Kehilat Middlesbrough Newsletter No 19 January 2004 page 4 (of 5)
Letters
I note your reference to to myself and Natie Sterrie re Newcastle Chevra Kadisha. Would you like me to update you on Middlesbrough burials as and when they happen?
We have had two deaths in Middlesbrough in the past year [2003]. Miss Bella Cohen who died 11/12/02, 6th Tevet, was buried in plot 417. She apparently is the last of the line and her last surviving brother Aaron died around five years ago. We are trying to obtain monies from the Official Solicitor (if there is enough) to erect matsavot for both her and Aaron. Unfortunately there are quite a few plots without any sort of memorials.
The last funeral was that of Mrs Esther Niman. Her son Peter lives here in Newcastle. She died on 12/03/03 at Donisthorpe Leeds and is buried in plot 287.
The Prayer House was set on fire by vandals some time ago and refurbished by the Council, who intend to take care of future maintenance - providing they are allowed to use it as a visitors' centre, ie, for school visits. Joe Gellert of the North East Rep Council and David Gold have done most of the negotiating, and I and the Rov have advised on what is forbidden in the building. Of course, we have made it clear that priority must be given for funeral services, with two hours notice.
Great website - I wish Newcastle had one like it. I even saw a photo of my late uncle Sam Greenberg. Bernard Lewis Newcastle upon Tyne, England
My name is Natalie Bookey and I came across your website by searching Google for my name. I am from Des Moines, IA and go to school at the George Washington University in Washington DC. I was very shocked to see that there was another Natalie Bookey and was wondering if you have any information. It is an unusual name and my family is unaware of any family that has lived or lives in Israel. Thank you for your time, Natalie Bookey Des Moines, IA, USA
I have just sent you a photo [Ed note: see Photo Gallery] taken in 1967. You all used to meet on a Sunday evening in the shul hall. On this day you went as a group for a walk on Seaton Carew beach and then came to my house for tea. Some of the names I can remember - Stocks, Wiseman, Jaffas, Niman and of course my daughter, Susanne Levinson. I hope it brings back a few memories! Betty Levinson Hartlepool, England
I don't know if this is of any relevance to the Kehilat Middlesbrough website, but I saw the following request for some family information in the Manchester Jewish Telegraph recently, and although it's about Newcastle people, not Middlesbrough, maybe it's possible that a M'bro reader might know something about these people?
David Barnett of Wallsend is trying to trace the Barnett family tree but can't find the marriage of Nathan Barnett to Annie Oxley. Nathan was born in 1872 and died 1962. He was a fruiterer in Newcastle upon-Tyne, owning three shops. He had two sons - David who was killed during World War II and James who lived until 92 - and three sisters, Ettie, Olive and Mary. Mary is now 98 but cannot remember much apart from the fact that there is a 'family bible' which has gone missing. James Barnett married Mary Wallace, who is also still alive at the age of 92 but is unable to give any information about her parents in law. ''I long to know something about my Jewish past,'' David said.
Write to 9 Bamburgh Drive Rosehill, Wallsend, Tyne & Wear NE28 6JX or email [email protected] Sue Halpern University of Sheffield, England