A dip into postbags of the past
FLOWER OF A GENERATION ... "the sun was scorching, what a grand day it was ... we didn't half give them something."
READERS’ letters have been an important feature of The Shields Gazette going back to when it was first published more than 160 years ago.
Today, thanks to the internet and e-mail, correspondents can comment on articles almost instantly – a contrast with the laboriously penned missives of the past.
Recently, a personal project of mine has been to look at the Gazette, and the readership it serves, as seen through its Letters to the Editor. To celebrate Local Newspaper Week, I hope you enjoy this dip into our historical postbag.
THE loss of the lifeboat Providence with its crew of pilots was a major tragedy for the community of Shields in the Gazette’s first year of publication.
December 14, 1849 – “I have read in the newspaper an account of the melancholy loss of life at your port, occasioned by the upsetting of the South Shields lifeboat, by which 19 or 20 brave fellows have unfortunately perished, leaving their wives and families most probably to lament their loss, in misery and distress. Dreadful in its consequences as this has been, it must still be a great consolation to the committee of this fine boat that they not only spared no expense to render her as perfect as possible, but that they provided for the safety of her crew by furnishing them with a sufficient quantity of my life-belts which, if I am rightly informed, were totally neglected by the unfortunate men, and were hanging in the boat-house at the time the fatal accident occurred, the excuse being that they were encumbered by them... ” – Your obedient servant, Alex Gordon Corte.
January 28, 1879 – “In your last evening’s impression your correspondent has inadvertently mentioned my name as one of Father Little’s guests at Mr McHugh’s London Hotel on Tuesday evening last.
“I scarcely need say that under my present circumstances I could not have enjoyed myself, neither could I have added to the social happiness of others.” – FJ Foxall.
March 10, 1903 – “Your report of the Free Church Council petition calls for a brief protest on behalf of liberty and progress.
“With all due respect to the sincerity of this body, the people of South Shields, like those of other large towns, have outgrown the old pre-Christian idea that there is anything harmful in the quiet buying and selling of apples, oranges, chocolate and other sweetmeats on a Sunday.
“And if tea is needed, is it provident to close the tea room, leaving no alternative to the hotel or public house? Would it not be a great mistake to close every avenue for the indulgences of weakness, except alcohol and nicotine?” – ‘Freedom.’
PTE John S Walters, writing to his friend Mr Fenwick of South Shields, and forwarded to the Gazette two weeks after the commencement of the Battle of the Somme:
July 15, 1916 – “Just a few lines to let you know I have been wounded in the foot and am now in hospital.
“I was hit on the 1st of July in the great advance. It was a sight I will never want to see again as long as I live. The boys went over just as though they were going to a football match and the Tyneside Scottish played the pipes right up to the German front line of trenches. Then the fun started. We went over at half past seven on the Saturday morning and the sun was scorching hot, What a grand day it was, just like the middle of summer. We didn’t half give them something ...”
THE problems of wireless reception between the wars was a source of humorous complaint
November 8, 1932 – “I wish to protest through your paper against the constant oscillation in the region of Stanhope Road and Birchington Avenue (Sandwich Road). During the last week it has been well nigh impossible to get a programme, even from the Local Station, without being startled by the ear-splitting shrieks radiating from some apparently obsolete and useless receiver.” – ‘Headache.’
MORE than 3,000 merchant seamen from Shields were lost during the Second World War, the highest proportion of any town in the country.
February 4, 1941 – Could I, through the columns of the Gazette, thank the lady who generously dropped the seaman’s allotment note in the General Post Office without envelope, leaving it to the kindness of the Post Office to readdress it to me, after helping herself to the money inside of the black patent bag taken from an Economic bus on Monday last? I hope she sees this letter as I would like her to know that money was the hard-earned money of a merchant seaman who risked his life to bring the very food she eats.” – Mrs JR Johnstone, Cheviot Road, South Shields.
THE early 1960s was a period when much of South Shields’ 19th century terraced housing, in areas like Laygate, was reaching the end of its life.
October 5, 1965 – “I was intrigued to read in the Gazette about the bathroom cubicle which can be fixed on to a flat, allowing for the landlord giving his consent.
“I was wondering if this would rob us of our very tiny pantry, as food may have to be stored in the vicinity of the toilet. I may add we have a very small scullery and little or no cupboard room in the upstairs flats.” – Interested Tenant, South Eldon Street, South Shields.
THE run-up to local government reorganisation in the early 1970s was a period of concern as to what would happen to the identity of the borough.
April 24, 1973 – “As most people in our town will be aware, things are due for a drastic change in the very near future. Perhaps the name of South Shields is going to disappear without trace.
“However, our council are doing their best to go out in a blaze of glory. We heard recently of the money that was spent in connection with the local Freemen and now the whole bunch are going to get their photographs taken at no less than £300. I assume that our townspeople are aware that they are paying for this vanity.” – T Barrow, Mortimer Road, South Shields.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Transfer Rumours May 14: Sunderland, Newcastle, Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton
- Bad boy Joey Barton’s Twitter rant at Alan Shearer
- Alan Smith ‘spat at and punched’ during play-off pitch invasion
- Family ordered to fork out £20 for not eating all of their meal
- Transfer rumours May 13: Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Shields
Wednesday 16 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.