IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 23 - 29 DECEMBER 1924
This week's many stories include the Rainford Potteries Christmas party, the Reporter's Uncle Ben sends his Christmas greetings to his "loyal little pals", Prescot B.I. send Father Christmas and fairy helpers round the district's hospitals, a wireless set is presented to the patients in Haydock Cottage Hospital and the panto presented at the Theatre Royal.
1924 was the first year that all the children attending St Helens' schools received a Christmas party paid for by public donations. During the previous three years only those youngsters considered poor were given one and it was a difficult task for the authorities in deciding which child qualified and who didn't.
The school parties became an annual treat that lasted many decades, with the fundraising coordinated by the mayor of the town with appeals for cash published in the town's newspapers in early December. The parties were now held at each individual school at times that suited them and Allanson Street had been first off the mark.
However, the people of Parr had clubbed together to pay for their treat leaving the Mayor's fund to devote itself to other schools that had more need. The St Helens Reporter described the event as a "joyous gathering" with 430 children taking tea and adding: "The scene presented was one of festive cheerfulness, in which the Christmas spirit predominated."
The Mayor, Alderman Thomas Hamblett, along with the Mayoress was present and tucked into the tea wearing a party hat, which, no doubt, matched his chain of office! The entertainment that followed the nosh-up was provided by the kids themselves and included carols and one child played a cornet solo so well that the Mayoress gave him a kiss.
On Christmas Eve what was described as a "four-valve wireless receiving set, with loud speaker" was formally handed over to the matron of Haydock Cottage Hospital. Whether St Helens and Providence hospitals had a similar radio I cannot say. But the Rotary Club of St Helens was currently fundraising to provide their patients with a wired "wireless" service using headphones – if that is not a contradiction in terms!
The St Helens Reporter had December 26th on its masthead but hit the streets on Christmas Eve. Part of its editorial describing the big day said: "To-morrow we make such determined efforts to be silly as shall and must command success. We do foolish things “to please the children,” and thus re-discover the child in ourselves. We try deliberately to do kindly acts and to think of others.
"…Christmas and its prevailing air of good will is wholly excellent for a too often drab and callous world. The consciousness that others do as we do broadens human sympathy and understanding." However, the paper reminded its readers keen to eat and drink well over the holidays that Christmas is first and foremost a religious festival.
In the column known as the Children's Reporter, Uncle Ben (who in reality was the paper's editor William Gentry) had this to say: "My Dear Boys and Girls, May you all have a right down merry Christmas, with all the fun you wish for, as much plum pudding, mincemeat, turkey, and all the other good things that every healthy boy and girl likes, as you can eat without making yourself ill; and, finally, may Father Christmas fill your stockings with the very things you would like best!" Uncle Ben said he had received 456 Christmas letters and cards from his "loyal little pals" who had taken the trouble to "wish me ever so many delightful things."
This week a party from the British Insulated and Helsby Cables (aka B.I.) adopted the guise of Father Christmas and his helpers and toured the hospitals within the St Helens district. Presents were handed out to a total of 500 patients and the Reporter wrote: "The appearance of good old Santa Claus was the signal for general cheerfulness, and the patients, one and all, old and young, gave vent to their feelings, and clapped him heartily. Every patient in every ward whom he saw was cheered up by his radiant smiles, and especially by his presents, and he left a train of happiness behind him."
The Reporter described Santa as having been up-to-date. Instead of travelling by sleigh and coming down the chimney, he had rolled up in a Sunbeam car accompanied by "Young Christmas", along with two fairies who carried the end of his flowing robe. And his entrance into each place – "through the door", the Reporter pointed out (and so not the chimney) – was announced by a trumpet call.
This is part of their account of Father Christmas's visit to Providence Hospital: "His entrance to the two children's wards was heralded with loud clapping and other manifestations of joy. The faces of the little sufferers in their cots lit up when he presented each with a cracker and a toy, trumpet or book, and he left each ward with happy cries, clapping, and the sound of toy trumpets ringing in his ears. Similarly did he lighten the hearts of the older patients with gifts of books and cigarettes, and bade goodbye, and wished a merry Christmas to a much happier lot of patients."
Since 1874 it had been an annual tradition in St Helens for Handel's Messiah to be performed at Christmas. The Reporter described how a crowded congregation at the Congregational Church had witnessed this year's version, which had been presented by an augmented choir. The paper reckoned it was one of the best performances that the church had given but thought the sopranos somewhat weak.
Although Sunday postal deliveries in St Helens had now ceased, the long-standing tradition of cards and parcels being delivered on the morning of Christmas Day was still continuing. But as the volume of post was increasing, people were being advised to post early with 6pm on the 23rd the latest time for which Christmas Day deliveries could be guaranteed. During the run up to Christmas (with the Day itself on a Thursday) it was reported that there would be "only" two deliveries of mail each day and then just one on the 25th.
But what about the Christmas ads in the newspapers? Tyrer and Sons of Liverpool Road had for some weeks been advertising its Christmas presents for men which they reckoned were "ties, woollies, gloves, scarves, collars, pyjamas, shirts, socks".
Phoenix Brewery was situated in Peckers Hill Road in Sutton and dated back to around 1860. The brewery was advertising its "Noted Ales & Stouts" for Christmas with "families supplied direct from the brewery". The average price of their range of ales was four shillings per half-pint. That was not per bottle – but for each dozen. I think you'd be hard pressed to buy a dozen bottles of beer for 20p today!
The retailer calling itself the Palatine Arcade had opened in Church Street in 1922. It was operated on department store lines, describing itself as a "market within a shop" and "the store St. Helens has waited for". They were advertising their range of "beautiful furs" with "real skunk stoles" costing between eight and thirteen guineas. If that was too much there were "real squirrel tail stoles" costing from £4 10 shillings and "real wolf ties" from four guineas.
A rare full-page advert advised readers to "Get your Xmas goods from Nevin's – Nothing can be too good in Xmas fare – The wise housewife puts her trust in Nevin's." They even had their own brand Nevonia margarine on sale for 5½d per pound – "guaranteed to contain no preservatives". And W. H. Bowley, the family grocers of Duke Street, were advertising their "Christmas dainties".
Corbett's the radio specialist of North Road was advising people to invest in a "wireless receiving outfit" to provide "entertainment for winter evenings" but warned that for best results a "reliable instrument" was required. There were far more complexities with radio then than today, with outside aerials virtually a necessity. But Corbett's advertised that they had all the necessary accessories in stock, including Exide accumulators, valves, loudspeakers, headphones etc.
Booth's sports store in Hardshaw Street was promoting its range of footballs. They were all hand-sown with their most expensive made of "best cowhide" costing 22s 6d. And last but not least in this Christmas gifts section, the all-important toys. Next door to the burnt out parish church in Church Street was the Universal Bazaar who had been advertising their Christmas Club since August.
For boys they had train sets, clockwork toys, barrows and scooters and what was simply referred to as motors. Girls never had much variety in their choice of Christmas presents. It was essentially dolls or prams, although there were plenty of different types. Dolls were priced from 6d to 35 shillings and prams cost from 10/6.
And finally, some more Christmas events. On Boxing Day the Theatre Royal in St Helens went into panto mode with a performance of the "gorgeous comic pantomime" Red Riding Hood. The show would last eight evenings and there would also be four matinee presentations with a "grand highland ballet" included in each. There were six admission price bands ranging from 4d up to 3/6 depending on the seating location within the theatre. If you wanted to book in advance you had to pay extra. For example, those booking a one shilling seat needed to fork out 1s 3d.
On Boxing Day evening Rainford's Cricket Club held a whist drive and dance in the Village Hall (pictured above). Then on the 27th members of the Rainford branch of the National Union of Railwaymen held a tea at the Junction Hotel, followed by songs, violin and concertina solos. Rainford Potteries held their third annual Christmas party on the 27th in the Village Hall. The Reporter wrote:
"The hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion, and the children, to whom the afternoon was given up, danced around the illuminated Christmas tree, and appreciated to the fullest extent the gifts which were handed to them by Father Christmas, from his reindeer-drawn sledge. During the evening about 250 adults assembled, and the merrymaking was continued up to a late hour."
And on the 29th, a Christmas party took place at the District Nurses House in Dentons Green when 36 children were the guests of the Matron and staff. Father Christmas was described as having been "most generous" in distributing presents and after a good tea had been eaten a conjurer performed some tricks. The Reporter said it had been a "delightful" affair. The Hippodrome tended to put on their pantos in January and their offering from December 29th was described as an "Irish-Jewish Musical Comedy Revue" called 'Pledges'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Water Street woman accused of running a betting house, some unusual motoring offences and the 71-year-old found incapable in Higher Parr Street whose excuse was that he had no mother to look after him.
1924 was the first year that all the children attending St Helens' schools received a Christmas party paid for by public donations. During the previous three years only those youngsters considered poor were given one and it was a difficult task for the authorities in deciding which child qualified and who didn't.
The school parties became an annual treat that lasted many decades, with the fundraising coordinated by the mayor of the town with appeals for cash published in the town's newspapers in early December. The parties were now held at each individual school at times that suited them and Allanson Street had been first off the mark.
However, the people of Parr had clubbed together to pay for their treat leaving the Mayor's fund to devote itself to other schools that had more need. The St Helens Reporter described the event as a "joyous gathering" with 430 children taking tea and adding: "The scene presented was one of festive cheerfulness, in which the Christmas spirit predominated."
The Mayor, Alderman Thomas Hamblett, along with the Mayoress was present and tucked into the tea wearing a party hat, which, no doubt, matched his chain of office! The entertainment that followed the nosh-up was provided by the kids themselves and included carols and one child played a cornet solo so well that the Mayoress gave him a kiss.
On Christmas Eve what was described as a "four-valve wireless receiving set, with loud speaker" was formally handed over to the matron of Haydock Cottage Hospital. Whether St Helens and Providence hospitals had a similar radio I cannot say. But the Rotary Club of St Helens was currently fundraising to provide their patients with a wired "wireless" service using headphones – if that is not a contradiction in terms!
The St Helens Reporter had December 26th on its masthead but hit the streets on Christmas Eve. Part of its editorial describing the big day said: "To-morrow we make such determined efforts to be silly as shall and must command success. We do foolish things “to please the children,” and thus re-discover the child in ourselves. We try deliberately to do kindly acts and to think of others.
"…Christmas and its prevailing air of good will is wholly excellent for a too often drab and callous world. The consciousness that others do as we do broadens human sympathy and understanding." However, the paper reminded its readers keen to eat and drink well over the holidays that Christmas is first and foremost a religious festival.
In the column known as the Children's Reporter, Uncle Ben (who in reality was the paper's editor William Gentry) had this to say: "My Dear Boys and Girls, May you all have a right down merry Christmas, with all the fun you wish for, as much plum pudding, mincemeat, turkey, and all the other good things that every healthy boy and girl likes, as you can eat without making yourself ill; and, finally, may Father Christmas fill your stockings with the very things you would like best!" Uncle Ben said he had received 456 Christmas letters and cards from his "loyal little pals" who had taken the trouble to "wish me ever so many delightful things."
This week a party from the British Insulated and Helsby Cables (aka B.I.) adopted the guise of Father Christmas and his helpers and toured the hospitals within the St Helens district. Presents were handed out to a total of 500 patients and the Reporter wrote: "The appearance of good old Santa Claus was the signal for general cheerfulness, and the patients, one and all, old and young, gave vent to their feelings, and clapped him heartily. Every patient in every ward whom he saw was cheered up by his radiant smiles, and especially by his presents, and he left a train of happiness behind him."
The Reporter described Santa as having been up-to-date. Instead of travelling by sleigh and coming down the chimney, he had rolled up in a Sunbeam car accompanied by "Young Christmas", along with two fairies who carried the end of his flowing robe. And his entrance into each place – "through the door", the Reporter pointed out (and so not the chimney) – was announced by a trumpet call.
This is part of their account of Father Christmas's visit to Providence Hospital: "His entrance to the two children's wards was heralded with loud clapping and other manifestations of joy. The faces of the little sufferers in their cots lit up when he presented each with a cracker and a toy, trumpet or book, and he left each ward with happy cries, clapping, and the sound of toy trumpets ringing in his ears. Similarly did he lighten the hearts of the older patients with gifts of books and cigarettes, and bade goodbye, and wished a merry Christmas to a much happier lot of patients."
Since 1874 it had been an annual tradition in St Helens for Handel's Messiah to be performed at Christmas. The Reporter described how a crowded congregation at the Congregational Church had witnessed this year's version, which had been presented by an augmented choir. The paper reckoned it was one of the best performances that the church had given but thought the sopranos somewhat weak.
Although Sunday postal deliveries in St Helens had now ceased, the long-standing tradition of cards and parcels being delivered on the morning of Christmas Day was still continuing. But as the volume of post was increasing, people were being advised to post early with 6pm on the 23rd the latest time for which Christmas Day deliveries could be guaranteed. During the run up to Christmas (with the Day itself on a Thursday) it was reported that there would be "only" two deliveries of mail each day and then just one on the 25th.
But what about the Christmas ads in the newspapers? Tyrer and Sons of Liverpool Road had for some weeks been advertising its Christmas presents for men which they reckoned were "ties, woollies, gloves, scarves, collars, pyjamas, shirts, socks".
The retailer calling itself the Palatine Arcade had opened in Church Street in 1922. It was operated on department store lines, describing itself as a "market within a shop" and "the store St. Helens has waited for". They were advertising their range of "beautiful furs" with "real skunk stoles" costing between eight and thirteen guineas. If that was too much there were "real squirrel tail stoles" costing from £4 10 shillings and "real wolf ties" from four guineas.
A rare full-page advert advised readers to "Get your Xmas goods from Nevin's – Nothing can be too good in Xmas fare – The wise housewife puts her trust in Nevin's." They even had their own brand Nevonia margarine on sale for 5½d per pound – "guaranteed to contain no preservatives". And W. H. Bowley, the family grocers of Duke Street, were advertising their "Christmas dainties".
Corbett's the radio specialist of North Road was advising people to invest in a "wireless receiving outfit" to provide "entertainment for winter evenings" but warned that for best results a "reliable instrument" was required. There were far more complexities with radio then than today, with outside aerials virtually a necessity. But Corbett's advertised that they had all the necessary accessories in stock, including Exide accumulators, valves, loudspeakers, headphones etc.
Booth's sports store in Hardshaw Street was promoting its range of footballs. They were all hand-sown with their most expensive made of "best cowhide" costing 22s 6d. And last but not least in this Christmas gifts section, the all-important toys. Next door to the burnt out parish church in Church Street was the Universal Bazaar who had been advertising their Christmas Club since August.
For boys they had train sets, clockwork toys, barrows and scooters and what was simply referred to as motors. Girls never had much variety in their choice of Christmas presents. It was essentially dolls or prams, although there were plenty of different types. Dolls were priced from 6d to 35 shillings and prams cost from 10/6.
And finally, some more Christmas events. On Boxing Day the Theatre Royal in St Helens went into panto mode with a performance of the "gorgeous comic pantomime" Red Riding Hood. The show would last eight evenings and there would also be four matinee presentations with a "grand highland ballet" included in each. There were six admission price bands ranging from 4d up to 3/6 depending on the seating location within the theatre. If you wanted to book in advance you had to pay extra. For example, those booking a one shilling seat needed to fork out 1s 3d.
"The hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion, and the children, to whom the afternoon was given up, danced around the illuminated Christmas tree, and appreciated to the fullest extent the gifts which were handed to them by Father Christmas, from his reindeer-drawn sledge. During the evening about 250 adults assembled, and the merrymaking was continued up to a late hour."
And on the 29th, a Christmas party took place at the District Nurses House in Dentons Green when 36 children were the guests of the Matron and staff. Father Christmas was described as having been "most generous" in distributing presents and after a good tea had been eaten a conjurer performed some tricks. The Reporter said it had been a "delightful" affair. The Hippodrome tended to put on their pantos in January and their offering from December 29th was described as an "Irish-Jewish Musical Comedy Revue" called 'Pledges'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Water Street woman accused of running a betting house, some unusual motoring offences and the 71-year-old found incapable in Higher Parr Street whose excuse was that he had no mother to look after him.
This week's many stories include the Rainford Potteries Christmas party, the Reporter's Uncle Ben sends his Christmas greetings to his "loyal little pals", Prescot B.I. send Father Christmas and fairy helpers round the district's hospitals, a wireless set is presented to the patients in Haydock Cottage Hospital and the panto presented at the Theatre Royal.
1924 was the first year that all the children attending St Helens' schools received a Christmas party paid for by public donations.
During the previous three years only those youngsters considered poor were given one and it was a difficult task for the authorities in deciding which child qualified and who didn't.
The school parties became an annual treat that lasted many decades, with the fundraising coordinated by the mayor of the town with appeals for cash published in the town's newspapers in early December.
The parties were now held at each individual school at times that suited them and Allanson Street had been first off the mark.
However, the people of Parr had clubbed together to pay for their treat leaving the Mayor's fund to devote itself to other schools that had more need.
The St Helens Reporter described the event as a "joyous gathering" with 430 children taking tea and adding: "The scene presented was one of festive cheerfulness, in which the Christmas spirit predominated."
The Mayor, Alderman Thomas Hamblett, along with the Mayoress was present and tucked into the tea wearing a party hat, which, no doubt, matched his chain of office!
The entertainment that followed the nosh-up was provided by the kids themselves and included carols and one child played a cornet solo so well that the Mayoress gave him a kiss.
On Christmas Eve what was described as a "four-valve wireless receiving set, with loud speaker" was formally handed over to the matron of Haydock Cottage Hospital.
Whether St Helens and Providence hospitals had a similar radio I cannot say.
But the Rotary Club of St Helens was currently fundraising to provide their patients with a wired "wireless" service using headphones – if that is not a contradiction in terms!
The St Helens Reporter had December 26th on its masthead but hit the streets on Christmas Eve. Part of its editorial describing the big day said:
"To-morrow we make such determined efforts to be silly as shall and must command success. We do foolish things “to please the children,” and thus re-discover the child in ourselves. We try deliberately to do kindly acts and to think of others.
"…Christmas and its prevailing air of good will is wholly excellent for a too often drab and callous world. The consciousness that others do as we do broadens human sympathy and understanding."
However, the paper reminded its readers keen to eat and drink well over the holidays that Christmas is first and foremost a religious festival.
In the column known as the Children's Reporter, Uncle Ben (who in reality was the paper's editor William Gentry) had this to say:
"My Dear Boys and Girls, May you all have a right down merry Christmas, with all the fun you wish for, as much plum pudding, mincemeat, turkey, and all the other good things that every healthy boy and girl likes, as you can eat without making yourself ill; and, finally, may Father Christmas fill your stockings with the very things you would like best!"
Uncle Ben said he had received 456 Christmas letters and cards from his "loyal little pals" who had taken the trouble to "wish me ever so many delightful things."
This week a party from the British Insulated and Helsby Cables (aka B.I.) adopted the guise of Father Christmas and his helpers and toured the hospitals within the St Helens district. Presents were handed out to a total of 500 patients and the Reporter wrote:
"The appearance of good old Santa Claus was the signal for general cheerfulness, and the patients, one and all, old and young, gave vent to their feelings, and clapped him heartily. Every patient in every ward whom he saw was cheered up by his radiant smiles, and especially by his presents, and he left a train of happiness behind him."
The Reporter described Santa as having been up-to-date. Instead of travelling by sleigh and coming down the chimney, he had rolled up in a Sunbeam car accompanied by "Young Christmas", along with two fairies who carried the end of his flowing robe.
And his entrance into each place – "through the door", the Reporter pointed out (and so not the chimney) – was announced by a trumpet call.
This is part of their account of Father Christmas's visit to Providence Hospital:
"His entrance to the two children's wards was heralded with loud clapping and other manifestations of joy.
"The faces of the little sufferers in their cots lit up when he presented each with a cracker and a toy, trumpet or book, and he left each ward with happy cries, clapping, and the sound of toy trumpets ringing in his ears.
"Similarly did he lighten the hearts of the older patients with gifts of books and cigarettes, and bade goodbye, and wished a merry Christmas to a much happier lot of patients."
Since 1874 it had been an annual tradition in St Helens for Handel's Messiah to be performed at Christmas.
The Reporter described how a crowded congregation at the Congregational Church had witnessed this year's version, which had been presented by an augmented choir.
The paper reckoned it was one of the best performances that the church had given but thought the sopranos somewhat weak.
Although Sunday postal deliveries in St Helens had now ceased, the long-standing tradition of cards and parcels being delivered on the morning of Christmas Day was still continuing.
But as the volume of post was increasing, people were being advised to post early with 6pm on the 23rd the latest time for which Christmas Day deliveries could be guaranteed.
During the run up to Christmas (with the Day itself on a Thursday) it was reported that there would be "only" two deliveries of mail each day and then just one on the 25th.
But what about the Christmas ads in the newspapers? Tyrer and Sons of Liverpool Road had for some weeks been advertising its Christmas presents for men which they reckoned were "ties, woollies, gloves, scarves, collars, pyjamas, shirts, socks".
Phoenix Brewery was situated in Peckers Hill Road in Sutton and dated back to around 1860.
The brewery was advertising its "Noted Ales & Stouts" for Christmas with "families supplied direct from the brewery".
The average price of their range of ales was four shillings per half-pint. That was not per bottle – but for each dozen. I think you'd be hard pressed to buy a dozen bottles of beer for 20p today!
The retailer calling itself the Palatine Arcade had opened in Church Street in 1922. It was operated on department store lines, describing itself as a "market within a shop" and "the store St. Helens has waited for".
They were advertising their range of "beautiful furs" with "real skunk stoles" costing between eight and thirteen guineas.
If that was too much there were "real squirrel tail stoles" costing from £4 10 shillings and "real wolf ties" from four guineas.
A rare full-page advert advised readers to "Get your Xmas goods from Nevin's – Nothing can be too good in Xmas fare – The wise housewife puts her trust in Nevin's."
They even had their own brand Nevonia margarine on sale for 5½d per pound – "guaranteed to contain no preservatives".
And W. H. Bowley, the family grocers of Duke Street, were advertising their "Christmas dainties".
Corbett's the radio specialist of North Road was advising people to invest in a "wireless receiving outfit" to provide "entertainment for winter evenings" but warned that for best results a "reliable instrument" was required.
There were far more complexities with radio then than today, with outside aerials virtually a necessity.
But Corbett's advertised that they had all the necessary accessories in stock, including Exide accumulators, valves, loudspeakers, headphones etc.
Booth's sports store in Hardshaw Street was promoting its range of footballs. They were all hand-sown with their most expensive made of "best cowhide" costing 22s 6d.
And last but not least in this Christmas gifts section, the all-important toys. Next door to the burnt out parish church in Church Street was the Universal Bazaar who had been advertising their Christmas Club since August.
For boys they had train sets, clockwork toys, barrows and scooters and what was simply referred to as motors.
Girls never had much variety in their choice of Christmas presents. It was essentially dolls or prams, although there were plenty of different types. Dolls were priced from 6d to 35 shillings and prams cost from 10/6.
And finally, some more Christmas events. On Boxing Day the Theatre Royal in St Helens went into panto mode with a performance of the "gorgeous comic pantomime" Red Riding Hood.
The show would last eight evenings and there would also be four matinee presentations with a "grand highland ballet" included in each.
There were six admission price bands ranging from 4d up to 3/6 depending on the seating location within the theatre.
If you wanted to book in advance you had to pay extra. For example, those booking a one shilling seat needed to fork out 1s 3d.
On Boxing Day evening Rainford's Cricket Club held a whist drive and dance in the Village Hall (pictured above).
Then on the 27th members of the Rainford branch of the National Union of Railwaymen held a tea at the Junction Hotel, followed by songs, violin and concertina solos.
Rainford Potteries held their third annual Christmas party on the 27th in the Village Hall. The Reporter wrote:
"The hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion, and the children, to whom the afternoon was given up, danced around the illuminated Christmas tree, and appreciated to the fullest extent the gifts which were handed to them by Father Christmas, from his reindeer-drawn sledge.
"During the evening about 250 adults assembled, and the merrymaking was continued up to a late hour."
And on the 29th, a Christmas party took place at the District Nurses House in Dentons Green when 36 children were the guests of the Matron and staff.
Father Christmas was described as having been "most generous" in distributing presents and after a good tea had been eaten a conjurer performed some tricks. The Reporter said it had been a "delightful" affair.
The Hippodrome tended to put on their pantos in January and their offering from December 29th was described as an "Irish-Jewish Musical Comedy Revue" called 'Pledges'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Water Street woman accused of running a betting house, some unusual motoring offences and the 71-year-old found incapable in Higher Parr Street whose excuse was that he had no mother to look after him.
1924 was the first year that all the children attending St Helens' schools received a Christmas party paid for by public donations.
During the previous three years only those youngsters considered poor were given one and it was a difficult task for the authorities in deciding which child qualified and who didn't.
The school parties became an annual treat that lasted many decades, with the fundraising coordinated by the mayor of the town with appeals for cash published in the town's newspapers in early December.
The parties were now held at each individual school at times that suited them and Allanson Street had been first off the mark.
However, the people of Parr had clubbed together to pay for their treat leaving the Mayor's fund to devote itself to other schools that had more need.
The St Helens Reporter described the event as a "joyous gathering" with 430 children taking tea and adding: "The scene presented was one of festive cheerfulness, in which the Christmas spirit predominated."
The Mayor, Alderman Thomas Hamblett, along with the Mayoress was present and tucked into the tea wearing a party hat, which, no doubt, matched his chain of office!
The entertainment that followed the nosh-up was provided by the kids themselves and included carols and one child played a cornet solo so well that the Mayoress gave him a kiss.
On Christmas Eve what was described as a "four-valve wireless receiving set, with loud speaker" was formally handed over to the matron of Haydock Cottage Hospital.
Whether St Helens and Providence hospitals had a similar radio I cannot say.
But the Rotary Club of St Helens was currently fundraising to provide their patients with a wired "wireless" service using headphones – if that is not a contradiction in terms!
The St Helens Reporter had December 26th on its masthead but hit the streets on Christmas Eve. Part of its editorial describing the big day said:
"To-morrow we make such determined efforts to be silly as shall and must command success. We do foolish things “to please the children,” and thus re-discover the child in ourselves. We try deliberately to do kindly acts and to think of others.
"…Christmas and its prevailing air of good will is wholly excellent for a too often drab and callous world. The consciousness that others do as we do broadens human sympathy and understanding."
However, the paper reminded its readers keen to eat and drink well over the holidays that Christmas is first and foremost a religious festival.
In the column known as the Children's Reporter, Uncle Ben (who in reality was the paper's editor William Gentry) had this to say:
"My Dear Boys and Girls, May you all have a right down merry Christmas, with all the fun you wish for, as much plum pudding, mincemeat, turkey, and all the other good things that every healthy boy and girl likes, as you can eat without making yourself ill; and, finally, may Father Christmas fill your stockings with the very things you would like best!"
Uncle Ben said he had received 456 Christmas letters and cards from his "loyal little pals" who had taken the trouble to "wish me ever so many delightful things."
This week a party from the British Insulated and Helsby Cables (aka B.I.) adopted the guise of Father Christmas and his helpers and toured the hospitals within the St Helens district. Presents were handed out to a total of 500 patients and the Reporter wrote:
"The appearance of good old Santa Claus was the signal for general cheerfulness, and the patients, one and all, old and young, gave vent to their feelings, and clapped him heartily. Every patient in every ward whom he saw was cheered up by his radiant smiles, and especially by his presents, and he left a train of happiness behind him."
The Reporter described Santa as having been up-to-date. Instead of travelling by sleigh and coming down the chimney, he had rolled up in a Sunbeam car accompanied by "Young Christmas", along with two fairies who carried the end of his flowing robe.
And his entrance into each place – "through the door", the Reporter pointed out (and so not the chimney) – was announced by a trumpet call.
This is part of their account of Father Christmas's visit to Providence Hospital:
"His entrance to the two children's wards was heralded with loud clapping and other manifestations of joy.
"The faces of the little sufferers in their cots lit up when he presented each with a cracker and a toy, trumpet or book, and he left each ward with happy cries, clapping, and the sound of toy trumpets ringing in his ears.
"Similarly did he lighten the hearts of the older patients with gifts of books and cigarettes, and bade goodbye, and wished a merry Christmas to a much happier lot of patients."
Since 1874 it had been an annual tradition in St Helens for Handel's Messiah to be performed at Christmas.
The Reporter described how a crowded congregation at the Congregational Church had witnessed this year's version, which had been presented by an augmented choir.
The paper reckoned it was one of the best performances that the church had given but thought the sopranos somewhat weak.
Although Sunday postal deliveries in St Helens had now ceased, the long-standing tradition of cards and parcels being delivered on the morning of Christmas Day was still continuing.
But as the volume of post was increasing, people were being advised to post early with 6pm on the 23rd the latest time for which Christmas Day deliveries could be guaranteed.
During the run up to Christmas (with the Day itself on a Thursday) it was reported that there would be "only" two deliveries of mail each day and then just one on the 25th.
But what about the Christmas ads in the newspapers? Tyrer and Sons of Liverpool Road had for some weeks been advertising its Christmas presents for men which they reckoned were "ties, woollies, gloves, scarves, collars, pyjamas, shirts, socks".
The average price of their range of ales was four shillings per half-pint. That was not per bottle – but for each dozen. I think you'd be hard pressed to buy a dozen bottles of beer for 20p today!
The retailer calling itself the Palatine Arcade had opened in Church Street in 1922. It was operated on department store lines, describing itself as a "market within a shop" and "the store St. Helens has waited for".
They were advertising their range of "beautiful furs" with "real skunk stoles" costing between eight and thirteen guineas.
If that was too much there were "real squirrel tail stoles" costing from £4 10 shillings and "real wolf ties" from four guineas.
A rare full-page advert advised readers to "Get your Xmas goods from Nevin's – Nothing can be too good in Xmas fare – The wise housewife puts her trust in Nevin's."
They even had their own brand Nevonia margarine on sale for 5½d per pound – "guaranteed to contain no preservatives".
And W. H. Bowley, the family grocers of Duke Street, were advertising their "Christmas dainties".
Corbett's the radio specialist of North Road was advising people to invest in a "wireless receiving outfit" to provide "entertainment for winter evenings" but warned that for best results a "reliable instrument" was required.
There were far more complexities with radio then than today, with outside aerials virtually a necessity.
But Corbett's advertised that they had all the necessary accessories in stock, including Exide accumulators, valves, loudspeakers, headphones etc.
Booth's sports store in Hardshaw Street was promoting its range of footballs. They were all hand-sown with their most expensive made of "best cowhide" costing 22s 6d.
And last but not least in this Christmas gifts section, the all-important toys. Next door to the burnt out parish church in Church Street was the Universal Bazaar who had been advertising their Christmas Club since August.
For boys they had train sets, clockwork toys, barrows and scooters and what was simply referred to as motors.
Girls never had much variety in their choice of Christmas presents. It was essentially dolls or prams, although there were plenty of different types. Dolls were priced from 6d to 35 shillings and prams cost from 10/6.
And finally, some more Christmas events. On Boxing Day the Theatre Royal in St Helens went into panto mode with a performance of the "gorgeous comic pantomime" Red Riding Hood.
The show would last eight evenings and there would also be four matinee presentations with a "grand highland ballet" included in each.
There were six admission price bands ranging from 4d up to 3/6 depending on the seating location within the theatre.
If you wanted to book in advance you had to pay extra. For example, those booking a one shilling seat needed to fork out 1s 3d.
Then on the 27th members of the Rainford branch of the National Union of Railwaymen held a tea at the Junction Hotel, followed by songs, violin and concertina solos.
Rainford Potteries held their third annual Christmas party on the 27th in the Village Hall. The Reporter wrote:
"The hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion, and the children, to whom the afternoon was given up, danced around the illuminated Christmas tree, and appreciated to the fullest extent the gifts which were handed to them by Father Christmas, from his reindeer-drawn sledge.
"During the evening about 250 adults assembled, and the merrymaking was continued up to a late hour."
And on the 29th, a Christmas party took place at the District Nurses House in Dentons Green when 36 children were the guests of the Matron and staff.
Father Christmas was described as having been "most generous" in distributing presents and after a good tea had been eaten a conjurer performed some tricks. The Reporter said it had been a "delightful" affair.
The Hippodrome tended to put on their pantos in January and their offering from December 29th was described as an "Irish-Jewish Musical Comedy Revue" called 'Pledges'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Water Street woman accused of running a betting house, some unusual motoring offences and the 71-year-old found incapable in Higher Parr Street whose excuse was that he had no mother to look after him.