REDCAR – Pier 60th year celebration 1935

Accreditation Cleveland Standard 01/06/1935

IN FULL WAR PAINT

Redcar’s Sixty Years Old Pier

TO CATER FOR DANCERS
THIS SEASON

   A procession including the local police band, well known engineers, surveyors and eminent personages of the Cleveland district formed in the High Street, Redcar, and headed by Rear-Admiral Chalenor, marched down to the Pier. On arriving the police band played until all preparations were ready and then Rear Admiral Chalenor was asked to declare the Pier officially open. The Rev. W. Milburne, Vicar of Redcar, offered up a prayer. There were thousands of spectators.
All this took place 62 years ago, in 1873, and since then the Redcar Pier and its Committee have enjoyed more than sixty successful seasons. And the Pier is as good to-day as when it was built. Statesmen have walked to the end of it and gazed at the same view as we look at to-day; soldiers, sailors, millions of visitors, and eminent people who are now forgotten have paid their coppers at the tollgate. There thousands of pennies have changed hands. And the Committee are planning another successful season this year.
“The Pier has had its ups and downs,” said Mr. Arthur Greenwood, the Pier secretary, in an interview, “but it is still in perfect condition. And that is because it has always been well cared for and looked after.” The present length of 1,300 feet is not the original length, it was at one time longer, but ships have crashed into its end and for sixty-two years it has been lashed and buffeted by wind-storm and raging seas. But it still remains in “good condition.”
Tons of paint has been used this year, and not only in making the Pier look brighter and more cheerful but for preservation reasons. These are the most important reasons for the painting underneath the Pier. Men have been at work scratching the rust from the girders and the mould and debris from the wood. The underneath has received heavy coats of paint. The colour scheme chosen for this season is red and white, Lord Zetland’s colours. The Pier has been renovated throughout.
The Committee have arranged dancing four nights a week throughout the season and M. Sydney and his boys will provide the music.
“We have undoubtedly the finest floor for dancing in the district,” declares Mr. Greenwood. Dancing has become far more popular than the concerts we have held in the past. This year we intend to give preference to dancing. Our visitors don’t want to sit down and see concerts. They can get all that at home. Young people to-day considers dancing the main enjoyment of a holiday and we shall cater for these young people.”
A few years ago, when the Redcar Corporation considered buying the Pier a member of the Council declared that it was in very bad condition and would not last long. An expert was called to inspect it and he declared that the lifetime of the Pier had no limit judging by the present condition. It had been well cared for.
“The Pier has always paid its way,” stated Mr. Greenwood.
Mr. Greenwood, the hardworking enthusiastic secretary of the Pier Company, has watched Redcar grow from a tiny coastal place into a popular seaside resort, and he has devoted his life to public entertainment.