'My life revolved around St Martin's'.BROWSING through old photograph albums, Tilly Oatway (nee Ramsdale) came across several snaps of her teenage years that related to being a member of St Martin's Youth Club. She writes: I thank my lucky stars that I was able to be a part of that organisation during the 1950s. Living with an aunty in East Crescent, my life closely revolved around this church. Confirmed here, and attending Communion each Sunday was the beginning. I went to Guides, helped at the Brownies, and became a Sunday School Sunday school, institution for instruction in religion and morals, usually conducted in churches as part of the church organization but sometimes maintained by other religious or philanthropic bodies. In England during the 18th cent. teacher. Obviously many friendships were made. I knew there was a thriving youth club and applied to join. It was not so easy.. There was a waiting list, and besides you had to be 14 years old. After what seemed ages, I was invited to become a member. So began the most positive and fulfilling years of my teens. At this time, there was a new curate CURATE, eccl. law. One who represents the incumbent of a church, person, or20 vicar, and takes care of the church, and performs divine service in his stead. appointed, the Reverend Woodley, known affectionately by the club members as "Ronnie John". How fortunate we were to have him in charge of promoting activities. It was he, with the assistance of Miss Hudson, a local headmistress head·mis·tress n. A woman who is the principal of a school, usually a private school. Noun 1. headmistress - a woman headmaster , who taught us to dance - old-fashioned, modern and square dancing. He encouraged us to play badminton on Saturday afternoon, and led us on hikes over hills and dales after attending Sunday Morning Sunday Morning may refer to:
The boys formed a football team and played against many other youth clubs attached to other churches in Middlesbrough. They even played cricket, of a sort - against the girls' team. We travelled, as a group, on the J bus, to the "Ossies" Saturday night dance, held in St Oswald's church hall, walking home together as it finished. I can vividly remember two wonderful youth club holidays, organised superbly by the curate. We spent a week in the Isle of Man Noun 1. Isle of Man - one of the British Isles in the Irish Sea Man British Isles - Great Britain and Ireland and adjacent islands in the north Atlantic , followed by a visit the next summer, to Rothesay, Isle of Bute The Isle of Bute (Eilean Bhòid in Gaelic) is one of the islands of the lower Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. . We were a handful, and we must have given "Ronnie John" a real headache! The club also acted as a "marriage bureau"! Keith McArdle and Jean Usher, Keith Oatway and Judith Bowker, Brian Thornton Brian "Vegas" Anthony Thornton (born October 19 1979, in Colorado Springs, Colorado) is a United States technology business entrepreneur, author and noted humanitarian. Mr. Thornton is involved with organizations based in Las Vegas and in the technology industry. and Margaret Burrett, the Rev Woodley and Pat Kneeshaw spring to mind as long-lasting marriages. Oh, by the way, I met my future husband, Eric Oatway, at this Youth Club, too.. CAPTION(S): 1954 CHRISTMAS PARTY: Above. On floor - Doreen Wilson, Harold Wells; Front row - Jean Usher (McArdle), Leslie Boynton, Tilly Ramsdale, Eric Worton, unidentified, Janet Rowlands, Father Law, Margot Brown, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, Malcolm (surname unknown); Second row - Keith McArdle, Brian Thornton, Margaret Burrett, Elaine Benfield, Edith Wardropper, Hilda Hudson, Rev R J Woodley, Phil Rowlands, Margaret Whitehead, Brian (surname unknown), unidentified, unidentified, unidentified; Third Row - Maureen Hunt, Glen Worton, John Leckonby, unidentified, unidentified, Betty Bowker, Pat Kneeshaw, unidentified, unidentified, Judith Bowker, Jean Wardropper, unidentified, Brian Pease; Back row - Harry Haydon, Jacky Sewell, Johnny Boden, Ron Crichton, unidentified, Brian Benfield, unidentified, Norman Simpson, unidentified, Ken Wilson HOLIDAY ON THE ISLE OF BUTE, 1956: Right - Front row - Unidentified, Tilly Ramsdale, Joyce Dickinson, Archie Hutchinson, Jean Usher, Ken Wilson; middle row - Michael Flatman, unidentified, Margaret Whitehead, Hilda Hudson, Reverend R J Woodley, Keith McCardle; Back row - Norman Simpson, Phil Rowlands, Leslie Boynton, Elaine Benfield, Janet Rowlands, Derek Boden, Ken Potts |
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