Our thanks to correspondent Bill Atkinson for the following, originally posted on our Facebook site. Bill’s father was Wilson Atkinson the eldest son of William Briggs Atkinson who started the Atkinson business (range of fruiterers shops) in North Shields.
My Mother Lillian Atkinson (Nee Curran) lost seven of her dearest relatives in the shelter bombing. Amongst them were her grandmother, who’s life she had saved days before by pushing her into the cupboard under the stairs, just before much of the house came down. I think this was King Street but I’m not sure. .She also lost an uncle and 2 young girls, who we think may have been nieces but could never be sure. Worst of all she lost her brother, Billy Curran. Billy was the man who played the accordion in the shelter. Her auntie Ann lost her husband and I think a daughter. Auntie Ann was of course , my great Auntie and I remember her well. She lived above one of my fathers shops at 60 North King St. My Mother lived to be 93 but never ever got over this tragedy and never forgave the Germans! She would have been in the shelter herself if her employer, for whom she worked as a maid in Park Crescent, had not allowed her to stay the night. She and the eldest son of the house fell in love and married against all odds. I was born in August ’43.
Sadly my Dad died at 51 in 1960. Married for only 19 years. My Mam was just 44.
The shop I mention was on the corner of Tynemouth Road. This was also the Company office. It is now a bakers (Canatrice). The next one up was Jackson Street. Now I think a house. My father was born in the King St. flat along with at least five of the six siblings. Grandfather must have done really well as they moved from there to 60 park Crescent, a grand double fronted house that still looks much the same as it did when I was a small child. Grandfather died at fifty and my Dad who had left home to work in a bank in West Hartlepool had to come home to take on the business. Not I believe what he wanted to do! He was only nineteen.
Those killed that night and reported as living at 66 North King Street were: Emma Curran (80), William Curran (23), John Glynn (58), Margaret Glynn (24), Agnes Smith (66), Veronica Smith (14), Maureen Smith (9).