SOUTH
SHIELDS
A town with a unique
character
Town crest
(1850)
Motto : Always Ready
Coat of
Arms
(Modern)
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SOUTH
SHIELDS |
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Town crest |
Motto : Always Ready |
Coat of
Arms |
| 1922-1929 | 1950-1959 | 1980-1989 |
| 1930-1939 | 1960-1969 | 1990-1999 |
| 1940-1949 | 1970-1979 | 2000- |
| Click to select decade | ||
| 1922 | Ron Drew was born Ronald Herbert Drew
at South Shields on the 16th May 1922. Delivered by the
family doctor Dr Herbert Crisp - hence the middle name. |
| 1927 | Started School at Baring Street Infants.
First initiation into amateur dramatics by being given the role of an Indian
in the school play "PETER PAN" |
| 1930 | Transferred to Baring St. School Juniors, in
Roman Road. |
| 1930 | Joined the local Scout Movement
as a cub in the 1st. South
Shields (Congregational) Sea Scout Troop. (known locally as the
Congo Scouts). It's Skipper was George W Smith who
remained a close friend until his death in 1989 |
| 1930 | Started piano lessons with Minnie Morgan sparking off a love of
all forms of music. |
| 1933 | Won scholarship to South Shields Boys High
School (later to be known as Boys Grammar School) and now called Harton
Comprehensive School. |
| 1933 | Initiated as a scout. |
| 1938 | Failed to matriculate for School Certificate.
Started work as apprentice electrical mechanic at A Reyrolle
& Co Ltd, Switchgear manufacturers, Hebburn. |
| 1938 |
Scout Gang Show (cast from many troops in the town) in
the Majestic
Theatre at the Pier Head, South Shields was the vehicle for his first performance on the stage. After the war
ended was involved with the production of numerous town 'Gang Shows' |
| 1938 | Became an Acting Assistant Scoutmaster of the 1st South Shields
scout troop. |
| 1939 | Prior to outbreak of war, signed on as a messenger
with the local Auxiliary Fire Service
and on 3rd September was on duty at the 'Auxiliary Fire
Station' at the G & B Garage at Harton in South Shields. |
| click to go to top | |
| 1940 | With his brother, Stan, started
a Saturday Morning 'Children's Cinema Club ' using a16mm film projector
in the Congregational Church Hall.
The audience of children who had not been evacuated to safer areas,
enjoyed the shows and demonstrated their enthusiasm with their feet especially
whenever the film snapped!. |
| 1942 | A brief spell with the South Shields
Volunteer Life Brigade and later that year joined the Home Guard. Served with the 101st
Battn. of the Royal Artillery as a bombardier manning the 'Z' Battery
rocket launchers at the Drill Hall site in Northfield Gardens. |
| 1942 | Elected to be a member of the Council of Youth
to represent the Youth Club of the Congregational Church. This
was to be the start of much committee work in later years . This committee had been formed by Percy K Hudson, the
town's Youth leader, to facilitate co-operation between youth clubs
in the town. The Council's secretary was a young lady, Evelyn
Sinclair Lawrenson, who was shortly to have a major influence on Ron
Drew's future |
| 1943 | Warrant presented as Assistant Scoutmaster of the 1st South Shields
scout troop. |
| 1943 |
Left Reyrolles and took up employment as a draughtsman at R M
Electric, manufacturer of domestic wireless sets (radios), on the
Team Valley Trading Estate. |
| 1944 |
First effort as a
Producer/Musical Director by putting on a 'Gang Show' with the Tyne Dock and Ocean Road
Congo scout
troops |
| 1946 | On 26th January, 1946 was married
to Evelyn
Sinclair Lawrenson at the Congregational Church, Ocean Road,
South Shields
by Rev John Paton |
| 1947 | Left R M Electric and started working with Vickers
Armstrong, Elswick as a Research Assistant in the Gun
Mounting Department |
| 1947 | With the Skipper of the Congo
Scouts, went to Haugesund in SW Norway to form a
friendship link with the scouts of the 5te (femte) Haugesund Troop. This was part of the 'Link-up' scheme
arranged by
the Scout Association for this country's scouts to
befriend scouts of former enemy and occupied countries |
| 1947 | Produced the first of many revues
called 'SEA FEVER' for the
Ocean Road Congo Scouts, writing the music and
lyrics for four of the numbers including the title chorus - 'SEA
FEVER'. (listen to the chorus by the original cast). This was to raise funds for a visit to the 'Link-up'
Group in Norway |
| 1950 | Awarded the Higher National
Certificate in Electrical Engineering |
| 1950 | Problems with duodenal ulcers |
| click to go to top | |
| 1951 | Joined the South Shields Amateur Operatic
Society (SSAOS). Many years performing in the chorus and often taking
small character parts. More of this period can be read in the SSAOS
pages. During the 1960's and 70's was a member of the Grosvenor Singers,
a sub - group of the Amateurs, formed by Stewart Blenkinsop, and also the Opera
Interlude Group, formed to give concerts of operas rather than
productions,: later to be known as The Georgian Singers. After ceasing to be active on stage
in the late 60's took on responsibility over a number of years for the audio requirements of the Amateurs
and later assisted 'Front of House'.
In 2001 was presented with a Life Membership Certificate for
50 years service to the Society. |
| 1951 | Recurring stomach ulcers
require partial gastrectomy performed by
Mr. Myre
Pinkerton (Pinky) at South Shields Ingham Infirmary |
| 1952 | Employed for a year as Pianist at South
Shields Merchant Navy Club playing three nights a week |
| 1953 | Was in Malta with family for the
whole year doing research with a 4-man team on Naval Ships gunnery
control systems |
| 1954 | Joined and performed for 15
years with the Westovians
Theatre Society. (read their history). Also click and read Ron's
reminiscences
of his time with them |
| 1955 | Attack of pleurisy necessitated
eating meals from mantelpiece! |
| 1956 | Chairman of AMME (former
name of 'Friends of Scouting') - fund raising and ancillary help to
local scout association |
| 1956 | Accepted a request to be organist at Norwegian Church in North
Shields |
| 1957 | Promoted Electrical Manager of
Gun Mounting Department at Vickers - Armstrongs |
| click to go to top | |
| 1961 | Admitted an Associate Member of
the Institution of Electrical Engineers
and later admitted a Chartered Electrical Engineer
(1964) |
| 1961 | On gunnery acceptance trials in the Mediterranean
acting on behalf of Vickers Armstrong as leader of a team of
five. As a result of an accident on the ship, HMS Lion, three fingers
on the right hand were required to be amputated fortunately
neither the
thumb nor forefinger. |
| 1962 | Start of 10 years service on the District
Scout Council, for a number of years as Vice-chairman . |
| 1962 | Bought a cine-camera and made a 4min. film of the 100 year
anniversary of the 'Blaydon Races' - the start of many
enjoyable years taking, editing and production of cine-film (and
later video) shorts, features and family holidays. |
| 1964 | Because of rumoured (later carried out)
imminent transfer of all
gunnery work from Elswick, Newcastle to Barrow-in-Furness a career change seemed sensible,
so became a lecturer at Hebburn Technical College |
| 1964 | Initiated into the St Hilda Lodge of Freemasons, raised to
3° on 14th August 1967 by the Master at that time, W.
Bro. Chris Youngs |
| 1965 | 2nd year of annual South Shields
Sports Week. Requested to do P A commentaries at daily events. Event
announcements and commentaries continued each Race Week until 1985,
the last year of Sports Week. .Event replaced by Mardi Gras Parade
from South Shields Town Hall to Bents Park. |
| 1966 | After 2 terms of in-service training
awarded Certificate in Education at
University of
Huddersfield |
| 1967 | Recruited into the Hospital
Broadcasting Group by John Tyzack to organise the relay of cabaret
acts from the nightclubs and workingmen's clubs to
the local hospitals. Wrote the signature tune, 'NIGHT CLUB NIGHT
OUT', to introduce these programmes
(listen to signature tune sung by Brenda Marsh with Ken Maddison
on the organ recorded at La Strada night club, South Shields). There were also relays of theatre
shows by amateur societies, also relays of church services. |
| 1968 | Elected to the committee of the
South Shields Hospitals Voluntary Aids Association (later known as the League of
Friends of South Tyneside Hospitals) Elected its Vice-chairman
in 1976 and was Chairman from 1980 to 1990 |
| 1968 | Seconded by Hebburn Technical College one day each week to
work as Production Assistant (Education) for BBC Radio
Durham.
(The first local radio station in North of England). Working at the
station as a reporter at that time was Kate Adie. |
| click to go to top | |
| 1971 | Started Degree course with the Open
University. Awarded B.A. in 1974. |
| 1971 | Appointed acting organist at Ocean Road Congregational Church, South
Shields |
| 1971 | Formation of Amateur Stage Council
to improve relationship between amateur theatrical and musical
societies in South Shields. Elected Chairman for first two
years |
| 1972 | Nervous breakdown due to stress.
Referred to Dr Kelly, consultant psychiatrist at
the South Shields General Hospital. Treatment
included 5 sessions of E.C.T.
No great help, but had adverse effect on memory. |
| 1975 | Another severe nervous breakdown. in
the year our first grand-daughter, Nicola Griffiths was born. Treatment included writing music and
lyrics of "MY DREAM" to celebrate her birth.
This "treatment" a big help. |
| 1976 | Elected as a representative of a
voluntary organisation to the Community Health Council and remained
a member for ten years |
| 1978 | Appointed Organist of St
Hilda Lodge of Freemasons, South Shields |
| 1980 | First diagnosis of angina |
| 1980 | Took early retirement from
lecturing at the age
of 58 to make more time available for voluntary work and hobbies! |
| 1980 | Appointed Organist (joint) at St Paul and St John's
Church, South Shields |
| click to go to top | |
| 1981 | Requested to give P A commentary and
announcements at the finishing line at the Dragon recreation field
for the First Great North Run from Newcastle to South
Shields |
| 1981 | Joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Grandpa (William Henry Drew) had founded the Independent
Labour Party in 1893 (see 'GOING
INTO LABOUR'). In my mind had the hope that by being a founding member
of the SDP it would, in a similar way - perhaps by some miracle - help, if not the world
or this country, then at least we could put South Shields right! I was soon disillusioned. . |
| 1982 | Elected as SDP Councillor for Beacon
& Bents Ward of South Tyneside Council. Survived only two
years. |
| 1986 | Sports Week in South Shields
discontinued and replaced
by 'Mardi Gras Parade' from Town Hall to Bents Park. Gave
commentary of Procession from Town Hall steps. This
commentary given each year and continued when title of event changed to Cookson
Country Parade. |
| 1989 | Joined the management
committee of South Tyneside Voluntary Project |
| click to go to top | |
| 1990 | Operation at South Tyneside
District Hospital to remove gall bladder |
| 1990 | Gave last commentary as commentator at Cookson
Country Parade. This duty then taken over by Ray Spencer ('Tommy the
Trumpeter') |
| 1992 | Became a member of a 'new writers'
group to write about family histories. Ron Drew's
published history was called "MY WAY" |
| 1993 | Centenary of Independent Labour
Party. Wrote booklet of its origin and its founding by William Henry
Drew.(Grandfather of Ron Drew). See "GOING INTO LABOUR" |
| 1994 | 5th October. High blood pressure
confirmed 26th October. Unstable angina and atrial fibrillation diagnosed. Admitted to South Tyneside District Hospital (STDH) 11th November. Transferred to Freeman Hospital, Newcastle and a Quadruple Coronary Artery Bye-pass graft performed on 24th November. Discharged from hospital to home on 1st December 2nd December. Emergency doctor suspected Stroke. Admitted to STDH on 4th December 6th December. As a result of scan transferred to Neurology Department, Newcastle General Hospital with an operation the following day to remove clot of blood from head. (Subdural Haematoma) 8th December. Attack of Shingles on chest and back. Not a good
year. |
| 1995 | 3rd July - Left ventrical fibrillation
diagnosed |
| 5th December Hernia Op. at STDH | |
| 8th November took post of
Organist at Caer Urfa Lodge of Freemasons, South Shields | |
| 1998 | Passed 'O'level
exam in GCSE Music
at South Tyneside College |
| 1999 | Started compiling Ron Drew's
web
pages. |
| click to go to top | |
| 2000 | Was appointed a member of the BBC
North-East and Cumbria Advisory Council. The principle function was to
discuss local TV and radio output in the region and to monitor
the national output of regional matters. |
| 2001 | Elected a director of Bliss=Ability,
a Centre for Independent Living in South Tyneside. This is a charity to provide a Bureau
Locating Information Services and Support. The aim is to
encourage independent living and working together by giving advice on
location and contact with specialist organisations. Pressures at home
necessitated resignation in 2003 . |
| 2002 |
In April of this year Evelyn and Ron had to vacate the house for over 8
months whilst underpinning was carried out on the house to counteract
the subsidence which had been developing since the 1980's. Returned to our
house on December 14th but had contactors in the house with us every week
until April 2003 completing and repairing faults. |
| 2002 |
Operation on lumbar region of spine to remove internal bone growth onto
nerves in the spinal chord. This had caused severe pains in the right leg
for past two years. This operation (Lumbar Decompression)
successfully removed the former leg pains but was followed by Muscle Spasms.
These extremely painful episodes (lasting for about 5days at a time)
occurred at infrequent periods, and continued into 2003. . |
| 2003 |
Increasing health problems of both Evelyn and Ron. This
regrettably necessitated Ron's resignation in January from duty as organist at St Paul and
St John's Church and the committee work with Bliss=Ability |
|
May 4th Mr Phelan (Sunderland Eye Infirmary) removed cataract from Left Eye and on May 16th
did a similar operation on the Right Eye. A wonderful 81st birthday
present! | |
| 2003 |
July eye test indicated reading glasses required but distance sight
should be OK without correction. By September distance viewing
was accompanied with double vision in the right eye. At end of year
the consultant (Mr Phelan) examined eyes in detail and in his words "
......... there is evidence of PED (pigment epithelial detachment).
It is not central, not under fovea and not classical SRNUM
(sub-retinal neovascular membrane). There is the chance that it will correct itself in time - there was evidence of previous episodes which have recovered. Laser treatment was considered but Mr Phelan indicated that the position of the problem was too dangerous to attempt without probable damage to the eye. |
| 2004 |
As Ron is approaching 82 it is considered by the family that a further reduction in
his public activities would be worthwhile for all. This will allow more time
for other activities - like looking after the health of Evelyn and
self, and he accepted the advice to relax and have less onerous duties and
hobbies. Resulting from this, on May 10th 2004, Ron played the organ for St Hilda Freemason Lodge for the last time as their organist. After 25 years in that post it was a difficult decision to make. It is hoped that younger
people will be encouraged to take up some of the voluntary
duties in the service of others that are being performed today by
fewer and
fewer people. |
| 2004 |
3 months later, 8th August 2004, Ron had heart pains and was
of the opinion that his heart rate was very slow. Evelyn called an ambulance in which the paramedics confirmed my suspicions and was taken to STDH coronary care unit who monitored it for a week the reading being between 24 and 37.Was then transferred to Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, where a heart pacemaker was fitted on 16th August 2004. Like so many other people who have had one fitted Ron feels fitter now than he has been for many years. |