Heritage Strategy - Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

stockton-on-Tees <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Strategy</strong>
john Walker
1781 - 1859
John Walker was born on the 29th May 1781 at 104 High
Street, <strong>Stockton</strong>, where his father was in business as a
grocer and wine and spirit merchant. John was the third
of four boys; he also had two sisters.
John was well educated (at grammar school) and when
he was 15 he was apprenticed to a <strong>Stockton</strong> surgeon
named Watson Alcock. He went to London to complete
his education and, on his return, became Alcock's
assistant. He also went to both York and Durham to train
alongside wholesale druggists.
In 1819 John opened a chemists and druggists shop at 59
High Street, <strong>Stockton</strong>. His interests were wide (he was
known as '<strong>Stockton</strong>'s encyclopaedia') and he was
particularly keen on chemistry.
He discovered that if he coated the end of a stick with
certain chemicals and let them dry, he could start a fire by
striking the stick anywhere. These were the first friction
matches. The chemicals he used were antimony sulphide,
potassium chlorate, gum, and starch. Walker did not
patent his "Congreves" as he called the matches (alluding
to the Congreve's rocket invented in 1808), preferring
instead to pursue his scientific studies. He did not divulge
the exact composition of his matches.
His first sale of the matches was on April 7, 1827, to a
Mr. Hixon, a solicitor in the town. Walker made little
money from his invention. He died in 1859 at the age of
78 and is buried in the Norton Parish Churchyard in
<strong>Stockton</strong>.
Will hay
1888 - 1949
Will Hay was born on 6th December 1888, the son of an
engineer at <strong>Stockton</strong>-on Tees, England. In his early years
the young Will did a tremendous amount of travelling in
pursuit of his fathers engineering career. It was whilst in
his infant years that Will left <strong>Stockton</strong> and moved to
Lowestoft.
After a short career in engineering he took to the stage as
a stand up comedian. In 1914 he joined the Fred Karno
troupe, famous for it's comedy talent, which included
Stan Laurel and Charles Chaplin.
After nearly two decades of successful music hall tours he
was offered a lead film role and entered the career for
which he is remembered today.
During 1935-6 films like 'Boys Will Be Boys', 'Windbag The
Sailor', 'Where There's A Will' and 'Good Morning Boys
followed before Hay made the vintage comedy ‘Oh, Mr
Porter!’ Considered by many to be his crowning glory, the
film took a massive £500,000 on it's release in 1937.
After a quarter of a century in the public limelight, he
died following a stroke at his home in Chelsea on Easter
Monday 18th April 1949.
27