Playgrounds

I worked on a good few adventure playgrounds from 1970-6- taking overall care of all but the first- The Bourne Estate beside the infamous Hatton Gardens. Next was Ampton Street, by King’s Cross- an old-established set-up on an old bomb site. We had a pre-school playgroup, 6 or more 6 aside football teams, a ‘Pills Weekend Recovery Service” helped out with adult literacy but were ruled over by a group of older lads – in their 20s & mostly unemployed- some did a little thieving… In the end I couldn’t cope- and lost the plot, Big Time, for a while…..

After a break I returned to Newcastle and started a 35 year-long relationship with Sue Cartlidge- then, started volunteering at Spectro Arts Workshop in Whitley Bay but got back into temporary play schemes- in Cruddas Park then Elswick Park. At summer’s end I took up as a detached youth worker in the infamous Noble Street flats- that’s another story! Finally I took on a 5 acre ex-iron ore quarry in “Little Ireland”- Cleator Moor in West Cumberland for my last 2 years…. Sue would work with me, intermittently- and sheltered me….

  • Outside Ampton Street- King's Cross- it had been going for too long and older lads dominated the play hut. Some time after I left- in a mess- the hut was burned down. (My nickname there was, You Mess.)

    Outside Ampton Street- King's Cross- it had been going for too long and older lads dominated the play hut. Some time after I left- in a mess- the hut was burned down. (My nickname there was, You Mess.)

  • Elswick Park play scheme ca 1972. Stephen Dixon & prob Paul Dixon acc Patsy Laidler & Peter House

    Elswick Park play scheme ca 1972. Stephen Dixon & prob Paul Dixon acc Patsy Laidler & Peter House

  • With Phil Coleman ca 1974. The Big Hill, Cleator Moor.

    With Phil Coleman ca 1974. The Big Hill, Cleator Moor.

  • In hat, Joan Finn. Lad at front right is Paul Meagan. Others named as Cath Clark & Lorraine McLaughlin, Sue Barwise, Ian Barwise

    In hat, Joan Finn. Lad at front right is Paul Meagan. Others named as Cath Clark & Lorraine McLaughlin, Sue Barwise, Ian Barwise

  • Council Pets Scheme - by the end of the day only half were still in the Park. But the kids returned them all!

    Council Pets Scheme - by the end of the day only half were still in the Park. But the kids returned them all!

  • The Noble Street Flats, Keswick, Newcastle. I was employed as a detached youth worker- working with a small group of old lads- many still friends.

    The Noble Street Flats, Keswick, Newcastle. I was employed as a detached youth worker- working with a small group of old lads- many still friends.

  • Big Hill Adventure Playground prob 1975. Paul MacStraw and a handful of camera-shy friends. Geoffrey Higgins at far R. Girl at front is possibly (2015) Christina Mellon Airey. Also named as: John Glaister, with the girl Shaun Stanborough, Paul McStraw,Gary Youdale, Geoff Higgins, AND also: Ed Chambers next to Geoff Higgins

    Big Hill Adventure Playground prob 1975. Paul MacStraw and a handful of camera-shy friends. Geoffrey Higgins at far R. Girl at front is possibly (2015) Christina Mellon Airey. Also named as: John Glaister, with the girl Shaun Stanborough, Paul McStraw,Gary Youdale, Geoff Higgins, AND also: Ed Chambers next to Geoff Higgins

  • Ampton Street- older lads. R. Arthur Burns- had a fight with him one night - we became friends & he replastered the ceiling of my Shepherds Bush bedsit after it had fallen in. My landlord suggested that I should pay for the job. "I don't think so" said Arthur.

    Ampton Street- older lads. R. Arthur Burns- had a fight with him one night - we became friends & he replastered the ceiling of my Shepherds Bush bedsit after it had fallen in. My landlord suggested that I should pay for the job. "I don't think so" said Arthur.

  • Elswick Park, Newcastle.

    Elswick Park, Newcastle.

  • Elswick Park playscheme. Photo by Sue Cartlidge. Some cool Slade haircuts and shame on me for smoking, (for about 19 years).

    Elswick Park playscheme. Photo by Sue Cartlidge. Some cool Slade haircuts and shame on me for smoking, (for about 19 years).

  • Early 1970's temporary playscheme in Elswick Park- run by Sue Cartlidge & Simon Danby for Newcastle Corporation via the Young Volunteer Force. They didn't always smoke- claw hammers were about as popular!

    Early 1970's temporary playscheme in Elswick Park- run by Sue Cartlidge & Simon Danby for Newcastle Corporation via the Young Volunteer Force. They didn't always smoke- claw hammers were about as popular!

  • L>R Wendy Wood, now Palmer, Pauline Dixon or Kath Lawson?, then Ian & his sister Karen McFadyen.

    L>R Wendy Wood, now Palmer, Pauline Dixon or Kath Lawson?, then Ian & his sister Karen McFadyen.

  • Ampton Street- King's Cross kids. Boris, Paddy and Dominic DiSpirito.

    Ampton Street- King's Cross kids. Boris, Paddy and Dominic DiSpirito.

  • Big Hill adventure playground, Cleator Moor. playleader and young supporters with T-shirts designed by Phil Coleman, kneeling, left. Behind SPD is Wendy Southward/Rigg. Roger Savage, Whitehaven, 1972/3

    Big Hill adventure playground, Cleator Moor. playleader and young supporters with T-shirts designed by Phil Coleman, kneeling, left. Behind SPD is Wendy Southward/Rigg. Roger Savage, Whitehaven, 1972/3

  • The Big Hill, Cleator Moor.

    The Big Hill, Cleator Moor.

  • Dressed up in The Big Hill, Cleator Moor. A Joanna Tresseder initiative.

    Dressed up in The Big Hill, Cleator Moor. A Joanna Tresseder initiative.

  • Ampton Street Adventure Playground- by King's Cross. The first one I was ever left in charge of.

    Ampton Street Adventure Playground- by King's Cross. The first one I was ever left in charge of.

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Simon Danby - Playgrounds