Norman's Life - His Second Love - Jean, Jenny Janet Mrs Stafford

Around 1944 Norman Stafford met Jean Pattison (nee Dent) at a mutual friends house at the Folly Greenside, Billy Charlton and his wife (unfortunately I cannot remember his wife's first name). 

Sepia Norman Stafford 

Restored Norman Stafford

This photograph of my mam was quite small and is rather overblown, but this is what she must have looked like when she and Norman first met.

Jean Pattison nee Dent

I assume that it was my dad who decided to call my mam Jean. She was Christened Janet after her mother, but was always known by her parents as Jennie.

Jean was a young 26 year old widow from Scotswood, Newcastle upon Tyne (a Townie).  In October 1942, at the age of 22, she married George Pattison, (a month after war had been declared).  My mam said George knew he would be one of the first to be called up as he was already a trained soldier, spending some of his military life in India. They were right, a few weeks later George went off to war and around a year later in 1941 Jean received notification that George was missing. 

I did some research a few years back and perhaps George's unit was trapped by German invading forces on the Greek island of Crete. 

Jean and Norman were married on the 1st of April 1944 at Newcastle upon Tyne Registry Office. Billy Charlton, and his wife acted as witnesses, and were probably the only people who attended the wedding. 

After the wedding Norman and Jean turned up at 16 Milton Street and told his parents that they had just got married. It is not known how shocked or perhaps even disbelieving Maggie, Alfred and Eleanor were, as it was the 1st of April (All Fools Day) when traditionally you played jokes on people.  Also it is not known if Jean's parents, Luke and Janet Dent knew about the wedding either.  However, if you do your sums, (in these very strange times) the war in Europe was still not over - VE day was not declared until 8th May 1945, and times were often heartbreaking and very hard.

Jean and Norman's Wedding Certificate dated 1st April 1944

The surname of the bride's father has been written as Kent, instead of Dent

Jean and Norman had nowhere to live, so the reality was they came to live at 16 Milton Street Greenside - with five people living in a small two up, two down, no bathroom, with a back yard and an outside toilet. Not luxurious accommodation, but financially there would be no problems as the Wedding Certificate confirms his father's occupation as a deputy overman, this also confirms that Alfred returned to work in Greenside Colliery, and also Norman was working as a bus driver. Barbara and Albert were now married. 

Shortly after Jean's arrival Alfred wrote a letter to her parents. I believe he wrote this note in a true Christian spirit, as he did like Jean and eventually the three women did get on, but sadly Alfred died in October 1947.  

1944 Letter from Alfred Stafford to Jean's parents Luke and Janet Dent

The letter just shows the damage sellotape does.  In case you have difficulty in reading Alfred's writing -

"Dear Mr& Mrs Dent

I am writing on behalf of Mrs Stafford and myself, to assure you of a very sincere and hearty welcome to your Daughter Jennie, into the fellowship of our home and family, on the occasion of her marriage to our son Norman.  We will look upon her as one of our own.  To speak truly she has won our hearts, due to her cheery and sporty disposition, and If I am any judge her sincere devotion to Norman, so will you please allow us just to say that they will get on with us just as they would do if they had both been our own.  I hope you will excuse me, taking this liberty, and in closing we send our kindest regards to you, and we remain

Yours very truly
Margaret and Alf Stafford"

Almost 8 months later, the number living at 16 Milton Street Greenside, was again six, when my sister Dorothy Margaret Stafford was born on 20th November 1944. So perhaps it is understandable in these times that their marriage was of a rather clandestine nature. 

Original Dorothy Margaret Stafford b: 20th November 1944

Restored Dorothy Margaret Stafford b: 20th November 1944

Norman and Jean's second child, Pauline Clark Stafford, was born almost 17 months later, which meant two babies under two. In those days this would have sent the village gossips and busybodies into over-drive.  I remember her telling me  "I cried the whole nine months you were coming", and to compound Jean's stress I arrived on their 2nd Wedding Anniversary, 1st April 1946. We laughed about it later saying, "what a Wedding Anniversary present."  I have never been good at remembering birthdays and anniversaries, but somehow I never forgot to buy my mam and dad a wedding anniversary card. 

By 1946 there was no spare money for a studio photograph of me, but this is probably the earliest photograph taken at two months old, at the sea-side with my mam. I was a tiny baby, being only 4lbs when born, and not a particularly healthy baby either.

I

Jean Stafford with her second child Pauline Clark Stafford Born 1st April 1946

Norman at the gate of 13 Milton Street with Dorothy aged about a year old in 1945

Dorothy 1945 13 Milton Street Greenside

Norman's Life - His first love - the Internal Combustion Engine

92 Years Ago

Norman was 15 years old when he took out his first licence on the 11th March 1925 -1926 to drive a car or motorbike, at a cost of 5 shillings. There was no driving test at this time you just paid your five shillings and off you went!

I believe  Norman was driving before he was 15.  

Norman Stafford's first Driving Licence 1925 - he would be 15 years of age.

This photograph was one of the old negatives I found, and as you see Norman is very young (probably about 15). This photograph shows him sitting on his father's motorbike and sidecar.  After a lot of research I believe this motorbike and sidecar is an AJS Model D, which was a British motorcycle made by A J Stevens & Co. Ltd in Wolverhampton between 1912 and 1925. Production was halted by the First World War. AJS managed to develop the Model D into a popular sidecar machine.

  

Restored Negative of Norman aged 14 or 15 years old circa 1924 on his dad's AJS D motorbike and sidecar

Restored negative of Alfred Stafford on his AJS D motorbike and sidecar circa 1924

Restored negative circa 1925 Norman aged around 15 on his father's AJS D motorbike and sidecar

A few years later (perhaps 15 years) Norman is seen on his 1933 Model 19 Norton motorbike outside 16 Milton Street, with his sister Eleanor on pillion. 

This was the bike that Norman said he drove from Greenside to Carlisle, some 52.1 miles in less than an hour - today it states it takes 1hr 16 mins - so well done Norman! 

Eleanor and Norman on his 1933 Model 19 Norton

Still keeping his Norton, Norman moved on to something a bit different, a two seater three wheeled Morgan Aero 8. 

These vehicles were a popular form of cheap motoring for the working man who wanted to move on from a motorbike to something a little more comfortable, in the nineteen twenties and thirties. They were technically classified as a three wheel motor cycle, and carried a much lower road tax.  Known as "Cyclo" cars, they could be driven by the holder of a motor cycle licence and if it didn't have a reverse gear there was no need to sit a car driving test. 

When my mam and dad were 'courting' she said it was a terrible car to get into because it had no doors. Being only 5ft tall wouldn't help either.  I don't even want to think of how she got out of the car!

When my mam and dad married they initially lived with Norman's parents, but when the house opposite, 13 Milton Street Greenside came up for sale Norman sold his beloved Norton and Morgan using the money as a deposit on the house.

OYP 427

For a few years Norman's bus driver wages were not enough to save for the luxury of a car, until one day a little black beauty came into his life.

A Pitman friend called Alf Redman bought himself a Split Screen Morris Minor.  Alf couldn't drive and asked Norman to teach him.  To Norman's mortification Alf found learning to drive very difficult.  He took his driving test eight times before he passed his test. Even then because he didn't have enough confidence he rarely drove the car, so he asked Norman would he like to buy it.  With some financial assistance from his sister Eleanor, Norman became the proud owner of OYP 427.

Original Log Book for Morris Minor OYP 427

1950s picnic with Alf and his wife Bessie on a typically warm British summer's day!
R-L Alf Redman, Bessie Redman Dorothy Stafford and Jean Stafford

Typical 1954 Split Screen Morris Minor

This little car gave us holiday's, days out, and was the first car I drove at 17 when I took out my first driving licence. I remember my dad took me round the village, a little kangaroo petrol and then I was away, a reckless young fool. I remember my mam asking my dad "how did she do" he said I had far too much confidence but was a natural, but he was a bit biased. 

I have been driving for subce 1963 and still love driving. Norman taught me, my boyfriend,(who became my husband) my sister and her boy friend (who became her husband) to drive, and by the time we all passed our tests the gear box synchro mesh was shot, but Norman never complained and just replaced the gear box.

I found this photograph on the internet of the interior of a split Windscreen Morris Minor. The interior of OYP 427 was in better condition, but, boy did it take me back to my youth, I could almost smell the red leather seats, the red carpets, the wooden chocks that my dad had to put at the back of the driver's seat, as I was too short to reach the pedals. The massive steering wheel, the gear stick, the clutch pedal and accelerator. I remember when I changed gear Norman explained I had to give the accelerator a quick buzz from the throttle and then shift the gear stick to neutral (apparently this was done to match engine speed to the intended gear and vehicle speed, I obviously didn't know this, just did what Norman told me to do), lift off the clutch and give the throttle a quick buzz again, depress clutch and engage new gear (this was double declutching) and all had to be done in a nano second. What lovely memories.

Norman's final car in his retirement was an Austin A40 Farina. For me, (and I am sure for Norman as well) I felt it didn't have the personality that the Morris had, but not once were any of his car's off the road, as Norman was such an efficient self-taught car mechanic, he never once needed professional assistance. 

I can still see my dad in my mind's eye - I would have been sent along to the garage to tell him "his tea was ready." In the fading light he would lock up his ramshackle wooden garage, and slowly walk the short distance home. I believe he had to walk slowly as he was so stiff after being bent over, or lying under his or his neighbour's car for hours, but this was Norman's idea of heaven. 

Before he could eat, it was off with his oil sodden overalls, and out with the Swarfega to wash the smelly black engine oil off his hands.  More lovely 'pungent' memories.

The ignition key in the Austin A40 was so thin that you could be driving along and the car key would drop out of the ignition, a bit disconcerting as the engine didn't cut out. If you were in the car on your own, you had to stop the car and scrabble around on the floor and put it back in the ignition.

Norman and this car grew very old together.  He drove it as if it was a bus, slowly.  This would drive us all mad, and other drivers as well. I can still hear my sister saying to him "for God sake dad can't you drive a bit faster."

A typical example (and same colour of Norman's final car) the Austin A40 Farina

Albert's Life - The Co-operative Wholesale Society

As a young man Albert worked for West Wylam and Prudhoe Co-operative Society.  I don't know which village he worked in, but this very old photograph is of a typical Co-op village store. This West Wylam and Prudhoe Co-op was at the bottom of Greenside. The department that can be seen was the Drapery and Boot Department. The Grocery Department was around the corner (where you can see an awning). To the other side was the stables where the delivery horses were kept, for milk deliveries etc.  

This is a photograph of the typical type of groceries sold, and the typical way they were displayed in a Co-op. Note no refrigeration, so women shopped every day.

Photograph from rebuilt Annfield Plain Co-op at Beamish Museum

An immaculate 'Store Horse" stabled at the back of Greenside Co-op with Nancy Appleby from Greenside who worked for the Co-op delivering milk

In the name of Progress - Nancy now delivering milk by van - the horses have gone

My Grandma's1940s Bakery Department receipt from Greenside West Wylam and Prudhoe Co-op 

At one time the Co-op was the most important store in every Northern village and town. I can still hear my mam say to me "can you go round to the store and get some butter'. When Greenside Colliery was at maximum production another new Co-op was built at the top of the village.

Greenside Colliery not long before it ceased production in the1960s

Those using the stores became members of the society for a small fee, and were given a check number, these members were paid a dividend e.g. 2 shillings the £ so it was a big incentive to shop there. Even now most older women (that includes me!) will remember either their own or their mother's check number, as it was important to give this to staff who wrote it in the check book on every visit to the 'store'.  My mother's check number was 6176 but thanks to Eleanor we have an actual copy of a check, showing her mother's number. 

The Old Co-op Building Greenside in 2016 the other Co-op was knocked down for new housing some years ago.  There is no Co-op in Greenside today

Albert left the Greenside area with his wife and children to become an undertaker for the South Northumberland Co-operative Services Ltd in Cullercoats. He stayed in this job until he retired. 

Albert and Ivy had two daughters, one became a teacher, the other a secretary.  

Albert died at the age of 76 in 1978.

Ivy died at the age of 81 in 2001.

Albert's life - Ivy

This postcard was sent to 28 year old Albert from 23 year old Ivy Young who would be known as his "young lady" - more than likely his fiance, as it is dated 1930, being around a year before they married. Ivy was an only child. 

1930 Postcard from Ivy to Albert

It is amazing how these days we take it for granted that we can communicate with loved ones instantly, whereas 88 years ago Ivy sent Albert a postcard (quite an unusual one at that, with Tussaud's waxworks depicting literary greats such as Charles Dickens, George Bernard Shaw, William Shakespeare, Lord Byron and others).

Back of 1930 Postcard from Ivy to Albert

This picnic photograph was taken before Albert and Ivy married, the sand dunes give a clue that it was somewhere up the north east coast.  Sadly Mr young died in 1930 not long before Albert and Ivy married. I assume Albert took the photograph. Mr Young's drink will be some kind of cordial, as both families were staunch tee-total Methodists.

L-R Mr George Thomas Young 1881-1930 & Mrs Mary Jane Young (nee Slee) 1885 - 1964, Ivy Young 1907 - 2001 and Eleanor Stafford

One of the old restored negatives of Albert which could have been taken on a day out at Scarborough with Ivy

Unfortunately the photograph of Ivy, taken on the same day is too far gone.

From Old Negative Albert in Woodland Setting

The wedding of Albert Henderson Stafford and Ivy Young on the 17th June 1931 at Blaydon

Original Wedding Photograph

This is a very smart wedding, with a lovely 1930s Bride. Ivy's wedding dress and veil are beautiful. Her top is made of lace. The wedding bouquet of roses is spectacular, with the gentlemen wearing the same type and colour of rose in their button-hole. Their suits are very smart, I note my 20 year old dad is wearing a double-breasted suit, and both wear wing collars and are carrying gloves and just look at those spats. Eleanor would be aged 18 and thanks to her sentimentality in keeping her lovely matching mauve muff we know the colour of her bridesmaid outfit.

Restored Wedding Photograph

  

Eleanor's Bridesmaid's Muff - Albert and Ivy's Wedding 

Wedding Guests Albert and Ivy's Wedding
L-R Alfred Stafford, Norman Stafford, Margaret Stafford? Eleanor Stafford, Albert Stafford, Ivy Young, the rest unknown

Original

Restored

Original

Restored

Ivy and Eleanor on Norman's 1933 Norton Model 19 motorbike outside 16 Milton Street Greenside circa 1940

Albert Stafford's life - The Scouts

The first photograph of Albert in Scout uniform standing with his bike was one of the old negatives belonging to Aunt Eleanor.  I initially thought these negatives were all taken in the 1930s, but Albert is very young in this photograph, perhaps around 18. As Albert was born in 1902 this shows that some of the negatives were taken as early as the 1920s or even earlier.   

Old Folder that contained the negatives

Negative of Albert Stafford in Scout Uniform

Restored old negative of Albert Stafford in Scout Uniform

The following are photographs I believe Albert took of a Scout camp.  I have no idea where the the camp took place.

The photographs were in a bad way, and did not restore particularly well, but here they are.

  

Original circa early 1920 Group

Restored photograph

Original 1920s Scout Camp Group

Restored 1920s Scout Camp Group

Original 1920s Scout Group - even the dog came too!

Restored 1920s Scout Group - even the dog came too!

Original 1920s Scout Camp around Tent

Restored 1920s Scout Camp Around Tent