The Man from Middlesbrough

The Cleveland Hills and a Shipyard

Dear Reader,

Shipyards have a long history with evidence of early dockyards dating back to the Indus Valley civilization around 24,00 BC.  From these ancient beginnings shipyards evolved with shipbuilding technology playing a crucial role in maritime trade, warfare and exploration.  

The history of shipyards is also intertwined with the development of various shipbuilding materials including wood, iron, and steel as well as technological advancements like the steam engine and the introduction of dry docks.

Despite its ups and downs Sunderland had long been hailed as the largest shipbuilding town in the world.

The shipbuilding industry experienced a significant boom during World War 11 due to the increased demand for both naval and merchant ships, which were crucial for both the war effort and maintaining supply lines.   The demand spurred the mobilization of resources, including labour and industrial capacity leading to a rapid expansion of the industry.

While the industry has now declined, particularly in commercial shipbuilding, there are still active shipyards, including those involved in ship repairs and some new building projects.

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From Francis Kilvert    June 7th  1874 in Wiltshire

'Another glorious day of sunshine and unclouded blue.  But every day the drought grows drier and the predicted water famine is stealing upon us.  Every day the pasture grows whiter and more bare and slippery.....Later the warm soft night was laden with perfume and the sweet scent of the syringa.'

From Dorothy Wordsworth   June 9th  1802 in Westmorland

'A soaking all day rain.....The hawthorns on the mountains sides like orchards in blossom.'

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The Man from Middlesbrough

 

 

ordered another cup of tea,

lit another cigarette.

 

He held his head

in his history-stained hands,

nicotine fingers clutching

tufts of dirty grey hair.

He stared, not-seeing, at

the plastic tablecloth,

his mind numb.

 

His father, his grandfather,

worked in this shipyard

watched ships lovingly grow

from steel plates to proud traders,

built to sail from the Tees estuary,

into the North Sea

and the world’s great oceans.

 

In his head the man heard the noise,

music to him, of drag chains,

when a ship pushed along

the greasy slipway, slid into the sea.

And the man thought of his mates,

of shared experiences from school days,

first girlfriends, first kisses,

walks in the Cleveland hills.

And he thought of the old canteen,

warm with steam from the tea urn,

from brotherhood.

 

The man wiped his eyes

with the back of his hand,

 

ordered another cup of tea,

lit another cigarette.

 

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With very best wishes, Patricia

My new collection of poetry has now been published.  You can obtain a copy from Amazon.  Put the name:   Patrica Huth Ellis into Amazon and click and you will get there.