A Man of the People
In my memory, most villages have been blessed with a local
personality to whom residents could turn to in an informal way
when they require advice or guidance on matters they found more
than a little irksome.
Up at Lingdale we had Reg Simons, a local businessman, who acted
as councillor or counsellor. Here at North Skelton, very much the
people’s man was Harry Ingleby, always willing to help fill
in the intricate forms, or advise on local government grants.
I’m sure his newsagency shop on Vaughan Street was his
‘surgery’.
Whilst the emphasis on villagers’ problems have probably
changed, the need for an ‘Ombudsman’ is still very much
appreciated.
Over the past years, this need has been satisfied by a local man
who has just announced his retirement. Born in the village, Ian
Johnson spent his formative years at North Skelton, then the
centre of a thriving mining community with prominent and
successful football and cricket teams as well as a popular Silver
Band.
An air of self-sufficiency provided a parochial pride that was
evident in most villages. The situation has gradually changed
over the years, especially with the closing of the Mines in this
area, and there has been a definite change in village life and
habits. ‘Shift-work’, especially at ICI where
unemployed miners sought fresh jobs, disrupted weekend social
activities provided by the Workingmen’s Club, The
Bull’s Head and 50/50 dancing in the ‘Tute’. Young
people now have to consider leaving the area to find employment,
no longer can work near home be guaranteed. Even children have a
choice of schools far and wide.
Now living at Skelton with wife Anthea, daughter Helen and son
Richard, Ian has witnessed these changes throughout his lifetime.
Luckily, the work situation has not affected him, as he has spent
all his working life at Skinningrove Works for a company that has
survived many ‘peaks and troughs’ during its existence.
Born at 14 Vaughan Street, Ian Johnson started his schooldays
when 5 years of age at North Skelton Infants School along Layland
Road, which has now become ‘Betterhome’ DIY store since
the Junior School was re-located to Hollybush. When he was 11 he
moved on to Stanghow Lane School, just up the road at New Skelton
– this venue has also changed definition and is now divided
into a number of flats.
The school-leaving age in those days was 14 years, but Ian was
eager to further his education so he enrolled at Redcar Technical
College. On his 15th birthday he became an Apprentice Centre
Lathe Turner at Skinningrove Iron & Steel Works, now
‘Corus’. To achieve the grades which the job required
involved several years of intensive study, sometimes once a week
incorporating ‘Day & Night School’ attendance,
beginning at 9am and continuing through to 8pm. Depending on his
‘shift pattern’, he would sometimes then have to work a
10 x 6 night shift immediately after a full day at college.
However, the effort was worth it, eventually paying dividends for
Ian who went on to complete a career spanning 47 years as a
Section Engineer - just prior to retiring he was an Engineer with
a development team.
Always keenly interested in sport, Ian joined the local Badminton
Club when he was 12 years old. They practised and played their
league games in the old Church Rooms which, would you believe,
has been replaced by two dwellings – it doesn’t look as
though there’s any evidence to say that ‘Ian Johnson
woz ‘ere!’ He remembers with pride the pleasure he
derived coaching the younger members on a Saturday morning all
those years ago. He was also a keen member of the Stanghow Lane
School Sword Dancers.
Ian has served the local community since 1966 as an elected
member of Local Government, in which time he always put a lot of
emphasis on helping residents in his Ward to solve their
problems. He is a forthright man, who never shirked his
responsibility even though at times it meant making perhaps a
controversial decision. Surely these qualities have made him the
type of Councillor a community needs, a man who effectively
attended to any problems that faced his electors.
Listed below are just some of the Committees on which Ian has
served:
Chairman Cleveland County Highways / Transportation.
Chairman Cleveland County Road Safety Committee.
Appointment to serve on the Northern Economic Planning Council by
the Minister of Planning & Local Government.
Member of Langbaurgh Council’s Housing & Policy
Committee.
Chairman Skelton Youth Club.
Member of Warsett School Governors.
Member of Skelton School Managers.
Member of Lingdale, Boosbeck, & Margrove Park School
Managers.
Member of Skelton & Brotton Carnival Committee.
Chairman of Housing for Skelton & Brotton Urban District
Council and Langbaurgh.
For 20 years he was Chairman of Skinningrove Athletic Club which
embraced all the sports in the section, i.e. football, table
tennis & bowls.
After 10 years he is still Chairman of Skelton Castle Cricket
Club and, along with an ambitious committee, he is striving to
attain (NYSD) North Yorkshire and South Durham League status for
the club. This would be the ‘icing on the cake’, to
compliment the tremendous strides the club has taken with its
ground development.
For his services to football, Ian was made a Life Member of the
then, Cleveland League.
Also, Ian has always been very keen to support and follow the
fortunes of North Skelton Band.
On the subject of retirement, he scoffs at the mere mention of
‘slowing down’. During the cricket season, the
‘Castle’ will still have all his support, regularly
attending both First & Second Team games, whilst during the
winter months, he can be seen at the place of his birth,
supporting the Hollybush Team, who play their home games here at
North Skelton.
Ian – from all the readers of ‘The Key’ and others
who have benefited from your diligent work, we wish you a long
and enjoyable ‘retirement’ and thank you most sincerely
for your caring attitude towards a grateful local community.
Jim Ramage