Biddy "The Tubman" Stonham
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Biddy "The Tubman" Stonham
Image from the Geoff Wolfe Collection, copyright 1066online
Comments
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on 14 Jul 2013 Merv Evans said Remember Biddy well, on beach in summer, selling shrimps from his cart in Clive Vale every week. A marvellous character. -
on 23 Jul 2016 Ron Denhard said I am now 92 years of age and remember Biddy very well. It was in the late 1920's and early 30's that I used to visit an aunt with my parents. I was about 5 or 6 at the time and the tubman was our favorite. Today I visited Hastings and went to the museum and saw his tub - it made my day. I also used to buy 5 or 6 very large Plaice from the fishermen, as they came in on their boats at about 7 o clock in the morning, for the family dinner. They cost a 'half crown' - 2/6d - 12-1/2p in todays money. What memories!...23rd July 2016.
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on 30 Oct 2017 Peter Smith said I remember Biddy well in the 1940's possibly early 1950's and he would stand on the edge of the tub with his legs apart spinning the tub around in the sea with his paddle inviting anyone to come and sit inside whilst he spun it around at a tremendous speed. I think my mother was foolish enough to volunteer and was nearly sick.
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on 03 Mar 2019 Tony Beveridge said What a wonderfully nostalgic phtoo. I lived in Hastings during the 1940s and 50s and had very memorable trip with Biddie in his tub when I was about 10 - an amazing and unforgettable character.
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on 20 Jun 2019 Glen Partridge said Biddy Stonham is my Great-Great Uncle. His niece by his brother George Stonham is my grandmother. She emigrated to Canada, and that is where I am from (near Edmonton, Alberta). We visited Hastings in May, 2019. I had heard stories from my grandma and aunts about Biddy, so I was quite delighted to find the display about him in the museum.
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on 31 Aug 2019 June Grey (miller) said I was born and lived in Hastings in the 40's . Our family met Biddy many times as I used to get into his tube as he came along the shore . It was so exciting being spun round with him in the tube ,very fast and great fun . there was only room for me my sister and biddy . We were only 7 or 8 years but as strong swimmers he was happy to have us with him .
Now at 79 years I love remembering Biddy and have been telling my grandson all about him . happy days , -
on 12 Sep 2019 Maggie Oliver-Tasker said I was born in 1952 and often travelled from Grantham to Hastings as a young child for our holidays as my grandparents lived there. I well remember Biddy in his tub and have a photo of him in one of our old albums. He was a great character
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on 16 Sep 2020 Andrew said Biddy the tubman as strong as an ox.
Where over the year's the tourist had flocked.
We praised in awe and shouted loud at this man.
The smile the strength the balancing act , , O yes 007 im afraid your know match.
For this was a man who practiced hard for he's pennies.
Even Popeye said once I wouldn't get to friendly.
Born in West Street around November and its in these times you had to box clever.
Biddy got lucky in making he's honey,,
When he casually stared at the tub,,,
What that make money!!
But soon enough that smile came off he's face.
For an act was to follow and the pay days were great.
I wrote this poem see,,
and isn't a joke or me being bold.
Because Biddy called me today see,,
Yes he called me from the spirit world.
Andrew Carballido South London -
on 25 Oct 2020 Pete said Biddy wasn't what he seemed?
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on 08 Sep 2021 Frank said Biddy took me in his tub many times in the 1940s. Apart from providing fond memories for thousands of people like me who also shared his tub in those days, he also crewed the life boat where he won the silver medal for gallantry, and I believe he also took his small fishing boat over to Dunkerque to help with the evacuation. Sadly,despite bringing many tourists to Hastings over many years,he has never been recognised by the town, and if I remember rightly, was buried in a paupers grave.
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on 08 Aug 2023 Denis Mitcheson said I remember whizzing round in Biddy’s tub in 1947. I was 11 at the time and with my mother Lily was visiting her sister Mabel Dunk. They were the daughters of Walter Dunk, one time landlord of the New Inn next to Cloudsley Shovells house. On that visit I went to the library and looked up the family name and found a Ducinc had been granted a licence to coin money by King Harold. I went back to my aunt’s and asked “What happened?”
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