It’s the end but the memories lived on
Houghtonians by the hundred are watching with regret as one of the town’s landmarks is demolished.
Most of the buildings housing the old grammar school in Hetton Road and Durham Road are being demolished after the opening of the ultra-modern Houghton Kepier School only a few hundred yards away.
Passers-by watched the demolition work and recalled “the best years of their lives.”
The cleared site is being earmarked for a housing, recreation, and hospital development by Sunderland Council. A six-acre site is to be prepared for new homes and is described as attractive enough to generate development interest on the open market.
Ten acres of playing fields are to be kept for leisure activities in view of the shortage of recreation facilities in the Houghton-Hetton area.
Sunderland Health Authority hopes to develop part of the site for a community/ day care hospital although no timescale has been proposed because of lack of cash for projects. A section of land is also to be made available for extensions to Houghton St Michael’s RC Primary School for a new play area. The bravery of a young wartime pilot who sacrificed his life to save others has been honoured by hospital officials on Wearside.
Pilot Officer Cyril Barton died aged 22 at Cherry Knowle Hospital in 1944 after he crash landed his crippled bomber on the edge of Ryhope – skilfully avoiding houses in the village.
He was remembered by his wartime colleagues, his sisters and former nursing staff at a ceremony to officially name Ryhope hospitals The Barton Memorial Unit.
Malcolm Spender, unit general manager said: “We are here to honour Pilot Officer Barton who gave his life in the service of his country and because of his link with Ryhope we are pleased to be able to bear the name Barton for our services.”
PO Barton died on his 19th mission and ultimately was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery – for avoiding disaster and saving the lives of his crew members.
His sisters said a number of other memorials had been made in his honour at his home town in the south of England. A memorial to PO Barton has also been erected on Ryhope village green.