquest stones
found here were taken
from these walls and so
may constitute a portion
of Eglerc‘s first stone
church; though there are
no definite architectural
features belonging to so
early a period. However , the three
windows in the chancel
mentioned above and
the three eastern bays of
the nave arcades are all
o f t h e s a m e d a t e ,
probably about the year
1210 , and some 20
years later the two
western bays of the nave
and tower were added
though the octagon and
spire are of much later
date and belong to the
Decorated period, the
date of the spire being
1409. A window in the west
end of the nave south
wall as well as the three
c h a n c e l w i n d o w s
illustrate the develop-
m e n t o f w i n d o w
tracery. Each consists of
Page 6 Chester le Street
two l ancet s w i th a
containing arch above
and the wa l l space
above the lancets and
w i t h i n t h e a r ch i s
pierced , in one case by
a circle, in another by a
quatrefoil and in a third
by a lozenge– shaped
aperture. In the capital
of one of the outer
s h a f t s n a i l h e a d
moulding appears. How
rewarding a carefu l
survey of an ancient
church can be.
Chester-le-Street A “City of the World” Part 7 cont
The Old Rectory Chester-le-Street
as it is today
An image of
the Great
Eastern used
by George
Elliot to lay
the first
Atlantic telegraph
cable
It was in the first week
of December when the
Group received an e
mail from Bullion Lane
Primary School asking
for our help in putting
together an exhibition to
c e l e b r a t e t h e 8 0 t h
birthday of the School
building in January 2012.
At short notice we were
able to help and the
celebrations went off
very well. The School
presented Dorothy with
a bouquet of flowers in
appreciation of the work
involved. The Intermediate School
at Bullion Lane became
C h e s t e r - l e - S t r e e t
S e c o n d a r y M o d e r n
School in 1945. In June
1947 the School was
i n s p e c t e d a n d t h e
following abstracts give
a n i n s i g h t i n t o t he
School at that time.
Introduction The Chester-le-Street
Modern Schoo l was
opened in January 1932
a s a S e n i o r S ch o o l
though originally planned
as a Junior School. It
became a Secondary
Modern School on 1 st
April 1945. The School
serves the whole of the
town of Chester- le-
Street and in addition
d raws a number o f
pupils from Sacriston,
Pe l ton , B i r t l e y and
E i gh ton Banks who
apply for admission as
vacancies occur. Some
ten pup i l s a re thus
admitted each year from
out s ide the norma l
recruiting area. There
Bullion Lane Primary School
one to enter an office. The Head Master is in
close touch with local
e m p l o y e r s a n d t h e
Juvenile Employment
Officer. Each year some ten
pupils are transferred to
the Grammar School at
the age of 12 or 13.
P r e m i s e s a n d
Equipment T h e m a i n p r e m i s e s
consist of a Hall, ten
form rooms, an Art
room, a Science room, a
Handicraft room and a
furniture for the Art and
Science rooms is on
order. Pupils visit this
block for half a day or a
whole day. Four classrooms and a
Metal workroom are to
be prov ided on the
School site under the
HORSA scheme. Plans
have been passed for a
D i n i n g H a l l t o
accommodate 480 in
two sittings. The School is naturally
m u c h b e l o w t h e
standards laid down in
are at present 407 pupils
on roll, 204 boys and
203 girls. This figure in-
cludes two Forms which
r e s u l t e d f r o m a n
e x a m i n a t i o n h e l d
following the issuing of
Circular 1654 and which
were housed in th i s
School because there
was no accommodation
at the Grammar School. Chester-le-Street is an
urban area with a very
mixed population from
the occupational aspect.
Of the 80 boys who left
Page 7 Volume 2, Issue 2
School l ast year , 10
entered coal mining, 24
entered engineering and
building industries, 11
the distributive trades, 9
took up some form of
c l e r ica l work and 4
started work on the
land. Of the 70 girls who
entered employment 11
o b t a i n e d w o r k i n
Clothing factories, 9 in
the distributive trades,
17 in commerce and
clerical work and 17
e n t e r e d d o m e s t i c
service. It is interesting
Domestic Science room.
Since 1941 there has
b e e n a d d i t i o n a l
accommodation in the
form of a ―pract ica l
b lo ck‖ i n what was
formerly a Church of
England School, situated
about ten minute walk
from the School. This
b u i l d i n g h a s f o u r
p r a c t i c a l r o o m s :
Handicraft, Domestic
subjects, Science and
Art. Only the first two
named are at present
f u l l y e q u i p p e d b u t
to note that the 22
members of the Fifth
Form (the first entrants
under Circular 1654)
have plans as follows,
16 intend to become
t e a ch e r s , t wo a r e
sitt ing the entrance
e x a m i n a t i o n t o
S a n d h u r s t , o n e i s
enter ing the Roya l
O rd n an ce F a c t o r y
u n d e r a s p e c i a l
apprenticeship scheme,
one hopes to become a
chartered accountant,
one a draughtsman and
“Larceny of an
apple”
No messing
about by the
Magistrates in
Durham City on
23 June 1904,
when Lily
Gilbert
appeared before them for
stealing an apple, valued at
1d, from a fruiterer's shop
in Silver Street.
She was sent to
the Reformatory
School for
5 years'.
Cuffkey.
the building regulations
1 9 4 5 . T h e r e i s n o
g ym n a s i u m an d t he
Assembly Hall which at
the moment has to serve
as gymnasium and Dining
Hall is only 1440 square
feet as compared with
the regulation size of
3000 square feet. The School site including
p l a y i n g f i e l d s i s
approximately three
a c r e s a g a i n s t t h e
required minimum of 17
acres. Negotiations are
in progress to acquire
some eleven acres of
land adjoining the School
site. On this land is a
l a r g e h o u s e w i t h
outhouses, greenhouse
a n d a l a r g e w a l l e d
garden. This presents an
excellent opportunity for
d e v e l o p i n g a r u r a l
science side, for the
keeping of livestock and
the remedying of the
present unsatisfactory
provision for gardening.
The Head Master has in
mind the desirability of
using the upper part of
t h e h o u s e a s a
housewifery unit, where
girls could pursue an
intensive course in their
last year at School. T h e a c t u a l t e a c h i n g
e q u i p m e n t i s g o o d .
Visual aids include a film
s t r i p p r o j e c t o r , a n
e p i s c o p e a n d a
diascope. Mention should
be made here o f the
generous gift from the
Parents Association of a
radiogram and extension
loud speakers to sixteen
rooms. The usual deficiencies in
text books and reference
books were noted. Times
are d i f f i cu lt and i t i s
r e c o g n i s e d t h a t t h e
School is doing its best to
Without exception the
staff are conscientious
and hard working and
are on excellent terms
with the pupils. Their
genera l a t t i t ude i s
indicated by the fact
that fifteen of them
F u l l y a w a r e o f t h e
i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e
corporate l ife of the
School he has achieved
much in this direction.
His sympathetic handling
of his staff is seen in the
way the seven members
o f s t a f f w h o h a v e
r e t u rn e d f ro m wa r
service have fitted into
the scheme of things
again. His sincerity and
leadership have won him
the regard of his pupils
the staff and the parents.
H e h a s t h e
wholehearted support
and confidence of the
G o v e r n o r s o f t h e
School. The assistant staff is an
excellent combination of
experience and youth. It
consists of fourteen
M a s t e r s a n d e i g h t
Mistresses. Four of the
Masters and one of the
Mistresses have degrees.
With the exception of
two men awaiting entry
t o a n E m e r g e n c y
Training College all are
qua l i f i ed a s s i s t an t s .
Page 8 Chester le Street
remedy this. Good use
is being made of the
facilities provided by
the County Library.
Staff The School owes much
to its Head Master.
Appointed to the staff
as an assistant master
when the School was
opened in January 1932
h e b e c a m e H e a d
Master in November of
that year. A capable
organiser, he has his
finger unobtrusively on
the pulse of the School.
assist with various club
activities. The spirit on the staff is
remarkable in view of
the fact that during the
war years over f i f t y
changes took place. Corporate Life of the
School The morning service is
s im p l e i n f o rm and
reverent in character. It
is usually conducted by
the Head Master, the
lesson being read by a
pupil, Hymns are chosen
by the various Forms
and special services are
held at Christmas and
Easter. The School is divided
into four Houses, the
system being used chiefly
i n co n n e c t i o n w i t h
sport s and Phy s i ca l
E d u c a t i o n . A t t h e
moment the Fifth form
provides the School
Prefects. Mention should
be made of the smooth
w o r k i n g o f t h e
arrangements for School
d i n n e r s . T h e m e a l
p rov ide s a p le as an t
social interlude in the
d a y a n d i s b o t h
Arr an gem en t s h a ve
recently been made for a
number of Forms to
h a v e s w i m m i n g
instruction. With the return of the
members of the School
staff from war service it
has been found possible
to revive the School
Societ ies. There is a
l ively Scientif ic Club,
Drama Club, Choir and
Swimming Club. Thirty
boys and three Masters
are to spend a fortnight
two of its members on
the Board of Governors.
The in teres t o f the
parents in the School is
very real and has been
expressed on several
occasions in tangible and
generous fashion. T h e O l d P u p i l s ‘
Association which has
e x i s t e d s i n c e 1 9 3 3
e m b r a c e s a l l t h e
activities of past pupils.
The clubs attached to it
vary according to the
wishes of the members
themselves. At present
Page 9 Volume 2, Issue 2
appetising and adequate. T h e S c h o o l h a s a
successfu l record in
sport. This season the
Assoc iat ion footba l l
t e a m h a s w o n t h e
of the summer vacation
at a Harvest Camp. Speech day, Parents Day
and the annual Nativity
P l a y a r e im p o r t a n t
features of the School
year. There i s a v igorous
P a r e n t T e a c h e r
Association. Formed in
November 1945 it has
run very successfully.
The o rgan i s a t ion i s
c o n t r o l l e d b y a
committee of sixteen
parents, eight of each
there is a football Club,
a B o y s ‘ P h y s i c a l
Educat ion and C lub
Night (with canteen), a
G i r l s ‘ C l u b ( w i t h
canteen), a Drama Club,
an Army Cadet Platoon
and an ATC unit. These
are all linked together by
o c c a s i o n a l s o c i a l
evenings. Tribute should
be paid to the member
of staff whose interest in
t h e O l d P u p i l s ‘
Association led him to
take the Diploma in
Youth Se rv i ce . The
general high quality of
the work in the School is
paralleled in the conduct
of the pupils. They are
courteous, friendly and
at ease with visitors.
Under the guidance of
an exceptionally sound
Head Master, supported
by a willing and capable
s t a f f , t he S choo l i s
m a k i n g a v a l u a b l e
cont r ibu t ion to the
d e v e l o p m e n t o f a
S e c o n d a r y M o d e r n
tradition
sex, together with four
teachers representing
the staff. The parents
provide the Secretary
and Treasurer and the
H e a d M a s t e r i s
P r e s i d e n t . A f u l l
Association meeting is
held every month with
a committee meeting
falling midway between
each full meeting. It is
pleasing to learn that
the Associat ion has
b e e n g i v e n
representation through
district league and two
knockout competitions.
There i s no cr icket
league because of lack of
suitable pitches. There is
an Annual Sports Day.
Steam Trains
On The Main
Line.
Did you know
that you can
occasionally still
see Steam
Trains operating
on the mainline
at Chester-le-
Street ?
Special tours
pass through
from time to
time and
although they do
not stop, they
make a
spectacular sight
as they pass
through.
Trains scheduled
in the near
future are :-
Saturday 21st
April -
No 60007
Sir Nigel
Gresley
Saturday 19th
May
No 60009 Union of South
Africa
Wednesday 6th
June
No 60163
Tornado.
For times etc
check http://
www.uksteam.
info/tours/
CONTACTS
Events Diary
Chester le Street Heritage Group
Chairperson -
Information requests/web
Friends [email protected]
Newsletter
Date Time Event Location
27th March, 3rd, 10th,
17th, 24th, April, 1st,
8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
May, 5th, 12th, 19th
June.
10:00-12:00 Drop In Session
All Welcome
Salvation Army Citadel Low Chare , Chester
le Street.
25th April (Provisional) 19:00-21:00 Training Session
(Private)
Ch-le-St Library
4th & 18th April,
2nd & 16th May
6th & 20th June.
19:00-21:00 Members Mtg
(All Welcome)
Ch-le-St Library
Next Newsletter
20th June 2012
Contributions
required by
6th June 2012
HELP We are in need of names and information and ask for your assistance. Our
resident Fire Archivist has collated quite a number of names, photographs
and general information relating to our local Fire Brigade from the Parish
Council era through Urban District era and World War 2 AFS and NFS
eras.
No doubt we are lacking in names and photographs of local men and
women who served with the Auxiliary Fire Service and later the National
Fire Service or as Firewatchers etc., in the Chester-le-Street area during
the WW2 period. Can you have a ‗scrat about‘ and rummage through the
drawers and cupboards for any information relating to ‗Uncle Billy or
Aunty Mary‘ who may have been connected with the local Brigade.
Any information by way of anecdotes, photographs or printed forms etc.,
would be gratefully appreciated and acknowledged. If we could copy any
treasured family photos of fire personnel such photos would be treated
with care and returned. It is important to have a record of locals who ‗did
their duty‘ and performed an important function during a dark period in
our history, and have that information available for future generations.
Your assistance would be appreciated.