Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
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Jarrow Elvis

Posted by AJG on 3/4/2026, 5:26 pm

I just published a blog post about Jarrow Elvis, if anyone remembers him. He used to sing around the pubs and clubs in the 80s and 90s. The BBC did a documentary about him in 1992 that was quite controversial at the time as I recall.

Remembering Jarrow Elvis

Re: Jarrow Elvis

Posted by Carol in hampshire on 3/4/2026, 6:34 pm, in reply to "Jarrow Elvis"

Geordie Hannah I believe lived with his grandmother in Pelaw, he attended Bill Quay school
Everytime he saw me he used to say "Hello Joan" which is my sisters name.
He was a really lovely caring young person.

Re: Jarrow Elvis

Posted by Stan Wears on 3/4/2026, 7:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Jarrow Elvis"

It all started in the Robin Hood in Jarrow thanks to Jess Mc Connel However, when Jess got them all to the Victoria Park, he was slated in the press calling it a circus. I wrote back to the Gazette and explained that Jess gave these people their only chance to get on stage. Being a guitarist I supported Jess. However, one weekend I was talking to Ray Tones, organist in the Alberta and in came Stoker( Hebburn Cliff ) He told Ray and I he was going to end his life. We tried to talk to him but days later he did. Walked into the Tyne I believe....a very sad case indeed. I want people to understand Jess Mc Connel gave those unfortunate souls a chance to shine...

Re: Jarrow Elvis

Posted by AJG on 3/4/2026, 9:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Jarrow Elvis"

There's an interview on Gary Alikivi's website with Jess McConnell where he talks briefly about Jarrow Elvis getting his start.

The BBC documentary talks about how the Victoria Park probably gave the performers their only chance to be seen, and how much they enjoyed it. They tempered this with the fact that the pub was making lots of money because of the singers but wasn't paying them.

Very sad about Les Stoker. Shows how a lot of those people had serious problems and that they had fallen through society's gaps.