A remarkable memoir charting one family's journey from rural North Yorkshire to the industrial heart of the North East is set to be shared publicly for the first time at a special event.
The memoir tells the story of the Sayers family’s move from Loftus to Billingham in 1928 to help open the ICI Anhydrite Mine.
Written by Blanche Madden (nee Sayers) in her 80th year, the memoir offers a vivid childhood perspective of that life-changing relocation.
Wilfred Tom Sayers, who made the move from Loftus with his family a century ago
(Image: Supplied)
Her granddaughter, Alison Fraser (nee Newton), who will read from the memoir at the upcoming event, said: "It's astonishing that although written in great age, her account of the move has all the freshness and observation of a child of eight.
"It was a labour of love, two volumes long and written throughout in a legible flowing ink script.
"I feel deeply honoured that my Nana decided to write it for me and that it should be hopefully admired by everyone who hears the story.
Blanche Madden (nee Sayers) who wrote the memoir
(Image: Supplied)
"I know it gave her enormous pride and pleasure to write it."
The first public reading will take place at St Cuthbert’s Church in Billingham as part of a special exhibition celebrating the pioneers who moved to the area to work at the ICI factory, originally opened by Brunner Mond & Co in 1919.
The Sayers family, originally from Loftus, settled in an ICI house on Bedale Avenue in Billingham.
Although Alison now lives in Consett, she and her parents, Mike and Chris Newton of Cowpen, maintain close ties to the church, which is the final resting place of Wilfred Tom and Martha Mary Sayers.
Alison Fraser (nee Newton) for whom it was written
(Image: Supplied)
The Friends of St Cuthbert’s Church invited people to bring along photos and memorabilia about their family pioneers.
Alison, Mike and Chris responded by bringing along Blanche’s memoir and it was agreed that a reading from it by Alison at the Exhibition would be the best way to do it justice.
Alison said: "We are delighted to be able to help the Friend’s exhibition in this way.
"The Church has always been an important part of the family’s life and we very much want to see it continue providing events like the exhibition for the enjoyment and education of the Town.
"It has been wonderful to see how well the memoir has been received by all who have seen it and we are hoping to look at more opportunities to share it with the community in the future."
The exhibition will run over the August bank holiday weekend, and organisers have invited residents to bring photographs and memorabilia related to their own family pioneers.
Charles Wellington, speaking on behalf of the Friends of St Cuthbert’s Church, said: "We are enormously grateful to Alison, Mike and Chris for making the memoir available in the Church.
"It is quite wonderful how it brings to life the family’s time in Loftus and Billingham.
"But with all the fun and gaiety of Blanche’s account, she also tells of deep tragedy too, as suffered by so many families at the time, and it was chiefly that which made the family decide that a reading is the best way of doing justice to Blanche’s work."
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The Friends are considering the possibility of a theatrical adaptation of the memoir, in further collaboration with the Newton family.
Mr Wellington said: "We also see a wonderful opportunity for possibly following up with a theatrical performance adapted from the rest of the memoir, and we are discussing with Alison and her family whether that might be a possibility."
The public is invited to attend the exhibition and reading on Saturday and Sunday, August 29 and 30, at St Cuthbert’s Church, Billingham.