Middlesbrough

Once upon I time, I used to live just outside Middlesbrough, in Great Ayton.  Growing up in the countryside, Middlesbrough was my first real experience of a decent sized town.  It’s where our first ‘nights out’ were.  When I look back on them now, I’m not sure how we survived them.

Through the eyes of a load of country-grown teenagers, Middlesbrough seemed impressive. And then I spread my wings & saw the world.  

Apart from a few short visits to the town between then and now, I’ve not really been back.  I’ve been back to Great Ayton many times, but not back into Middlesbrough itself.  Memories are a strange thing.  The place was nothing like I remembered it.  It was never what you’d call an affluent city, but now, large swathes of it are boarded up. Yes, there are newly built, gentrified areas, but they seem to be like sticking plasters, masking an ugly, underlying injury.  It’s been neglected for too long now for a few newly fabricated apartment buildings with primary coloured window frames to solve its problems. 

It was like seeing an old friend that you haven’t seen in decades, who’s really let themselves go.  It makes you kind of sad to see it, but you’d never tell them.

A Catch-up

Luckily, I had a good reason for heading up to The Boro.  Meeting up with Phil Kneen.  Now, if you love photography, you really need to give his website a look over. ( https://philkneen.wordpress.com/ ).  I can promise you that you won’t be disappointed. 

It’s been 8 years since I last saw Phil when we drove up to the top end of Norway. One of those lifetime experiences where lifetime friendships are forged. You can keep in touch with people online, but  years of web chatting doesn’t come close to a day of walking, chatting drinking coffee & taking Photos. In balance with the town’s fortunes, it was good to see an old friend in good shape. I need to see more of my friends & maintain friendships. Middlesbrough is testament to what neglect can do.