1. The legend of the faeries gold at Trow rocks. Seems a golden cup did in reality go to somewhere hidden in Westoe Village. May still be there!
2.Norman Skin. South Shields' first ever skinhead circa 1968.
3.Bill Meths aka Billy Roberts..famed street wanderer of no fixed address, played the kazoo. Very entertaning. Sadly, passed away from harsh lifestyle. Drank meths.
4.Keith Bell aka 'The Sheriff'. Hardman who reigned with terror. Many, many Belly stories. Driven out of town eventually by the rozzers.
5. Skin Mick. Possibly second skinhead ever in town.
6.Brian Batey. Very mixed up young man from Ocean Road. Would jump up on tables and rant long pieces of Shakesperian works. Sounded like Richard Burton. Mental health problems, took his own life in 80's.
7. Big Hec. Big feet. Walked millions of miles for charity did Hector Dowson with his size 18. Died unexpectedly young.
8. Wavis O'Shave. Self-styled wacky chap who took his wackiness onto local and national tv and shared it with the nation. Left the town after 40 years in 1997.
Well, wether they werealiens or not, they most certainly did, for a hectic and concentrated week or so. Started with a classic sighting by a family at Tyne Dock who saw three Ufo's hovering above them. The Ministry of defence actually told the family that what they had seen was a weather balloon that had blown over from Liverpool! The family also had a visit from the MOD who basically told them not to go on about it all. This gave birth to the head of the family, who worked at Westoe pit, picking up the nicknmae of Ronnie Rocket ever afterwards. In the same week, the gathering at the South shields-North Shields ferry jetty at 4am all saw some 30-odd 'fiery crosses' fly over. Plenty of other sightings that week. Anyone remember?
Whoops! forgot to mention that the above post came under the heading of 'Ufo's visit the town in 1967'.. certainly a story of legendary status. Also, who remembers Muhammed Ali actually getting married at the Mosque in 1970! Crazy!! But True! Who remembers? Who was there? A nother cracking legend.
NOW..........AH NEW A BLOKE CALLED MALCOLM.......HEY EE CUD BLOW A GUD RASP............IN THU CLASS.........ANYWAY.........WATTA BOUT......
....................THU CROON ONNA SAT`DA NEET........HE HE HE ........
TARRA MAL...........
i remeber years ago my mate got kicked out off his house and was sleeping rough so one night he got into the old shields lifeboat for a bit kip only to get chased off by billy meths for nicking his spot
billy methz .............god have mercy on ee`z soul[cap in hand].....
now........billy waz thu only bloke hoo had talkin shoez........
a`hm tellin yuzz........
tarra....................
What about Stan Morteson, played with Stan Matthews and represented England, but who knows what the bloke was called who sold jumping beans from a tray in King St and always had a dewdrop on the end of his nose no matter what the weather
Malcolm Scott, former pupil of Mortimer Road School. Played for Newcastle United for a couple of seasons before turning to cricket for Northants. He was there for many years as a first choice regular all rounder, when he retired from cricket he turned to teaching.
Before he moved to the market he used to do the same 'job' at Tyne Dock roundabout.
I believe that someone, possibly connected with the Customs House, wrote some sort of a story or maybe a play about him?
I read it in the Gazette so it must be true!
The only legend I ever heard about South Shields,was "that it was a great
place till the white man came" Hope I havent offended anyone,If so,
apologies are offered.
billy methz .............god have mercy on ee`z soul[cap in hand].....
