IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 27 MAY - 2 JUNE 1924
This week's many stories include more details of the man that hid under a music teacher's bed in Kiln Lane, the annual St Helens Horse Show is held, the contest to win tickets to visit the British Empire Exhibition in London, two more deaths take place in the Sankey Canal, the Theatre Royal's orchestra goes on strike and the patriotic Empire Day and Children's Loyalty League celebrations that took place in St Helens.
I described last week the distressing experience of St Helens music teacher Mary Unsworth and her daughter from Kiln Lane when at midnight they discovered an intruder crouched under the bed that they both shared. On the 28th the man alleged to be responsible – William Hall from Durham – appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with burglary and lodging out. Superintendent Dunn told the court that the 84-year-old mother and her unmarried daughter had retired to bed at 8:30pm, having secured all doors and windows, except the window of their ground-floor bedroom.
At 12:15 am Miss Unsworth was woken by the noise of the curtain over their bedroom door being dragged along its pole. The 41-year-old music teacher noticed the door was open despite it having been locked and she said to her mother, "Why, mother, the door is unfastened." The police superintendent said that Miss Unsworth then got out of bed to close the door and noticing something on the floor, she touched what turned out to be the peak of William Hall's cap. In horror she shouted out, "Oh, it's a man!" and began to scream.
Hall immediately jumped up, pushed Miss Unsworth to one side, opened the window, leapt out and ran off in his stocking feet, carrying his boots which he had taken off and left in the garden before breaking into the house. Shortly afterwards PC Johnson saw William Hall crouching in the garden of a home in Knowsley Road and as he spoke to the man, he ran off towards Eccleston Street where another constable intercepted him. The police took impressions of the footprints in the Unsworths' garden, which corresponded with the prisoners' stockings. The magistrates subsequently committed Hall for trial at the next quarter sessions.
Twenty more new homes had recently been put up at Windlehurst, which, when it had been built two or three years ago, became the first council house estate in St Helens. At a meeting of the council's Health Committee on the 28th it was decided that the new homes' rent would be set at the same rate as the estate's existing houses of the same type – and there were several variations.
The estate contained homes with or without parlours and some were semi-detached, while others were in terraces. The new homes did not have a parlour and so their weekly rent would be 7s 3d or 7s 9d (plus rates), depending on whether they were in a row or semi-detached.
For the last few weeks the Edward Dunstan Company had presented a series of dramas on different nights at the Theatre Royal. On the 29th in front of a crowded audience, a matinee of the comic play 'David Garrick' was performed in aid of the Saints SOS Fund. This had been recently established to get the club out of financial difficulties. As well as various means of fundraising, supporters were being asked to lend Saints the sum of £1.
However, there was no music during the production of 'David Garrick', as at the last minute the theatre's orchestra had been told by their union to go on strike. The musicians were, apparently, happy to play on but their union secretary said they had a rule preventing their members from performing for free at matinees.
Canal deaths were commonplace in St Helens and comprised three main types: 1) Deliberate suicide; 2) An accident while bathing; 3) An accident while walking along the canal bank in the dark – often after drinking. But coroners and inquest juries could have great difficulty in deciding which category the deceased should be placed in and often the open verdict of "found drowned" was returned.
There were two inquests held on the 29th that illustrated the problem. William Carr of King Street had not worked for six years because of an accident and had not been seen after attending a funeral until his body was fished out of the canal. But the 53-year-old widower had not been depressed and his family thought that in taking a short cut home he had probably inadvertently stumbled into the water. And so the coroner was happy to record a verdict of "Misadventure".
However, in the next inquest there was much more evidence of intent. Most canal immersions took place in the dark at night and so witnesses were very rare. But Ralph Jackson from Merton Bank Road was seen by three youths jumping into the water during one afternoon and the wife of the 69-year-old said her husband had been very ill and in extreme pain.
And so the coroner felt able to return a verdict of "suicide whilst of unsound mind". He also commended one of the youths called Dolan, who had jumped into the canal to try and save Mr Jackson. As the lad was unemployed, the coroner gave him 10 shillings out of his benevolent fund.
The St Helens Reporter on the 30th described how Empire Day had recently been celebrated in the town. As the annual event had fallen on a Saturday, there had not been the "usual marked manifestations" of previous years. The schools had chosen to celebrate Empire Day on the Friday through the giving of speeches, as well as "saluting the flag and the singing of patriotic songs".
What might today be seen as the indoctrination of children also occurred in other spheres. In January the Conservative Party splinter group called the St Helens Women's Unionist Association had formed a Children's Loyalty League. The Reporter then wrote how the league already had three "lively" branches containing about 300 members ranging in age from 8 to 18. The paper said: "Loyalty to King and country is a strong element in the Children's Loyalty League, and they are taught physical exercises, country dancing and singing and generally have a real good time under well-regulated conditions."
Last weekend to commemorate Empire Day the children had held an event in the George Street Assembly Rooms. The East Sutton branch of the Loyalty League had performed a sketch in which children representing the Colonies had marched round Britannia and laid gifts at her feet. The other two branches were from Thatto Heath and Hardshaw and their children each performed their own patriotic celebration.
Currently taking place at Wembley Park was the British Empire Exhibition, which would continue until November. One of the star exhibits had been provided by Pilkingtons, who claimed to have on show the largest sheet of plate glass in the world.
In this week's St Helens Reporter, Barker's Stores of Duke Street were offering a free return ticket to the Wembley exhibition, together with a "liberal allowance" for expenses to the winner of their contest. That individual would be the one that bought the most brushes, soap, crockery, washing, materials, etc. from their store over the next two months.
Before the war little had been done for the blind in St Helens. But the number of soldiers that had been blinded in action had led to a much more proactive attitude and the Reporter also described how a workshop for the blind had now been created in Crook Street, near Liverpool Road.
On the 31st the 21st annual St Helens Horse Show was held. The parade through the town began from Queen's Recreation Ground, where the judging took place, with the procession headed by the Parr St Peter's Band. Pilkington's won first prize in the "neatest heavy horse" category and the Reporter wrote that the show had:
"…provided a pleasing and valuable incident to relieve the routine of daily life in the Borough. It was pleasing because of the object lesson it provided of devotion to and a humane regard for the patient and indispensable servant of mankind, the horse, and because of the gaiety lent to the ordinary humdrum aspect of the streets of the town by the passage of the parade of brightly caparisoned horses and smart and appropriately bedecked vehicles.
"It was valuable because of the spirit of kindness and the proper treatment of horses which it both helped to instil in the men who have the direct charge of them every day of the year, and in the minds of the general public, who cannot but realise what the object of the show and parade is, namely, “to improve the condition and humane treatment of horses, and to encourage owners, drivers and stablemen to take a great interest in the animals under their charge”."
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include a motorbike crash in Kiln Lane, the Hamer Street conman who claimed to be wealthy, the bad and good news about Saints' finances and the Sutton Road betting house that claimed to be a clothing club.
I described last week the distressing experience of St Helens music teacher Mary Unsworth and her daughter from Kiln Lane when at midnight they discovered an intruder crouched under the bed that they both shared. On the 28th the man alleged to be responsible – William Hall from Durham – appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with burglary and lodging out. Superintendent Dunn told the court that the 84-year-old mother and her unmarried daughter had retired to bed at 8:30pm, having secured all doors and windows, except the window of their ground-floor bedroom.
At 12:15 am Miss Unsworth was woken by the noise of the curtain over their bedroom door being dragged along its pole. The 41-year-old music teacher noticed the door was open despite it having been locked and she said to her mother, "Why, mother, the door is unfastened." The police superintendent said that Miss Unsworth then got out of bed to close the door and noticing something on the floor, she touched what turned out to be the peak of William Hall's cap. In horror she shouted out, "Oh, it's a man!" and began to scream.
Hall immediately jumped up, pushed Miss Unsworth to one side, opened the window, leapt out and ran off in his stocking feet, carrying his boots which he had taken off and left in the garden before breaking into the house. Shortly afterwards PC Johnson saw William Hall crouching in the garden of a home in Knowsley Road and as he spoke to the man, he ran off towards Eccleston Street where another constable intercepted him. The police took impressions of the footprints in the Unsworths' garden, which corresponded with the prisoners' stockings. The magistrates subsequently committed Hall for trial at the next quarter sessions.
Twenty more new homes had recently been put up at Windlehurst, which, when it had been built two or three years ago, became the first council house estate in St Helens. At a meeting of the council's Health Committee on the 28th it was decided that the new homes' rent would be set at the same rate as the estate's existing houses of the same type – and there were several variations.
The estate contained homes with or without parlours and some were semi-detached, while others were in terraces. The new homes did not have a parlour and so their weekly rent would be 7s 3d or 7s 9d (plus rates), depending on whether they were in a row or semi-detached.
For the last few weeks the Edward Dunstan Company had presented a series of dramas on different nights at the Theatre Royal. On the 29th in front of a crowded audience, a matinee of the comic play 'David Garrick' was performed in aid of the Saints SOS Fund. This had been recently established to get the club out of financial difficulties. As well as various means of fundraising, supporters were being asked to lend Saints the sum of £1.
However, there was no music during the production of 'David Garrick', as at the last minute the theatre's orchestra had been told by their union to go on strike. The musicians were, apparently, happy to play on but their union secretary said they had a rule preventing their members from performing for free at matinees.
Canal deaths were commonplace in St Helens and comprised three main types: 1) Deliberate suicide; 2) An accident while bathing; 3) An accident while walking along the canal bank in the dark – often after drinking. But coroners and inquest juries could have great difficulty in deciding which category the deceased should be placed in and often the open verdict of "found drowned" was returned.
There were two inquests held on the 29th that illustrated the problem. William Carr of King Street had not worked for six years because of an accident and had not been seen after attending a funeral until his body was fished out of the canal. But the 53-year-old widower had not been depressed and his family thought that in taking a short cut home he had probably inadvertently stumbled into the water. And so the coroner was happy to record a verdict of "Misadventure".
However, in the next inquest there was much more evidence of intent. Most canal immersions took place in the dark at night and so witnesses were very rare. But Ralph Jackson from Merton Bank Road was seen by three youths jumping into the water during one afternoon and the wife of the 69-year-old said her husband had been very ill and in extreme pain.
And so the coroner felt able to return a verdict of "suicide whilst of unsound mind". He also commended one of the youths called Dolan, who had jumped into the canal to try and save Mr Jackson. As the lad was unemployed, the coroner gave him 10 shillings out of his benevolent fund.
The St Helens Reporter on the 30th described how Empire Day had recently been celebrated in the town. As the annual event had fallen on a Saturday, there had not been the "usual marked manifestations" of previous years. The schools had chosen to celebrate Empire Day on the Friday through the giving of speeches, as well as "saluting the flag and the singing of patriotic songs".
What might today be seen as the indoctrination of children also occurred in other spheres. In January the Conservative Party splinter group called the St Helens Women's Unionist Association had formed a Children's Loyalty League. The Reporter then wrote how the league already had three "lively" branches containing about 300 members ranging in age from 8 to 18. The paper said: "Loyalty to King and country is a strong element in the Children's Loyalty League, and they are taught physical exercises, country dancing and singing and generally have a real good time under well-regulated conditions."
Last weekend to commemorate Empire Day the children had held an event in the George Street Assembly Rooms. The East Sutton branch of the Loyalty League had performed a sketch in which children representing the Colonies had marched round Britannia and laid gifts at her feet. The other two branches were from Thatto Heath and Hardshaw and their children each performed their own patriotic celebration.
Currently taking place at Wembley Park was the British Empire Exhibition, which would continue until November. One of the star exhibits had been provided by Pilkingtons, who claimed to have on show the largest sheet of plate glass in the world.
In this week's St Helens Reporter, Barker's Stores of Duke Street were offering a free return ticket to the Wembley exhibition, together with a "liberal allowance" for expenses to the winner of their contest. That individual would be the one that bought the most brushes, soap, crockery, washing, materials, etc. from their store over the next two months.
Before the war little had been done for the blind in St Helens. But the number of soldiers that had been blinded in action had led to a much more proactive attitude and the Reporter also described how a workshop for the blind had now been created in Crook Street, near Liverpool Road.
"…provided a pleasing and valuable incident to relieve the routine of daily life in the Borough. It was pleasing because of the object lesson it provided of devotion to and a humane regard for the patient and indispensable servant of mankind, the horse, and because of the gaiety lent to the ordinary humdrum aspect of the streets of the town by the passage of the parade of brightly caparisoned horses and smart and appropriately bedecked vehicles.
"It was valuable because of the spirit of kindness and the proper treatment of horses which it both helped to instil in the men who have the direct charge of them every day of the year, and in the minds of the general public, who cannot but realise what the object of the show and parade is, namely, “to improve the condition and humane treatment of horses, and to encourage owners, drivers and stablemen to take a great interest in the animals under their charge”."
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include a motorbike crash in Kiln Lane, the Hamer Street conman who claimed to be wealthy, the bad and good news about Saints' finances and the Sutton Road betting house that claimed to be a clothing club.
This week's many stories include more details of the man that hid under a music teacher's bed in Kiln Lane, the annual St Helens Horse Show is held, the contest to win tickets to visit the British Empire Exhibition in London, two more deaths take place in the Sankey Canal, the Theatre Royal's orchestra goes on strike and the patriotic Empire Day and Children's Loyalty League celebrations that took place in St Helens.
I described last week the distressing experience of St Helens music teacher Mary Unsworth and her daughter from Kiln Lane when at midnight they discovered an intruder crouched under the bed that they both shared.
On the 28th the man alleged to be responsible – William Hall from Durham – appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with burglary and lodging out.
Superintendent Dunn told the court that the 84-year-old mother and her unmarried daughter had retired to bed at 8:30pm, having secured all doors and windows, except the window of their ground-floor bedroom.
At 12:15 am Miss Unsworth was woken by the noise of the curtain over their bedroom door being dragged along its pole.
The 41-year-old music teacher noticed the door was open despite it having been locked and she said to her mother, "Why, mother, the door is unfastened."
The police superintendent said that Miss Unsworth then got out of bed to close the door and noticing something on the floor, she touched what turned out to be the peak of William Hall's cap. In horror she shouted out, "Oh, it's a man!" and began to scream.
Hall immediately jumped up, pushed Miss Unsworth to one side, opened the window, leapt out and ran off in his stocking feet, carrying his boots which he had taken off and left in the garden before breaking into the house.
Shortly afterwards PC Johnson saw William Hall crouching in the garden of a home in Knowsley Road and as he spoke to the man, he ran off towards Eccleston Street where another constable intercepted him.
The police took impressions of the footprints in the Unsworths' garden, which corresponded with the prisoners' stockings. The magistrates subsequently committed Hall for trial at the next quarter sessions.
Twenty more new homes had recently been put up at Windlehurst, which, when it had been built two or three years ago, became the first council house estate in St Helens.
At a meeting of the council's Health Committee on the 28th it was decided that the new homes' rent would be set at the same rate as the estate's existing houses of the same type – and there were several variations.
The estate contained homes with or without parlours and some were semi-detached, while others were in terraces.
The new homes did not have a parlour and so their weekly rent would be 7s 3d or 7s 9d (plus rates), depending on whether they were in a row or semi-detached.
For the last few weeks the Edward Dunstan Company had presented a series of dramas on different nights at the Theatre Royal.
On the 29th in front of a crowded audience, a matinee of the comic play 'David Garrick' was performed in aid of the Saints SOS Fund.
This had been recently established to get the club out of financial difficulties. As well as various means of fundraising, supporters were being asked to lend Saints the sum of £1.
However, there was no music during the production of 'David Garrick', as at the last minute the theatre's orchestra had been told by their union to go on strike.
The musicians were, apparently, happy to play on but their union secretary said they had a rule preventing their members from performing for free at matinees.
Canal deaths were commonplace in St Helens and comprised three main types:
1) Deliberate suicide; 2) An accident while bathing; 3) An accident while walking along the canal bank in the dark – often after drinking.
But coroners and inquest juries could have great difficulty in deciding which category the deceased should be placed in and often the open verdict of "found drowned" was returned.
There were two inquests held on the 29th that illustrated the problem.
William Carr of King Street had not worked for six years because of an accident and had not been seen after attending a funeral until his body was fished out of the canal.
But the 53-year-old widower had not been depressed and his family thought that in taking a short cut home he had probably inadvertently stumbled into the water.
And so the coroner was happy to record a verdict of "Misadventure".
However, in the next inquest there was much more evidence of intent. Most canal immersions took place in the dark at night and so witnesses were very rare.
But Ralph Jackson from Merton Bank Road was seen by three youths jumping into the water during one afternoon and the wife of the 69-year-old said her husband had been very ill and in extreme pain.
And so the coroner felt able to return a verdict of "suicide whilst of unsound mind".
He also commended one of the youths called Dolan, who had jumped into the canal to try and save Mr Jackson. As the lad was unemployed, the coroner gave him 10 shillings out of his benevolent fund.
The St Helens Reporter on the 30th described how Empire Day had recently been celebrated in the town.
As the annual event had fallen on a Saturday, there had not been the "usual marked manifestations" of previous years.
The schools had chosen to celebrate Empire Day on the Friday through the giving of speeches, as well as "saluting the flag and the singing of patriotic songs".
What might today be seen as the indoctrination of children also occurred in other spheres.
In January the Conservative Party splinter group called the St Helens Women's Unionist Association had formed a Children's Loyalty League.
The Reporter then wrote how the league already had three "lively" branches containing about 300 members ranging in age from 8 to 18. The paper said:
"Loyalty to King and country is a strong element in the Children's Loyalty League, and they are taught physical exercises, country dancing and singing and generally have a real good time under well-regulated conditions."
Last weekend to commemorate Empire Day the children had held an event in the George Street Assembly Rooms.
The East Sutton branch of the Loyalty League had performed a sketch in which children representing the Colonies had marched round Britannia and laid gifts at her feet.
The other two branches were from Thatto Heath and Hardshaw and their children each performed their own patriotic celebration.
Currently taking place at Wembley Park was the British Empire Exhibition, which would continue until November.
One of the star exhibits had been provided by Pilkingtons, who claimed to have on show the largest sheet of plate glass in the world.
In this week's St Helens Reporter, Barker's Stores of Duke Street were offering a free return ticket to the Wembley exhibition, together with a "liberal allowance" for expenses to the winner of their contest.
That individual would be the one that bought the most brushes, soap, crockery, washing, materials, etc. from their store over the next two months.
Before the war little had been done for the blind in St Helens. But the number of soldiers that had been blinded in action had led to a much more proactive attitude and the Reporter also described how a workshop for the blind had now been created in Crook Street, near Liverpool Road.
.On the 31st the 21st annual St Helens Horse Show was held. The parade through the town began from Queen's Recreation Ground, where the judging took place, with the procession headed by the Parr St Peter's Band.
Pilkington's won first prize in the "neatest heavy horse" category and the Reporter wrote that the show had:
"…provided a pleasing and valuable incident to relieve the routine of daily life in the Borough.
"It was pleasing because of the object lesson it provided of devotion to and a humane regard for the patient and indispensable servant of mankind, the horse, and because of the gaiety lent to the ordinary humdrum aspect of the streets of the town by the passage of the parade of brightly caparisoned horses and smart and appropriately bedecked vehicles.
"It was valuable because of the spirit of kindness and the proper treatment of horses which it both helped to instil in the men who have the direct charge of them every day of the year, and in the minds of the general public, who cannot but realise what the object of the show and parade is, namely, “to improve the condition and humane treatment of horses, and to encourage owners, drivers and stablemen to take a great interest in the animals under their charge”."
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include a motorbike crash in Kiln Lane, the Hamer Street conman who claimed to be wealthy, the bad and good news about Saints' finances and the Sutton Road betting house that claimed to be a clothing club.
I described last week the distressing experience of St Helens music teacher Mary Unsworth and her daughter from Kiln Lane when at midnight they discovered an intruder crouched under the bed that they both shared.
On the 28th the man alleged to be responsible – William Hall from Durham – appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with burglary and lodging out.
Superintendent Dunn told the court that the 84-year-old mother and her unmarried daughter had retired to bed at 8:30pm, having secured all doors and windows, except the window of their ground-floor bedroom.
At 12:15 am Miss Unsworth was woken by the noise of the curtain over their bedroom door being dragged along its pole.
The 41-year-old music teacher noticed the door was open despite it having been locked and she said to her mother, "Why, mother, the door is unfastened."
The police superintendent said that Miss Unsworth then got out of bed to close the door and noticing something on the floor, she touched what turned out to be the peak of William Hall's cap. In horror she shouted out, "Oh, it's a man!" and began to scream.
Hall immediately jumped up, pushed Miss Unsworth to one side, opened the window, leapt out and ran off in his stocking feet, carrying his boots which he had taken off and left in the garden before breaking into the house.
Shortly afterwards PC Johnson saw William Hall crouching in the garden of a home in Knowsley Road and as he spoke to the man, he ran off towards Eccleston Street where another constable intercepted him.
The police took impressions of the footprints in the Unsworths' garden, which corresponded with the prisoners' stockings. The magistrates subsequently committed Hall for trial at the next quarter sessions.
Twenty more new homes had recently been put up at Windlehurst, which, when it had been built two or three years ago, became the first council house estate in St Helens.
At a meeting of the council's Health Committee on the 28th it was decided that the new homes' rent would be set at the same rate as the estate's existing houses of the same type – and there were several variations.
The estate contained homes with or without parlours and some were semi-detached, while others were in terraces.
The new homes did not have a parlour and so their weekly rent would be 7s 3d or 7s 9d (plus rates), depending on whether they were in a row or semi-detached.
For the last few weeks the Edward Dunstan Company had presented a series of dramas on different nights at the Theatre Royal.
On the 29th in front of a crowded audience, a matinee of the comic play 'David Garrick' was performed in aid of the Saints SOS Fund.
This had been recently established to get the club out of financial difficulties. As well as various means of fundraising, supporters were being asked to lend Saints the sum of £1.
However, there was no music during the production of 'David Garrick', as at the last minute the theatre's orchestra had been told by their union to go on strike.
The musicians were, apparently, happy to play on but their union secretary said they had a rule preventing their members from performing for free at matinees.
Canal deaths were commonplace in St Helens and comprised three main types:
1) Deliberate suicide; 2) An accident while bathing; 3) An accident while walking along the canal bank in the dark – often after drinking.
But coroners and inquest juries could have great difficulty in deciding which category the deceased should be placed in and often the open verdict of "found drowned" was returned.
There were two inquests held on the 29th that illustrated the problem.
William Carr of King Street had not worked for six years because of an accident and had not been seen after attending a funeral until his body was fished out of the canal.
But the 53-year-old widower had not been depressed and his family thought that in taking a short cut home he had probably inadvertently stumbled into the water.
And so the coroner was happy to record a verdict of "Misadventure".
However, in the next inquest there was much more evidence of intent. Most canal immersions took place in the dark at night and so witnesses were very rare.
But Ralph Jackson from Merton Bank Road was seen by three youths jumping into the water during one afternoon and the wife of the 69-year-old said her husband had been very ill and in extreme pain.
And so the coroner felt able to return a verdict of "suicide whilst of unsound mind".
He also commended one of the youths called Dolan, who had jumped into the canal to try and save Mr Jackson. As the lad was unemployed, the coroner gave him 10 shillings out of his benevolent fund.
The St Helens Reporter on the 30th described how Empire Day had recently been celebrated in the town.
As the annual event had fallen on a Saturday, there had not been the "usual marked manifestations" of previous years.
The schools had chosen to celebrate Empire Day on the Friday through the giving of speeches, as well as "saluting the flag and the singing of patriotic songs".
What might today be seen as the indoctrination of children also occurred in other spheres.
In January the Conservative Party splinter group called the St Helens Women's Unionist Association had formed a Children's Loyalty League.
The Reporter then wrote how the league already had three "lively" branches containing about 300 members ranging in age from 8 to 18. The paper said:
"Loyalty to King and country is a strong element in the Children's Loyalty League, and they are taught physical exercises, country dancing and singing and generally have a real good time under well-regulated conditions."
Last weekend to commemorate Empire Day the children had held an event in the George Street Assembly Rooms.
The East Sutton branch of the Loyalty League had performed a sketch in which children representing the Colonies had marched round Britannia and laid gifts at her feet.
The other two branches were from Thatto Heath and Hardshaw and their children each performed their own patriotic celebration.
Currently taking place at Wembley Park was the British Empire Exhibition, which would continue until November.
One of the star exhibits had been provided by Pilkingtons, who claimed to have on show the largest sheet of plate glass in the world.
In this week's St Helens Reporter, Barker's Stores of Duke Street were offering a free return ticket to the Wembley exhibition, together with a "liberal allowance" for expenses to the winner of their contest.
That individual would be the one that bought the most brushes, soap, crockery, washing, materials, etc. from their store over the next two months.
Before the war little had been done for the blind in St Helens. But the number of soldiers that had been blinded in action had led to a much more proactive attitude and the Reporter also described how a workshop for the blind had now been created in Crook Street, near Liverpool Road.
Pilkington's won first prize in the "neatest heavy horse" category and the Reporter wrote that the show had:
"…provided a pleasing and valuable incident to relieve the routine of daily life in the Borough.
"It was pleasing because of the object lesson it provided of devotion to and a humane regard for the patient and indispensable servant of mankind, the horse, and because of the gaiety lent to the ordinary humdrum aspect of the streets of the town by the passage of the parade of brightly caparisoned horses and smart and appropriately bedecked vehicles.
"It was valuable because of the spirit of kindness and the proper treatment of horses which it both helped to instil in the men who have the direct charge of them every day of the year, and in the minds of the general public, who cannot but realise what the object of the show and parade is, namely, “to improve the condition and humane treatment of horses, and to encourage owners, drivers and stablemen to take a great interest in the animals under their charge”."
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include a motorbike crash in Kiln Lane, the Hamer Street conman who claimed to be wealthy, the bad and good news about Saints' finances and the Sutton Road betting house that claimed to be a clothing club.