Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]
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Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Norman Dunn on 18/10/2026, 3:35 pm
Edited by board administrator 18/10/2026, 3:36 pm

I thought I'd tell you all that recently I got in touch with the Housing Developers who are building a New Housing Estate on land where Hawthorn Leslies used to be in Hebburn. I'd heard this new estate is going to be called 'Kelly's Wharf' after Mountbatten's ship HMS Kelly.
I wasn't happy about the name (because I know quite a bit about Mountbatten) so told them that the land they are building on is where the great Andrew Leslie brought 100 years of work to Hebburn employing thousands of locals so surely the estate should be named something like 'Leslie's Wharf'. I told him that HMS Kelly was named after a Hampshire man born in 1871 and a ww1 'Admiral of the Fleet' But with no links whatsoever to Hebburn.
The reply from Mark at < Info@Kelly's Wharf.com> was negative (ie not interested) so Ive been onto my 3 Councillors and had 2 of them visit me recently. They understand everything I've said, so hopefully they can meet the builders and help me out.
Whilst they were here I showed them my latest Powerpoint Presentation about our ' River Tyne's Shipbuilding Heritage' on a large screen TV and they were really impressed.It will be ideal to show visitors in a new 'Tyne Heritage Museum' that people have been asking for as well as our Municipal Buildings such as 'Hebburn Central' 'Jarrow Focus' 'The Word' in Shields.

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Malcolm on 18/10/2026, 4:12 pm, in reply to "Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Best of luck with that Norman. It should be Leslie's Wharf, without a doubt.

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by David Henley on 18/10/2026, 4:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Norman,there should be a Maritime Museum and Heritage Centre in that site. Would starting petition to support your ideas help?

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Norman on 18/10/2026, 5:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Hi David,
The Developers have offered part of the Site to be used as a Museum so no problem there.
My complaint is naming the site after a ship simply because Mountbatten commanded it.
Years ago I watched a TV programme and a Royal Navy archivist said Mountbatten only got that 'job' because he was a Royal. He also said if Mountbatten had followed Royal Navy rules, HMS Kelly wouldn't have got torpedoed off Norway.
We also know that he has some unsavoury history and that is why the IRA killed him apparently .

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Malcolm on 18/10/2026, 5:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

My Dad told me that when Kelly left the Tyne, the Sonar picked up an underwater threat (German Sub) depth charges were rolled off the stern, but she was going too slow to clear the blast, and damaged her rudder or prop, and had to return for repairs.

The locals suggested that the underwater contact was the well-know "black midden", the low-lying rocks, just off the entrance to the Tyne!!

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Maria on 18/10/2026, 5:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Forget Mountbatten .A memory must also be included for the lads who are buried in Hebburn Cemetery .Remember Joe Donnely maybe his father also taken the bodies of the lads of the Kelly they never got over it .You go in the Caledonian pub also the longship history in photos on the walls of the Kelly .Whatever happens please don't forget those brave lads.

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Maria on 18/10/2026, 6:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

27 bodies recovered from the ship as it limped into the Tyne .

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Norman on 18/10/2026, 6:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

My granda Robert Dunn had to go aboard to help recover bodies. I don't like to say what one poor man looked like but it shocked Granda.All because Mountbatten was hopeless.

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Maria on 18/10/2026, 7:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Agree Norman .All will work out whatever they decide.A lot of my family worked in the shipyards so also a lot of pride there.Always sad when I visit the Kelly Graves.Take care x

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Sheila on 18/10/2026, 7:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

After first serving on a Russian convoy my father, a Royal Navy CPO was taken from the ship in Iceland very ill. When he recovered, back in the Royal Navy, his job was supervising the bodies into coffins, from ships that had arrived after being hit by the enemy. It’s was just trying to complete a body as most were in pieces. Yes a lot of dreadful things people witnessed in war. Lots of mistakes were made. Thinking of Lord Mountbatten, sadly you can’t be libelled after death.

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Maria on 18/10/2026, 7:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Sheila my Dad was in the convoys with the Royal Navy.Have a photo of a long line of men rifles over there shoulders marching through the streets of Portsmouth public either side of the street a police Sargent at the front maybe the end of the war or there for training?he made it home have still got his papers God bless them all .

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Maria on 18/10/2026, 8:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Spotted him straight away he was near the front in the photo.

For Maria

Posted by Sheila on 18/10/2026, 8:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Wow, a great photo, nice to keep. How good that you have your dad’s papers. My dad had all his papers in an old leather bound wallet and every ship he was on. When he died my Mum gave them to my older brother. Sadly my brother died many years ago, so I don’t know where the papers went. Probably thrown out by his wife, as it’s nothing that would interest her. I would love to read them now. He was on the Renown when the then Prince of Wales with his relative Lord Mountbatten did a tour of a country, I’m not sure if it was Africa or Australia. I know it was before WW2.

Re: For Maria

Posted by Maria on 18/10/2026, 8:52 pm, in reply to "For Maria"

Ah Sheila that is a shame.On the papers it gives the name of the ships he was on also birth marks eye colour Etc.Also conduct .The picture I mentioned was taken by the local press .Once again did not ask enough .l have one small photo where he is playing football with a few of the men in Malta.

Re: For Maria

Posted by Sheila on 19/10/2026, 8:40 am, in reply to "Re: For Maria"

Like you Maria, I often wished I had ask more about family history.
You mention a persons conduct in their papers. My dad like many others received medals. My Mum told me the only one he was proud of was his good conduct medal.

Re: For Maria

Posted by Maria on 19/10/2026, 9:26 am, in reply to "Re: For Maria"

A good few years ago Sheila I had read about a medal I applied and received a reply it was only related to the Artic convoys .My dad was in the convoys and I don't remember any other medals.Really wish as you say asked more .Going to look through a few photos not many I have .know he was in America and had the chance to meet his brother who lived there .

Re: For Maria

Posted by Maria on 19/10/2026, 10:05 am, in reply to "Re: For Maria"

Have just looked at dad's papers Sheila conduct excellent also very good .Also with what I have a printout lovely photo of war cemetery in Catania Sicily .It reads William Burke died 07 August 1943 .Son of John and Ann Burke of Hebburn Co Durham .aged 23 years.He was my dad's brother they would have been away at war at the same time feel maybe that is why no mention of medals.

Re: For Maria

Posted by Sheila on 19/10/2026, 11:35 am, in reply to "Re: For Maria"

Maria, just starting a thread it’s amazing where it can go and so many memories. Just to think your dad’s brother buried in a war cemetery in Catania Sicily at aged just 23 years old. Your grandparents would have grieved for the rest of their lives, without you knowing. I always watch the service at the Cenotaph every year and think of the sacrifices people made.

Re: For Maria

Posted by Maria on 19/10/2026, 12:02 pm, in reply to "Re: For Maria"

Sheila my grandad died in 1949 six years after loosing his son he is buried in Hebburn Cemetery I was only three never knew him .Gran lived a lot of years after him.So much grief my mam's brother is buried in war cemetery in Tobruk Libya. he was 26 left a wife and baby daughter .There is a remembrance war plaque in Jarrow town hall his name is on it Edward Weightman.Watch the Cenetaph always a few tears .

Re: For Maria

Posted by Malcolm on 19/10/2026, 4:20 pm, in reply to "Re: For Maria"

The Good Conduct medal, the LS&GCM (Long Service & Good Conduct Medal) was awarded after 17 years, later reduced to 15 year (In the RAF)

We referred to it as "15 years undetected crime" LOL

And am proud of mine!

Re: For Maria

Posted by Maria on 19/10/2026, 5:15 pm, in reply to "Re: For Maria"

Thank you Malcolm. Well done to you a wonderful career to have had you should be proud.Best wishes for the future.

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by David Henley on 18/10/2026, 7:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Norman, I take your point about him as a man, and it's name. But don't forget the wider community of Shipbuilding across the river, I worked mostly in Swanns but across the years also Leslie's, Palmers and the Naval yard. We need to remember and maintain our history.
How has it come to be that all Naval shipbuilding is now concentrated in Rosyth , and not the Tyne,Wear, or Teesside, we have a long history and SNP policy is they don't want Nuclear power in Scotland.
By the way I love Scitland but also worked on both Illustrious and Ark Royal.

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Liz Dance on 18/10/2026, 7:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

It will be interesting to see what happens to the Naval Shipbuilding in Scotland in the event that Scotland achieves Independence from the UK, no doubt the Jicks will think that we will continue supporting them?

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Malcolm on 18/10/2026, 10:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Have to agree with you Liz. Living in Scotland, I haven't met anyone yet that wants independence, apart from Swinney. And if they achieved it, then clearly the military would have to withdraw. Ship building, Army regiments, and the RAF. Oh, and the Royal Navy..... Smart move..massive loss in revenue.

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Davy on 20/10/2026, 9:02 am, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Same as the estate on reyrolls land all named after saints not one named after him.

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Norman Dunn on 20/10/2026, 10:11 am, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Well said Davy.
As Ive said a few times, Mr Reyrolle & later his 'top man'Mr Clothier brought over 12000 jobs to our area for a bit less than 100 years & we have nothing in our area to commemorate them. When the 'Clothier Building' (High Voltage Test Facility) was demolished, a housing estate was built on the land and named after that Ellison family again and the streets named after birds.
Surely we can do our best at getting Mr Leslie's name remembered now that we have a brand new Council🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏.

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Cllr Mike Smith on 24/10/2026, 11:34 am, in reply to "Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Huge thanks and appreciation to Norman for sharing his presentation on River Tyne's Shipbuilding Heritage, absolutely fascinating content that showcases the local heritage and industry that has sadly been lost. I'm very much looking forward to working with Norman to continue to explore opportunities to get this amazing content out to a wider audience. Well done Norman, keep up the awesome work!👍

Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails

Posted by Norman Dunn on 24/10/2026, 4:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Hawthorn Leslies, soon to be forgotten If this fails"

Thank you for appreciating what I am trying to do for our area Councillor Smith. Much appreciated.
Its so different to be listened to for a change by our new Reform Councillors 👍👍👍

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No bad language or derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.