Albert John Smith

I worked at Hills, Norton Road until 1981 after Bowaters took over. I was a foreman on the transport dept, the driver on the bottom picture is one of three brothers - Walter Furfey. The machine could raise about thirty five feet to stack timber and lower down to about 6ft high, what a shame it all came to a end.11/03/2010 19:50:31

Bob Irwin

Walter Furphy was a Shop Steward and Convener for the Joiners. He is the brother of Ken Furphy who became a Football Manager I think at Watford. 12/03/2010 13:59:13

Alan Wealleans

A third brother, Reg Furphy, was a senior member of Holy Trinity Youth Club during my days as a member. I remember he had a noticeable limp.12/03/2010 17:58:04

Ken Rhodes

Bob, I remember Walter Furphy but I always thought he was Ken and Reg Furphy's uncle. He lived quite near to Ken and Reg in the Riley Street area. I could be wrong.12/03/2010 20:20:50

Anon

If Ken Furphy is this chaps brother, then the late Reg Furphy must be the other. He worked in the offices at Head Wrightsons Teesdale Works, Thornaby and he was involved with Stockton West End Football Club for a lot of years. Ken Furphy was also manager of New York Cosmos.13/03/2010 18:54:50

Bob Irwin

In this photo it would not be Walter Furphy. He was a Joiner and did not work in the woodyard as a fork lift driver. It was very tight Union factory and he would not have been allowed onto one of these machines. Also Walter was a committee member of the Stockton Cricket Club and lived on the estate at the back of the Club. He was Kens brother, being slightly older.15/03/2010 10:46:19

Bob Irwin

My brother was an electrician at Pickerings Lifts. It was his boast that he worked there with Ken Furphy.15/03/2010 11:49:55

Gran Cooper

Ken Furphy when he lived in Mary St. went to Oxbrige Lane school and then the Sec. He was born in 1931 and I knew him well in those schooldays. Despite the Sec being a Rugby playing school he signed for Everton on leaving school along with a lad called Alan Eastwood. He didn't make the first team and went to Darlington via Runcorn. He played, at fullback, for many seasons before joining Workington as player-manager. He later joined Watford in a similar role, and later managed Blackburn and Sheffield United before managing in U.S.A. He returned to U.K. and had a very brief spell with Exeter. His brother Reg managed Stockton West End in the 50's and they won Stockton and District League Cup in 1954. It is worth mentioning that Sammy Kemp, who also lived in Mary St, played on the wing for Sunderland and Sheffield United in the 50's. I believe the parents of the Furphys finally lived in one of the streets near the Gasworks.15/03/2010 13:56:11

Bob Irwin

Ken, on Wikipedia it states Ken Furphy was on Evertons books 1950-51 making him 19 to 20. Did you work at Pickerings and if so he would be there when you were? I know my brother said he worked with him. Maybe he left there to become a professional footballer.15/03/2010 16:10:56

Anon

Reg Furphy married a girl called Olive Plumley, who lived in Byron Street round the Gasworks, but when they were courting Reg lived the other side of the town. 15/03/2010 17:22:34

Ken Rhodes

Bob I worked at Pickerings but don't remember Ken Furphy working there, mind you I was only a boy and he could have been down in the works electric shop well away from me. I remember both Alan Eastwood and Sammy Kemp Gran, both great footballers in their time. You as an Oxbridge lad should be able to help Bob - were Ken, Reg and Walter Furphy brothers?I'm sorry I dont know.Again I seem to remember Ken working at a motor electricions in Parliment Street?15/03/2010 19:33:15

Alastair Smith

I was wondering when the name Sammy Kemp would receive a mention on this site. Sammy was in the same training class as myself in 1971 with the GPO to become a postie in Stockton. He was a genial guy with a quiet sense of humour who was always willing to help out. I believe that Len Shackleton rated Sammy as one of the best prospects in the North East as a young player. Did he ever sign for Middlesbrough?16/03/2010 06:46:49

Bob Irwin

I once spoke to Sammy Kemp in the Brown Jug and he said he was a Postman. I told him I used to watch him when he played for Sunderland. I mentioned that he kept an Irish International out of the team by the name of Billy Bingham. His reply was, "Who's he." Billy Bingham at that time was a class International winger playing for the Republic of Ireland.16/03/2010 10:30:03

Granville Cooper

Reference the Furphys; Ken and Reg were brothers but I am afraid I cannot remember Walter. I've been interested in Bob and Ken's comments on Pickerings as one of my late brothers served his time there during the war before emigrating to Tasmania. Anon, you are no doubt correct on where Reg Furphy lived as I could only remember going there to hand in my signing on forms for West End and it was his Dad who answered the door. Alastairs comments on Len Shackletons views on Sammy Kemp are also correct. Think Sammy played for Whitby prior to joining Sunderland. Ken, you should be able to remember the 12 or more a sides on Sunday afternoons in Ropner Park, still in our best suits, which Barry and Sammy participated in despite being professionals, in the early 50's.16/03/2010 11:14:54

Ken Rhodes

I certainly do remember those 12 aside games in Ropner Park with Barry, Sammy, Ebby Neal, yourself, Col Richards and all the rest of the Oxbridge lads, along with lads from all over Stockton. We did'nt care that they were Pro's, we still clogged them if they showed off, which to be fair they didn't very often. Sammy Kemp was a brilliant footballer and should have gone on to greater things in the football game.16/03/2010 18:17:31