Songs of the Streets

One of the first and most fascinating stories we heard about Holy Trinity was William Elliot’s letter. Discovered in 2020 by in the back of a pew as Holy Trinity was undergoing refurbishment, young William had written his letter on the back of an old sermon in 1897, probably during a church service. William lived at Sunderland Orphan Asylum and sang in the choir at Holy Trinity. His letter addresses the reader as 'Dear Friend' and asks that he be remembered as 'the leading voice' of the choir. The letter has now been conserved and hangs in Seventeen Nineteen’s Lady Chapel, next to the pew it was found beneath. We situated Paige’s song about William at the heart of the church.

Lyrics Remember me, remember me William E, double L, I. O. T. T Remember me, remember me I’ll leave a letter in a pew for all to see So please

Verse 1 Oh my dear friend who may find A letter from me further in time Please may I ask you, keep it safe Tell the people of my name For I’m just a small orphan boy now My father left for sea and drowned Mother lived Buslington Road But here I am left all alone

Chorus Remember me, remember me William E, double L, I. O. T. T Remember me, remember me I’ll leave a letter in a pew for all to see So please

Verse 1 Oh my dear friend who may see Words handwritten joined so neat Today we read psalms 2 & 3 And I love you, if you love me Soon I’ll grow and leave for work, down at the office with Herbert I’ve always been so very good and that is how I’ll leave my child hood

Chorus Remember me, remember me William E, double L, I. O. T. T Remember me, remember me I’ll leave a letter in a pew for all to see So please

Middle 8 William E, double L, I. O. T. T I love you, if you love me E, double L, I. O. T. T Please will you remember William E, double L, I. O. T. T I love you, if you love me E, double L, I. O. T. T Please will you remember

Chorus Remember me, remember me William E, double L, I. O. T. T Remember me, remember me I’ll leave a letter in a pew for all to see So please

When we went to Trafalgar Square, a beautiful historic square of houses for ex-mariners, just behind Holy Trinity, we expected to hear stories of the sea. And we did, but we also discovered an altogether more surprising story from Doris, who had lived at Trafalgar Gardens for years. She told us about her neighbour John, recently passed away, and his glamorous career in 1950’s London as a Burberry model and friend of royalty. It was a story about deep friendship, neighbours looking after each other and place bringing together unlikely friends.

Lyrics I was Trafalgar Square’s caretaker 9-12 every day Sunday or not I’m gonna tell you about my neighbour For 17 years he lived next door He was from Sunderland years ago A young boy born in Deptford in 31 Then from Sussex in a cottage owned By the National Trust he came home

Chorus: Let me tell you about my friend John How he’d tell me all these stories I tell you he was a one Let me tell you about my friend John He’d tell me where he’d been and tell me what he’d done Let me tell you about my friend John Let me tell you about my friend John

Verse 2: At fifteen Working at the shipyard An office boy general dogs body A taste of adventure then to Canada His first trip with the merchant navy Then bar work to farming he tried it all Then to the army in the household cavalry At the coronation in the horse guard He was even a male model for Burberry

Bridge: I never had a wrong word with him My friend he was a very nice man He liked the finer things Half past six bring him his tea A Marks and Spencers trifle or three

The railway was a huge part of the historic East End, with trains travelling down to the docks in Hendon. We spoke to community member Ronnie, who told us an altogether more personal memory of the railway: travelling in the cab of the train with his train-driver dad when he should have been at school and cooking breakfast on the hot shovel. Many of the residents we spoke to talked about their ambition to be a train driver as young boys, and so this story captured that and the closeness of families in the East End.

Lyrics I can escape here I always have You can find me heading down to the tracks Whisk me away on the southbound train oh Gives me the strength to face the world when I get back Yeah you can find me finding peace down by the tracks

Verses: My old man, drove the J-27s From the south docks, slowed into the station Carrying coal trucks He’d pick me up And put me on the foot plate That’s how I’d spend my skipped school days

Of course those days I didn’t own a watch I timed it all from the old school clock make sure I knew when To slip through the school fence Catch her steaming into view What better way to have spent my youth

Watching the world and getting into trouble eating Bacon and eggs from the hot coal shovel cooked quick it was so hot Straight from the fire box With a flask of tea on the hot plate These are the memories that stay

Musician Paige found out about local legend Joseph Ray Hodgson (1829—1908) through research and our many walks round the area. Nicknamed Stormy Petrel, after the seabirds, Hodgson was hailed as a hero dozens of times after risking his life to save people from drowning, often during a winter storm in the North Sea, when he could be seen on the pier searching the skyline for ships in distress in order that he might help. He is commemorated with a blue plaque situated on Boars Head Bistro on High Street East.

Lyrics I can escape here I always have You can find me heading down to the tracks Whisk me away on the southbound train oh Gives me the strength to face the world when I get back Yeah you can find me finding peace down by the tracks

Verses: My old man, drove the J-27s From the south docks, slowed into the station Carrying coal trucks He’d pick me up And put me on the foot plate That’s how I’d spend my skipped school days

Of course those days I didn’t own a watch I timed it all from the old school clock make sure I knew when To slip through the school fence Catch her steaming into view What better way to have spent my youth

Watching the world and getting into trouble eating Bacon and eggs from the hot coal shovel cooked quick it was so hot Straight from the fire box With a flask of tea on the hot plate These are the memories that stay

The tale of Mary Ann Cotton, the Victorian Murderess, is a dark one. Widely believed to be one of the UKs only female serial killers, it is likely she killed 11 of her 13 children and three of her four husbands for their insurance policies. Her preferred choice of killing was poison. Mary lived some of her life in Sunderland, marrying at St Peters Church and is believed to have lived on Low Street for some of her life- and this is the version of history we have chosen to believe! Mary was eventually caught, convicted and hanged at Durham Gaol in 1873.

Lyrics Young Mary Ann Cotton born and bred in Low Moorsley Came into the world on the day of Halloween She’d grow up to marry first William Mowbray Off they’d fleet to the town of Devon by the sea There she birthed 5 children sadly 4 would not survive She said a wave of Gastric fever took them out before their time On return to her home town 4 more would live and die Including Mr Mowbray life insured for 35 She said…

Chorus Tra la la la la la la What’s a little kill? I’ll boil that tea until we see another one fall ill Tra la la la la la la Whoever could be next? I’ll cash those cheques and clear my debts A Victorian Murderess

Verse 2 Just a short while later down at the infirmary Working as a nurse she’d meet her next husband to be At St. Peters church to Mr George Ward she would wed A mere 14 months later, insurance claimed, he was dead

One month on now she’d become a housekeeper to James - A widower with a young family and a keen writer of a plays 6 funerals and a wedding now thats what the story says He’d claim custody of their living child and send her on her way She said…

Chorus Tra la la la la la la What’s another kill? I’ll boil that tea until we see another one fall ill Tra la la la la la la Whoever could be next? I’ll cash those cheques and clear my debts A Victorian Murderess

Verse 3 Next came Frederick Cotton, unlucky number 4 Now Mary was a biggomist who never was divorced Again pregnant she fell, now with baby number 12 Ol’ Frederick would get stomach pains and soon become unwell

She lined up a lover by the name of Joe Natrass He’d soon meet his fate as a more sickly fella passed Enter Mr Quick-Manning suffering from the small pox Another two bodies were soon carried out in a box She said…

Chorus Tra la la la la la la What’s another kill? I’ll boil that tea until we see another one fall ill Tra la la la la la la Whoever could be next? I’ll cash those cheques and clear my debts A Victorian Murderess

Verse 4 Soon down at the workhouse she’d try to leave her step child Clashing with Thomas Riley who told her request denied ‘I won’t be troubled with him much longer’ she would say Leaving Riley suspicious when young Charles would fade away

Alt Chorus Tra la la la la la la Mary was put on trail Found guilty of the murder of her very own stepchild Tra la la la la la la Sentenced now to death A hanging was the fate Of the Victorian Murderess

The history of the newly-restored Pop Recs building served as inspiration for Holly’s song, commemorating Sunderland’s Quaker Women. Once the Quaker-owned Binns Store, the High Street East buildings were the centre of anti-slavery activism led by the women, who refused to stock slave-produced goods and advocated the boycotting of West Indian sugar and American cotton in the 1800s. Praised for their ‘superior devotedness, activity and perseverance,’ prominent American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison boldly attributed a great portion of the anti-slavery movement’s success to ‘the WOMEN of England, Scotland and Ireland’ in his 1838 address at the Broadway Tabernacle.

Lyrics On high street west There’s a plaque above a shop where The Quaker-owned Binns store used to be

Take a moment Remember these Quaker women leading Wearside anti-slavery

In the quiet In the quiet In the quiet
They found the truth that there’s something transcendent and precious in every person In the quiet In the quiet In the quiet They raised their voice

no legal vote so they wrote, petitioned and spoke pushed boycotts of slave-produced sugar

a hard campaign lost since behind their husbands’ names These women fought to change the world

The forgotten names of these forgotten women are buried In the history they made

The story of Atta Matta (aka. Shirley Ritchie), a well-known and well-loved character of the East End in the 1970s and 1980s was told to us by community member Margaret and we were intrigued! Through research, Paige learned more about her life and wrote this song inspired by tales of pubs, the rink and Alan the Boot. The song is located at Nicholson Close (then Nicholson Court) because Shirley and her family lived there for some time.

LYRICS Verse 1 Daughter of the rat catcher, Old George street’s local connosieur
Jimmy’s wife, known for her words And to three kids a mother

When times were hard A penny down She vowed that she’d be back around And back she came, her word was sound By no debt she’d be bound

Chorus ‘Atta Matta Atta Matta’ were the words she’d say And hope kindness would come your way Atta Matta Atta Matta now of Hendon Town In fur coat she’d be found

Verse 2 Well conversed with those she’d met Fond of a back street cigarette Donning a second hand dress She was a captivating guest

Visits to East End Tap Rooms Would see no drink wasted to soon Finders keepers was the rule A lady writing her own tune

Chorus ‘Atta Matta Atta Matta’ were the words she’d say And hope kindness would come your way Atta Matta Atta Matta now of Hendon Town In fur coat she’d be found

Middle 8 Her painting hung on the wall of the Boars head The good people talk of all the things she said A staple woman of the town Known by all of those around Another like her won’t be found ooh

Outro Atta Matta x8

The East End Carnival featured in most of our converations with residents, and it is powerfully remembered as an event which brought the community together with floats, a parade around the streets, music and dancing. It seemed important to capture the carnival in a song, and we’re really grateful to have spoken to the family of Winnie Davies who was the driving force behind the carnival. Winnie passed away in 2021, so it was also an honour to write this song remembering such an important community activist.

Lyrics You’d find her singing in the kitchen
Whistling like a bird
She was the love, that
binds us all together
She was passionate
She was strong

Chorus: Queen of the carnival Who never wore the crown Always a voice to those without Queen of the carnival Full of colour and cheer Singing ‘this is the East End, On the banks of the Wear’

Verse: She wasn’t frightened of anyone
Or that’s how it seemed
She was the love, that
binds us all together
She was formidable
She was fun

Bridge She made us dance, whether we wanted to or not She took on the world to make it beautiful for us And everybody called her when she walked down the lane And Winnie, Winnie Davis was her name

Community member Michelle got in touch with us via. our online story submission page to tell us about being a member of Sunderland East End Grenadiers Jazz Band, who practiced at the Orphanage and who travelled the country competing in competitions. Jazz bands were also a key part of the East End Carnival, and Michelle remembered “marching with pride, with everyone clapping and cheering us on”. It seemed right to celebrate this huge working-class tradition in song, and to include a kazoo for added authenticity!

Lyrics Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday down at the Orphan House Grenadiers would gather in the east side of the town The Scott brothers and Lillian would show to lead the band 30 strong now they’d prepare with whte gloves on their hands

And when everybody gathered ‘round…

Chorus They’d bang the drums Doo doo doo doo Sound the kazoos Doo doo doo doo Purple and white Doo doo doo doo With gleaming sand shoes Doo doo doo doo They’d march the streets Doo doo doo doo To Carnival sounds People were dancing all around

Verse 2 Now mothers they would stitch and sew late into the night To make sure the uniforms were pristine to the eye Fair grounds would assemble ahead of the weekend All the girls would fill with pride cheered by family and friends

And when everybody gathered ‘round…

Chorus They’d bang the drums Doo doo doo doo Sound the kazoos Doo doo doo doo Purple and white Doo doo doo doo With gleaming sand shoes Doo doo doo doo They’d march the streets Doo doo doo doo To Carnival sounds People were dancing all around

Middle 8 Now they would party through the night Floats would be dressed up to the nines Guaranteed the sun would shine And when the saints came marching in Everybody around would sing The Grenadiers would do their thing

Chorus They’d bang the drums Doo doo doo doo Sound the kazoos Doo doo doo doo Purple and white Doo doo doo doo With gleaming sand shoes Doo doo doo doo They’d march the streets Doo doo doo doo To Carnival sounds People were dancing all around

They’d bang the drums Doo doo doo doo Sound the kazoos Doo doo doo doo Purple and white Doo doo doo doo With gleaming sand shoes Doo doo doo doo They’d march the streets Doo doo doo doo To Carnival sounds People were dancing all around

Bill is a long-term volunteer at 17Nineteen and has poured love and care into the building over many years. His story is the perfect example of the place that Holy Trinity has in the hearts of the community which live close by and the many personal stories that sit at its heart.

Lyrics First saw the spire He was only a child Just ten years old With a flag in the sky A castle to his eye From the old toll road

Chorus: 1719 This church has been many things Fire station, a courtroom and a library 1719 This church has been many things But something it will always be Williams castle

Verse 2: 33 years later 88 was the year Back to the East End A new flat up 14 flights Looked out his window in surprise To see that castle again

Verse 3: Missing roof lead Curtains of cobwebs Surrounded by weeds It looked so sad He wanted to change that So he got the keys

Bridge: This church is a ghost, knows want it wants Saw me looking at it when I was just a bairn And grabbed a hold of us the moment I got back And ever since then I’ve looked after it best I can