Pictures of Howden-le-Wear evoke memories of teenage rites of passage, a first foray into the age of self-service shops and a quartet of local characters.

HOWDEN-LE-WEAR must have been full of characters in its past, judging by the response to the two pictures which appeared in Memories No 15 a fortnight ago.

First of all, Dave Quinn writes from the village: “I was 18 when the 1966 photo was taken, just completing the transition from youth club to pubs and the workingmen’s club. During the previous four years, I’d spent many evenings on that corner, smoking furtively, drinking the occasional bottle, discussing the music charts and the state of play regarding the opposite sex.

“There was no youth shelter, but the gents’ toilet made a good windbreak! It was also a godsend for the lads on the way back from the Australian pub after 10pm.”

The Australian was built about 1874 by William Walton, a Howden lad who returned from gold prospecting in Victoria, Australia, a millionaire. He drank most of his million away, leaving only £100 and the pub when he died.

Dave continues: “There are only two cars in the 1966 picture, but there were buses every 20 minutes to Crook and Bishop Auckland. It is also noteworthy that there isn’t a single “for sale” board in either picture.

“The photographer managed to get on his picture two of Howden’s greatest characters: Benny Wright and George McCluskey. Both are sadly no longer with us, but they live in the memories of many villagers. I wonder what they are discussing: global warming, antisocial behaviour, cheating politicians or the bankers’ role in the collapse of the global economy?

“No, my bet would be the price of beer.”

The shop on the corner was bought in 1951 by Harry Waggott and his wife, Peggy. Peggy ran the drapery next door and Harry concentrated on the groceries.

“About 1966, Harry made the brave decision to go self-service and had the shop altered with a new shop front,” says Chris Gibson, whose wife, Christine, is Harry and Peggy’s daughter.

“Christine worked in the shop with her father and, at first, village people did not like the modern idea of self-service,” says Chris. “She had to go round with customers’ baskets and pick up the items for them. They soon adapted to the new way of shopping.”

Harry died suddenly in 1973 and the shop was taken over by Bentley Peart. It is now a Spar shop.

The characterful cast iron signpost, which somehow survived the war, to the left of the picture, can be seen in the background of a photo of the Coronation Parade in Howden in 1953.

“Two well-known local characters, Harry Mangles and Les Lee, are on the back playing in the band, but who are the others?” asks Chris.