Grave marker placed for Spennymoor baby Eric Hirst

A forgotten County Durham child has been remembered nearly 100 years after his death and rekindled a man's fond memories of his larger-than-life grandfather.

Eric Hirst was buried in Tudhoe Cemetery, Spennymoor, in 1932, after passing away from bronchial pneumonia and whooping cough.

However, the two-year-old's grave had no marker or headstone.

The full story of Eric's short life will probably remain a mystery, but the discovery that he ever existed now ensures his memory is preserved with a commemorative grave marker.

The grave marker for Eric Hirst, unveiled in a service at Tudhoe Cemetery(Image: CREO COMMS)

Nigel Scott, who lived in Spennymoor until 1977 before leaving for university, first heard of his "uncle" when his friend was researching the Hirst family.

Nigel said: “I was in Spennymoor for a funeral and my pal John Brass told me he’d discovered a child named Eric who’d lived from June 1930 to June 1932. He was buried in a tiny grave without a marker in Tudhoe Cemetery.

“I told my cousins, who agreed we can’t have this little fella in ground without anything to mark that he was ever here, so set about organising one.”

The heartbreaking discovery did, however, bring back fond memories.

Nigel’s grandfather, and Eric’s father, was Spennymoor Urban District Council stalwart, Alderman Billy Hirst. A former soldier and miner, who chaired the council - which preceded Spennymoor Town Council - four times over four-decades of service as a councillor. There is even a road named after him called Hirst Court, in Middlestone Moor.

 “My grandad was of his generation,” said Nigel.

“He fought in two World Wars, but I never heard him speak about his service. He used to joke with me about getting my hair cut when I was a kid in Spennymoor and had a miner’s handshake that was like iron, but nobody in the family had heard him talk about baby Eric, who’d died in 1932.

 “I too was named Eric Nigel Scott, so it’s clearly a beloved family name.”

The family ordered a grave marker for Eric, which was unveiled in a service on October 6, at Tudhoe Cemetery, attended by Spennymoor Town Mayor, Councillor Liz Maddison.

Minister Lyn Yarrow, Dame Susan Snowdon Lord Lieutenant of Durham, Mayor’s Consort Cllr Clive Maddison, Spennymoor Town Mayor Cllr Liz Maddison between family members Gary and Philippa Dunhill, Nigel Scott, friend John Brass(Image: CREO COMMS)

Cllr Maddison said: "In Spennymoor, we’re proud of our history and those who are old enough will know how important Billy Hirst was for the town and its council.

"His portrait still hangs in our council chamber.

"When Nigel informed us about this discovery, we felt it was vital to not only offer to help honour the passing of young Eric, but also an opportunity to remember Billy and what he and his generation did in service to our town, our county, and our country."

Billy served in both world wars in the DLI, was in the rearguard for the Dunkirk evacuation, and was one of the last off the beach.

He served on Spennymoor Urban District Council from 1931 to 1970, chairing it four times. He also sat on Durham County Council.

He was one of the Spennymoor Gala founders, helped create the 'Old People's Treat Fund', which the town council still supports, and also served as chair of the Water Board.

Nigel with a portrait of his grandfather, Billy(Image: CREO COMMS)

 Nigel, who lives in Somerset following a career in engineering, added: “The grave marker means so much to our family and has provided us all with a wonderful opportunity to remember my grandad.

 “He was a good man and hard as nails. He never spoke about his achievements or exploits, but others told plenty of stories about him – he saved the life of a panicking vicar in Dunkirk by knocking him out cold.

"He was making too much noise with Nazi soldiers converging on a copse of trees where his regiment was hiding.

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"Until the day he died, he received a Christmas card from the vicar, who he’d then carried on his shoulder to the beach for the evacuation."

Nigel added: “He didn’t suffer fools, but he loved Spennymoor and was proud to represent the town he’d called home for almost all his life.

 “I think it’s fitting that the memory of both him and his infant son are preserved in some way."