Teesside ice cream legend Camillo Rea dies

Dec 10 2010 by Dave Robson, Evening Gazette

TEESSIDE ice cream legend Camillo Rea has died.

Mr Rea - known as Camy - died peacefully after a long illness. He was 88.

At its peak in the 1970s, the Rea ice cream empire employed more than 200 people and had 21 snack bars across Teesside.

Rea’s ice cream was so popular, one of Camy’s sons, rock star Chris, publicised his debut single, So Much Love, by being pictured with a “Stop Me and Buy One” bike.

On leaving Redcar’s Sacred Heart School aged 16, Camy washed dishes and served behind the counter of his dad’s two food bars.

He and his late brother Gaetano then took over the family business in 1946 after their dad, also called Camillo, was killed when a ship taking him to Canada was torpedoed in the Atlantic.

They oversaw the growth of a business that is, to this day, synonymous for Teessiders of a certain age with quality ice cream and happy times.

Rea’s Creamy Ices embraced an ice cream factory in Cargo Fleet and several iconic snack bars, including a Cleveland Centre restaurant.

And Camy’s expertise, hard work and knowledge of what Teessiders wanted was crucial.

Talking to the Gazette back in 1972, with Rea’s in its heyday, he said: “You have to know what type of people they are here and what they want. I don’t think a stranger can come in and succeed. I pride myself on being able to ‘smell out a site’ which will go.”

He also told of happy family meals at their former home in Low Lane, Brookfield, Middlesbrough, admitting: “We all thoroughly enjoy our food. We love family life and have numerous discussions at table on music, modern life and religion.”

A death notice in the Gazette shows that Mr Rea, a “loving father-in-law, grandpa and great grandpa”, leaves a widow, Gabriela, seven children and “his beloved dogs Rocco and Bella.” A requiem mass will take place at the Holy Name of Mary RC Church, The Avenue, Linthorpe, on Monday at 1pm, prior to cremation.

I remember mr Rea still serving at the cafe on linthorpe rd in the eighties ,couldnt do enough for you. a nice guy RIP