Kehilat Middlesbrough Newsletter No 26 September 2010 page 12 (of 12)
Teesside Topics No 25
Sundays will never be the same again, at least that is the view of many Teessiders. Now what am I on about? Well, it is the departure of Mark Turnbull from BBC Tees. This departure is shrouded in mystery. Mark's particular appeal was that he dealt with the religious slot on Sundays and would broadcast messages to the Jewish community. Occasionally I was interviewed by him and he always remembered to wish the Jewish community a Happy Passover and a Happy New Year. His tone was kindly and jovial, striving to overcome the disadvantage of being blind from birth.
Well, we are sailing along in the tenth year of Topics – only just. Another ten years will be somewhat unlikely, unless I can find a successor. This Topic is being produced on my computer with difficulty, I might add. As to the net, everyone should go to Herman Rosenblatt for the most incredible story which gladdens the heart. Continuing the search of the net, Sarit Carlebach is worth keying into. She is an Israeli who came to Teesside University, got a degree or two and is now established as a Research Fellow. She is extremely versatile. I had a phone call from someone wanting to learn Hebrew, put him in touch with Sarit and bingo his Hebrew is improving under her guidance. Sarit is an accomplished artist and her site in that regard is www.escape.info. Staying with Art, I must mention that Paul Noble has a site. He is the grandson of the late Kate and Maurice Woolfe who lived in Hartlepool for many years. One of his pictures is now in MIMA. I wonder if the Tynesiders know what MIMA is.
Moving from Art to fashion I must tell you about the nomadic Gwen. She forsook the glories of Newcastle to travel to Stockport, so that the Israeli ambassador could have the privilege of admiring her hat and saying that she must have come from a Buckingham Palace Garden Party. [Ed note: see below]
Recently I went to talk to a school and I must have been even more confusing than usual. I told them of my grandfather booking from Gdansk probably for New York, only to be thrown off at Hartlepool and also how Michael Marks came there in 1874 and spent the first night on the floor of a schoolroom (ie, cheder). Wonderful letters reached me later, one of them stating "I did not know Jesus was a Jew"; another that it was very interesting that I had met Mr Marks and another that Mr Marks had been thrown off the train. Oh dear, does Deanna have any difficulties? David Simon Stokesley, England July 2008
I hope you like this photo taken when I met our new Israel Ambassador, Ron Prosor, in Southport shul! What a lovely charming man he is..... he spoke so eloquently and I am sure he will do a great deal to help Israels cause. But, imagine my delight when he exclaimed to the many hundreds there "Nice to welcome so many people, ESPECIALLY that lady in that WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL hat sitting to my right who looks as if she has just come from Buckingham Palace Garden Party"!!!!!! I was beaming ...and this is me and the Hat in the attached photo!!!!
Gwen Lamb
Teesside Topics No 26
It is more difficult than usual to find the right words. I am not short of information - it is that I am apoplectic (good word). Upon opening the last issue I was horrified to find that my privacy had been invaded by the publication of a confidential document - a photo of me. I contacted Max for advice (not Max Miller or Max Mosley, but Max Clifford). He said, sue the perpetrator not the Recorder. I discovered she was PA to an important personage. She has hastily gone to South Africa to avoid proceedings - however my Solicitor is on her trail and seems to know where she is. He is a good lad and as a relation I get special terms.
Having got that off my chest, I can tell you what else has been happening. In August [2008] the clock was turned back!! About 50 years ago the Middlesbrough Ladies Cancer Committee was formed to support the Yorkshire Cancer Campaign. It was extremely active and raised a great deal of money. I was on the Men's Committee and we were greatly overshadowed. For many years Eileen Doberman was the Treasurer and the outstanding event was always the coffee morning arranged by Sylvia Sachs. The Committee ended its work a few years ago, but decided to have a reunion and were delighted that Sylvia was able to attend.
There was further happening which revived memories of 70 years ago, when the girls came from Germany to the Hostel created for them. One of them, Hanna, moved from the Hostel to join Lionel Levy, his wife and family. Later she went to America. Recently, a great granddaughter of the Levy family was married in Newcastle and Hanna's daughter and granddaughter came to the wedding where they met Betty Levinson, who has kept in touch with Hanna over the years
So much for the past. Now, as to the future, may I wish the Editors and indeed the entire Newcastle community a Happy New Year and at the same time express Teesside's appreciation for their continued assistance, especially in in producing a minyan. As to the New Year, will the local Radio Station remember to greet us, as Mark Turnbull always did. We shall see.
I wonder if many readers are aware of the sea change at Darlington. What was the caretaker's bungalow has been converted into the synagogue and the old synagogue has been sold. I happened in the course of business to meet the gentleman who carried out the work and he is highly delighted to have achieved the transformation, as are the Darlington members.
PS Channel 5 chose Stokesley as a desirable place in which to live, praising its facilities but, to my surprise, did not mention the Hebrew Congregation. David Simon Stokesley