The latest issue (no. 113, 6 April 2013) of the REMEMBER WHEN magazine published by our local Teesside Evening Gazette has several items of interest to ship enthusiasts, including memories of Head Wrightsons, and of the opening of Tees Dock 50 years ago in March 1963.
Of particular interest, however, was a photo of the paddle-tug FLYING FISH: The write-up accompanying this was: The history of this veteran is recorded for us by Dave at: http://www.tynetugs.co.uk/flyingfish1882.html. I was intrigued to note her early conversion to a trawler then later back to a tug, something not shown by John Proud in his SEAHORSES OF THE TEES.
What we do have is that she was in service on the Tees for only a relatively short time, from 1947 until scrapped in January 1951. Interesting, too, that although shown in Tees Towing colours she was actually the last tug owned by Charles Duncan & Sons Ltd., who had been absorbed into Tees Towing in 1922. She was also Tees Towing's last paddle tug.
Given these dates, the mention in the above article of naval vessels on the old Raylton Dixon site (closed 1922) seems something of a red herring? If the Eston Hills are visible in the original of the print then we are certainly looking at the south bank of the River Tees. Must admit the patchwork quilt shed behind the tug's funnel does seem vaguely familiar, but can anyone identify the location, as requested?
Ron