Last week, I was thrilled to receive an email from author Paul Breen – a Charlton Athletic fan – who was planning to make the trip up to my home town of Middlesbrough to watch the football and, after reading a couple of my blog posts, had decided to spend some time exploring the town.
When he subsequently wrote to me with his thoughts on that visit, I knew I had to share them.
And I’d also like to thank Paul for his willingness to give this much maligned town a chance, and for writing so eloquently about his experience.
Last Saturday I went on a blind date, a meeting arranged as a consequence of football – Charlton Athletic versus Middlesbrough. My date was with the town itself, a place that gets an awful lot of bad press, and has been described as Britain’s worst town. I was going there early in the morning to spend the day sightseeing, and then go to The Riverside in the afternoon to see the football.
Determined to make the most of the experience I set out from London in the dawn, with an arsenal of conflicting information. What was I expecting as the train left Kings Cross, passing the Emirates Stadium, and out towards Hertfordshire’s frosted fields? Honestly, and I do apologise in hindsight for believing some of the media portrayals, I was half-afraid of what I’d find up there.
Reading some of the material on the Internet, I was expecting my day’s date to be like something that had stepped off the set of Channel Four’s grossly exploitative Benefits’ Street TV show. If you believed the stereotypes, she’d be a chain smoking single mother from a boarded up council estate. She’d be dressed in a shell suit, and be surprised that anyone lived in a world beyond the Tees. That, of course, was if I could see her through the endless haze of smog, or get past the junkies and beggars in the streets around the station which sounded like some sort of pre-tourism Amsterdam.
Coming through the freezing drizzle of Cambridgeshire, as the fog started to lift, I told myself that no matter what I found at the other end of the train journey, I’d have three hours of a trip through some of England’s most open countryside. There’s a rich history to the east coast, and an irony too that the road to the far north is paved in stops associated with so many famous Tories – John Major from Huntingdon, Margaret Thatcher from Grantham, and William Hague’s North Yorkshire constituency.
Getting to Darlington, the excitement was growing to a fever. Coming closer to Middlesbrough the first chimneys came into view, perhaps a power station, with a few clouds of smoke hovering above them – but nothing so totally different from what you might find in Trent Valley, or along the rivers of South Yorkshire.
Already I was getting a sense of an awful lot of misinformation and exaggeration where portrayals of Middlesbrough are concerned. On the train at Eaglescliffe, I’d noticed a Boro fan strike up a conversation with a Charlton fan of the same age about the game. Wearing their jerseys, it was obvious what teams they supported.
‘Okay,’ I figured, ‘this isn’t the kind of town where you hide your team scarf inside your jacket for fear of getting punched in the street.’
That, for a start, was a good sign as the train rolled into the station and I made my way out of a side exit to where the signs for the football stadium and the city centre were pretty clear. On a sunny Saturday morning, my blind date wasn’t half as dramatic as I expected. It was just a typical northern town in the sense of being steeped in visible traces of a rich heritage and bygone days. You can see it in the architecture, the old buildings across the road from the station, some red-brick as in Manchester, others white-stone as in Yorkshire. A bridge running across a busy intersection leads towards a walkway marked out in a poem that’s named ‘Ironopolis’. It tells the story of how once upon a time this town and the surrounding hills of Cleveland stood at the heart of the iron industry, not just for Britain but the whole world.
Following this walkway, I came upon Middlesbrough College which seemed to be having an open day, and would have been worth a visit if I wasn’t in a hurry, having limited time. I work in education, and this looked a place worthy of exploration. But it was that or looking at the shiny blue structure of the Transporter bridge, which again was worth far more of a visit all on its own.
This working bridge across the River Tees stands like a sculpture on the edge of the docks, framing a picture of industry in the gaps between its angles and cables. Again its imposing figure speaks of heritage and history, and fascinating stuff to discover. Looking up at it, I think of those Tories on the way here and wonder what is it about the word industry that England has become ashamed of. When did ‘industrialised’ become some kind of swear word or synonym for grim? Because that’s the word that many people use to described Middlesbrough – “industrial’.
Well actually, yes it is industrial and it wears its industry as a badge of honour, pinned to its breast in the form of this transporter bridge and its myriad of photo opportunities. Moving on from this, I passed along the dockside and towards the new Riverside Stadium to pick up tickets. Again I found the people friendly, perhaps a little confused by my Irish accent, and proud of their heritage – again evident in the gates of the old Ayresome Park that stand across from the entrance to the shiny new ground.
Heading back into town past the bridge once more I found a high street as ordinary as anything in Kent, Essex, Enniskillen, or Glasgow. Devoid of junkies, beggars, and single mothers I felt cheated out of the sinister edge I’d been promised. Maybe the David Lynch exhibition in the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA) would give me a sense of the dark undercurrent I’d been expecting.
Setting off down the road I missed the turn though and ended up in Albert Park, a good fifteen minutes walk away. There I discovered tree-lined pathways where people walked their dogs and children played on the benches close to the statue of one of the town’s best known sons. Brian Clough, football star and manager, appears at the entrance of the park with his boots slung over his shoulder, and not a single delinquent within reach of his famous sharp tongue.
By this stage I’m starting to form a theory about Middlesbrough, my date for the afternoon. It’s like a place I know in Australia – Machan’s Beach, a beautiful secluded suburb on the north coast where they have a notorious crocodile who keeps away visitors. Maybe Middlesbrough’s the same – create a false impression, put up an unflattering profile picture and keep the visitors away! As I made my way into the Dorman museum at the edge of the park, I’d seen nothing so far to put me off this town. Getting inside the museum, I did have one regret – that I hadn’t longer to explore this pearl of history if I also wanted to see the Mima gallery.
The Dorman has fascinating collections of materials, artefacts, and aspects of the history of Middlesbrough, everything from old bicycles to parts of a Church and a pub, right up, down and across to this amazing exhibition of seabirds and the eggs they lay. If you are into wildlife and seabirds, there’s enough to consume a whole afternoon looking and reading about the different breeds. There’s honesty too in the exhibition that’s refreshing.
Middlesbrough, creator of Brian Clough’s character, is a down to earth straight talking place and that comes across in its analysis of itself, in the exhibitions on the history of the town. It’s a new town, compared to some of its neighbours, born out of the rush for iron and the growth of industry in the 19th century. It’s never been rich but it has been proud and hard working, especially in its better days, and that comes across in the stories of its people and places.
Wanting to stay longer, I was unfortunately getting hungry at this stage – though not in the mood for scrambled or poached eggs! Leaving the birds behind I went to Dresser’s café, the little restaurant attached to the museum that is named after the Scottish designer Christopher Dresser who spent part of his life in Middlesbrough. There I ate a panini and had a pot of tea, as well as getting called ‘pet’, which of course is an essential part of the northern English travel experience. Again it’s a place where you could spend more time, relaxing, looking at the artefacts that surround you as you sit as if in somebody’s 19th century parlour.
But I was desperate to find the Mima and set off on my travels again, to where I found swans and a 30 foot sculpture of the ‘Bottle of Notes’ designed by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, Swedish and Dutch artists respectively. Added to the sight of the Transporter Bridge and the Giant Butterfly Net along the docks, this has to be one of the most interesting sights of Middlesbrough. Again, though I hadn’t time, it offered a fantastic photo opportunity as kids got inside the bottle and climbed its walls. Whether or not they’re supposed to is another matter but it was a funny scene, as the afternoon sun lowered and the sky began to turn pink, telling me it was time to go inside, before football.
I did indeed find a David Lynch exhibition entitled Naming, but I found something else that I was far more interested in – an exhibition by the artist Derek Eland on the thoughts of soldiers serving in Afghanistan. Basically the exhibition comes from a Diary Room where the soldiers wrote down their random thoughts on pieces of blank card – then displayed in a collage on the gallery walls; talking about everything from showers in the open air to the first time they experienced seeing a colleague shot or wounded.
Though I am anti-war and have written a book touching on themes relating to this, I couldn’t help but feel the raw energy and emotion of Derek Eland’s work, and the way he humanised, even rationalised the terrible situation of these young men, and possibly women, fighting for something so vague so far away from home. I liked it that much I went back a second time on my way out of the gallery, and now felt surer than ever that the blind date I was expecting wasn’t going to turn up.
Middlesbrough, as I made my way back to the Riverside, wasn’t a day spent killing time in the company of somebody straight off the set of Benefits Street. It was actually an afternoon that I was sad to see the end of, because there was so much that was still left to see. This was a city with culture and a pride in its own heritage – more of a factory worker who goes to the theatre on weekends than slob who watches the Jeremy Kyle show, and that in itself is a terrible stereotype perpetuated by a media that doesn’t look below the surface.
I’m sure there are rough bits of Middlesbrough, and a cold, rainy day might have given me a different impression to a mild winter’s day of bright sunshine, but I feel like I’d have been a whole lot poorer if I’d believed the stereotypes and been put off travelling to this interesting town that everybody should visit once in a lifetime.
I’ll end with two points that sum up my thoughts on this town and how it’s portrayed. First if this is one of England’s worst towns then it’s no wonder there are thousands of people out there who want to come to live in this country. If this is the worst we can do as a society and a country, then I really understand why you’d cross half the world, never mind half the country, to get here. Maybe this really is a deliberate ploy to sell themselves short, like that fictitious crocodile in the Australian suburbs I mentioned earlier!
Second, going back to my blind date analogy, the best compliment I can pay the town is that if Middlesbrough were a woman my wife would have been awfully jealous when I got back to London because I never stopped talking about her the whole of Sunday!
Paul Breen is an Irish author from London who supports Charlton Athletic and enjoys travel, and travel writing. You can visit his personal website or follow him on Twitter @CharltonMen.
Chris Everest says
I’ve not been to the Riverside but I had been a few times to Ayresome Park (with Sheffield Wednesday) and apart from the cold (only Oldham Athletic is colder… even Hartlepool was warmer) what I remember most was the fantastic stadium radio man (Announcer ?) Boro had – He was genuinely funny ! so much so that we didn’t even mind being kept in at the end till the crowds disappeared. Dry North-Eastern humour : marvellous accent : this was in the 70s and 80s when SWFC knew how to play before all that premiership bollocks took over LOL
paul says
I believe that announcer’s name was Mark Page. A local radio celeb in the 80s.
Ian says
No it was Bernard Gent!
bombero says
We must get a crocodile now. Thanks Paul,great read.
Alan Allison says
Thank you for the kind words and excellent summary, it looks like our secret might be out.
Anthony Vickers says
Thanks for your kind words about our post-industrial Northern outpost. Middlesbrough is no oil painting and bears some scars of a hard working past but it is a solid, honest town full of character (and characters). Come back in the summer and visit our green hinterland.
Antony says
Fantastic! So glad you have “discovered” our wonderful town and infact Teesside as a whole is much the same. Pity channel 4 are actually filming the new series of Benefits Street on Teesside (Stockton) so unfortunately the stereotypes will carry on.
Antony
JIM HAGGATH says
Thank you for the portrayal of our small Town in Europe , we are very proud of our town , Heritage and Football team , and as you set off in trepidation wondering what you were letting yourself in for heading North. Then found its not that bad in the Boro and its surrounding areas . we do have a giant crocodile protecting us its called the Southern Press who often actually have never ben this far North . Thank you for a very interesting read and the 3 points of course and you are welcome to visit our small town in Europe anytime, ps don’t tell them southern tabloids ..
PETER CHANEY says
well thought out article and a great bit of researce.
thankyou for not judging middlesbrough and giving it a chance to show you what it is about the place that stays with people.
you are welcome back anytime and feel free to bring a friend.
Andrea Turner says
I love this I love this I love this!
Thank you so much for visiting my home town and for writing such a wonderful reflection. I totally agree with your 2 point summary – I say the same things myself all the time, in fact. I’m proud to be northern, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. I might travel far and wide but when I see that River Tees far below me from the plane, and the beautiful coastline and rolling hills, and yes, the industry of Seal Sands, I feel all warm inside and know I couldn’t have been born anywhere better.
Thank you, Paul.
Keith harper says
Thankyou and your welcome to call back any time
David Hunter says
A nice piece about our much maligned town and it heritge
I have travelled the world but stil find the Boro one of the most interesting places to be in
Well done and visit us again
Melva Dumas says
I just read the story of Middlesbrough and wanted to say thank you to the author. I lived in the village of Normanby from 1932 to 1948, when my parents immigrated to the U.S. I went to Middlesbrough, many times with my Mother. Shopping and all. I had always thought that Albert Park was a beautiful place too. The surrounding areas of Middlesbrough are lovely. Homey, always welcoming and the people of Cleveland. Love the people of Cleveland. Some with their pinnies on some in a hurry to get to the shop. Yorkshire will always have a place in my heart. I’ve travelled back many time to my home in Yorkshire. And it does feel like home to me. Thank so much.
chris miller says
Glad you enjoyed our wonderful town. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Come back anytime you are very welcome. X
stones says
UTFB!!
lee wharfe says
Middlesbrough and proud …always a warm welcome
Dave says
You’ve seen it first hand, no one here paints Boro as a bad place, modern journalism has just decided we are the punching bag. It’s almost cliche to say Middlesbrough is a shithole, no one is going to read your newspaper articles if you don’t slag us off, on the internet, we call this a circlejerk – it’s a crude term for a crude social trend. You see it in the ‘worst places to live in Britain’ articles, but then there’s also the opposite happening, we just get 0 exposure.
Look at the Football League Show, if there is a top of the Championship game, they get the first highlight reel, extended clips and even interviews with the managers, if Boro are ever in these games, we get put maybe 4th or 5th on the bill. On Tuesday evening, we topped the Championship after Derby and Bournemouth played to a stalemate, not a single news report on my choice of radio station mentioned a single Championship game in the reports the following day (and I’m not being biased, there’s always a mention of things that have happened.)
I’m glad you saw Middlesbrough for what it is, we aren’t flash, and we don’t claim to be. The whole town is down on its luck, but it’s a humbling experience and the people show that. We regularly get commended on our travelling fans’ behaviours, and you saw it yourself how friendly we can be even if you aren’t wearing the right colours.
My only quibble with your piece is the line that says “This was a city with culture and a pride in its own heritage”. We’re not a city, I’m afraid, but we take pride in that even facing the prospect of never getting city status.
Surinder lal says
Born and Bred here, love the place, could have moved away, still could. Not for me, this is home.
Mick Simpson says
I am glad you came from the south and you had your eyes open and whilst you where in Middlesbrough you thoroughly enjoyed your stay and could go back home with good thoughts yes we are a proud people and we work hard and play hard but thanks for the great comments about us and hurry up and get back more jems to see next time trust me .
B Mclaughlin says
You should see what we have on our doorstep too……NY moors ,Whitby etc etc keep breathing that nice clean air in London, while us smoggies choke……I love sarcasm me LIKE
George Graham says
That was a wonderful read and assessment of my home town .You young man are most welcome here any time .Next time you visit dont book a hotel just let the town know and you will probably be able to stay with anyone you like including here.Thank you .
Jimmy Smith says
I sometimes think it’s best to keep a closely guarded secret but now the world know’s the truth we might as well exploit it. I have traveled to over 40+ counties in my life and visited many many towns and villages at home in Britain, but and it’s a big but there is nothing like coming home to the Boro. Yes we have our bad bits but they are getting addressed on a regular basis. It’s the town itself that gives you such a buzz, friendly people, lovely country side, beautiful parks and surrounding area’s. And then we have Steve Gibson (one of us) what more can be said.
Angela Armstrong says
A glowing but true report of a town I am proud to call ‘home’
ian Elcoate says
Thank you for an article that is spot on about the town I was born, bred and again reside in. I am fiercely proud of my heritage, our friendliness and the town’s ability to get up when knocked down. I hope the author gets a chance ti come up fof longer and visit our neigjbouring towns, countryside and coast. He will be even more in love with where we live
Colun Williams says
Honestly, did you really get a Panini in Middlesbrough?
Janet Lawrence says
As my late father used to say, don’t tell the southerners as they’ll all want to come here!
Stephen Blair says
My dad always says let them think that about Middlesbrough, we know what we are about , hard working, proud and friendly people ,thanks for taking time to come and actually see the town I love.
Edith Butcher nee Crosby says
Thoroughly enjoyed the author’s story. Reminded me of my younger days growing up in Middlesbrough. Thanks to my nephew who posted this .
David Matthews says
Firstly let me thank you for taking the time to explore our glorious little town, many before you have been freer with the pen and restrictive with their research.
I am born and bred in the Boro and despite the economic gloom that hangs over us like an ironic reminder of better times, I would not swap it for anything or anywhere as my birth town.
Although you enjoyed and acknowledged the academic and cultural revival the town is constantly undergoing, you missed out on two things that sum Middlesbrough up and any conclusion on the town is list without their involvement. The two things in question are the cuisine of the Smoggy (A Parmo) and the jewel in the crown of Teeside – The People.
Come back up with your wife and interact with any and all and you will primarily find that despite their economic situation, the people of Boro would share half their last pound with you if it were needed. Also you will leave recounting the laughs you had during your stay to all and sundry, we have a dry self deprecating humour that is hard not to double up at.
A wonderful article that cheered up a gloomy Friday morning in a Steelworks Tea room. Thank you
Kevin McBride says
Thank you……. That means so much! Take care.
Stuartj says
Lovely unbiased piece, next time, go down the coast, visit Runswick bay and Staithes, also go up the Tees to see High Force, biggest waterfall in England. Y’all come back now, y’hear?
Stephen Lenaghan says
Pleasantly refreshing piece for a change. Thank you for your kind words.
Paul Crowe says
i was born and brought up in Middkesbrough and Redcar but have lived many years now in the soft South. But the values and principles of the area live with me and I defend it to the end. Thanks for a more honest account of the gritty North East than many so called journalists. That’s the most objective piece I’ve seen. Of course there are bad points, there are everywhere….I still remember being shocked when I first arrived in London and took a first train ride from Victoria through the wasteland of South London……..the point is that they are to be found in every town and city and embraced along with the positive points, not picked out and focused upon to the exclusion of all else. But then, you’re Irish so that common sense is probably natural…….:)
Peter Hodgson says
Paul…… Thank you so much for a brilliant exposé about this well-kept secret of the Smokey Old North East Town of whippets and outside “lavs”…… Middlesbrough is under NO ILLUSIONS about what it is. It is a town of almost 2 centuries…but what it’s people are – well, they are the children of the INFANT HERCULES that once upon a time created some of the first IRON Mines, early STEEL processes that saw the birth of the GREATEST steel works AND WORKERS who over the next 150 years BUILT some of the GREATEST BRIDGES IN THE WORLD. We had GREAT Chemical complexes which gave us plastics and pharmaceuticals and paints and oils and fuels and all sorts of things which helped a post war society BOOM into a 1960’s/70’s BOOM-TIME and invent things that we take so much for granted in todays society. We’ve had GREAT engineers, sailors, shipbuilders and explorers, men of GREAT personal Courage and sacrifice, great musicians, artists, chefs, leaders of business, actors, film stars, clothing designersauthors and a myriad of people and activities and talents….. and some of us DO STILL WEAR FLAT CAPS. Out of all this history…… came US…..the SMOGGIES……. named because of the supposed SMOG that covered our great town and we have a personal and local PRIDE in the fact that OUR SMOG came about because we were BUSY making things that HELPED the WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY….to develop like it has. Now we live in an almost smoke free area…. we are surrounded by some of the most wondeful and spectacular countryside, hills and dales – and coast lines and beaches other parts of the British Isles could die for. BUT – THROUGH US ALL….runs our MIGHTY RIVER TEES…our SMOGGY LIFEBLOOD….our very own ( as Chris Rea sang..) STEEL RIVER . We are WHO WE ARE because of WHERE WE CAME FROM……. we are an odd lot and quite unique in lots of ways…..BUT – for a small TOWN in YORKSHIRE…WE’RE PRETTY BLOODY SPECIAL. p.s. You seem like a good bloke Paul…come back and see us again…and stay a while longer next time…and we’ll show you MUCH, MUCH MORE…. !!
Tim says
After reading this I had to go and find this piece of writing that I’d first read a few years ago.
The Riverside sits in a no-mans land
Surrounded by nothing but derelict land
But if you want history, real memories to last
Just stand with your eyes closed, imagine the past
Great ships used the docks, loading their freight
Transporting the goods to make Britain great
Ships that were built on the banks of the Tees
Carried our Steel across all seven seas
To build bridges and railways, the world then required
Our workforce went with it, the best to be hired
The growth of Teesside passed on by the page
A thriving young Hercules, coming of age
As time went on our skills grew and grew
Until we could make anything, from girders to glue
Synthetics and plastics and food for crops
Then came more workers, the Irish, and Jocks
Imperial Chemicals built up new towns
Just as old Ironopolis began to close down
So when you tell us our town is dirty and grey
Go stand by the Riverside and remember fore days
It’s history that gives this view to you all
Narrow-minded and blinkered to a land of hard toil
So remember how you travelled to our great Northern town
The rails on the tracks and the bridges laid down
They all have a message stamped on to inspect
“This steel is from Teesside” now show some respect.
Toby Potter says
Paul – thanks for a great write up of my home town. I’ve lived away from there over half my life, but still call it home and love going back. We’re all very proud of our town – the challenge we have is to demonstrate that pride through action and drive to put the town back on the map where it belongs. It’s easier said than done when the usual stereotypes are rolled out, but as the local saying goes “We Shall Overcome”.
Next time to get to Boro, make sure you sample the culinary delight that is the Parmo too. Maybe not the healthiest food you’ll ever eat, but you won’t forget it!!
Craig says
Thank you for your article, I really enjoyed reading it. We don’t get enough kind words written and it is refreshing to read your thoughts as a Londoner. It is nice to hear that you enjoyed your day so much and you were made to feel welcome by everyone in the town. I hope you can make it back again one day to explore further as there are many hidden gems in the surrounding areas. Take care and good luck for the season ahead!
Nick says
Next time you visit Middlesbrough, make sure that you go the reference library in the town centre. The library itself is a Carnegie library and the external architecture is stunning but the real treasure is the reference room. It’s a beautiful space with extensive wood panelling, vaulted ceiling and a mezzanine. I used to look forward to doing my school homework in there and as a writer, Paul, I guarantee you’ll love it!
oblivia says
Brought a tear to my eye and made me homesick. I love you Middlesbrough, I’m coming home soon…
stephen mckeown says
Dry lands a myth.
b.postlethwaite says
What a pleasant change to heart something good about the Boro for once. Of course we all know it,s true and we’re very proud of our home town.
Martin says
Paul, this certainly sounds like the Boro in which I spent some of my best working days. Although I was born on its doorstep, we moved around a lot during my childhood, so I was properly grown up by the time I found my way back, but I’ve always felt privileged to have that connection when I’ve defended the town against the stereotypes we all know so well. So, thank you, Paul, for those considered words of Boro love. Now, we just need Boro to knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup on Sunday and it can officially go down as a good weekend…
Moira Southwell ( O'Donoghue ) says
How heart warming, Middlesbrough’s is my home town though I not lived there for 40 years. I miss it such a lot and visit regular. Thank you for your thoughts
Janet Hall says
A lovely article about where I was born and grew up and still think of as Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. What a pity it seems to have been hived off as a distant suburb of Newcastle with the various boundary changes over the years. It is obvious that the town itself still thinks south to the North Yorks Moors (NYM) and the Saltburn to Whitby coast, not north up to Hartlepool and into County Durham – except to High Force but that’s on the River Tees.
It is also noticeable how many of these replies included the words ‘Thank you’. It is unusual to see such an unremittingly long list of thankful, and proud responses to a blog. But then again – that’s Middlesbrough people for you.
When you come back for a longer stay take some time also to go up into the Dales – Teesdale and Swaledale, as well as the NYM.
Incidentally the reason Brian Clough is in Albert Park and not at the Riverside is because he used to walk to work (Ayresome Park) from his Mam’s council house in Grove Hill on the other side of the park, through the park so the statue was put alongside the route of his walk.
Mike Mc says
Really pleased you enjoyed the experience, it is truly a wonderful place to live in even though i now live a short distance, 7 miles on the coast at Redcar. You really need to try one of our Parmo’s on any subsequent visit, good luck to you and have a happy life.
S.martin says
well done the best right up of Middlesbrough I’ve read love the place born and bred here there’s lots of lovely places on outskirts as well . We have beautiful countryside ,beaches and lovely Whitby .plus lots more .
Neil says
Lies ….. ALL LIES … It`s an Orcs den of slime and stench … please .. PLEASE stay away … you will be sucked in and lost forever …….
Think that might keep THEM out ……. phew !!!!
mary wallis says
1 am a northener who went down south 30 years ago, still go back to see family and every time i go back i get that lovely warm feeling when people greet me as though they have known me for years, and i have to say i am still like that here in the south i talk to anyone and everyone, my son and daughter supprt middlesbrough football, i miss being called pet
John Richardson says
Super article, it me homesick too, I don’t get up there since Mum and Dad passed away but is a great place. brilliant, honest and heartfelt article. Thank you.
All the best like,
John
Sheila Harvey says
Perhaps the Evening Gazette, Northern Echo and Darlington and Stockton Tiimes would like to give this excellent, thoughtful and poignant literary piece some publicity. There was a really heartfelt and moving article in the Northern Echo from a gentleman in Stockton when Benefit Street journalists tried to move in and distort life in Middlesbrough and Stockton. Perhaps that article could also be republished in the other local and perhaps national journals!
Paul Carney says
great read. I’m from Boro living in Toon and go back for the football. It’s a great place. Not big, but grand
Barbara Hewitt says
Thank you for seeing the town I was born and bred in, in such a good light, some people come to this area with a preconceived opinion that it will be as awful as they hear and read, just looking to have it confirmed that we live in a horrible place.
I hope a lot of people see this report and see we are an ordinary town with warts and all, good as well as bad same as every other town we don’t deserve the abuse that we get dished out but we will rise above it and carry on.