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Recollections of Arty Lockyear

We have include below some of the Seaham Harbour Online Guestbook comments which have been made about Seaham's most revered PC.  The comments, whether short or lengthy help to convey the affection with which Arty Lockyear is still remembered.

 

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Seaham Harbour Online  Guestbook comments

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Further to my earlier comment, and having read all the others, I can confirm that PC ArthurLockyer dispensed summary justice to many a Seaham kid in a manner which was usually deserved and always effective!!It would be very NON-PC today, but then look at the results! Arthur had enormous respect. He road a Velocette motorbike which virtually disappeared under his huge frame, and he knew every potential deliquent in the area. I was once caught stealing apples from an orchard behind Rock House and got a c lip around the ear for my trouble!!You would have to wonder how much we have progressed when the liberals allow young people to get away with what they do today.It didn't happen in Arthurs day!
Colin Hall <nobby.hall@xtra.co.nz >
Lower Hutt, New Zealand - Saturday, September 26, 1998 at 04:06:05 (EDT)

ISN'T SEAHAM WONDERFUL! I LIVED IN SEAHAM FROM 1948 UNTIL I DESERTED THE OLD PLACE AND 'WENT SOUTH' FOR THREE YEARS TO GRANTHAM(LINCS), WHERE I STUDIED TEACHER TRAINING AND HAD PEOPLE MAKE FUN OF MY ACCENT. WE DIVN'T SPEAK FUNNY ,LIKE,MARRAS. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER MY DAD, ERNIE ROWELL, WHO WAS A JOINER AT 'THE KNACK' OR BILLY HUTCHINSON, A WELDER AT VANE TEMPEST PIT? INCIDENTALLY, MY GRAN DORA HUTCHINSON,OF 4, OLIVER STREET ONLY DIED THIS YEAR AGED 99YEARS 9MONTHS SHE USED TO BREED SCOTTISH TERRIERS..DOES ANYONE OUT THERE REMEMBER HER? LIKE NOBBY FROM NEW ZEALAND I REMEMBER ARTHUR LOCKYER,A FEARSOME MAN, BUT FAIR. I HAVE TOLD MANY TALES OF HIS VAST FRAME AND SMALL BIKE (HOW DID IT SUPPORT HIM?) I WELL REMEMBER THE DAY WHEN HE RODE PAST MY GRANDAD'S BANKHEAD FISHERIES AND RUSS, THE GUARD DOG , CHARGED OUT. ARTHUR PROMPTLY FELL OFF INTO ONE OF THE NUMEROUS PUDDLES.I RAN AWAY AND HID BEHIND THE AMBULANCE STATION AS I KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I W AS IN CLIPPING RANGE.MY GRANDAD WAS VERY SUBDUED FOR MANY DAYS AFTERWARDS. I STILL GO BACK TO THE OLD PLACE BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM THE SAME WTHOUT THE PITS,CLEANER THOUGH. THE FEATHERBED ROCK HAS NEARLY GONE TOO!
alan rowell <alan@rowella.freserve.com.uk >
durham, co. durham england - Thursday, March 11, 1999 at 06:16:14 (EST)

Hi, great site. I'm Fred Tuck and I was borne and raised in Seaham. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who was at Deneside Junior from '47 to '52, or Ryhope Grammar from '52 to '57. Please let Nobby Hall know that Arty Lockyear had a Bantam and then a 250 Enfield, no Velo's. He tried several times to catch me and my mates ( Jonka, Spuggy, Cocker ) but did'nt have the hosepower. Good to read the stories and visit for a while, keep it up.
Fred Tuck <fred_tuck@bc.sympatico.com>
Port Alberni , B.C. Canada - Monday, May 10, 1999 at 00:18:40 (EDT)

I think you are probably correct about Arthur Lockyers bike's. Being quicker (on a push-bike) than he was, I never got to study them close up. You obviously did, but then we SMS lads were always ahead of the play!!!
Nobby <nobby@paradise.net.nz >
Lower Hutt, New Zealand - Friday, May 14, 1999 at 20:33:26 (EDT)

To Seaham Resident, Well said. Bring back Arty Lockyear. He knew how to police Seaham
Sal
Seaham, Durham UK - Thursday, November 15, 2001 at 06:44:58 (PST)

Sal - Get real a think a lot has changed since PC Lockyears time. We all know of the stories when he would clip people around the ear with a glove - do you honestly think it could happen now. It more Police in Seaham we need and we need then 24 hours a day.
Val Roberts
- Friday, November 16, 2001 at 12:35:19 (PST)

Arty Lockyear. Now there's a guy I remember well - the worlds only 2 wheeled bubble car. He once made a wise crack about my toes going to the tips of winkle pickers. I then made a crack about his head going to top of his helmet. The next crack was the back of his hand on my ear. Did coppers ever have a sense of humour?
Isaac
- Friday, November 16, 2001 at 16:22:53 (PST

It's true they don't make coppers like Artie Lockyear anymore but then they don't make motorcycles like that anymore. I used to think that bike had saddlebags fitted until Artie climbed off.
the dolphin in the harbour
- Friday, November 16, 2001 at 16:24:11 (PSTHi - to Val Roberts ,The Dolphin On The Water , Isaac ,Kinky John and

The Seaham Resident ,you are all giving your ages away ! Sgt Arthur Lockyear!If we misbehaved it was a swipe with his cape that did the damage ,and no help from our parents , who always said " You must have deserved it " . we used to wonder where the back wheel went when he got on his bike ?
Oz Brian
- Saturday, November 17, 2001 at 12:34:31 (PST)

To Val Roberts, Ithink you miss understood my comments Val. I was agreeing that we need more police. I was only pointing out that in my opinion we need a force that works. i.e policemen/women like Arty Lockyear
Sal
Seaham, - Saturday, November 17, 2001 at 12:38:45 (PST)

I remember Arty Lockyear, although we used to call him Fatty Lockyear, I never had anything to do with him, but I remember kids telling me he used to clip them around the ear!! I remember some of my teachers used to chuck board erasers across the room, if they hit someone they hurt! Maybe if the teachers and cops could use more disipline we wouldn't have so many brats.
Joan <mark_watkinson@telus.net >
mission, Canada - Saturday, November 17, 2001 at 12:42:18 (PST

I was around when Arthur Lockyear was the local bobby, and without doubt he prevented many a kid from going off the rails, because he not only cared,but had excellent intelligence as to who the real villains were. I'd have to say that I had a clip around the ear from him more than once! He had a Velocette motorbike which really struggled because Arthur was a big man, and I have a vivid memory of it struggling up the Avenue, with his Police Issue overcoat flapping in the breeze, and still managing to wave at the occasional kid he knew.I was no longer living there when he died, but I heard there was a huge turn-out at his funeral.On a more recent visit to Seaham, I called the police because someone had removed the radio from my Avis rental car, and they were no help whatsoever! Arthur would have known!To the ar**hole who stole it,freezing it to make it forget its anti-theft code doesn't work! Cretin!
Colin Hall
Wellington, New Zealand - Wednesday, November 21, 2001 at 13:28:58 (PST)

As an ex Seaham Man - Viceroy St Infants/St John's Church Street/Ropery Walk/Cameden Square trained and knew Lord Street/Marlborough Street blindfolded - I read with amusement the notice re Arty Lockyear. What ever happened to Lenny Buttons? I can remember vividly the day when after shovelling a load of coal for a woman in Viceroy St and after only being given a plate of jam sandwidges instead of the usual 5 bob, proceeded to 'hoin' all the coal from the coal house down the street to shreaks from the woman and much amusement of the other residents and us bairns playing in the street. A well known character around Seaham and I believed lived up the Avenue at Deneside. Seaham had it's fair share of characters. Is Les Witton in the nick again? Denny Mecca (Metcalf) from Parkside. Kieth Dickson - Syd Marin of the Thunderbird Gang who I remember stealing a steam roller from the council yard one day. On Sundays whilst playing on the 'Iron Bar' at the subway at the end of Lord Street - I can't remember wether it was Valentes or Pacito Senior who used to push an ice cream barrow through the subway. The kids would help him push the barrow up Boozy Alley to Dawdon and all got an ice cream. Watchie Chambers who had two sons Billie and Bobby that ran the Dray Cart pub, was the watchman at the top of the docks and the Wagonway across from the Bradyll Arms. He had a wooden leg and could never catch when tresspassing on thr docks. Tommy Mullin - the trenchcoated radio repair man who used to drink beside me in the Engineers - Pissy Peg who used to frequent the Golden Lion and usually left a calling card - strange! I reminisce. There was one gentleman whos name I can,t remember. I think he was a plumber around the Harbour. He had an afflication whereby he would constantly turn his head to one side and look up. On passing him in the street you had the urge to look up as well to see something that wasn't there - and he drove a van like that. My mam said it was shell shock. I'm sure I could write a book. The call of Queen and Country dictated my leaving Seaham, however for me it was great place to grow up and have nothing but fondest memories.
Ginger
Dunoon, Argyll & Bute - Friday, November 30, 2001 at 14:41:44 (PST)

I have family connections from Dawdon.Donaldson,Fenwick,Mehlonson,Fox,Redin. My grandfather imparticular had a very large family. Does anyone have connections with these family names. Also, as a kid, I was told stories about Lenny Button & Arty Lockear!!Does anyone know the whereabouts of Rob Smith formerly worked at Murton Pit and lived in Ryton Crs( he did emigrate to South Africa with the family, but returned in 95/96). Last I heard he was living in Mobray park, Sunderland.
Mary Poppins
- Saturday, December 08, 2001 at 11:20:57 (PST)

Despite appearances to the contrary Arthur LOckyer was a very sensitive man as well as being a dedicated Police Officer. He would be greatly moved if he knew he had been held in such respect by the people of Seaham. Does anybody have any memories of the old Police Station or the big Co-op Store on the other corner? I spent some time in both places.
Victor H. Brown < (Huntrods@btinternet.com) >
Louth, Lincolnshire England - Thursday, December 13, 2001 at 13:27:15 (PST)

Hello to anyone from Seaham Harbour a long time ago in 1966 i left home to join the Royal Navy and ive been away from home for most of that time ,except to visit my family who still live in Seaham. My sister Margaret lives in Eastlea along with three of my neices Linda,Pauline,& Joyce, our Anne like me lives and works down south. My sister Margaret married Alan MCADDO when we lived in Malvern Crescent number 81 until March 1972 then we moved to number 81a across the road near the Labour club or was it the Legion then , no the Labour club(Ponderosa). when it opened after refurbishment it became the Legion once again,my Dad Jack Spencer was on the founding committee at the time, Our dog Major used to be on a chain in the garden he kept the robbers at bay. Im fairly new to this internet stuff and still learning about it,ive found a few people that lived in Malvern. some of the stories ive read would make a good book . Most of us who were around in the 60s can well remember Artie Lockyer,who wouldnt after having your earholes clipped and being sent home to tell your parents before he called round to tell them himself. He was a friend of my Dad but it was of no consequence to me i still got a slapping or two. I was born at George Stubbins the Butcher at no 37 Station road in my god parents house i think or so im told. The wooden bridge was a great play area for us but it was a very dangerous place when you look back and remember all those planks that went missing for the bonny or the fire at home when there was no coal. we used to jump from the bridge onto the moving coal wagons and let the coal out on the move then leg it over the rails to Malvern where we lived to safety. to anyone out there in the Seaham/Sunderland area who may be related to me please get in touch as i have not seen any of my cousins for around forty years. cousins would be from Uncles Ned, Richy,Ralph, john Spencer
John Alfred Spencer4 <jaspencer8mvent@aol.com >
Portsmouth, Hampshire England - Saturday, December 15, 2001 at 03:11:21 (PST