Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
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The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll'

Posted by Norman on 3/7/2026, 3:09 pm

I had the story on here recently as well as our local 'Shields Gazette' because of it being such an interesting story.
I offered it to the 'Evening Chronicle & also to the monthly 'Northern Cross' religious paper and have just found it is in the July Edition of the 'Cross'.
https://www.shieldsgazette.com/retro/south-tyneside-school-teacher-war-heroics-8641290

Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll'

Posted by Patrick on 4/7/2026, 1:11 pm, in reply to "The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll' "

Hi Norman, your article is in this month's edition of the Northern Cross too.

Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll'

Posted by Norman Dunn on 4/7/2026, 2:25 pm, in reply to "Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll' "

Hi Patrick,
The editor is sending me and Mr Carroll's grandson copies for our records.
I recently sent some 1972 & 1987 'Hexham & Newcastle Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage' photos to the Northern Cross editor & she loved them so they will be in the August edition.

Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll'

Posted by Linda in NZ on 4/7/2026, 9:06 pm, in reply to "Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll' "

Thank you for sharing that story of service and bravery Norman. We owe our lives to heroes like Mr Carroll . Lest we Forget.

Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll'

Posted by Norman on 4/7/2026, 10:25 pm, in reply to "Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll' "

Thanks Linda,
I just wanted to share the story as best I could as a tribute to him. None of his many pupils over the years knew he had been in the war as he just kept it to himself as if it was nothing special he'd done. What a modest hero he was and I now forgive him for caning me once or twice

Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll'

Posted by Linda in NZ on 4/7/2026, 10:41 pm, in reply to "Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll' "

Humble man.

Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll'

Posted by Stan Wears on 5/7/2026, 8:53 am, in reply to "Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll' "

He caned me a few times Norman but hes well forgiven !

A photo of Joe Carroll in the RAF

Posted by Norman on 5/7/2026, 9:49 am, in reply to "Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll' "

Joe Carroll's son Roger finally unearthed a photo of his dad in RAF uniform and grandson Rory passed a copy to me yesterday. Here's Joe probably in his late 20s. (he was born 1910)

Re: A photo of Joe Carroll in the RAF

Posted by Joseph on 5/7/2026, 11:06 am, in reply to "A photo of Joe Carroll in the RAF"

Best science teacher of that time in Aloysious, could be mistaken but did he have a limp, every lesson he took was so interesting.

Re: A photo of Joe Carroll in the RAF

Posted by Joseph on 5/7/2026, 11:10 am, in reply to "Re: A photo of Joe Carroll in the RAF"

P.s.Film star looks.

Re: A photo of Joe Carroll in the RAF

Posted by Norman on 5/7/2026, 11:59 am, in reply to "A photo of Joe Carroll in the RAF"

When I was in his class 1958-9 us kids would go to the 'Pictures' and we'd watch war films and see Film Stars acting the parts that our Teacher had just done 'for real' not many years earlier and we never knew.
That generation just got on with the job, came home afterward & went back to work and said nothing. They just wanted to forget war.

Re: The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll'

Posted by Jimmy Elley on 12/7/2026, 4:30 pm, in reply to "The recent story about my 1950s Teacher 'Joe Carroll' "

My Dad told me a lot of stories about that teacher, I still have a giggle now and then

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