BUTTERKNOWLE

Mrs Angela Peart's Retirement - 2003
 Mrs. Angela Peart (neè Tarn) on her retirement as a schoolteacher at Butterknowle Primary School. She is seen here with the oldest and youngest child in the school - Lucy Handiside and Nathan Hopper. The Teesdale Mercury article of 23rd July 2003 read as follows: - The hall at Butterknowle Primary School was packed with pupils, former pupils, parents and friends who had all gathered to wish Deputy Head, Angela Peart, all the best for her retirement on Thursday. Mrs. Peart was retiring after 40 years teaching at the school.  Headteacher, Paul Ruane, praised her as a natural who was always concerned about the needs of the children.  "She is one of the best teachers I've ever worked with," he said. "What I really like about her is she's still as enthusiastic now as she was 40 years ago - that's something very special." Mrs. Peart was presented with a rose for every year she worked at the school and a patio set. She thanked everybody for their gifts. She had thoroughly enjoyed her time at the school, she said. Butterknowle was the only school she had ever taught at, and both her daughters, Charlotte and Victoria, had attended it. "It's been a real privilege working here," she said. "I've seen a lot of changes over the last 40 years. The children have been smashing and very successful. Some of them are here today as parents, we might even have some grandparents!" Although she had no firm plans for her retirement, she intended to pursue her hobby of walking as much as possible, and do some travelling with her husband, John. However, Mr. Ruane warned Mrs. Peart she was not likely to get away from school that easily. "If you hear the phone ring at 8:30 am in the morning, you'll know who it is," he said. "It will be me wanting some supply."

Miss Wallace's Retirement - 1957
End of Butterknowle School year 1957: Arnold Craggs presenting a Westminster Clock to the retiring Cissie Wallace. Butterknowle school magazine states "Once again we had to say farewell to a member of the staff, Miss S. Wallace, who had been in charge of the infants for nine years, had decided to retire. On Open day she was presented, by the headmaster, with a Westminster chiming clock, suitably inscribed, bought with money give by the staff and scholars. We are all sorry to see her go, and wish her many, many happy years of good health and happiness.

Butterknowle Male Voice Choir
The Butterknowle male voice choir and orchestra - c. early 1930's.
The only person identified is the man seated, centre, and he is Tom Longstaff, Co-op Store manager, Violinist and Photographer.

 

Butterknowle School Teaching Staff - 1949

From the left:- Norman Green; Miss Heaviside; Miss Cissie Wallace; Arnold Craggs- Head master; George Hardy; Miss Pamela Gray; Miss Dorothy Blackett; Fred Thompson.

1950s Skiffle Group
The days of Skiffle music initiated by the legendary Lonnie Donegan in the 1950's.  Skiffle was a type of popular music usually using home-made or improvised instruments.  Here we see Butterknowle Women's Institute Skiffle Group c.1950's. From the left they are : - Maud Varty with a tambourine; Edith Beadle (seated) with a washboard; Martha Hall with a tea-chest and string double bass; Alice Woodward on banjo; Vera Simpson with tambourine;  Theo Blackett; Lena Duffy (seated) with maracas; Olive Woodward with washboard; Audrey Hall with a ring of bells; Kathleen Bell (kneeling) with water filled tumblers; Lizzie Dowson with trumpet; and Mrs. Edwin Brown with tambourine.

Diamond In Darts Team - Cockfield & District League Winners - 1958
 Seated front : - from the left - Jean Collinson; Olive Moses; Terry Tallentire; Gladys Blackett.
Standing - from the left - Les Williamson; Gladstone Blackett; Martha Hall; Arthur Tallentire; Les Tallentire (Landlord); Robert Moses; John Beadle; Eric Makepeace; Billy Blackett; Eric Organ:

Patent Muck Spreader
Dolph Gregory, a Woodland Colliery Blacksmith, who lived at Southside, Butterknowle, seen here with a home-made horse-drawn "muck spreader".  At the time this photograph was taken, i.e. the early 20th century, horse-drawn 'muck spreaders' were being widely used in America where the first successful machine had been invented by Joseph Oppenheim and Henry Synck, of Ohio, in 1891. Whether or not they had reached Europe by that time is unknown, but Dolph, apparently, had a go at making one for himself.

Opening of Pinfold Medical Practice - 2003
From the left : -  Sally Heron; Christine Hammond; Barbara Harding; Gillian Denham; Dr. Julia Pickworth; Dr. Richard Pickworth; June Burn; and Susan Walker.  The Pinfold Medical Practice, Butterknowle was officially opened in November 2003 by Dr. Kenneth Pickworth, father of Dr's. Julia and Richard, who will run the practice.  Speaking at the opening ceremony Dr. Julia, who has been in the area for more than 20 years, said she was delighted with the new facilities. "There's much more space, nicer surroundings, and better equipment.  We can also dispense drugs to patients, which we couldn't do before, and perform minor operations. It's a boost for the whole community." Anne Beeton, chairman of the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust, added: "I'm absolutely delighted that we've found new premises. Facilities like this give us the opportunity to increase the level of care we can offer the community. It's also important  for the people who work in the NHS to have a good environment to work in. This surgery is an example of how we can improve people's lives."  Trinity Medical Properties built and own the building and will lease it to the Durham Dales PCT.

Butterknowle Pigeon Club Presentation Night

Sep Hall, on the right, presenting a trophy to Johnny Wardle. In the centre is Harry Dowson.

The Wilson Family at Crow Howle, Southside
  Joseph and Margaret Wilson with their family outside of their home between 1881 and 1901. This terrace of houses was demolished and a modern bungalow built on the site by Ken Simpson, a teacher at Butterknowle School.