More Parish memories - Pauline Hewitt - 1974 to present

Pilgrimages

Father Keoghan (who replaced Father Head as Parish Priest) was very keen on pilgrimages. ln the early 1980s he and Father Doyle led a couple of pilgrimages to the Holy Land. I remember being given prayer cards by friends such as Mary and Laurie Boynton and Mamie and Godfrey O'Neill afterwards and they spoke so movingly about their experiences there. I think Jim and Teresa Hodgson also went on at least one of these pilgrimages as I seem to remember hearing about Mr Hodgson getting to the airport and realising, he'd left his passport at home.

After this, Father Keoghan really got into the swing of pilgrimages and especially the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. I went several times with our son Stuart and also with each of our daughters, Charlotte and Becky, in the years they made their First Holy Communion. When we initially went as a group from the parish we went all the way by train from Billingham Station, then by ferry and finally crossed France on trains with sleeping couchettes. By the time we reached Lourdes we had met and shared stories with people from other parts of the Diocese - a good experience.

We raised funds for sick pilgrims to travel from the parish too. I remember in particular among our sick pilgrims over the years, Kath Barker, Sylvia Putsman and Mrs. Vallelly from Port Clarence who had an accident just after we arrived in Lourdes and spent the whole of the pilgrimage in the town's general hospital. Several of our parish group worked each year as handmaids and had a really busy week dashing here, there and everywhere, helping out with whatever was needed. Among the handmaids were Ethel Armstrong, Rhona Scott and Mary Boynton. Others who helped with the sick pilgrims were mother and daughter Cath and Catherine Welch, Sheila and Mary McCabe and Anne Marie Form. Several Holy Rosary pilgrims sang in the Diocesan Music Group which, at the time, was led by Father Skivington, who had been a curate in the parish. As well as having a Holy focus, the pilgrimage was a time of good fun and very late nights. We would have a drink and a sing song. Those of us who were there will always remember Laurie Boynton leading us in the Josef Locke song 'Goodbye, goodbye’, waving our hankies and marching around the hotel lounge. Another of his specialities was Carmen Miranda's 'Ay, ay, ay, I like you very much. Don't know what the other pilgrims thought of us. One year a lovely gentleman in our group, George Form, had his wallet stolen early on in the pilgrimage. We had a whip round to help him and his wife Freda . He must have repaid everyone ten times over in Mass offerings and prayers after we got back, he was so grateful. Some other pilgrims who helped make the pilgrimages special were Mary and Benny Toth (then an engaged couple), Eddie Donnelly, Brian Kane, Vince and Margaret Corcoran, Mamie and Godfrey O'Neill (Mamie did all the admin preparation for the group), Betty Wing, Mary Morley, Lesley Lawrence, Doreen and Leo Hamilton, Laurence Boynton, Brenda Ryan and Clare Groves.

There was a gentleman in the parish called John Donnelly. He was an unassuming man, very prayerful. He went to Lourdes on his own every year, taking with him the lists which he cut out from the church bulletin each week of all those who were sick, had died or had anniversaries. He prayed for everyone on those lists and hardly anyone knew - a special person with a great devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes.

When Father Butters arrived, he organised a yearly pilgrimage to Walsingham, at first {l think} under the auspices of the Tyneside Branch of the Walsingham Association of which he was Chaplain. Later on, they became very enjoyable annual parish pilgrimages which continue to this day.

We also had some great pilgrimages to Rome - some with Confirmation Groups and their catechists - and others with adult parishioners. Father Butters really knew his way around Rome and those of us who were privileged to go with him found it both a spiritual and enjoyable experience. We learned a lot and also had that sense of being part of the universal Church. We covered a lot of ground and certainly got our 10,000 steps a day in with interest.

ln the late 70s and early 80s Father Doyle, our Curate, formed a group which became known as 'Father Doyle's Young Wives'. It was started by Elizabeth Screeton, Marianne Vokes and Clare Groves. We were all mums of young children and so the group had a family focus. Among the other members were Anne Lee, Mary McCourt Margaret Clarke, Brenda Ryan, Ann Smith, Anne Lane, Kath Brown, Maureen Darley, Sue Coward, Carole Burlison, Lynne Donaldson and Mary Buckton. As well as the spiritual aspect - Father Doyle came to most of our meetings and we discussed faith issues - we had the usual round of social events. I remember one of these was an armchair exercise session which was open to any parishioner who wanted to attend. The gallant ladies of the Legion of Mary all turned out in force direct from their weekly meeting to support us and I can still see in my mind's eye Julia Weir (Jane Kelly's mum), Mary Boynton and Maria Donaldson very seriously doing an exercise with their arms outstretched. It's strange what memories stay in our minds. After a while someone's husband pointed out that calling ourselves 'young wives' was a contravention of the Trades Descriptions Act and after that we became the 'Wives Group'. One interesting idea, which was vetoed firmly by Father Keoghan was to start a Children's Liturgy, He thought folks would think the schools weren't doing their job properly in teaching the faith and so wouldn't entertain the idea. How times change. Eventually, several people moved away and the group disbanded but, thanks to Mary Buckton, a great organiser, some of us still met for meals occasionally - I think the last occasion was to remember and raise a glass to the memory of our dear Anne Lee.

Other memories

• Some family names which were prominent in the Parish when we first arrived were Hodgson, Bewley, Carlisle, Weir, Otter, McTimoney, Sharp, Fox, Allen, Mulloy, Mongan, Kirby, Boynton, Crinnion, Welsh, Simpson, Corcoran, Wing, Emm, Burns, Taylor, Weatherall, Houchen, Corcoran, Smith, McCabe, Morrisey, Burns, Hall, O'Connor, Moore, Sullivan, Readman, Donnelly, O'Neill, Putsman, Burnett and many more who worked so hard to build up the Parish.

• Three elderly ladies turned up at every wedding and sat in the back row on the right-hand side of the Church. Some Saturdays in the 70s and 80s there were three weddings. They were Kate Willetts (a childhood friend of the writer Catherine Cookson), May Basnett and Winnie Sheridan. I think they were all members of the CWL. They were great girls and always had a fund of stories to tell.

• There was a well-used parish lending library of spiritual books set up by Geoff Screeton in what is now the disabled toilet but at the time was an area with shelving in it. It might have been the Repository at one time, although originally it housed the Font. 

• The first time I can remember when we had a female reader at Mass - I think it was Tricia McCabe. It's hard to imagine now but I think it caused a bit of a furore at the time. In those days the lay readers read from a pulpit next to the front row of seats on the left hand side of the Church.

• The introduction of Communion in the hand and, once again there was a bit of a hoo ha over the commissioning of female special ministers - the first one I remember was Sue Coward.

• Annual parish fetes on Holy Rosary School field, in the 70s and 80s - organised superbly by John Mulloy and Jim Mongan. The sun shone every year - or so it seemed.

• Several busloads of parishioners went to see Pope John Paul II at the Knavesmire in York - a wonderful day.

• Father Coxon, who replaced Father Doyle as curate led a well-attended Journey in Faith programme, which was enjoyable and a good way of learning more about the Catholic Faith. As a convert myself I found it very useful.

• Pensioners' Christmas parties held in Holy Rosary School Hall where the entertainment each year was provided by children from either St. Paul's or Holy Rosary.

• Brownies, Guides and Scouts groups met in the hut at the back of the Catholic Club. There was a YCW group, Junior and Senior Legion of Mary and, of course, the Catholic Women's League. These groups met either in the Sacristy or the Medway (which at one time was used as a classroom for Holy Rosary School).

• The Catholic Women's League Passover meal on the Wednesday of Holy Week was a real highlight. What a bunch of hardworking ladies they were - including Cath Welch, Anne Moore, Judy Houchen, Sally Paczinski, Mamie O'Neill, Ethel Armstrong, Rhona Scott, and many more.

• A flower festival which was amazing but I can't remember what Jubilee we were celebrating.

• Father Head's Christmas Eve parties in the Presbytery at the end of Midnight Mass - anybody who had a role in the Parish was invited. There was always a good spread of food and plenty of wine. He was an excellent host and a very sociable man.

• Father Butters continued the tradition of thanking parishioners for their contributions to Parish life with Mass and a lovely buffet, although on the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, rather than on Christmas Eve.

• A wonderful Italian night in the Medway organised by Luigi and Lole Faso - they cooked beautiful authentic Italian food. It was great.

• Parish Ceilidhs, usually in the Swan, often compered by Patsy Fox. Maureen Taylor's Irish Dancers often performed.

• Operation Christmas Child. Kath Waters organised it for many years. Parishioners were so generous - as they are nowadays with the Seafarers Christmas gifts.

• Kath and John's Music Group at Saturday night Mass at Holy Rosary.

• The last Mass at St. Thomas of Canterbury in Port Clarence. A bittersweet occasion for many. I think the pews were brought up to St. Joseph's in Low Grange.

• Mamie O'Neill organised two 'Hymnathons', one of which was to raise funds for new hymn books (Hymns Old and New, not the current books). The idea was that people could come along, request a hymn, have a sing and a cuppa and make a small donation. The musicians played in half hour slots - Jeremy, Father Butters, Kath and John and John Huitson.

• While Sisters Imelda and Philippa lived in Port Clarence there were weekly Masses, usually celebrated in the Community Centre. They were ably supported by Margaret Hodgson, Susan White and Mary McCune. Every Christmas Eve there was an afternoon Mass, followed by a party. The children would dress up to provide a living Nativity Scene. One year my granddaughter Lydia {aged 3 months} was baby Jesus in the manger and on another occasion, although I didn't see it, I believe the sisters managed to source a donkey from somewhere.

• I know that members of our parish SVP Conference were a great help to Imelda and Philippa and the Port Clarence community during this period, especially Michael Sullivan.

• CAFOD Group car treasure hunts were always great fun and ended with a delicious supper in the Medway, often prepared and served by Mary Scott and Jan Geoghan.

• The combining of the three Billingham Parishes into one. Father Butters did a fantastic job of making the transition as painless as possible - no easy task.

• The Covid restrictions - the social distancing, being escorted to our seats by the stewards before Mass, having to book in advance for the Easter ceremonies, watching Mass online when our Churches weren't allowed to open, hearing the organ play for the first time when restrictions were lifted was wonderful.

To paraphrase the old song (Bob Hope and Shirley Ross). THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES