The most unusual advert ever to be placed in the Shields Gazette - and a teenager was delighted to answer it
‘Wanted. Attractive young lady with sufficient nerve’
This might be a contender for the most unusual advert ever to have appeared in the Shields Gazette.
In 1954, a carefully worded advert said ‘Wanted. Attractive young lady with sufficient nerve.’
It was intriguing and definitely did not say that the young lady who accepted the invitation would soon be speeding round a Wall of Death on an amusement park.
The job was accepted by an 18-year-old South Shields girl, Shirley Brown, of Collin Avenue. She was offered the post, quit her job as a shop assistant and was soon appearing as a pillion rider in the seaside show.
She said: “If I get my chance, I hope to make it my career. It seems hard to believe that I get paid for my pleasure.”
Wall of Death rides were big attractions at fairground rides across the UK in the 1950s as this photo shows.
Amusement Park manager Frank Todd predicted Shirley had a big future, telling the Gazette: “Next week, she will be riding round the wall by herself.”
Bank Holidays were a time of huge significance.
Thirty thousand Tyneside shipyard workers were off on their hols – and that was good news for B&B owners and pub landlords in South Shields.
The Gazette said at the time; “The seaside town was about to enjoy a week of bumper profits as sun-seeking holidaymakers converged on it.’
Also in town for the Bank Holiday weekend was South Shields-born actress Flora Robson, a special guest at the Ideal Homes Exhibition in Bents Park.
Flora, who was later made a dame, was giving a talk on behalf of the Save the Children Fund.
Tell us about your best memories of Bank Holidays from years gone by.
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