40’s & 50’s profiles
Featured
A gifted Canadian forward who became the heart of the Durham Wasps, Earl Carlson turned down NHL offers to build something special in the North East—scoring over 600 goals and helping define British ice hockey in the postwar era.
A founding Durham Wasp and lifelong rink regular, remarkably, Hugh McIntyre skated at Durham from 1940 to right up to 1996. Known for his fearless play, humour, and spirit, he remained a beloved figure on and off the ice for over five decades.
A Chester-le-Street skater who rose from local rinks to global acclaim, June Markham became a two-time World and European Ice Dance Champion in the 1950s—making her one of the most successful athletes ever to emerge from Durham’s ice.
Grandaughter of ‘Icy’ Smith and Durham’s ten-time ladies’ skating champion. Alice Smith was a standout figure in British amateur skating from childhood through to her coaching years—known for her grace, resilience, and deep ties to the rink that her family founded.
A Hetton farmer, and founding Wasp, George Thompson brought speed skating flair to the Durham Wasps and played an instrumental role in shaping ice hockey’s early success at Durham across their first seven seasons.
A fearless Canadian goaltender, Jimmy Carlyle became a legend at both Durham and Whitley Bay - earning five cup wins for Wasps and Bees, an historic shutout against Great Britain, and a lasting place in North East hockey history.
From rinkside beginnings in Sherburn to captaining the Wasps and playing for his country, Mike Jordan’s 15-year career helped shape a defining era in North East ice hockey.