Hartlepool People by John Riddle
My first book published by Cormorant Publishing
Hartlepool will be released in March.
There has been a settlement at Hartlepool since
Saxon times. The town was subsequently invaded by the Romans, the
Vikings, the Scots and in the last big invasion of Britain by William
the Conqueror’s army.
The town grew and in the industrial revolution a
second town, West Hartlepool, emerged. It was often referred to by
comedians as “British West Hartlepool”. There was immense rivalry
between the citizens of the two towns.
They had derogatory names for each other ranging
from “Cod heads” for those residents on the “old side” to
“scaly backs” in West Hartlepool. West Hartlepool buses were
painted in strawberry and cream livery and the “old” side had
buses in Hartlepool blue.
In the 1960’s, under yet another local government
reorganisation, the two town’s were amalgamated to become united,
which co-incidentally was the name the football club adopted -
Hartlepool United.
People of Hartlepool are immensely proud of their
heritage although occasional angered by being referred to as “monkey
hangers”. That dates backs to a story in Napoleonic times when a
ship was wrecked off the wicked north east coast.
The only survivor was a monkey, who the locals at
the time, thought was a French spy. Nobody in Hartlepool had probably
ever seen a Frenchman and quite possible never clapped eyes on a
monkey. The poor ape was taken before the magistrates, subjected to a
trial and hanged.
From that day to this “Hartlepuddlians”, as
they would prefer to be called, have been tagged “monkey hangers”.
The hanging monkey was adopted as the symbol of Hartlepool Rovers
Rugby Club who have produced many famous international players.
In 1999 Hartlepool United adopted a monkey as its
mascot too - named H’Angus. His alto ego, Stuart Drummond, a man
working at a local call centre, was to stand as elected mayor in the
first such elections.
He promised in his election manifesto free bananas
for school children. Much to the disgust of the local political
parties H’Angus the Monkey was elected Mayor. Even more astounding
when he stood for re-election at the end of his first term, he was
re-elected and increased his majority.
Yes the people of Hartlepool are hard working folk
with a sense of humour. It is the birthplace of many famous and
talented people and a few infamous ones too.
The local football club as I have mentioned is
called Hartlepool United and on the club badge are the words which say
it all “the town’s club”. Over the past 100 years many players
have graduated from the youth academy and gone on to play for bigger
clubs and international teams. It seemed appropriate in United’s
centenary year that I include a tribute to my favourite football team,
those players who pulled on the famous blue and white more than 300
times.
Hartlepool is just 100 miles from Gretna and a similar distance to
Berwick on Tweed and many players have stopped off at Victoria Park or
as it was known in the good old days Victoria Ground on their way to
and from Bonnie Scotland. I have included them too as they added to
the rich tapestry of Hartlepool United. Collectively they are called
“The Tartan Poolies”.
People associated with the town of Hartlepool,
through hard work and endeavour, have risen to the top of their chosen
professions, whilst others have canoed their way into our colourful
history.
Hartlepool is where the many were given their first
chance on the road to fame, even though some were not born within the
borough boundaries. Some will be familiar household names, some have
made the global stage and others well not so well known but when
gathered together they are the people of Hartlepool
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