FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (2nd - 8th MAY 1972)
This week's stories include the Four Acre fires that destroyed newly built homes, the battering to death of a school pet in Parr, the vandalism of a Peasley Cross antique shop, the friendless patients at Rainhill Hospital and a Sutton firm threatens to leave town after the rejection of its expansion plans.
We begin on the 2nd when two sixth-formers at Cowley Girls' School in St Helens travelled to Buckingham Palace to receive their Duke of Edinburgh gold awards. The girls were Karen Hughes of Tarvin Close in Sutton Manor and Linda Ashton of Sherdley Road.
The new Four Acre Lane housing estate in Clock Face was continuing to suffer problems from vandals. In the early hours of the 2nd, a block of five homes – that were almost ready for handing over to the town's Housing Department – were ravaged by fire. As a result of the blaze, two of the council houses were deemed damaged beyond repair and were going to be pulled down.
Rebuilding had been ruled out, as that would cost double their original price of £3,500 each. However, the three other affected homes could still be salvaged after undergo extensive repairs. The fire was the second in a few months on the 114-home estate. Last November, three other houses that were nearing completion had been destroyed by a blaze. A spokesman for the building contractors said: "We have had a lot of trouble on this estate. You expect vandalism and theft, but not this." The police said they were still investigating.
The Fair Rents Bill was set to become law in the Autumn and was proving a controversial piece of legislation as some tenants' rents would rise. At the St Helens monthly Town Council meeting on the 3rd, an action group staged a protest against the Bill. Eighteen members of St Helens Tenants Action Committee – many carrying placards – lobbied councillors as they arrived at the Town Hall. Although it was government legislation, each local authority could choose whether to implement the new law. But the action group's protest failed to influence the councillors. During their meeting a motion that the council should refuse to operate the bill was defeated.
Cllr. John Potter had claimed that the Bill would result in massive rent increases and means testing for council tenants, saying: "It will double rents in three years and create second class citizens." After the meeting, Peter Lenehan, chairman of the Tenants Action Committee, said: "I am disgusted with the Council's decision." However, the group's campaign against the Bill continued and later in the week they staged a protest march from Queen's Park to St Helens Town Hall.
Pilkingtons launched two new double-glazing units this week that were manufactured at their Sheet Works plant in St Helens and contained a gold coating on the glass. The thickness of the gold was only one millionth of a centimetre but it was sufficient to help deaden exterior noise, transmit more light than heat and have an attractive reflective exterior appearance.
Silcocks Pleasure Fair began its 4-day run in Queens Recreation Ground (or Queens Park, as we know it) on the 4th. Their advert promised a waltzer, Noah's ark, children's corner and "all the fun of the fair".
In an article in the Liverpool Echo on the 5th, it was stated that 10% of the patients at Rainhill Hospital were officially classed as "friendless", with the majority of these unfortunates being elderly people who had been admitted prior to WW2. The term referred to those who never received visits from relatives or friends. In addition to the 10%, there were those patients who received very infrequent visits.
"The savage killing of a school's pet has left pupils shocked and heartbroken". That was the Reporter's introduction to their piece describing how a ginger and white guinea pig called Susie had been removed from her cage at Parr Flat Junior School and beaten to death with a poker.
The school caretaker had discovered the animal's battered body upon reopening the premises on Monday. Teacher Joyce Garlick told the paper that the children were shocked and very upset when informed by their headmaster of Susie's death. "I just can't understand why anyone should do this horrible thing", she added.
The lead story on the front page of the St Helens Reporter described how a 130-year-old business was threatening to leave the town after its expansion plans had been rejected. Thomas Foster and Sons (Horticulture) Ltd wanted to extend its works in Bentinck Street in Sutton to include a chemical manufacturing plant. The £100,000 investment would have created 50 jobs but the firm's managing director, Frank Foster, claimed that his planning application had not been given a fair hearing. "The corporation said ‘no’, even though we promised there'd not be the slightest bit of a smell," said Mr Foster.
Although plans for the St Helens extension had received building approval, town councillors rejected them on the ground of possible pollution. "But they didn't consider our case properly," insisted Mr Foster, "or they'd have found out there would be no pollution at all. I'd like the people of St Helens to know how we've been treated. I just can't believe we have been turned down. We'll just have to move everything somewhere else." Mr Foster believed that the controversy over the pollution attributed to Sidac and Leathers Chemicals in Sutton had led to the council knocking back his plans.
The Reporter also described how Northern Property Estate Agents of St Helens was launching a no-deposit, 100% mortgage scheme to help young couples buy their own homes.
Elvis Presley fan John Ashton was profiled in the paper after he and his wife Lorraine had called their new baby John Elvis. "I think Elvis is the greatest singer ever", said the 25-year-old ice cream salesman from Wilson Street. "I've liked him from my schooldays. I have 40 LPs, 15 EPs and 50 singles, all of Elvis."
The Whalley's World column in the Reporter profiled a recently opened antique and second-hand shop in Peasley Cross. However, things had not gone too smoothly for proprietor Bobby Jones, as vandals had shattered almost every window in his store. "I've been in business – in various lines – for at least 20 years", said Bobby. "But St Helens seems to take the biscuit for the highest number of vandals." Since the "dapper little Newtonian" – as described by Alan Whalley – had opened his shop three months earlier, he had also suffered seven break-ins.
However, Alan wrote how "chirpy Bobby" was not too downhearted by what had occurred: "He reports a business boom at his curiosity shop, where record-players and cookers jostle alongside fishing rods, bikes and wardrobes. Said Bobby: “Victoriana is becoming all the rage again. People are fed up with today's mass-produced furniture and fittings. They are going for craftsmanship of the past.” Near the top of the demand list: Old rocking chairs, wash-stand bowls and jugs and ornate clocks. Said Bobby: “I have no trouble drawing the customers each day. My only problem is keeping unwelcome visitors out at night!”"
Alan Whalley also described a letter that he had received from Stan Brown of Dorgan Close in Rainhill who told – as the journalist put it – "a story related at his grandmother's knee". She'd told Stan that her grandfather talked of seeing "Old Tom Beecham", the founder of Beechams, selling pills from a tray outside a pub in Market Street in St Helens. "The customers used to lean out and poke Tom's flat cap over his eyes with their walking sticks," said Stan.
And finally, three Bold Colliery pitmen who had won colour TV sets were pictured in the Reporter. David Holding of Downland Way, Joseph Kordzinski of Kentmere Avenue and George Bowden of Cecil Street were among twenty-three workers who had received awards at Bold Miners Club in Fleet Lane. The men who worked at what was then considered the safest large pit in the country (pictured above), needed to have an accident-free and 80% attendance record in order to qualify for an award. A draw was then organised to pick the top three winners who each received a colour TV, with two other pitmen winning black and white sets.
Next week's stories will include the unexploded bomb in St Helens Canal, the ending of the Linpac Plastics sit-in in Sutton, the three schoolboy crime fighters and the busman's holiday operation to get stranded Saints fans to Wembley.
We begin on the 2nd when two sixth-formers at Cowley Girls' School in St Helens travelled to Buckingham Palace to receive their Duke of Edinburgh gold awards. The girls were Karen Hughes of Tarvin Close in Sutton Manor and Linda Ashton of Sherdley Road.
The new Four Acre Lane housing estate in Clock Face was continuing to suffer problems from vandals. In the early hours of the 2nd, a block of five homes – that were almost ready for handing over to the town's Housing Department – were ravaged by fire. As a result of the blaze, two of the council houses were deemed damaged beyond repair and were going to be pulled down.
Rebuilding had been ruled out, as that would cost double their original price of £3,500 each. However, the three other affected homes could still be salvaged after undergo extensive repairs. The fire was the second in a few months on the 114-home estate. Last November, three other houses that were nearing completion had been destroyed by a blaze. A spokesman for the building contractors said: "We have had a lot of trouble on this estate. You expect vandalism and theft, but not this." The police said they were still investigating.
The Fair Rents Bill was set to become law in the Autumn and was proving a controversial piece of legislation as some tenants' rents would rise. At the St Helens monthly Town Council meeting on the 3rd, an action group staged a protest against the Bill. Eighteen members of St Helens Tenants Action Committee – many carrying placards – lobbied councillors as they arrived at the Town Hall. Although it was government legislation, each local authority could choose whether to implement the new law. But the action group's protest failed to influence the councillors. During their meeting a motion that the council should refuse to operate the bill was defeated.
Cllr. John Potter had claimed that the Bill would result in massive rent increases and means testing for council tenants, saying: "It will double rents in three years and create second class citizens." After the meeting, Peter Lenehan, chairman of the Tenants Action Committee, said: "I am disgusted with the Council's decision." However, the group's campaign against the Bill continued and later in the week they staged a protest march from Queen's Park to St Helens Town Hall.
Pilkingtons launched two new double-glazing units this week that were manufactured at their Sheet Works plant in St Helens and contained a gold coating on the glass. The thickness of the gold was only one millionth of a centimetre but it was sufficient to help deaden exterior noise, transmit more light than heat and have an attractive reflective exterior appearance.
Silcocks Pleasure Fair began its 4-day run in Queens Recreation Ground (or Queens Park, as we know it) on the 4th. Their advert promised a waltzer, Noah's ark, children's corner and "all the fun of the fair".
In an article in the Liverpool Echo on the 5th, it was stated that 10% of the patients at Rainhill Hospital were officially classed as "friendless", with the majority of these unfortunates being elderly people who had been admitted prior to WW2. The term referred to those who never received visits from relatives or friends. In addition to the 10%, there were those patients who received very infrequent visits.
"The savage killing of a school's pet has left pupils shocked and heartbroken". That was the Reporter's introduction to their piece describing how a ginger and white guinea pig called Susie had been removed from her cage at Parr Flat Junior School and beaten to death with a poker.
The school caretaker had discovered the animal's battered body upon reopening the premises on Monday. Teacher Joyce Garlick told the paper that the children were shocked and very upset when informed by their headmaster of Susie's death. "I just can't understand why anyone should do this horrible thing", she added.
The lead story on the front page of the St Helens Reporter described how a 130-year-old business was threatening to leave the town after its expansion plans had been rejected. Thomas Foster and Sons (Horticulture) Ltd wanted to extend its works in Bentinck Street in Sutton to include a chemical manufacturing plant. The £100,000 investment would have created 50 jobs but the firm's managing director, Frank Foster, claimed that his planning application had not been given a fair hearing. "The corporation said ‘no’, even though we promised there'd not be the slightest bit of a smell," said Mr Foster.
Although plans for the St Helens extension had received building approval, town councillors rejected them on the ground of possible pollution. "But they didn't consider our case properly," insisted Mr Foster, "or they'd have found out there would be no pollution at all. I'd like the people of St Helens to know how we've been treated. I just can't believe we have been turned down. We'll just have to move everything somewhere else." Mr Foster believed that the controversy over the pollution attributed to Sidac and Leathers Chemicals in Sutton had led to the council knocking back his plans.
The Reporter also described how Northern Property Estate Agents of St Helens was launching a no-deposit, 100% mortgage scheme to help young couples buy their own homes.
Elvis Presley fan John Ashton was profiled in the paper after he and his wife Lorraine had called their new baby John Elvis. "I think Elvis is the greatest singer ever", said the 25-year-old ice cream salesman from Wilson Street. "I've liked him from my schooldays. I have 40 LPs, 15 EPs and 50 singles, all of Elvis."
The Whalley's World column in the Reporter profiled a recently opened antique and second-hand shop in Peasley Cross. However, things had not gone too smoothly for proprietor Bobby Jones, as vandals had shattered almost every window in his store. "I've been in business – in various lines – for at least 20 years", said Bobby. "But St Helens seems to take the biscuit for the highest number of vandals." Since the "dapper little Newtonian" – as described by Alan Whalley – had opened his shop three months earlier, he had also suffered seven break-ins.
However, Alan wrote how "chirpy Bobby" was not too downhearted by what had occurred: "He reports a business boom at his curiosity shop, where record-players and cookers jostle alongside fishing rods, bikes and wardrobes. Said Bobby: “Victoriana is becoming all the rage again. People are fed up with today's mass-produced furniture and fittings. They are going for craftsmanship of the past.” Near the top of the demand list: Old rocking chairs, wash-stand bowls and jugs and ornate clocks. Said Bobby: “I have no trouble drawing the customers each day. My only problem is keeping unwelcome visitors out at night!”"
Alan Whalley also described a letter that he had received from Stan Brown of Dorgan Close in Rainhill who told – as the journalist put it – "a story related at his grandmother's knee". She'd told Stan that her grandfather talked of seeing "Old Tom Beecham", the founder of Beechams, selling pills from a tray outside a pub in Market Street in St Helens. "The customers used to lean out and poke Tom's flat cap over his eyes with their walking sticks," said Stan.
Next week's stories will include the unexploded bomb in St Helens Canal, the ending of the Linpac Plastics sit-in in Sutton, the three schoolboy crime fighters and the busman's holiday operation to get stranded Saints fans to Wembley.
This week's stories include the Four Acre fires that destroyed newly built homes, the battering to death of a school pet in Parr, the vandalism of a Peasley Cross antique shop, the friendless patients at Rainhill Hospital and a Sutton firm threatens to leave town after the rejection of its expansion plans.
We begin on the 2nd when two sixth-formers at Cowley Girls' School in St Helens travelled to Buckingham Palace to receive their Duke of Edinburgh gold awards.
The girls were Karen Hughes of Tarvin Close in Sutton Manor and Linda Ashton of Sherdley Road.
The new Four Acre Lane housing estate in Clock Face was continuing to suffer problems from vandals.
In the early hours of the 2nd, a block of five homes – that were almost ready for handing over to the town's Housing Department – were ravaged by fire.
As a result of the blaze, two of the council houses were deemed damaged beyond repair and were going to be pulled down.
Rebuilding had been ruled out, as that would cost double their original price of £3,500 each.
However, the three other affected homes could still be salvaged after undergo extensive repairs.
The fire was the second in a few months on the 114-home estate. Last November, three other houses that were nearing completion had been destroyed by a blaze.
A spokesman for the building contractors said: "We have had a lot of trouble on this estate. You expect vandalism and theft, but not this." The police said they were still investigating.
The Fair Rents Bill was set to become law in the Autumn and was proving a controversial piece of legislation as some tenants' rents would rise.
At the St Helens monthly Town Council meeting on the 3rd, an action group staged a protest against the Bill.
Eighteen members of St Helens Tenants Action Committee – many carrying placards – lobbied councillors as they arrived at the Town Hall.
Although it was government legislation, each local authority could choose whether to implement the new law.
But the action group's protest failed to influence the councillors. During their meeting a motion that the council should refuse to operate the bill was defeated.
Cllr. John Potter had claimed that the Bill would result in massive rent increases and means testing for council tenants, saying: "It will double rents in three years and create second class citizens."
After the meeting, Peter Lenehan, chairman of the Tenants Action Committee, said: "I am disgusted with the Council's decision."
However, the group's campaign against the Bill continued and later in the week they staged a protest march from Queen's Park to St Helens Town Hall.
Pilkingtons launched two new double-glazing units this week that were manufactured at their Sheet Works plant in St Helens and contained a gold coating on the glass.
The thickness of the gold was only one millionth of a centimetre but it was sufficient to help deaden exterior noise, transmit more light than heat and have an attractive reflective exterior appearance.
Silcocks Pleasure Fair began its 4-day run in Queens Recreation Ground (or Queens Park, as we know it) on the 4th. Their advert promised a waltzer, Noah's ark, children's corner and "all the fun of the fair".
In an article in the Liverpool Echo on the 5th, it was stated that 10% of the patients at Rainhill Hospital were officially classed as "friendless", with the majority of these unfortunates being elderly people who had been admitted prior to WW2.
The term referred to those who never received visits from relatives or friends. In addition to the 10%, there were those patients who received very infrequent visits.
"The savage killing of a school's pet has left pupils shocked and heartbroken".
That was the Reporter's introduction to their piece describing how a ginger and white guinea pig called Susie had been removed from her cage at Parr Flat Junior School and beaten to death with a poker.
The school caretaker had discovered the animal's battered body upon reopening the premises on Monday.
Teacher Joyce Garlick told the paper that the children were shocked and very upset when informed by their headmaster of Susie's death.
"I just can't understand why anyone should do this horrible thing", she added.
The lead story on the front page of the St Helens Reporter described how a 130-year-old business was threatening to leave the town after its expansion plans had been rejected.
Thomas Foster and Sons (Horticulture) Ltd wanted to extend its works in Bentinck Street in Sutton to include a chemical manufacturing plant.
The £100,000 investment would have created 50 jobs but the firm's managing director, Frank Foster, claimed that his planning application had not been given a fair hearing.
"The corporation said ‘no’, even though we promised there'd not be the slightest bit of a smell," said Mr Foster.
Although plans for the St Helens extension had received building approval, town councillors rejected them on the ground of possible pollution.
"But they didn't consider our case properly," insisted Mr Foster, "or they'd have found out there would be no pollution at all.
"I'd like the people of St Helens to know how we've been treated. I just can't believe we have been turned down. We'll just have to move everything somewhere else."
Mr Foster believed that the controversy over the pollution attributed to Sidac and Leathers Chemicals in Sutton had led to the council knocking back his plans.
The Reporter also described how Northern Property Estate Agents of St Helens was launching a no-deposit, 100% mortgage scheme to help young couples buy their own homes.
Elvis Presley fan John Ashton was profiled in the paper after he and his wife Lorraine had called their new baby John Elvis.
"I think Elvis is the greatest singer ever", said the 25-year-old ice cream salesman from Wilson Street. "I've liked him from my schooldays. I have 40 LPs, 15 EPs and 50 singles, all of Elvis."
The Whalley's World column in the Reporter profiled a recently opened antique and second-hand shop in Peasley Cross.
However, things had not gone too smoothly for proprietor Bobby Jones, as vandals had shattered almost every window in his store.
"I've been in business – in various lines – for at least 20 years", said Bobby. "But St Helens seems to take the biscuit for the highest number of vandals."
Since the "dapper little Newtonian" – as described by Alan Whalley – had opened his shop three months earlier, he had also suffered seven break-ins.
However, Alan wrote how "chirpy Bobby" was not too downhearted by what had occurred:
"He reports a business boom at his curiosity shop, where record-players and cookers jostle alongside fishing rods, bikes and wardrobes.
"Said Bobby: “Victoriana is becoming all the rage again. People are fed up with today's mass-produced furniture and fittings. They are going for craftsmanship of the past.”
"Near the top of the demand list: Old rocking chairs, wash-stand bowls and jugs and ornate clocks.
"Said Bobby: “I have no trouble drawing the customers each day. My only problem is keeping unwelcome visitors out at night!”"
Alan Whalley also described a letter that he had received from Stan Brown of Dorgan Close in Rainhill who told – as the journalist put it – "a story related at his grandmother's knee".
She'd told Stan that her grandfather talked of seeing "Old Tom Beecham", the founder of Beechams, selling pills from a tray outside a pub in Market Street in St Helens.
"The customers used to lean out and poke Tom's flat cap over his eyes with their walking sticks," said Stan.
And finally, three Bold Colliery pitmen who had won colour TV sets were pictured in the Reporter.
David Holding of Downland Way, Joseph Kordzinski of Kentmere Avenue and George Bowden of Cecil Street were among twenty-three workers who had received awards at Bold Miners Club in Fleet Lane.
The men who worked at what was then considered the safest large pit in the country (pictured above), needed to have an accident-free and 80% attendance record in order to qualify for an award.
A draw was then organised to pick the top three winners who each received a colour TV, with two other pitmen winning black and white sets.
Next week's stories will include the unexploded bomb in St Helens Canal, the ending of the Linpac Plastics sit-in in Sutton, the three schoolboy crime fighters and the busman's holiday operation to get stranded Saints fans to Wembley.
We begin on the 2nd when two sixth-formers at Cowley Girls' School in St Helens travelled to Buckingham Palace to receive their Duke of Edinburgh gold awards.
The girls were Karen Hughes of Tarvin Close in Sutton Manor and Linda Ashton of Sherdley Road.
The new Four Acre Lane housing estate in Clock Face was continuing to suffer problems from vandals.
In the early hours of the 2nd, a block of five homes – that were almost ready for handing over to the town's Housing Department – were ravaged by fire.
As a result of the blaze, two of the council houses were deemed damaged beyond repair and were going to be pulled down.
Rebuilding had been ruled out, as that would cost double their original price of £3,500 each.
However, the three other affected homes could still be salvaged after undergo extensive repairs.
The fire was the second in a few months on the 114-home estate. Last November, three other houses that were nearing completion had been destroyed by a blaze.
A spokesman for the building contractors said: "We have had a lot of trouble on this estate. You expect vandalism and theft, but not this." The police said they were still investigating.
The Fair Rents Bill was set to become law in the Autumn and was proving a controversial piece of legislation as some tenants' rents would rise.
At the St Helens monthly Town Council meeting on the 3rd, an action group staged a protest against the Bill.
Eighteen members of St Helens Tenants Action Committee – many carrying placards – lobbied councillors as they arrived at the Town Hall.
Although it was government legislation, each local authority could choose whether to implement the new law.
But the action group's protest failed to influence the councillors. During their meeting a motion that the council should refuse to operate the bill was defeated.
Cllr. John Potter had claimed that the Bill would result in massive rent increases and means testing for council tenants, saying: "It will double rents in three years and create second class citizens."
After the meeting, Peter Lenehan, chairman of the Tenants Action Committee, said: "I am disgusted with the Council's decision."
However, the group's campaign against the Bill continued and later in the week they staged a protest march from Queen's Park to St Helens Town Hall.
Pilkingtons launched two new double-glazing units this week that were manufactured at their Sheet Works plant in St Helens and contained a gold coating on the glass.
The thickness of the gold was only one millionth of a centimetre but it was sufficient to help deaden exterior noise, transmit more light than heat and have an attractive reflective exterior appearance.
Silcocks Pleasure Fair began its 4-day run in Queens Recreation Ground (or Queens Park, as we know it) on the 4th. Their advert promised a waltzer, Noah's ark, children's corner and "all the fun of the fair".
In an article in the Liverpool Echo on the 5th, it was stated that 10% of the patients at Rainhill Hospital were officially classed as "friendless", with the majority of these unfortunates being elderly people who had been admitted prior to WW2.
The term referred to those who never received visits from relatives or friends. In addition to the 10%, there were those patients who received very infrequent visits.
"The savage killing of a school's pet has left pupils shocked and heartbroken".
That was the Reporter's introduction to their piece describing how a ginger and white guinea pig called Susie had been removed from her cage at Parr Flat Junior School and beaten to death with a poker.
The school caretaker had discovered the animal's battered body upon reopening the premises on Monday.
Teacher Joyce Garlick told the paper that the children were shocked and very upset when informed by their headmaster of Susie's death.
"I just can't understand why anyone should do this horrible thing", she added.
The lead story on the front page of the St Helens Reporter described how a 130-year-old business was threatening to leave the town after its expansion plans had been rejected.
Thomas Foster and Sons (Horticulture) Ltd wanted to extend its works in Bentinck Street in Sutton to include a chemical manufacturing plant.
The £100,000 investment would have created 50 jobs but the firm's managing director, Frank Foster, claimed that his planning application had not been given a fair hearing.
"The corporation said ‘no’, even though we promised there'd not be the slightest bit of a smell," said Mr Foster.
Although plans for the St Helens extension had received building approval, town councillors rejected them on the ground of possible pollution.
"But they didn't consider our case properly," insisted Mr Foster, "or they'd have found out there would be no pollution at all.
"I'd like the people of St Helens to know how we've been treated. I just can't believe we have been turned down. We'll just have to move everything somewhere else."
Mr Foster believed that the controversy over the pollution attributed to Sidac and Leathers Chemicals in Sutton had led to the council knocking back his plans.
The Reporter also described how Northern Property Estate Agents of St Helens was launching a no-deposit, 100% mortgage scheme to help young couples buy their own homes.
Elvis Presley fan John Ashton was profiled in the paper after he and his wife Lorraine had called their new baby John Elvis.
"I think Elvis is the greatest singer ever", said the 25-year-old ice cream salesman from Wilson Street. "I've liked him from my schooldays. I have 40 LPs, 15 EPs and 50 singles, all of Elvis."
The Whalley's World column in the Reporter profiled a recently opened antique and second-hand shop in Peasley Cross.
However, things had not gone too smoothly for proprietor Bobby Jones, as vandals had shattered almost every window in his store.
"I've been in business – in various lines – for at least 20 years", said Bobby. "But St Helens seems to take the biscuit for the highest number of vandals."
Since the "dapper little Newtonian" – as described by Alan Whalley – had opened his shop three months earlier, he had also suffered seven break-ins.
However, Alan wrote how "chirpy Bobby" was not too downhearted by what had occurred:
"He reports a business boom at his curiosity shop, where record-players and cookers jostle alongside fishing rods, bikes and wardrobes.
"Said Bobby: “Victoriana is becoming all the rage again. People are fed up with today's mass-produced furniture and fittings. They are going for craftsmanship of the past.”
"Near the top of the demand list: Old rocking chairs, wash-stand bowls and jugs and ornate clocks.
"Said Bobby: “I have no trouble drawing the customers each day. My only problem is keeping unwelcome visitors out at night!”"
Alan Whalley also described a letter that he had received from Stan Brown of Dorgan Close in Rainhill who told – as the journalist put it – "a story related at his grandmother's knee".
She'd told Stan that her grandfather talked of seeing "Old Tom Beecham", the founder of Beechams, selling pills from a tray outside a pub in Market Street in St Helens.
"The customers used to lean out and poke Tom's flat cap over his eyes with their walking sticks," said Stan.
David Holding of Downland Way, Joseph Kordzinski of Kentmere Avenue and George Bowden of Cecil Street were among twenty-three workers who had received awards at Bold Miners Club in Fleet Lane.
The men who worked at what was then considered the safest large pit in the country (pictured above), needed to have an accident-free and 80% attendance record in order to qualify for an award.
A draw was then organised to pick the top three winners who each received a colour TV, with two other pitmen winning black and white sets.
Next week's stories will include the unexploded bomb in St Helens Canal, the ending of the Linpac Plastics sit-in in Sutton, the three schoolboy crime fighters and the busman's holiday operation to get stranded Saints fans to Wembley.