The obituary notice of Doctor Tom YELLOWLEY (Darras Hall and Ryton)

Eulogy Part 3: As a retiree, he was also a keen author, often with his friend retired Journalist Ken Smith, penning titles such as “Lost Industries of the Tyne”, “The story of the Tyne and the hidden rivers of Newcastle”, “The Town Moor - Newcastle’s green heart” and “The great walls of Newcastle – exploring the city’s ancient defences”. All available at amazon.co.uk. He also self-published books for his own and family’s amusement such as “Gardens and Palaces of Berlin and Potsdam” (2017), “Animals in the North East” (2018) and “The book of Bollards and similar things” (2018) – available at blurb.co.uk.

Most latterly he was also a keen patron of the No 9 Bistro in Darras Hall, where “Dr. Tom” as he was known would meet friends and have regular days of soup, soup and then more soup.

Whether it be husband, dad, grandad, great grandad, uncle, brother, friend or any other relationship to anyone who knew him, he will be very sadly missed by all, but most especially by his close family.

Eulogy Part 2: The next 20 years involved bringing up the children whilst balancing work as a GP in Ryton and Police Surgeon in Whickham along with many happy caravan holidays. And it was probably a relief when all four children graduated with degrees and set up their own homes. His growing family of sons and daughters-in-law included Colin, Karen and Damian and whilst he was delighted for the news of his first grandchild it was not long before the Christmas present list expanded to cover 9 grandchildren - Sam, Chloe, Alex, Anna, Tom, Eleanor, Zoe, William and Jake and latterly five great grandchildren, Olivia, Hailey, Darcy, Mabel and Bronte with another imminently pending.
Tom regularly kept in touch with his wider family, especially Nora, Pat and Liz, and his impromptu family slide shows would have everyone in fits of giggles. We never knew what photos might surface from his vast archives.Tom and Joan relished in the freedom with the children having their own lives, enjoying outings into the countryside for tea and scones. Whilst Tom was often chastised by his wife for various misdemeanors, certainly she did not approve when the garage was converted and quickly became a library, they lived together peacefully until Joan sadly passed away in 2011 and whilst John Lewis reported a significant loss in revenue from that point, amazon.co.uk and the local bookstores reported record sales.

It's fair to say Tom was an avid bibliophile, accomplished photographer and artist, with a particular interest in industrial landscape, architecture and gardening in the region, amassing a vast collection of books and photo’s which would be the envy of any normal library or local historian. He was a patron of many local organisations, in particular the Literary and Philosophical Society (where he regularly met many friends), Chair of Ryton Local History Society, the Northern Architectural History Society & Trustee of the Northumbria Gardens Trust, to name just a few.

Eulogy: Thomas William Yellowley


Tom (or Billy to some of his relatives) was born in Gosforth in June 1938 to Thomas William and Nancy (Anna Elisabeth Horan from Wexford). Growing up in Seaton Burn Hall where his father was colliery manager with his mother and sister Kay, two of his earliest memories were playing football with Italian prisoners of war billeted in their house and the VE day party on 8th May 1945 where he and his sister were allowed to stay up and watch friends and family dancing in the large dining room.

Having been educated at St. Joseph’s Catholic school in Dumfries and the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle. He went on to graduate in Medicine at Newcastle and Durham University.

It was whilst working at Newcastle General hospital that his eyes first met Joan over a bedpan in the sluice at the maternity unit. A staff nurse at the time decided they were a good match and reportedly locked them in a closet to get to know one another better. Being decisive, Tom instantly asked her out and their first date was at the pictures, as Tom was later to say “I saw a good cream cake and went for it”.

No one in the family knew Tom had a girlfriend until the day he phoned his sister Kay to arrange to meet outside Bainbridge’s (now John Lewis) staff entrance in the Bigg Market when she finished work as a hairdresser there. She was very surprised to meet a shy young girl, Joan, who she recognised as having been in the same class at La Sagesse Convent. Tom introduced Joan as his girlfriend and asked her to tell his mother that he would be bringing Joan home to meet the family.

They were married at English Martyrs a year later in 1964 and it did not take long before 4 children followed in quick succession - David, Susan, Clare and Liam. Joan was bedridden in the hospital for a time whilst pregnant with Liam, Tom feeling sorry for her, and thinking she might be bored, brought her in a lamp and a pile of pebbles to decorate it with. She was not amused. The next 20

Grandpa

You always had a twinkle and a laugh behind your eyes
A soft and generous heart wrapped in wit so dry
A camera round your neck and a pocket full of coins
Choc ices in the freezer - such quiet, simple joys

An unexpected camera flash, there you would be
That silly sweet tune you’d sing ‘diddle diddle dee’
You sang it to our babies the way you sang to us

It echoed through generations, no frills, no fuss
You'd say ‘bye bye now’ when we hung up the phone

A phrase so simple, yet perfectly your own.
Your interest in bollards we may not all share
But still we will smile when we spot one somewhere

Together we’d sit in your library for hours… and hours
Photos on screens, stories blooming like flowers
Of ancestors, jokes, and the family tree
We’d be thinking ‘mum please set us free’
Though sometimes we moaned, deep down we knew

These moments were precious and the reason we love you

Now your chair sits quiet, and your camera at rest
Grandpa, please know, you truly were the best
So ‘bye bye now’ our Grandpa—with Grandma you’ll be 

We will carry on singing your sweet ‘diddle diddle dee’

Very sad to hear of the passing of my cousin Billy. He was an ever present part of my life beginning in my childhood when we were shown around his garden in the memorable house at Seaton Burn where he grew up. At that time he and Kay were adults to me. In later life he was the family historian and was always fascinated by our exploits and in excitedly sharing news of his own latest slightly eccentric activities - even a book on bollards! He was always a kind and unique person and his passing marks the end of an era!

Tom Yellowley was my friend, a man full of enthusiasm, a man who got on and did things while others sat and thought about doing them. I treasure many memories of our joint adventures and conversations, all of which left me wiser and happier. God bless you, Tom. I look forward to our next meeting.

Steven Desmond