Some years ago, there was a comedian that appeared on the Empire. His name was Frank E Franks or Frankie Franks and he originated from Easington.Does anyone have any information about him as he was related to my husbands Granmother. Are any of Franks family still living in the North East? Many Thanks from Ann Hansen

Hi List I have a couple of questions and hoping the list may be able to help me find the answers. Question 1) Having received the death certificate of one of my husband's ancestors who died in 1890 the cause is given as "Heart disease after Acute attack of Inflammation of Lungs". There was an inquest but I understand it is highly unlikely that any report would be archived so was wondering if anyone may be able to expand on the cause of death. I did wonder if the inflammation of the lungs may have been Pneumonia, or Pleurisy. Question 2) This ancestors occupation was give as "Bill Inspector and Gasman at Theatre. Can anyone advise what theatres were in Sunderland at that time. Many thanks Sue Researching: POLLEY, OLD, CARTLEDGE, CALVERT, TAYLOR, NEASHAM, AYRE, PESTELL, BRANTON, LINCOLN, GANLEY, FLAHERTY, BAINBRIDGE, FORSTER, GREEN, BLANCHFLOWER, BOOTH, EMBLING, CARR, FINNEGAN, HALL, HUNTER, KELLY, RICHARDS, BLAKELOCK, ROWE, RUTHERFORD, STEWART, COCKERILL. Places: ESSEX, SUNDERLAND, NORFOLK, DURHAM, IRELAND, SCOTLAND.

In a message dated 30/09/2007 10:00:08 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: I did wonder if the inflammation of the lungs may have been Pneumonia, or Pleurisy. ____________________________________________________ Hi Sue, Inflammation of the Lungs is a term for Pneumonia Stan

In a message dated 30/09/2007 10:00:08 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Question 2) This ancestors occupation was give as "Bill Inspector and Gasman at Theatre. Can anyone advise what theatres were in Sunderland at that time. ______________________________________________________ Hi Sue, There were the Avenue Theatre & Opera House in Gill Bridge Avenue, The Theatre Royal in Bedford Street, the Palace Theatre of Varieties in High Street West, and the Victoria Hall Stan

Hi Ann, Frank E Franks a Hebburn lad held the record for appearing more than anyone else in the theatre's first 40 years. http://www.rondrew.co.uk/theatre/Empire%20Sunderland.htm Stan

Many thanks to Stan, Alan, Geoff & Susan for your extremely helpful replies to my query. I will certainly be contacting both the Echo and the Reference Library next week. This really is one of the most helpful lists I have ever been attatched to - Thank You So Much! Kind regards to all Kay Swinburne

Sunderland Antiquarian Society are having to vacate their premises at South Morr School and the archives are going into temporary housing so obtaining information from them may not be easy. I think that the Local Stidies Department in Sunderland Libraries may be the best option. Alan Vickers. __________________________________________________ Tiscali Broadband only £7.99 a month for your first 3 months! http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/broadband/

Hi , perhaps your best place to find information on Albert Watson ,he was Mayor on the 24 May 1965 I was also looking for a ancestor of mine who was also a Mayor , Tried the civic centre no luck there ,but went to the library they had a book on `List of Mayor`s bought a print out on the page I wanted But you could also try the Sunderland Antiquarian Society This might not be your ancestors ,slightly different spelling List of passengers known to have travelled on the `Lizzie Webber ,which left the South Dock on the31st July 1852 for Australia William Swinbourne and wife a Grocer. good luck in your search Doris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kay Swinburne" <[email protected]> To: "SUNDERLAND Genealogy" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 9:03 PM Subject: [ENG-DUR-SUNDERLAND] Please help: Where do I need to search? -WATSON/SWINBURNE > Hello Listers > > I am desperately seeking information about both of my Great Grandfathers. > > Firstly, on my Mother's side: > > Albert WATSON b. 15 Apr. 1903. d. 1 Jan 1970. > He was Mayor of Sunderland in 1965. > > Can anybody tell me where I need to look for information on the time he > spent as Mayor. Duties he performed, official documents, photos, or any > other info pertaining to his time in office. > > Secondly, on my Father's side: > > Henry SWINBURNE b.May 1892. d. June 1957 > > He was a miner who (I think) worked at Ryhope Colliery, although I have > not been able to find any sources that will conclusively tell me where he > was employed. > > I know that he died in Cherry Knowle Hospital, but I do not know why he > was in there. Any information regarding life in this hospital, what he > was suffering from, documentation etc would be greatly appreciated. > > I have the bare bones for each of these individual (BMD, burial records > etc), but I just want something that will flesh them out and make them > into 'real people' for me. > > These 2 great men both died before I was born - Albert only 2 days before. > The respective families are both reticent in talking about the past, so I > have to discover everthing for myself, which is proving extremely > difficult. > > Any help at all would be greatly appreciated > > Kind Regards > Kay Swinburne > Formerly from Sunderland, now an Essex Girl! > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Further to Geoff''s posting the change of Mayor ordinarily takes place on 9th November so you will need to check issues of Sunderland Echo from November 1964. There were a number of Swinburne families living in Silksworth, are they possibly related to your Swinburnes? Alan Vickers. __________________________________________________ Tiscali Broadband only £7.99 a month for your first 3 months! http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/broadband/

Hi Kay, Try contacting the Local Studies Centre City Library and Arts Centre. Fawcett Street Sunderland SR1 1RE Tel: (0191) 514 1235 Fax: (0191) 514 8444 email: [email protected] Stan

In a message dated 27/09/2007 21:04:42 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Albert WATSON b. 15 Apr. 1903. d. 1 Jan 1970. He was Mayor of Sunderland in 1965. To be Mayor he would presumably have been a Councillor for some years. Sunderland Reference Library in Fawcett Street, Sunderland will have a rough "index" to items in the "Sunderland Echo", in which he should be mentioned somewhere, if only on his becoming Mayor. I understand they index everyone (in comparatively recent years only) who has more than (?three inches) of column space in the paper. If his accession was too early for that then there would still have been an article about the new Mayor. All you would need to know would be which date to look under, though the Librayr would probably be able to advise as to which time of year the Mayoralty changes. You could also look at the issue for just after his death, as an ex-Mayor would be sure to have some sort of obituary/mention. Geoff Nicholson

Hello Listers I am desperately seeking information about both of my Great Grandfathers. Firstly, on my Mother's side: Albert WATSON b. 15 Apr. 1903. d. 1 Jan 1970. He was Mayor of Sunderland in 1965. Can anybody tell me where I need to look for information on the time he spent as Mayor. Duties he performed, official documents, photos, or any other info pertaining to his time in office. Secondly, on my Father's side: Henry SWINBURNE b.May 1892. d. June 1957 He was a miner who (I think) worked at Ryhope Colliery, although I have not been able to find any sources that will conclusively tell me where he was employed. I know that he died in Cherry Knowle Hospital, but I do not know why he was in there. Any information regarding life in this hospital, what he was suffering from, documentation etc would be greatly appreciated. I have the bare bones for each of these individual (BMD, burial records etc), but I just want something that will flesh them out and make them into 'real people' for me. These 2 great men both died before I was born - Albert only 2 days before. The respective families are both reticent in talking about the past, so I have to discover everthing for myself, which is proving extremely difficult. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated Kind Regards Kay Swinburne Formerly from Sunderland, now an Essex Girl!

In a message dated 27/09/2007 21:04:29 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: I know that he died in Cherry Knowle Hospital, but I do not know why he was in there. Any information regarding life in this hospital, what he was suffering from, documentation etc would be greatly appreciated. _________________________________________________ Hi Kay, You could get his death certificate. Stan

http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/r001.htm Kay, the above website will show you a bit about Ryhope Colliery. In addition, I have located Henry Swinburne and his family on the 1901 census. Please contact me offlist should you want me to send you that image. Susan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kay Swinburne" <[email protected]> To: "SUNDERLAND Genealogy" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 1:03 PM Subject: [ENG-DUR-SUNDERLAND] Please help: Where do I need to search? -WATSON/SWINBURNE > Hello Listers > > I am desperately seeking information about both of my Great Grandfathers. > > Firstly, on my Mother's side: > > Albert WATSON b. 15 Apr. 1903. d. 1 Jan 1970. > He was Mayor of Sunderland in 1965. > > Can anybody tell me where I need to look for information on the time he > spent as Mayor. Duties he performed, official documents, photos, or any > other info pertaining to his time in office. > > Secondly, on my Father's side: > > Henry SWINBURNE b.May 1892. d. June 1957 > > He was a miner who (I think) worked at Ryhope Colliery, although I have > not been able to find any sources that will conclusively tell me where he > was employed. > > I know that he died in Cherry Knowle Hospital, but I do not know why he > was in there. Any information regarding life in this hospital, what he > was suffering from, documentation etc would be greatly appreciated. > > I have the bare bones for each of these individual (BMD, burial records > etc), but I just want something that will flesh them out and make them > into 'real people' for me. > > These 2 great men both died before I was born - Albert only 2 days before. > The respective families are both reticent in talking about the past, so I > have to discover everthing for myself, which is proving extremely > difficult. > > Any help at all would be greatly appreciated > > Kind Regards > Kay Swinburne

Kay, The best place to look for information on past mayors, I would think, would be the local government office (city hall?) where Albert performed his duties. A quick check of their website should provide you with their email, and possibly even information on past mayors. They may also be able to advise you on the appropriate location of any archival documents pertaining to his time in office. I Googled him and came up with nothing terribly useful. Also, as Stan says, for Henry you can simply purchase his death cert. 50 years have passed since his death. The death cert will give, of course, cause of death. Susan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kay Swinburne" <[email protected]> To: "SUNDERLAND Genealogy" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 1:03 PM Subject: [ENG-DUR-SUNDERLAND] Please help: Where do I need to search? -WATSON/SWINBURNE > Hello Listers > > I am desperately seeking information about both of my Great Grandfathers. > > Firstly, on my Mother's side: > > Albert WATSON b. 15 Apr. 1903. d. 1 Jan 1970. > He was Mayor of Sunderland in 1965. > > Can anybody tell me where I need to look for information on the time he > spent as Mayor. Duties he performed, official documents, photos, or any > other info pertaining to his time in office. > > Secondly, on my Father's side: > > Henry SWINBURNE b.May 1892. d. June 1957 > > He was a miner who (I think) worked at Ryhope Colliery, although I have > not been able to find any sources that will conclusively tell me where he > was employed. > > I know that he died in Cherry Knowle Hospital, but I do not know why he > was in there. Any information regarding life in this hospital, what he > was suffering from, documentation etc would be greatly appreciated. > > I have the bare bones for each of these individual (BMD, burial records > etc), but I just want something that will flesh them out and make them > into 'real people' for me. > > These 2 great men both died before I was born - Albert only 2 days before. > The respective families are both reticent in talking about the past, so I > have to discover everthing for myself, which is proving extremely > difficult. > > Any help at all would be greatly appreciated > > Kind Regards > Kay Swinburne > Formerly from Sunderland, now an Essex Girl! > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.32/1033 - Release Date: > 27/09/2007 11:06 AM > >

Does anyone know anything about the area of Ryhope once referred to as "Vinegar Hill"? The Colliery Company built a school there in the late 1800s which was known as "Cauldknuckles School" Does anyone know where this name came from? Rob

Go to http://gis.durham.gov.uk/website/interMAP/viewer.htm and do a co-ordinate search on 440500, 553425 the school is shown on the earlier maps, before 1960. Stan

Hi Rob, See http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/northumbria/2000-12/0977474233 Stan

In a message dated 20/09/2007 16:41:20 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: It was originated by the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineering. ___________________________________________________________ Hi Clifford, They may have some records see http://www.mininginstitute.org.uk/contactus/index.html Stan

In a message dated 20/09/2007 03:56:37 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: also states "Highest Award Prize Medal Newcastle 1887". Does any of this mean anything to anyone? _____________________________________________________ The Royal Jubilee "Newcastle-on-Tyne, Mining, Engineering, and Industrial Exhibition" was opened by the Duke of Cambridge on the 11th May 1887. It was originated by the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineering. Stan