Index of Past Events
from 2013 back to 2009

   Our group has organised many exhibitions and participated in various events over the years. Descriptions of some of these are provided here for you to see what went on!
   Just "Click" on the item in the list below or page scroll down.

2013 to 2009 -   6 items
Nov 2013 - Remembrance Day Service
July 2013 - 11th Annual Exhibition
July 2012 - 10th Annual Exhibition
Oct 2011 - Mallinson Park Show Homes Opened
July 2011 - 9th Annual Exhibition
July 2009 - 7th Annual Exhibition

11th November 2013
         - Remembrance Day Service

  A Remembrance Day Service at Normanby War Memorial was organised by our group at 11am on 11th November 2013.
  About 70 people attended the service which was conducted by Minister Huw Sperring.
  Alan Stewart (Marske Brass Band) played the Last Post & the Reveille.
  Wreaths were laid by:-
  Joan Outhwaite with Eric Taylor for the Normanby LHG; Amanda Proud on behalf of Ian Swale (MP for Redcar); Carole Simms (Normanby Councillor) & George Dunning (Redcar & Cleveland Council Leader) & Cleveland Police.
  After the service refreshments were made available at the Chapel where there were displays set up by our group.
  See the Photo Gallery of this service.

Saturday 13th July 2013
   - 11th Annual Exhibition - Fantastic Success!

  The Normanby Local History Group's annual exhibition last year was held at Normanby Methodist Church.
  It was a fantastic day - the sun shone brightly - the flags and bunting fluttered in the breeze - and we had many happy visitors.
  The group thanks everyone who put in such a lot of hard work to make the day a success (including several local folks not even members!)

  Thanks are due to Teesside Archives & Beamish Museum for bringing their displays and to Charles Archer for bringing his superb collection of Meccano, Dinky, Corgi & Airfix models to add to the display of our many toys of yesteryear.

  As usual several of our group's members had set up displays of their own researches into Normanby, its history and people.

  It was great to see Phil & Lesley Meadows again with their fully equiped US Army Jeep and they brought an old gramophone to play nostalgic 1940s music. The jeep was joined by group member Kester Marsh's gleaming Triumph Bonneville Classic motorbike.
  Our very hard-working kitchen crew provided an unending supply of tea & coffee as well as home-made cakes, pastries & sandwiches to keep us all going.
  The children had great fun making kites, paper aeroplanes & Pom-Poms as well as looking at the display of old toys.
  All of the group's publications were on sale with our postcards & Christmas cards being very popular.

  The Grand Finale was the exciting flypast of a Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire piloted by Anthony Parkinson MBE.
  This aircraft - the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.LFIXe MK356   - was painted (unusually) in silver to represent the Spitfire Mk.IX MJ250 of 601 Squadron (code UF-Q) during the Italian campaign of 1944/45.  [This has since been repainted to represent Spitfire Mk IXc ML214, coded 5J-K !]
  Everyone was really excited by the three successive passes made by the Spitfire along Cleveland Street. Who could not be stirred by the sight of this spectacular aircraft & the so distinctive sound of its Rolls Royce Merlin engine!
  A truly wonderful finale to a tremendous day that Normanby will remember for many years!

  To get an overall impression of our 2013 exhibition go to our photo gallery  page (exhibition photos mainly by Amanda Proud & Mike Wheatley with others acknowledged in captions).

Saturday 28th July 2012
         - 10th Annual Exhibition

  This 10th Anniversary exhibition (held at Normanby Methodist Church) was open to all and entrance was free.  Note that once again all the costs were covered by the group with no financial support from the Council nor from others.
  The day was a great success with many visitors attending throughout the day showing a keen interest in the many displays, costumes, talks and walks.

  Members of the group were pleased to show their own research material on subjects of their own choice. The various displays included:
     - 1854 plans for the building of Normanby Township
        (includes High, West, Lambton, Cleveland, Parrington,
         Dixon, Laird & Mason Streets) & their development.
     - Normanby Magnesite Football Club
     - Buxton family shops and houses in Laird & Cleveland St
     - Normanby Pre-1942 & Post-1942
     - Normanby School
     - Brewery House
     - Church Life
     - Normanby High Street

  The Group provided a guided historical tour of parts of Normanby.   This included a treasure hunt and was wheelchair accessible.

  There were costumed appearances by "Ralph Jackson" (Dave Wilkinson) who talked about his life & time in Normanby and by "Elizabeth Parrington" (Sylvia Fairbrass) who talked of her husband Joseph's plans to build Normanby Township on his land.
  Members of the Historical Re-enactment group, "Best of Times, Worst of Times", were at the exhibition in Victorian costumes.
  Beamish Open Air Museum had members attending in Georgian costume.   They brought a display on St.Helen's Church which used to be in Eston Cemetery but was dismantled and is being rebuilt at Beamish.
  Teesside Archives also kindly attended with a display.

  Two special visitors had to stay outside -
                                      - a Trolley Bus & a WW2 Jeep!
  This trolley bus is the last surviving one of the Teesside Railless Traction Company. A video of the TRTB trolleybuses in action was shown on the two large screens inside the exhibition.
   Another star attraction was the WW2 US Army jeep. This was complete with an impressive set of equipment & armament and clearly proudly cared for by the uniformed driver accompanied by a 1940s costumed passenger.

  Purchased refreshments were eagerly welcomed & our publications (books, postcards & calendars) sold well.

  Many thanks to all those who organised, contributed, helped and participated - it was a great day and went very well.
  We hope that you enjoyed our exhibition discovering new things about Normanby & reminiscing on olden times!

  To get an overall impression of our 2012 exhibition go to our photo gallery  page (exhibition photos by Amanda Proud & Mike Wheatley).

Saturday 8th October 2011
         - Mallinson Park Show Homes Opened

  Normanby Local History Group Chairman Tom Towers and supporter Ken Farr were pleased to open the new show homes at Mallinson Park in Normanby on Saturday.

  Builders Taylor Wimpey searched the Normanby area for inspiration for a name for their new housing development. They became aware that in 2007 Normanby Local History Group had added a soldier's name to the local War Memorial. Sergeant Maurice Mallinson's name had been mysteriously omitted from the memorial for over 90 years!

  Taylor Wimpey approached the History Group who then liaised with Sgt Mallinson's family to get their agreement to use his name. On Saturday October 8th 2011 the show homes for Mallinson Park were officially opened by Ken Farr, a History Group supporter, and Chairman Tom Towers.

  Normanby Local History Group prepared a display telling Sergeant Mallinson's story which is on show in the Sales Office at the Taylor Wimpey site in Normanby.

  Ken Farr read out this statement from the Mallinson family at the opening:-
    "The direct descendants of Sergeant Maurice Mallinson are very honoured and proud that this residential area has been named after him. He died a very young man as did many others but he would have been very gratified that his memory continued in such a way. He leaves a daughter-in-law, two grandson's and a great-granddaughter, all of whom know him in their thoughts but never had the privilege of meeting him. May his name live on forever in our minds. The family hope to visit the site next spring when a special bench will be installed on the site and dedicated to his name. Thank you."

  For further information see article about
    Sergeant Mallinson's War Memorial Entry .

        (photos of the event by Amanda Proud)

Saturday 9th July 2011
         - 9th Annual Exhibition

  This year's exhibition (held at Normanby Methodist Church) was open to all and entrance was free.  Note that all the costs were covered by the group with no financial support from the Council nor from others.

  Members of the group showed their own research material on subjects of their own choice. The various displays included:
     - Normanby from 1890-1900
     - Normanby demolition & rebuild
     - St.Helen's Church deconstruction & rebuild

  Beamish Open Air Museum had a display on St. Helen's Church. They are eager to hear from people who have memories of the Church - especially anyone who may have photographs of the Church. They are extremely keen to get images of the stained glass window. They are still hoping people can check in their gardens for any sandstone blocks which may have come from the Church in the past. Contact the group if you can help.

The two large screens in Normanby Methodist Church showed a slide show of the demolition of the old Methodist Church & the building of the new Church.

  Teesside Archives also had a display at the exhibition.

  "Dorothy" (the 1949 ex-United single-decker vintage bus) hired by the group provided 122 passengers with free trips from Normanby to Eston and Ormesby and back.

  Refreshments were eagerly purchased & our publications (books, postcards & calendars) sold well.

  If you took any photos or videos of the event and you are willing to share them with us please get in touch.

  Thanks to all those who organised, contributed, helped and participated it was a fantastic day and went very well.

  To get an overall impression of our 2011 exhibition go to our photo gallery  page (exhibition photos by Amanda Proud).

July 2009
         - 7th Annual Exhibition

  Many thanks to everybody who attended the exhibition. We featured photos of Normanby 'Now & Then' highlighting what has changed (and in some cases what's the same) in our village. As in previous years, the event proved to be a fantastic community gathering with stories and memories shared across the generations.

  The highlight of the day had to be the RAF 'flyover' of the Dakota. We had been promised a Spitfire but the RAF informed us of the change just the day before the event. Many people have been talking about this ever since and most agree that we got a better deal with this beautiful and graceful plane. The pilot flew round three times with the final pass being right down Cleveland Street itself! One airman was clearly seen waving from the parachute door. Many thanks to Paul Currie for his great photo capturing the moment.

  If you took any photos or videos of the event and you are willing to share them with us please get in touch.