Rediscovered Voices of Teesside: Memories from the Archives
Throughout May, the ‘Rediscovered Voices of Teesside: Memories from the Archives’ link-up between Heritage Unlocked and Teesside Archives to showcase a selection of oral history recordings featuring unique, first-hand accounts of life in the area dating back to the late nineteenth century. Initial recordings focus on a range of key themes including industrial heritage, sporting memories, social conditions. and life during the World Wars.
Following on form the success of the link-up, Heritage Unlocked have undertaken a number of interviews with members of the community capturing their memories of Teesside through the years. A selection of these interviews have been added below.
1) Rediscovered Voices of Teesside: Memories from the Archives - Second World War
The first featured oral history extract is focused on the Second World War and features the memories of Sidney Clay, born in Thornaby in 1927.
The son of a railwayman who was President of the Newport Workingmen's Club, Clay attended Archibald School and spent most of his working life on the railways at Newport Shunting Yards and Middlesbrough Dock.
One of the youngest ever Branch Secretaries of the National Union of Railwaymen and a prominent member of the Communist Party, in the newly digitsed recording Clay recalls life in communal air raid shelters, the bombing of Middlesbrough Railway Station, an anti-aircraft site near the Newport Bridge, and experiencing wartime blackouts.
2) Rediscovered Voices of Teesside: Memories from the Archives - Life at the Steelworks
The second featured oral history extract is focused on Life at the Steelworks and features the memories of Jack Evans, born in Ebbw Vale in 1909.
His family came to Middlesbrough when he was about five years old. The family with six children lived in Clive Road. His father was a steel plant manager for Bell Brothers and Jack would join the firm as an apprentice at the age of 14.
3) Rediscovered Voices of Teesside: Memories from the Archives - Growing up in the manufacturing town
The third featured oral history extract is focused on the memories of Mrs Dora Bruce and her recollections of life growing up in the manufacturing town.
Having had aspirations to become a teacher, Bruce instead remained at home to assist her mother with housework. Her memories include attending Archibald and Hugh Bell Schools, recollections of working life, Zeppelin raids and the First World War, and leisure pursuits including family visits to the fairs and markets in St Hilda’s, Middlesbrough.
4) Rediscovered Voices of Teesside: Memories from the Archives - Life in Nazareth House, schooldays and play
The final featured oral history of the ‘Rediscovered Voices of Teesside’ collaboration from May 2022 is from an interview with Margaret Goldsborough.
The extract is digitised from the oral collections of Teesside Archives and provides a unique perspective of life in war-time Teesside, life in Nazareth House following the death of her mother, schooldays and play.