Backworth Park Primary School, The Park, off Station Road.
Handed back to Backworth School 13th November 2002.
Framed photograph, 20 inches high x 14 inches wide, of Miss Doris Ewbank.
See above.
1. The picture hung in the classroom where Miss Ewbank taught, and pupils placed vases of flowers beneath it. A newspaper article dated 25/09/1941 reports: "
Everyday, children at Backworth Junior School take bunches of fresh flowers and leaves which they place in a vase at the foot of the memorial photograph of one of their late teachers - Miss Doris Ewbank. Miss Ewbank, who had been a member of the staff for 4˝ years under Mr. W. Simpson, headmaster, was attached to the personnel of No.2 First Aid Post, Whitley Bay. It was while on duty relieving a neighbouring First Aid Post during an enemy raid that she was killed.
The memorial has been set up by pupils and staff, and is placed in the school entrance with the following words "A tribute of esteem in memory of Miss Doris Ewbank who was killed by enemy action while on duty as a voluntary ambulance driver April 10th 1941."
It also hung on the wall at the end of the corridor, and in the Headmaster’s Office.
2. “I used to be the caretaker at Backworth Infants’ School. When the school was changed into a Drama Centre they didn’t want the picture of Miss Ewbank, so I took it home. In 1991, when I saw the article about Coquet Park First School asking for information about her, I gave it to them.”
3. The pupils at the Coquet Park First School handed the photograph back to the Backworth Primary School at the rededication ceremony on 13th November 2002.
4. See
Every Name A Story
Photo: J. Brown
Memories of Miss Doris Ewbank Group folder tells the story of the photograph.
Mrs. June Thurston; Mr. Matthew McMurray, BA (Hons), MA, WRVS Archivist
If you are researching this memorial please contact
2014@newmp.org.uk