American adventures

WE told in February the remarkable story of Harry Dixon Jessop, a Yorkshire lad who fought with the Confederate Cavalry in the American Civil War and who – after many adventures – is buried with his Southern Cross of Honour in Linthorpe cemetery, Middlesbrough.

“He went through hell and back,” said Ros Robinson, his great granddaughter, from Darlington.

The story also embraced Maria Harridine, daughter of a black slave family which saved Jessop’s life and who herself came to England, effectively as their au pair. “Freedom of the Boro,” said the headline.

The woman they called Miss Harridine is still remembered by Jessop’s granddaughter, 105-yearold Hilda Jessop, who lives in a care home at Redmarshall, near Stockton.

The whole story, extensively researched, has now been published by Chris Carter, a Middlesbrough genealogist and historian who heard about the Confederate grave on a visit to the cemetery.

Born near Hull, in 1844, Jessop sailed for America when he was 15 and conscripted – with his horse – the following year into the 15th Alabama Partisan Rangers. Harry’s war was to prove an eventful three years.

“When it ended, they just told him that they’d lost and to go home. It didn’t matter that home was Hull,”

said Ros.

Finally back, he moved to Middlesbrough and began a stevedore company in Bridge Street. He died in 1909.

■ Life and Times of Harry Dixon Jessop is available from Middlesbrough archives, Saltburn tourist information centre or through the author, ccartersbooks@aol.com A FIRESIDE bite of lunch with the ever-engaging John Elliott – sheep farmer, racehorse trainer and chairman of the Ebac Group which recently upped sticks from St Helen’s Auckland to the Aycliffe industrial estate. Outside it was chucking down, breezy, distinctly fresh. “Lovely weather, but it could do with being about ten degrees colder,” said John.

Ebac make dehumidifiers.

LAST week’s column told the story of Billy Rees, the raggytrousered lad from Albert Hill, Darlington, who became one of Australia’s best-known artists and sculptors.

Billy, it may be recalled, has produced a book of paintings and memories of that hammer-and-tongs part of town in its merry, mucky, pomp.

The bad news for all who’ve asked about it – “Morrison’s has been stowed out,” we’re assured – is that the book was produced simply for Billy’s family and friends and isn’t on general sale.

The better news is that Kay Warren, his daughter, is investigating the possibility of having it commercially published over here.

Though Kay’s still in Darlington, the family long left Albert Hill. “As children, we’d want to go to Butlin’s on holiday,” says Kay. “For some reason we always seemed to go to Albert Hill.”

Up Hill and down, we’ll pass on any news.

HARRY McNeilly, who brought in Billy’s book, now delivers a copy of the TES (nee Times Education Supplement) magazine. His lad Ian’s featured in the question and answer session.

Once an English teacher at Richmond School, Ian’s now director of the National Association for the Teaching of English as well as running a boxing website.

The best bit of advice he’s ever been given – “If the meat’s tough, put the fork in the gravy” – forms the TES headline.

The best excuse he ever heard wasn’t so much an excuse as a distraction technique, he says.

Asked for his homework, a Year 9 “character” stood up, flung back his chair and shouted “Give us a hug, big guy.”

Fair play, says Ian. You’ve got to have bottle to do that.

OUR friends at St Helen’s Auckland parish church mark the completion of a tenyear restoration – including the organ – with a celebrity concert on Saturday, October 30 (7.15pm).

Internationally renowned opera singers Alison Hudson and David Stephenson are soloists, accompanied on the organ by Matthew Atherton, assistant director of music at Barnard Castle School.

Tickets are £12 from Freda Billson (01388-604406) or from Cameo Fine Arts in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland.

…and finally, a bit of a mystery.

While other people have milk delivered, between 7am and 8am the other morning someone left on our doorstep a pint of beer, brewed by Camerons to mark this year’s 75th anniversary of Newcastle International Airport.

The lady of the house recalled that a leg of pork had once arrived in similarly unexplained circumstances.

To whoever left it, thanks.

The bottle top appears ready for take-off.

Jungle sale

GOING ape? This gaggle of gregarious gorillas, collected over 30 years, is to be auctioned in aid of the Methodist church building fund at Hamsterley in west Durham.

After centuries of the other sort, it may be the first known example of a jungle sale.

They’ve been given by a lady who requests anonymity. “I suppose some people get underpants or socks for Christmas. She just got gorillas,” says church official John Wearmouth.

Originally there were 33 of the guys; now there are 30. Three looked so appealing with bananas in their hands that they were flogged off at harvest festival.

The gorillas range from around 2ft 6ins to just a few inches high, all in immaculate condition. They’ve been kept in a room on their own.

“They seem to be more silly than frightening, really quite huggable,”

says John. But how can he be sure that they’re all gold standard gorillas and not some anthropoid impostor?

“I’m not an expert, but they all look like gorillas to me,” he insists.

“There’s even an albino. It may be a world’s first.”

The gorillas will be on display in the Methodist Sunday School room from 10.30am on Saturday, November 6. The sale starts at 11am, the furry fellers to be auctioned individually.

Word is that the auctioneer is even casting around for a suitable outfit – “all pretty low taste stuff,” says John – to wear for the occasion.

It’ll be a monkey suit, of course.