ONE of the skills taught to pupils at expensive boarding schools in the past was letter writing, with those sent to parents most important. If they weren’t perfect, it would show that money they spent on fees was being wasted.

So it was no surprise this week to see a copy of one posted in 1845 by a boy at Gainford Academy. It was addressed to his parents in South Church, Bishop Auckland, and was faultless.

One strange point is that he signed it TP Fletcher, rather than with his first name. But that was probably a rule by the headmaster, the Reverend William Bowman, for all his scholars.

No doubt this letter and others would be checked for mistakes before going out by penny post.

The lad apologised to his mother and father for his handwriting, saying it was not as good as usual because he had hurt his hand. But it is neater than most of us of all ages can manage today. The grammar and spelling were correct.

Mr and Mrs Fletcher must have been satisfied. TP told them he had been learning book-keeping, and asked what the arrangements were to get him home for Christmas. He included the kind regards of Mr and Mrs Bowman.

He was one of 80 boarders at the academy, started in 1818 “for the education of young gentlemen”. Fees were 30 guineas a year for boys under ten, 26 guineas for those aged 11 and 12, and an extra guinea a year for older boys. There were extra charges for lessons such as foreign languages, drawing and music, as well as for clothes washing.

There was a large and well qualified teaching staff, unlike some boarding schools. It also had a cricket field and tennis courts. Adverts in newspapers gave details of eight trained masters, and said boys were prepared for universities, Civil Service and other professions.

One pupil who was there for a brief spell long after young Fletcher was Arthur Stanley Jefferson, who achieved global fame as Stan Laurel along with his partner, Oliver Hardy.

The academy found it difficult to attract as many scholars after the North East Counties School opened in Barnard Castle in 1883.

In 1899, the academy moved to North Terrace, Gainford, where it was run by Bowman’s son Frederick.

It closed around 1914, by which time Stan Laurel, who was born in Cumbria, was well into his comedy career. He started in music hall and became Charlie Chaplin’s understudy for a while. Then he went to the US and acted in silent movies before teaming up with Hardy and making many successful films.

The Northern Echo:
Stan Laurel

Charles Dickens must have passed close to the academy in February 1838 on a coach from Barnard Castle to Darlington, where he sat in the King’s Head Hotel and wrote a letter before another coach took him towards London. He had been gathering information about boarding schools for Nicholas Nickleby. What a pity he did not call on William Bowman.

A Dickens visit could have made him famous.

FOLLOWING last week’s piece about the Boer War, postal historian David Charlesworth sent a reminder about Robert Crow, who has been mentioned here in the past.

He was a remarkable character who served in the South African conflict after signing on as a drummer boy in the DLI Volunteers in 1897.

He later became a post office telephone engineer who was out in all weathers repairing lines in the dales.

He joined the 1st Signal Regiment at the start of the First World War and, thanks to his skill, was soon promoted to sergeant.

In May 1915 he was awarded the Military Medal for selfless bravery during a gas attack by the Germans in France. Using only a piece of cotton waste to protect his nose and mouth, he saved the lives of a number of other soldiers.

He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre and Palm.

The Northern Echo:
The plaque on the building

He was promoted to lieutenant before he left the Army and returned to his telephone job. He kept an interesting group of war relics at his home in St Helen Auckland.

He was nearly 60 when he joined the Home Guard at the beginning of the Second World War. He was presented with the Imperial Service Medal when he retired after more than 40 years of outstanding postal duties. He died aged 80.

OF all the special trains that were sent in and out of the dales over the decades, there was one that should have run without any hitch.

Its job was to carry a large number of VIPs from Barnard Castle to Penrith and back on the Stainmore line, the highest in England, in January 1960.

The track had been earmarked for possible closure, and the idea was to give railway experts and dignitaries a chance to travel along it in both directions before a final decision was made.

But oh dear – the locomotive broke down shortly before it was due to reach the track’s loftiest point at 1,370ft above sea level.

The distinguished passengers were stranded for an hour.

At least it gave them a chance to understand how other travellers felt when their trains unexpectedly ground to a halt.

The Northern Echo:
A train crossing Deepdale viaduct on its way to Stainmore

This one started from Darlington, though the section to be studied began at Barnard Castle. On board were members of two Transport Users Consultative Committees, for the North-East and North- West regions. The North-West chairman, Sir Patrick Hamilton, was among them.

Councillor CJ Tremewan, Mayor of Darlington, was there as one of the North-East members. It was his first time on the Stainmore line. A clutch of senior railway officials also went along to give any explanations required.

Just outside Barnard Castle they got spectacular views of the Tees from the viaduct crossing the river. Then they saw more fine scenery from the higher Deepdale viaduct, which was 740ft long and 161ft above Deepdale Beck.

Those two bridges were regarded as tourist attractions, with visitors often gathering near them to watch trains passing over.

The VIP special was close to Stainmore when it came to its unplanned halt. A call was made from a trackside telephone and a replacement engine was sent from Kirkby Stephen. Mechanics got the original one going and it was sent back to Darlington.

The trip was said to be worthwhile, despite the delay, but the line closed two years later and both Teesdale viaducts were demolished.

CHRISTINE RUSKIN’S highly-praised book, The Disappearing Farms of Weardale, is to be featured on BBC television.

A camera crew has been in the dale this week filming some of the locations she describes in the volume. They have interviewed Ms Ruskin and some of the people connected with a number of the old farmsteads.

The Northern Echo:
Christine Ruskin

The piece is due to be included in the popular Countryfile programme on Sunday, March 30. The author spent a long time researching 140 locations that once had thriving farms, but had been abandoned.

She photographed buildings which are now left on them and explained why so many of the farming enterprises were closed.

It is good to know that her colourful book, which has sold extremely well in the dales and elsewhere, it is now to get national attention.

I’VE just won £650,000 on the Euro Lottery, without even buying a ticket. So where might I be this time next week – perhaps the Bahamas?

Some kind folk in South Africa bought a ticket in the draw, and when it proved a winner they decided my email address should get the money.

Now they want to pass the hefty sum on to me.

All I have to do is send some details about myself and they will start the process of getting the cash to me.

I’m not replying, but if I did I’m sure they would ask me to send a large admin fee to get things sorted out in their country.

The Northern Echo:
Robert Crow

Sorry, generous people, but no thanks. I’ll just have to manage without the bumper prize.