Hetton

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Market Street, Hetton Downs, c 1910. The young lad outside the sewing machine shop appears to be holding what my father always called an "ollygig" (presumably a corruption of "whirlygig"). (We called them "boolers" in Seaham, DA) This simple toy consisted of a steel ring or hoop (often from a wooden barrel) with a hook by means of which the boy would keep it in motion and guide it whilst running alongside it; part of the attraction seems to have been the noise it made! Caption by Sheldon Clark

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Detail from previous photograph, Market Street, Hetton Downs. B D Waggit's shop at left. Photograph c 1910?

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Detail from previous photograph, Market Street, Hetton Downs. From exreme right, Walter Wilson's, Richardson's, Young's Singer Sewing Machine shop.

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Hetton le Hole Working Mens Club and Institute, c1962, the previous club had burned down.

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Coronation Day Party at the Miners' Hall in South Hetton in June 1953. My sister, Lesley Clark, is standing on her own, right at the front, whereas I believe it is my face that can just be made out at the right hand end of the back row, partially obscured by the paper hat worn by Kenneth Penfold. Standing two places to Kenneth's left (at the right hand end of the middle row) is, I believe, Robert Nesbitt. Two places to my right (as seen from my place on the stage) is, I think, Eric Robinson. Eric was the undisputed, if self-appointed, leader of our "gang", which was not as sinister as it might at first appear; in our games in the farmer's field, Eric took on the roles of every villain or monster whilst simultaneously managing to lead our band of explorers or spacemen or cowboys through every hazard - just like John Wayne. The boy at the far left of the back row could be Dennis Smithson, but I'm not at all sure. The name of the boy at the far left of the middle row could be Alan Bainbridge. Standing between Eric Robinson and me is, I think, Raymond Jones. .Photograph and caption from Sheldon Clark.