Doreen Thomas, a tribute
Exhibitor : Alan Middleton
From 1958 right up until her death in 1997 at the age of 77 Doreen Thomas of Middlesborough tirelessly championed John Walker, the man who invented the Friction Match in 1826. He had become a largely forgotten figure in the 20th Century, but Doreen’s work and detailed research was a key factor in raising his profile both in his local community of Stockton on Tees and far beyond.
She wrote a definitive book about the man which was published in 1971 with a revised edition in 1990. In 1981 she wrote a companion book about the Day Book of John Walker.
A 1958 schoolbook
Doreen first became interested in the inventor in 1958 when her daughter Greta embarked upon a school project on matches. The story caught Doreen’s imagination but with a family to bring up, there was little time to dig further in the next ten years. In 1968, Geoff Watson, Museum Curator for Teesside County Borough Council, knowing of Doreen’s interest, suggested she start researching and eventually she became the world’s leading authority on the inventor of the Friction Match. Doreen fondly called her research “John Walkerys” on the man who died in 1859 and who became so much a part of her life for herself and her husband.
Doreen published numerous articles and books, perhaps the most well known being Strike a Light in 1971. Her knowledge of John Walker’s Day Book was legendary (she had it microfilmed!) and a 1981 publication analysed each entry.
An example of Doreen’s tireless campaigning is a 1992 letter she received from Encyclopaedia Britannica agreeing that her information on John Walker was more accurate than theirs.
Her last article was published in 1996 in the Cleveland History Bulletin and, typically, was a new slant on the old man – How John Walker Helped to keep the (world’s first public) Stockton and Darlington Railway on the Rails, linking his shop to a number of the most important personages of the early days of the railway, keeping them in good health and Friction Lights.
Friction Lights Rose
In the mid 1980s Doreen persuaded Battersby Nurseries in Middlesborough to grow a special “Friction Lights” Rose to commemorate John Walker’s invention. They duly grew the rose and advertised it in their 1987 Catalogue.
We know the roses were planted in the National Trust Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough and in St. Mary’s Cemetery Norton where John Walker and his family are buried. More were planted in 1989 around the John Walker statue in John Walker Square, which was demolished in 2003. They were also planted in the Stockton Pavilion at the 1990 Garden Festival in Gateshead.
Unfortunately, no trace can now be found of these roses.
Conclusion
My wife Linda and I first met Ken and Doreen in 1974 and I encouraged her to join the Society to get a wider platform for the crusade of recognition for her beloved John Walker. Over the years we worked together promoting the Society and the inventor. Doreen was always kind and generous in her endeavours, selflessly sharing her knowledge with everyone she met.
In conclusion, Doreen would not forgive me if I didn’t mention two of her dreams. The first was her ambition of a match museum in Stockton, and I think she would have been enormously pleased with the permanent John Walker exhibit at Preston Park Museum.
The second dream is not so well known, but between 1973 and 1976 she unsuccessfully suggested to the Post Office a stamp issue in 1976 to mark the 150th anniversary of the invention of the Friction Match by John Walker. She did, however, succeed in getting a special frank made for the anniversary.
The Society has continued to campaign for a Commemorative Stamp with the Post Office, but sadly it looks like it will never come to fruition.
God bless you Doreen, and thank you for your life’s work.
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