Teardrops and Bottle Tops – Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Wilkinson Air Raid Shelter Disaster
Tuesday May 3rd 2016 – 6.30pm for 7.00pm (ending c9.00pm)
St. Augustin’s Church, Jackson Street, North Shields NE30 2HY
Admission: Free
NB: On-street parking so please exercise consideration to residents’ needs.
A single bomb took the lives of 107 sheltering in the basement beneath the factory. 42 of those were under the age of 16 and whole families were lost. It is no exaggeration to say that it devastated a community. It stands as the largest incident in terms of loss of life from a single bomb in wartime Britain. One could be forgiven for thinking that this dubious honour would belong to blitz-battered London or Liverpool but no – it happened in North Shields. Despite this fact, and even given the censorship restrictions which prevailed at the time, the tragedy is largely unknown outside the immediate environs of Tyneside.
The aim of the event is honour the lives of those who were lost, to remember them and to celebrate the community of North Shields which, with true grit, picked itself up and got on with life. There was a war on!
It was a cataclysmic event and it would therefore be all too easy to fill the event with ‘doom and gloom’. That is not our purpose. We feel that, 75 years on, those who died need to be remembered as they lived – in a community battered by regular air raids, squeezed by privations and often with the fabric of family life ripped asunder by the losses of a world war. But nevertheless with an unquenchable spirit!
We will tell the facts, as much we know them, of the night of the raid and paint the backdrop of what was happening in North Shields and Britain at the time. The historical context! We will highlight the lives of some individuals whose stories we have been able to record. The personal tragedies and the lucky escapes!
We will examine briefly what became of Wilkinsons post-raid with a short talk on all that now remains – its bottles – from breweriana and bottle expert, Jim Rickard.
We will describe what ‘shelter life’ was like. It had become a real venue for entertainment where many would gather whether a raid was threatened or not. Apart from sharing gossip and playing bingo, there are many reports of accordionist, Billy Curran, leading sing-songs and we are fortunate to have a talented group of local singers and an accordionist to give you a flavour of the ‘sounds of the shelter’. We hope you will exercise your tonsils and join in with the singing! (Age will be no barrier here – in fact, it will probably help!)
We are also pleased to report that we will be joined by local musician, Jim White, who will perform his self-penned and evocative song about the tragedy – Teardrops and Bottle Tops. (We stole the song’s title for the event itself.)
Although the evening is essentially informal, it will conclude with a short remembrance service, conducted by Rev David Peel. Interesting to note that it was St Augustin’s which hosted the memorial service which took place a few days after the bombing – although we understand that David was not there at the time! A roll call of those who died will be made during the service, assisted in that by Scouts of the 5th Tynemouth (WEMS) Group, for whose presence we thank Michael Dale. The latter gentleman has also been extremely supportive in his role with the Whitley Bay, North Shields & District branch of the Royal British Legion who will also be in attendance. Four of those who died were serving in the forces.
We are also indebted to Flight Lieutenant G. G. Richardson, OC of Air Training Corps 2344 (Longbenton) Squadron for the Band which will support and accompany the wreaths to be laid at the end of the service. The wreaths will subsequently be laid at Preston Cemetery in the area reserved for, and dedicated to, those who died in the tragedy.
We could not have progressed as far as we have without the unstinting help and support of Dot Owston and Mavin Johnson of the East End Youth & Community Centre in George Street. We had to move from the Centre as the original venue by dint of circumstances. It was ideal from the point of view that it stands on the footprint of the factory but demand for the event has now well outstripped the space which we were due to use.
Refreshments (tea/coffee with distinct possibility of a biscuit – while stocks last!) are available following the event with proceeds going to St Augustin’s for their kindness in allowing us use of the Church as a venue.
Do come along and support what we feel is a noble endeavour. It is your chance to honour and remember and celebrate – and to share the spirit which rendered it certain that a devastated community would survive.
See you there!
Terry Wilkinson