Ushaw Moor Memories

1893 - Septimus Aberdeen [later DCM] was born. For a while he lived in Sleetburn Lane, Alum Waters. He attended New Brancepeth School where he acquitted himself well.

He was a man of which New Brancepeth can be proud.

He fought on the Western Front for over two years and that fact alone is testament to his admirable qualities. His Distinguished Conduct Medal was a tangible reward for coolness and courage. In 1918 Mr Aberdeen became a Second Lieutenant. Later that year he was wounded but he recovered and went on to give fine service. I believe that he married in 1921 but I cannot be absolutely certain about that.

1902 –J Potts the Ushaw Moor schoolmaster died on the 7th of May

1908 – George Gardiner had been cashier at Bearpark Colliery for a considerable number of years. He died on the fourth of May.

1920s - Both Ushaw Moor and New Brancepeth Cricket Clubs had teams playing in the Deerness and District League together with the likes of Brandon, Browney, Cornsay, Esh Winning and Oakenshaw. Ushaw Moor later put a team in the North East Durham League and regular opponents included Sherburn Colliery, Washington, Littletown and South Hylton.

1923 -The Durham and District Bowls League began. A Mr Foster from Ushaw Moor was actively involved in the creation of the league. So which Mr Foster was that? Are any of his descendants currently living in Ushaw Moor?

1932 -John George March – known as George March - was born in Ushaw Moor. He played cricket for Ushaw Moor before moving on to play for Bearpark. He played the game at county standard and also achieved further representative honours whilst playing for Durham. More details of his cricket career are given in the Durham County Cricket Club archive. He worked in Ushaw Moor Colliery joiners’ shop alongside Norman Hope. Norman said that George went on to work in the ‘property section’. They were mates and Norman describes his as friendly bloke – not only a good cricketer but also a footballer with clever feet. Norman thinks that George’s football was with Ushaw Moor and very probably he was a forward. George March married Eb Shuker’s daughter, Barbara, and I am told that she had a spell as headmistress at Brandon School.

1936 – Ferguson Brothers Ltd of Middlesborough was selling shirts for Easter that were priced at seven shillings and sixpence each. There was a choice of ‘lustre poplin’ or ‘semi stiff’. ‘Vocof’ was a cure for coughs and colds and available from chemists for just one shilling and sixpence. I am presently under the impression that there is no cure for the common cold.

1938 -Having had a pint and a chat with Joe Mole, the landlord of the Flass Inn, you might have had your haircut by Tommy Gates in Station Road before getting some fish and chips from Florrie Haustead in order to save your wife having to prepare something. That would sound a bit sexist these days. Actually if anyone reading this had done that then they must now be getting on in years!

1953 - New Brancepeth Cricket Club was drawn to play Witton Le Wear in a cup tie. In the event Witton Le Wear was dismissed for a moderate score of 68. Sadly the New Brancepeth team was all out for 34 having been put under the cosh by Lee, who returned 7 wickets for 21 runs. Is it the case that Gilbert Ayre played for New Brancepeth in that match?

1955- I went to a Sunday morning service at St Luke’s Church. During Vicar Welby’s sermon I must have lost concentration because I found myself staring at a naked candle flame. I must have stared for too long because I began to feel sick and had to hurry out of the church. To be exact I was sick on the church steps. Every time I see my Aunty Ethel’s wedding photograph showing the bride, bridegroom and many bridesmaids I think – um…about three years after that picture was taken I was sick on those church steps. Does anyone recall being in that church when a young boy rushed out and caused a problem?

2005 - Now for a bit of controversy! In about 2005 the Football Foundation awarded well over a quarter of a million pounds to enable Deerness Valley School to have a superb football pitch. I believe that the total cost was well over four hundred thousand pounds. I am aware that the several anticipated benefits included more community participation but the figures involved seem incredibly high to me. You cannot blame anyone in Ushaw Moor for applying and accepting that sort of money but as I say my personal view is that the cost seem a bit high and the sense of priorities a bit dodgy. We enjoyed our school team football back in the 50s and did not need a Premier League standard pitch [forget Wigan Athletic] in order to deliver accurate thirty yard passes. The opportunity costs also seem staggering! I am assuming that the project went ahead. If it did perhaps the positive benefits turned out to be beyond my imagination - I do not want to go back to the 1950s merely study them!

I have learnt that it was at about this time that some young and brilliant gymnasts from Deerness Valley School were coming to the nation’s attention. Absolutely wonderful to hear!

2008 - A week ago my mathematician son showed me an old GCSE Foundation Tier exam paper. We thought it would be fun if, without preparation, I had a go at it. Well I did and scored about 90%. I was really chuffed until he explained that such a score would only have meant a grade D pass because of the paper being a ‘Foundation Paper’. I felt humbled but I saw the funny side of my pompous nature! Roll on the Higher Tier paper – but first a trip to the chemist for some headache pills.

Best regards

Wilf Bell

Many of you will be aware of Henry Chaytor’s connection with Ushaw Moor Colliery. He resided at Witton Castle and was the owner of the colliery at the time of a very acrimonious dispute that began at the pit in 1881. There is a good summary on this site of the goings on during that dispute. Ushaw Moor historians now have the opportunity to extend, or at the very least review, their knowledge of the Chaytor family by means of a presentation given by a very knowledgeable member of the Witton Park History Group. Express an interest by using the comment button at the end of this article. I have to say that the comment buttons are getting a bit rusty these days. I will go further and say they might fall off.

History is not bunk it’s fun. It exercises the reasoning powers. I am given to understand that generally in schools the pupils have a choice of taking geography or history at 16 – if that is correct the situation is unfortunate because they are both very worthy subjects.

Best regards

Wilf Bell

Whether such a meeting with Sir Bobby comes to fruition largely depends upon your motivation and Sir Bobby’s diary and availability. He has been invited to a DAFT event that takes place at Crook Library on Thursday 3rd of April at 7 pm - so cross fingers that he and you can make it. Hopefully by now you are aware that Daft is not a derogatory term rather it is a splendid organization that protects and celebrates the magnificent and extraordinary amateur football heritage of bygone years in County Durham. Ricky George is down to attend - Newcastle fans may well recall his spectacular goal against their beloved team in the FA Cup of yesteryear. John Motson, the football commentator and soccer statistician, was said to be a possible attendee last time I heard.

A typical Daft event includes memorabilia, football material, a talk, a few films of those glorious Durham football days and who knows what else!

Did you know that shortly after the Manchester United air crash in Munich some Bishop Auckland footballers were called upon to represent Manchester United during its emergency? Keith Belton can explain more about that at the event and also convince you that there was a time when Bishop Auckland Football Club really was bigger than Chelsea.

Witton Park

Witton Park has a history that is worth learning about and the Witton Park History Group have the very people to tell it by means of a slideshow and talk. If you are part of an organization that would like an interesting presentation contact them on 01388 606543 [mobile 07719272662]. The Witton Park Website can be viewed at www.wittonpark.co.uk

Note well -to get up to date information about the Daft meeting

Ring one of the telephone numbers given in the last paragraph - you will be able to get the latest information about it.

Best wishes

Wilf Bell

Dickie Hope and Peter Metcalfe – Notable Servants of Ushaw Moor Cricket Club

Although Mr Metcalfe has recently passed away his sterling service to cricket will linger on for a very long time and rightly so. I did not know Peter personally but am fairly well informed about his admirable work in cricket circles. Comparing and contrasting Dickie Hope and Peter Metcalfe are not particularly difficult tasks – first and foremost they were the gel that held the essential administration of the game together during their respective decades within cricket.

Of course they operated in very different periods. In the case of Dickie he was one or more of secretary, player and captain during the 1930s, 40s and early 50s He sits proudly within a photograph on the wall of the cricket club bar to this day. During Dickie’s pomp coalmining dominated the landscape in terms of noise, dirt and injuries. Peter came a little later but for a similar length of time. Unlike Dickie Peter ventured beyond club administration into league work that included the disciplining of players. I am given to understand that he was not always impressed with the style of play of Kimblesworth Cricket Club and that came out at his naturally sad but nevertheless celebratory funeral service. Peter had a sense of humour and that is worth a lot in this world! Humour tends to linger when the man has left.

Dickie tried so hard shortly after WW2 to get Ushaw Moor into the prestigious Durham Senior League and I understand that only the lack of some facilities at the ground thwarted that ambition. They were both sticklers for the rules of cricket but were not so bookish that they could not think on their feet when a tricky decision or comment was needed. I love the comment that Peter, during poor light, was determined for a home match to carry on whilst New Brancepeth could still be seen – absolutely priceless! Dickie had a big fall out one day with a player called Trotter – a school teacher – I suppose Dickie and Peter were adverse to bullshit. They call a spade a spade in Ushaw Moor and always have.

As for their respective wives it might be a case of making the best of it. Both Ethel Hope and Ann Metcalfe were tea ladies at the club for many years. In the case of Ethel her situation in the order of the cricket universe is best seen within a local newspaper report celebrating their Golden Wedding in 1973. Dickie got about 280 words about his life followed by about 20 words that explained that Mrs Hope was tea lady at the cricket club! In the case of Mrs Metcalfe it seems that it was a case of if you cannot beat them join them!

Wilf Bell