FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 3 - 9 FEBRRUARY 1975
This week's many stories include the burglary at Babyworld, the Rainhill rape claim that a judge rejected, the shotgun robberies in Prescot Road, a row over Town Hall parking spaces, the disco ban in Eccleston Village Hall, the rise in demand for allotments and workers at a Langtree Street shirt factory celebrate a pools win.
We begin on the 3rd with a fire at Whiston Labour Club in Paradise Lane. One of the benefits of smoking bans is that few indoor fires these days are blamed on carelessly discarded cigarettes. That was what was thought to have caused the Whiston fire in a bottle storeroom but the damage was not considered serious, with Whiston Fire Brigade having been quickly on the scene.
Also on the 3rd, a judge at Liverpool Crown Court referred to a St Helens rape allegation as "one of the most disgusting cases I have heard for a long time." However, Justice Kilner Brown was unconvinced that a rape by a man from Elephant Lane had actually taken place because of insufficient corroboration. With the jury out of the room, the judge discussed the case with the prosecution counsel and said:
"I have had the misfortune to read the statements that this young man has made, also the statements of the witnesses and the girl involved. This is one of the most disgusting cases I have heard for a long time. People have behaved like perverted animals. On occasions a judge has to step into the arena. We all know that even a prostitute has the protection of the law if she has intercourse against her will. But let's be realistic – isn't this case a waste of time?"
When the jury were readmitted into the courtroom, they were told by the judge that in order for a conviction for rape to take place there needed to be corroborative evidence to support the charge. As he felt that corroboration was lacking in the case, the jury was instructed to bring in a verdict of not guilty. And so they did not hear what St Helens magistrates had been told last November before the accused was committed for trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Then it was alleged that he and a friend had forcibly taken the young woman from her flat and then took her to a field in Rainhill where the rape was committed. When the alleged offender was being questioned at St Helens Police Station, the victim was said to have visited him intending to stab the man with a pair of scissors that she'd smuggled into the station. However, they were taken off her before she was able to use them on him.
At just before 4am on the 4th, a man carrying a sawn-off shotgun robbed an attendant at the Heron Service Station on Prescot Road in St Helens. Josiah Glover was forced to hand over £36 to the hooded man and then ordered to lie down. His hands were tied behind his back and cotton wool was secured in his mouth with a bandage. And then 4 days later at 2am, what was believed to be the same individual, along with an accomplice, returned to the service station to carry out an identical crime on another cashier, as if terrifying one person was not enough.
This week efforts by Eccleston Parish Councillor Richard Pennington to allow a disco for 12 to 14 year-olds to be held in their village hall in Kiln Lane were rejected. The council had only recently taken possession of the hall, with it previously having served as Eccleston Library. And they had a rule that discos would not be allowed – although whist drives and coffee mornings were permitted.
The disco ban was based on a fear that noise might upset local residents and also lead to vandalism but Cllr Pennington pleaded for a change of mind, saying: "We have done nothing for the youth of this area and I'm tired of letting them down. If we allowed them to use the hall it will be a real gesture." It was explained to Cllr Pennington that when the parish council was given permission to use the hall, a condition to ban dancing had been imposed as the result of a petition that local residents had got up.
On the morning of the 5th the Babyworld shop in Ormskirk Street in St Helens was broken into and ten radios, three record players, seven cassettes, two cassette radios and a set of headphones worth a total of £719 were stolen. It was believed that the intruders had smashed a skylight to enter the premises and had got away through a rear door leading into a courtyard.
Later that day nine employees of the Humphrey Lloyd shirt factory in Langtree Street received a cheque from Vernons Pools for £5,600. In today's money each had won the best part of £10,000 and on the following day they threw a party for fellow workmates who were probably cursing themselves for not being part of the syndicate. The winners were Derek Taylor, Alf Cook, Mal Clarke, Helen Shaw, Vic Conway, David Simms, John Power, Tommy Elliot and Alan Pye.
On the 6th the Kings Singers were in concert at the Theatre Royal and on the following evening the Black Dyke Mills Band performed. Then on the 8th the Manchester Camerata Orchestra presented a concert in Corporation Street.
The 1970s, as many will remember, were a time of high levels of price inflation. In 1974 the rate stood at 16% and would rise to 24% during 1975. The Reporter on the 7th described that as a result the council was experiencing their biggest demand for allotments since the war, as townsfolk wanted to grow their own produce. St Helens Council's Leisure and Recreation Committee had this week decided to find another site in the Sutton Manor area to host allotments after receiving over 30 requests from locals.
The Reporter also revealed that the Clock Face Miners Recreation Club was likely to have a £7,000 facelift. Part of the money would come from a Sports Council grant with St Helens Council funding the rest. However, in return members of the public would have to be allowed to use their facilities.
Dennis Collins was an outspoken Rainford councillor – a postman by trade who did not appreciate being told what to do. Dennis had recently been suspended for a few weeks by his own Labour Party after refusing to toe the line and did not like being told where not to park his car, telling the Reporter: "I'm bloody annoyed when I'm told to keep out of our own car park."
He was referring to parking spaces at the Town Hall where councillors and visitors had previously parked but which had now been designated for top council officers. "As far as I know there has been no decision made in any committee to allow the chief officers to claim this space", added Dennis. "What are we expected to do now?" But Councillor Collins admitted that he had found the answer to his own question by simply ignoring the signs and parking in the reserved places.
But, of course, it is always advisable to ask questions first before shooting your mouth off, as a Town Hall spokesman explained to the Reporter that the measure was temporary and only expected to last a month. Alterations were being made to the old court buildings and the council officers' previous parking spaces were currently occupied by skips full of rubble. And as the officers came to the town hall to work every day and the councillors only now and then, the former were being given priority.
In the past there had to be incidents of accidents and deaths on the roads before safety measures were introduced. That is not my interpretation – that was actual policy and was openly stated by officials. And so this week there was nothing unusual in the comments of a police spokesman when asked about the danger spots on Clock Face Bridge. He said:
"There is nothing we would like more than to widen this bridge, but until there are a great number of reported accidents, we can do nothing." And then if a great number of accidents did occur, all the police could do was recommend to Merseyside County Council that something should be done. The comments were in response to a complaint from Eric Welding of Bentley Street who had told the Reporter that there was far too much traffic for a single lane bridge and lorries faced real problems when using it.
Mr Welding was particularly concerned about the safety of pedestrians, saying that those crossing over Gartons Lane had to walk directly in front of cars as they turned left off the bridge. "The worst ones are women with prams," he explained. "If a car is coming over that bridge and there is one halfway into the road, the pram just doesn't have a chance. And motorists face a blind bend when they approach and leave the bridge from Gartons Lane."
Last week Pakcel Convertors of Lancots Lane in Sutton had admitted that they were in difficulties through a reduced order book and were talking of introducing a 4-day week. The Reporter this week explained that there had been a change of plan and their workers would now only be working for three weeks out of four during February.
The 200 staff should, however, be able to claim what the Reporter described as dole money for three of the days that they were off work. That would not be so easily available if the workers had been on a four-day week. And if the reduced working was extended to March, the workers would be able to claim unemployment benefit for six days. Pakcel was a subsidiary of British Sidac and made wrappers and packets for such food as crisps.
The summer of 1974 had not suited Greenall Whitley, who released their annual report this week. For when the temperature rises, drinkers head for the bar. But as the weather had been poor, less business had been done. That led to the brewery not making as much money as they had hoped, although their pre-tax profit for the year was still just over £5 million.
And finally, on the 9th 'Stardust' starring David Essex and Adam Faith began a second week's run at the ABC Savoy, with the Capitol Cinema replacing 'The Tamarind Seed' with 'I Escaped From Devil's Island', starring Lee Marvin.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include Nevin's fine for misleading customers, the mice-chasing Parr boy who was trapped in mud, the big rises in rates bills that were on the cards and the St Helens Treasurer blows his top over choosy council tenants.
We begin on the 3rd with a fire at Whiston Labour Club in Paradise Lane. One of the benefits of smoking bans is that few indoor fires these days are blamed on carelessly discarded cigarettes. That was what was thought to have caused the Whiston fire in a bottle storeroom but the damage was not considered serious, with Whiston Fire Brigade having been quickly on the scene.
Also on the 3rd, a judge at Liverpool Crown Court referred to a St Helens rape allegation as "one of the most disgusting cases I have heard for a long time." However, Justice Kilner Brown was unconvinced that a rape by a man from Elephant Lane had actually taken place because of insufficient corroboration. With the jury out of the room, the judge discussed the case with the prosecution counsel and said:
"I have had the misfortune to read the statements that this young man has made, also the statements of the witnesses and the girl involved. This is one of the most disgusting cases I have heard for a long time. People have behaved like perverted animals. On occasions a judge has to step into the arena. We all know that even a prostitute has the protection of the law if she has intercourse against her will. But let's be realistic – isn't this case a waste of time?"
When the jury were readmitted into the courtroom, they were told by the judge that in order for a conviction for rape to take place there needed to be corroborative evidence to support the charge. As he felt that corroboration was lacking in the case, the jury was instructed to bring in a verdict of not guilty. And so they did not hear what St Helens magistrates had been told last November before the accused was committed for trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Then it was alleged that he and a friend had forcibly taken the young woman from her flat and then took her to a field in Rainhill where the rape was committed. When the alleged offender was being questioned at St Helens Police Station, the victim was said to have visited him intending to stab the man with a pair of scissors that she'd smuggled into the station. However, they were taken off her before she was able to use them on him.
At just before 4am on the 4th, a man carrying a sawn-off shotgun robbed an attendant at the Heron Service Station on Prescot Road in St Helens. Josiah Glover was forced to hand over £36 to the hooded man and then ordered to lie down. His hands were tied behind his back and cotton wool was secured in his mouth with a bandage. And then 4 days later at 2am, what was believed to be the same individual, along with an accomplice, returned to the service station to carry out an identical crime on another cashier, as if terrifying one person was not enough.
This week efforts by Eccleston Parish Councillor Richard Pennington to allow a disco for 12 to 14 year-olds to be held in their village hall in Kiln Lane were rejected. The council had only recently taken possession of the hall, with it previously having served as Eccleston Library. And they had a rule that discos would not be allowed – although whist drives and coffee mornings were permitted.
The disco ban was based on a fear that noise might upset local residents and also lead to vandalism but Cllr Pennington pleaded for a change of mind, saying: "We have done nothing for the youth of this area and I'm tired of letting them down. If we allowed them to use the hall it will be a real gesture." It was explained to Cllr Pennington that when the parish council was given permission to use the hall, a condition to ban dancing had been imposed as the result of a petition that local residents had got up.
On the morning of the 5th the Babyworld shop in Ormskirk Street in St Helens was broken into and ten radios, three record players, seven cassettes, two cassette radios and a set of headphones worth a total of £719 were stolen. It was believed that the intruders had smashed a skylight to enter the premises and had got away through a rear door leading into a courtyard.
Later that day nine employees of the Humphrey Lloyd shirt factory in Langtree Street received a cheque from Vernons Pools for £5,600. In today's money each had won the best part of £10,000 and on the following day they threw a party for fellow workmates who were probably cursing themselves for not being part of the syndicate. The winners were Derek Taylor, Alf Cook, Mal Clarke, Helen Shaw, Vic Conway, David Simms, John Power, Tommy Elliot and Alan Pye.
The 1970s, as many will remember, were a time of high levels of price inflation. In 1974 the rate stood at 16% and would rise to 24% during 1975. The Reporter on the 7th described that as a result the council was experiencing their biggest demand for allotments since the war, as townsfolk wanted to grow their own produce. St Helens Council's Leisure and Recreation Committee had this week decided to find another site in the Sutton Manor area to host allotments after receiving over 30 requests from locals.
The Reporter also revealed that the Clock Face Miners Recreation Club was likely to have a £7,000 facelift. Part of the money would come from a Sports Council grant with St Helens Council funding the rest. However, in return members of the public would have to be allowed to use their facilities.
Dennis Collins was an outspoken Rainford councillor – a postman by trade who did not appreciate being told what to do. Dennis had recently been suspended for a few weeks by his own Labour Party after refusing to toe the line and did not like being told where not to park his car, telling the Reporter: "I'm bloody annoyed when I'm told to keep out of our own car park."
He was referring to parking spaces at the Town Hall where councillors and visitors had previously parked but which had now been designated for top council officers. "As far as I know there has been no decision made in any committee to allow the chief officers to claim this space", added Dennis. "What are we expected to do now?" But Councillor Collins admitted that he had found the answer to his own question by simply ignoring the signs and parking in the reserved places.
But, of course, it is always advisable to ask questions first before shooting your mouth off, as a Town Hall spokesman explained to the Reporter that the measure was temporary and only expected to last a month. Alterations were being made to the old court buildings and the council officers' previous parking spaces were currently occupied by skips full of rubble. And as the officers came to the town hall to work every day and the councillors only now and then, the former were being given priority.
In the past there had to be incidents of accidents and deaths on the roads before safety measures were introduced. That is not my interpretation – that was actual policy and was openly stated by officials. And so this week there was nothing unusual in the comments of a police spokesman when asked about the danger spots on Clock Face Bridge. He said:
"There is nothing we would like more than to widen this bridge, but until there are a great number of reported accidents, we can do nothing." And then if a great number of accidents did occur, all the police could do was recommend to Merseyside County Council that something should be done. The comments were in response to a complaint from Eric Welding of Bentley Street who had told the Reporter that there was far too much traffic for a single lane bridge and lorries faced real problems when using it.
Mr Welding was particularly concerned about the safety of pedestrians, saying that those crossing over Gartons Lane had to walk directly in front of cars as they turned left off the bridge. "The worst ones are women with prams," he explained. "If a car is coming over that bridge and there is one halfway into the road, the pram just doesn't have a chance. And motorists face a blind bend when they approach and leave the bridge from Gartons Lane."
Last week Pakcel Convertors of Lancots Lane in Sutton had admitted that they were in difficulties through a reduced order book and were talking of introducing a 4-day week. The Reporter this week explained that there had been a change of plan and their workers would now only be working for three weeks out of four during February.
The 200 staff should, however, be able to claim what the Reporter described as dole money for three of the days that they were off work. That would not be so easily available if the workers had been on a four-day week. And if the reduced working was extended to March, the workers would be able to claim unemployment benefit for six days. Pakcel was a subsidiary of British Sidac and made wrappers and packets for such food as crisps.
The summer of 1974 had not suited Greenall Whitley, who released their annual report this week. For when the temperature rises, drinkers head for the bar. But as the weather had been poor, less business had been done. That led to the brewery not making as much money as they had hoped, although their pre-tax profit for the year was still just over £5 million.
And finally, on the 9th 'Stardust' starring David Essex and Adam Faith began a second week's run at the ABC Savoy, with the Capitol Cinema replacing 'The Tamarind Seed' with 'I Escaped From Devil's Island', starring Lee Marvin.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include Nevin's fine for misleading customers, the mice-chasing Parr boy who was trapped in mud, the big rises in rates bills that were on the cards and the St Helens Treasurer blows his top over choosy council tenants.
This week's many stories include the burglary at Babyworld, the Rainhill rape claim that a judge rejected, the shotgun robberies in Prescot Road, a row over Town Hall parking spaces, the disco ban in Eccleston Village Hall, the rise in demand for allotments and workers at a Langtree Street shirt factory celebrate a pools win.
We begin on the 3rd with a fire at Whiston Labour Club in Paradise Lane. One of the benefits of smoking bans is that few indoor fires these days are blamed on carelessly discarded cigarettes.
That was what was thought to have caused the Whiston fire in a bottle storeroom but the damage was not considered serious, with Whiston Fire Brigade having been quickly on the scene.
Also on the 3rd, a judge at Liverpool Crown Court referred to a St Helens rape allegation as "one of the most disgusting cases I have heard for a long time."
However, Justice Kilner Brown was unconvinced that a rape by a man from Elephant Lane had actually taken place because of insufficient corroboration.
With the jury out of the room, the judge discussed the case with the prosecution counsel and said:
"I have had the misfortune to read the statements that this young man has made, also the statements of the witnesses and the girl involved.
"This is one of the most disgusting cases I have heard for a long time. People have behaved like perverted animals. On occasions a judge has to step into the arena.
"We all know that even a prostitute has the protection of the law if she has intercourse against her will. But let's be realistic – isn't this case a waste of time?"
When the jury were readmitted into the courtroom, they were told by the judge that in order for a conviction for rape to take place there needed to be corroborative evidence to support the charge.
As he felt that corroboration was lacking in the case, the jury was instructed to bring in a verdict of not guilty.
And so they did not hear what St Helens magistrates had been told last November before the accused was committed for trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Then it was alleged that he and a friend had forcibly taken the young woman from her flat and then took her to a field in Rainhill where the rape was committed.
When the alleged offender was being questioned at St Helens Police Station, the victim was said to have visited him intending to stab the man with a pair of scissors that she'd smuggled into the station.
However, they were taken off her before she was able to use them on him.
At just before 4am on the 4th, a man carrying a sawn-off shotgun robbed an attendant at the Heron Service Station on Prescot Road in St Helens.
Josiah Glover was forced to hand over £36 to the hooded man and then ordered to lie down.
His hands were tied behind his back and cotton wool was secured in his mouth with a bandage.
And then 4 days later at 2am, what was believed to be the same individual, along with an accomplice, returned to the service station to carry out an identical crime on another cashier, as if terrifying one person was not enough.
This week efforts by Eccleston Parish Councillor Richard Pennington to allow a disco for 12 to 14 year-olds to be held in their village hall in Kiln Lane were rejected.
The council had only recently taken possession of the hall, with it previously having served as Eccleston Library.
And they had a rule that discos would not be allowed – although whist drives and coffee mornings were permitted.
The disco ban was based on a fear that noise might upset local residents and also lead to vandalism but Cllr Pennington pleaded for a change of mind, saying:
"We have done nothing for the youth of this area and I'm tired of letting them down. If we allowed them to use the hall it will be a real gesture."
It was explained to Cllr Pennington that when the parish council was given permission to use the hall, a condition to ban dancing had been imposed as the result of a petition that local residents had got up.
On the morning of the 5th the Babyworld shop in Ormskirk Street in St Helens was broken into and ten radios, three record players, seven cassettes, two cassette radios and a set of headphones worth a total of £719 were stolen.
It was believed that the intruders had smashed a skylight to enter the premises and had got away through a rear door leading into a courtyard.
Later that day nine employees of the Humphrey Lloyd shirt factory in Langtree Street received a cheque from Vernons Pools for £5,600.
In today's money each had won the best part of £10,000 and on the following day they threw a party for fellow workmates who were probably cursing themselves for not being part of the syndicate.
The winners were Derek Taylor, Alf Cook, Mal Clarke, Helen Shaw, Vic Conway, David Simms, John Power, Tommy Elliot and Alan Pye.
On the 6th the Kings Singers were in concert at the Theatre Royal and on the following evening the Black Dyke Mills Band performed. Then on the 8th the Manchester Camerata Orchestra presented a concert in Corporation Street.
The 1970s, as many will remember, were a time of high levels of price inflation. In 1974 the rate stood at 16% and would rise to 24% during 1975.
The Reporter on the 7th described that as a result the council was experiencing their biggest demand for allotments since the war, as townsfolk wanted to grow their own produce.
St Helens Council's Leisure and Recreation Committee had this week decided to find another site in the Sutton Manor area to host allotments after receiving over 30 requests from locals.
The Reporter also revealed that the Clock Face Miners Recreation Club was likely to have a £7,000 facelift.
Part of the money would come from a Sports Council grant with St Helens Council funding the rest.
However, in return members of the public would have to be allowed to use their facilities.
Dennis Collins was an outspoken Rainford councillor – a postman by trade who did not appreciate being told what to do.
Dennis had recently been suspended for a few weeks by his own Labour Party after refusing to toe the line and did not like being told where not to park his car, telling the Reporter:
"I'm bloody annoyed when I'm told to keep out of our own car park."
He was referring to parking spaces at the Town Hall where councillors and visitors had previously parked but which had now been designated for top council officers.
"As far as I know there has been no decision made in any committee to allow the chief officers to claim this space", added Dennis. "What are we expected to do now?"
But Councillor Collins admitted that he had found the answer to his own question by simply ignoring the signs and parking in the reserved places.
But, of course, it is always advisable to ask questions first before shooting your mouth off, as a Town Hall spokesman explained to the Reporter that the measure was temporary and only expected to last a month.
Alterations were being made to the old court buildings and the council officers' previous parking spaces were currently occupied by skips full of rubble.
And as the officers came to the town hall to work every day and the councillors only now and then, the former were being given priority.
In the past there had to be incidents of accidents and deaths on the roads before safety measures were introduced.
That is not my interpretation – that was actual policy and was openly stated by officials.
And so this week there was nothing unusual in the comments of a police spokesman when asked about the danger spots on Clock Face Bridge. He said:
"There is nothing we would like more than to widen this bridge, but until there are a great number of reported accidents, we can do nothing."
And then if a great number of accidents did occur, all the police could do was recommend to Merseyside County Council that something should be done.
The comments were in response to a complaint from Eric Welding of Bentley Street who had told the Reporter that there was far too much traffic for a single lane bridge and lorries faced real problems when using it.
Mr Welding was particularly concerned about the safety of pedestrians, saying that those crossing over Gartons Lane had to walk directly in front of cars as they turned left off the bridge.
"The worst ones are women with prams," he explained. "If a car is coming over that bridge and there is one halfway into the road, the pram just doesn't have a chance. And motorists face a blind bend when they approach and leave the bridge from Gartons Lane."
Last week Pakcel Convertors of Lancots Lane in Sutton had admitted that they were in difficulties through a reduced order book and were talking of introducing a 4-day week.
The Reporter this week explained that there had been a change of plan and their workers would now only be working for three weeks out of four during February.
The 200 staff should, however, be able to claim what the Reporter described as dole money for three of the days that they were off work. That would not be so easily available if the workers had been on a four-day week.
And if the reduced working was extended to March, the workers would be able to claim unemployment benefit for six days.
Pakcel was a subsidiary of British Sidac and made wrappers and packets for such food as crisps.
The summer of 1974 had not suited Greenall Whitley, who released their annual report this week.
For when the temperature rises, drinkers head for the bar. But as the weather had been poor, less business had been done.
That led to the brewery not making as much money as they had hoped, although their pre-tax profit for the year was still just over £5 million.
And finally, on the 9th 'Stardust' starring David Essex and Adam Faith began a second week's run at the ABC Savoy, with the Capitol Cinema replacing 'The Tamarind Seed' with 'I Escaped From Devil's Island', starring Lee Marvin.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include Nevin's fine for misleading customers, the mice-chasing Parr boy who was trapped in mud, the big rises in rates bills that were on the cards and the St Helens Treasurer blows his top over choosy council tenants.
We begin on the 3rd with a fire at Whiston Labour Club in Paradise Lane. One of the benefits of smoking bans is that few indoor fires these days are blamed on carelessly discarded cigarettes.
That was what was thought to have caused the Whiston fire in a bottle storeroom but the damage was not considered serious, with Whiston Fire Brigade having been quickly on the scene.
Also on the 3rd, a judge at Liverpool Crown Court referred to a St Helens rape allegation as "one of the most disgusting cases I have heard for a long time."
However, Justice Kilner Brown was unconvinced that a rape by a man from Elephant Lane had actually taken place because of insufficient corroboration.
With the jury out of the room, the judge discussed the case with the prosecution counsel and said:
"I have had the misfortune to read the statements that this young man has made, also the statements of the witnesses and the girl involved.
"This is one of the most disgusting cases I have heard for a long time. People have behaved like perverted animals. On occasions a judge has to step into the arena.
"We all know that even a prostitute has the protection of the law if she has intercourse against her will. But let's be realistic – isn't this case a waste of time?"
When the jury were readmitted into the courtroom, they were told by the judge that in order for a conviction for rape to take place there needed to be corroborative evidence to support the charge.
As he felt that corroboration was lacking in the case, the jury was instructed to bring in a verdict of not guilty.
And so they did not hear what St Helens magistrates had been told last November before the accused was committed for trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Then it was alleged that he and a friend had forcibly taken the young woman from her flat and then took her to a field in Rainhill where the rape was committed.
When the alleged offender was being questioned at St Helens Police Station, the victim was said to have visited him intending to stab the man with a pair of scissors that she'd smuggled into the station.
However, they were taken off her before she was able to use them on him.
At just before 4am on the 4th, a man carrying a sawn-off shotgun robbed an attendant at the Heron Service Station on Prescot Road in St Helens.
Josiah Glover was forced to hand over £36 to the hooded man and then ordered to lie down.
His hands were tied behind his back and cotton wool was secured in his mouth with a bandage.
And then 4 days later at 2am, what was believed to be the same individual, along with an accomplice, returned to the service station to carry out an identical crime on another cashier, as if terrifying one person was not enough.
This week efforts by Eccleston Parish Councillor Richard Pennington to allow a disco for 12 to 14 year-olds to be held in their village hall in Kiln Lane were rejected.
The council had only recently taken possession of the hall, with it previously having served as Eccleston Library.
And they had a rule that discos would not be allowed – although whist drives and coffee mornings were permitted.
The disco ban was based on a fear that noise might upset local residents and also lead to vandalism but Cllr Pennington pleaded for a change of mind, saying:
"We have done nothing for the youth of this area and I'm tired of letting them down. If we allowed them to use the hall it will be a real gesture."
It was explained to Cllr Pennington that when the parish council was given permission to use the hall, a condition to ban dancing had been imposed as the result of a petition that local residents had got up.
On the morning of the 5th the Babyworld shop in Ormskirk Street in St Helens was broken into and ten radios, three record players, seven cassettes, two cassette radios and a set of headphones worth a total of £719 were stolen.
It was believed that the intruders had smashed a skylight to enter the premises and had got away through a rear door leading into a courtyard.
Later that day nine employees of the Humphrey Lloyd shirt factory in Langtree Street received a cheque from Vernons Pools for £5,600.
In today's money each had won the best part of £10,000 and on the following day they threw a party for fellow workmates who were probably cursing themselves for not being part of the syndicate.
The winners were Derek Taylor, Alf Cook, Mal Clarke, Helen Shaw, Vic Conway, David Simms, John Power, Tommy Elliot and Alan Pye.
The 1970s, as many will remember, were a time of high levels of price inflation. In 1974 the rate stood at 16% and would rise to 24% during 1975.
The Reporter on the 7th described that as a result the council was experiencing their biggest demand for allotments since the war, as townsfolk wanted to grow their own produce.
St Helens Council's Leisure and Recreation Committee had this week decided to find another site in the Sutton Manor area to host allotments after receiving over 30 requests from locals.
The Reporter also revealed that the Clock Face Miners Recreation Club was likely to have a £7,000 facelift.
Part of the money would come from a Sports Council grant with St Helens Council funding the rest.
However, in return members of the public would have to be allowed to use their facilities.
Dennis Collins was an outspoken Rainford councillor – a postman by trade who did not appreciate being told what to do.
Dennis had recently been suspended for a few weeks by his own Labour Party after refusing to toe the line and did not like being told where not to park his car, telling the Reporter:
"I'm bloody annoyed when I'm told to keep out of our own car park."
He was referring to parking spaces at the Town Hall where councillors and visitors had previously parked but which had now been designated for top council officers.
"As far as I know there has been no decision made in any committee to allow the chief officers to claim this space", added Dennis. "What are we expected to do now?"
But Councillor Collins admitted that he had found the answer to his own question by simply ignoring the signs and parking in the reserved places.
But, of course, it is always advisable to ask questions first before shooting your mouth off, as a Town Hall spokesman explained to the Reporter that the measure was temporary and only expected to last a month.
Alterations were being made to the old court buildings and the council officers' previous parking spaces were currently occupied by skips full of rubble.
And as the officers came to the town hall to work every day and the councillors only now and then, the former were being given priority.
In the past there had to be incidents of accidents and deaths on the roads before safety measures were introduced.
That is not my interpretation – that was actual policy and was openly stated by officials.
And so this week there was nothing unusual in the comments of a police spokesman when asked about the danger spots on Clock Face Bridge. He said:
"There is nothing we would like more than to widen this bridge, but until there are a great number of reported accidents, we can do nothing."
And then if a great number of accidents did occur, all the police could do was recommend to Merseyside County Council that something should be done.
The comments were in response to a complaint from Eric Welding of Bentley Street who had told the Reporter that there was far too much traffic for a single lane bridge and lorries faced real problems when using it.
Mr Welding was particularly concerned about the safety of pedestrians, saying that those crossing over Gartons Lane had to walk directly in front of cars as they turned left off the bridge.
"The worst ones are women with prams," he explained. "If a car is coming over that bridge and there is one halfway into the road, the pram just doesn't have a chance. And motorists face a blind bend when they approach and leave the bridge from Gartons Lane."
Last week Pakcel Convertors of Lancots Lane in Sutton had admitted that they were in difficulties through a reduced order book and were talking of introducing a 4-day week.
The Reporter this week explained that there had been a change of plan and their workers would now only be working for three weeks out of four during February.
The 200 staff should, however, be able to claim what the Reporter described as dole money for three of the days that they were off work. That would not be so easily available if the workers had been on a four-day week.
And if the reduced working was extended to March, the workers would be able to claim unemployment benefit for six days.
Pakcel was a subsidiary of British Sidac and made wrappers and packets for such food as crisps.
The summer of 1974 had not suited Greenall Whitley, who released their annual report this week.
For when the temperature rises, drinkers head for the bar. But as the weather had been poor, less business had been done.
That led to the brewery not making as much money as they had hoped, although their pre-tax profit for the year was still just over £5 million.
And finally, on the 9th 'Stardust' starring David Essex and Adam Faith began a second week's run at the ABC Savoy, with the Capitol Cinema replacing 'The Tamarind Seed' with 'I Escaped From Devil's Island', starring Lee Marvin.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include Nevin's fine for misleading customers, the mice-chasing Parr boy who was trapped in mud, the big rises in rates bills that were on the cards and the St Helens Treasurer blows his top over choosy council tenants.