THE HEADMASTER OF MIRTH
Stockton is an old Anglo-Saxon town situated on the banks of the River Tees. It has a rich history but is now somewhat overshadowed by its bigger industrial neighbour Middlesbrough. Part of its claim to fame is the building of the first passenger railway line in 1822 by George Stephenson, which made traveling to Darlington and Shildon considerably easier. In 1827 a fantastic aid to lighting fires was created when local chemist John Walker invented the friction match, though as he neglected to patent it he did not receive the credit or wealth he richly deserved. On the day that John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Friday the 22nd of November 1963, The Beatles were in town playing at The Globe Theatre.
To my eternal shame as a proud Teessider, I only recently found out that Stockton was also the birth place in December 1888 of one of my favourite old time comedians. This man, as well as being a brilliant comic, was an actor, pilot, author, film director and an exceptional amateur astronomer to boot. Who is he? Well, he is no other than Dr. Muffin himself, William Thomson Hay, or Will Hay for short.