Kehilat Middlesbrough Newsletter No 22 November 2006 page 2 (of 6)
Letters
Some recent news from Middlesbrough [July 2006]
We had a very nice coffee morning at David Simon's home in Stokesley. He also invited Darlington Reform shul members. This was about four months ago and the Minister for Small Communities, Rev. Malcolm Weisman gave us a very interesting talk about his travels to small commnities and described some very small shuls that are hardly used nowadays, but lovely buildings in themselves.
Our last coffee morning about 10 months ago was also at David Simon`s home, when he invited the Mayor of Middlesbrough, Cllr. Ray Mallon, who also gave a fascinating talk.
Then, in February [2006] Yetta Rothfield, very sadly died.
The Doberman`s from Marton left to move to the Jewish Home in Newcastle, called the Philip Cussins home in Gosforth. They seem to be settling in well.
Middlesbrough is changing rapidly with modernisation. Our big new football stadium is called the Riverside stadium, courtesy of Cellnet! This stands near the Transporter and they have just now started building a massive leisure and shopping mall complex called Middlehaven, just near the new football ground.
We also have the recently opened Tees Barrage, which provides national water-rafting and international competitions! So the skyline on Teesside is changing - for the better - although many people don`t like the loss of some of the countryside.
And, of course, houses are going up everywhere. The big argument at the moment is on Newport Road, with the proposed demolition of the old Royal Infirmary (now closed). A leading supermarket chain wants to develop the site, but Middlesbrough council and many, many residents are very much opposed to this superb old building coming down! Gwen Lamb Middlesbrough, England
[Ed note: Gwen continues to be a staunch defender of Israel in the local press. Here are two recent examples:
I have just attended a very moving ecumenical thanksgiving service in which the attached list of names from the service were read out in Newcastle and you can see Yetta [Rothfield] is fourth on the right. I was moved to tears - it was all very dignified, but all very sad. We lit a candle in her memory, then there was tea/coffee/biscuits and a chance to talk to the Medical lecturers and students, who all said how much it was a magnificent, altruistic, selfless thing to do in order to progress and benefit medical science for future generations.
It was what Yetta wanted, but I can't help feeling that someone should be saying kaddish for Yetta bat Esther.
Gwen Lamb 22 November 2006
Letters
Congratulations upon your return.
If anyone wishes to have work done in the cemeteries, they may be interested to know that I have used a very good firm called Borthwick Memorials, 157 Stockton Road, Hartlepool, Cleveland England TS25 1SL (tel 0142 9223290) Their email address is [email protected] and they have a website at www.borthwickmemorials.co.uk David Simon Stokesly, England
[Ed note: David Simon writes a regular column in the North East Jewish Recorder, entitled "Teesside Topics":
We would like to read part 2 of cousin Terry Greenberg's memoirs Ray & Hannah (Ann) Benda New Zealand
[Ed note: So would we! Terry assures us that he is working on it!]
I live in Auckland New Zealand. My maternal grandfather migrated here around 1910. He was born in Middlesbrough and it appears that he may have had a connection with the synagogue in Middlesbrough. How would I go about investigating this?
His name was Walter Wilson, born Middlesbrough, 12 October 1880 (30 Princess Street, South Bank). He died in Wellington NZ on 10 August 1935. His father was: George Edward Wilson and his mother Harriet (nee Smith)
I have also asked the Synagogue in Auckland NZ for anything they may have on him. David Thomson Auckland, New Zealand
I am trying to locate and track all Jaffa surname family connections through the internet, and noted the Jaffa names on this website. I would appreciate whatever information can be provided about my Jaffa surnames noted on this website. Donald Jaffa
If anyone happens to hear from the descendants of Gertie or Diana Turtledove, please contact me. They are distant members of my family, as seen at turteltaub.com Matias Turteltaub [email protected]
Marriage Donald and Dvora Wiseman, 11th April 2005, Jerusalem, Israel