FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 9 - 15 SEPTEMBER 1974
This week's many stories include the blaze at Rainford High, the welly throwing at Rainhill, fury over the alternative sites for Pilks' new glass plant, a mother's anger at her son being denied a bus pass to travel to Cowley, a council house row in Sutton Heath involving a divorced couple and St Helens councillors describe their own municipal newspaper as being sensationalist.
At last week's Planning Committee meeting Pilkington's alternative sites for its proposed float glass plant in Gorsey Lane were made public for the first time. These were in Newton, Rainhill, Rainford Junction and at Collins Green and predictably there was outrage in these places when the news was known. Although Pilks' preferred site was in Clock Face, the six others were intended to serve as back ups.
Due to the preliminary nature of their site searches, Pilkington's had not felt it necessary to consult with parish councils but had been in close contact with St Helens Council. That led to Mike Doyle at Rainhill Parish Council on the 9th angrily criticising being kept in the dark. And after the meeting he told the Reporter:
"We were surprised we had to learn of this in the press. It is a big issue that could affect the whole of Rainhill and I have asked for full information and an urgent meeting to discuss the problem in detail." And Cllr Arthur Lowe commented: "I don't think you should have industrial development next door to residential. It should be on an industrial estate somewhere."
And at Rainford an emergency meeting of parish councillors took place to discuss in private the possibility of the float glass plant being located at Rainford Junction. A public meeting was also called for next Monday in the village hall. Rainford resident John Dyson, who was a Parliamentary candidate for Ince, described the plan as "horrifying", saying: "This incredible proposal is likely to be the centre of an enormous row that will rock the new St. Helens District Council to its core."
"Mayor's Brother In Home Row With Council", was the headline to a Reporter article on the 13th. It described how Tom Gill was refusing to hand over the keys of his three bedroomed council house in Perth Avenue to his ex-wife. The policy of St Helens Council was that whoever received custody of the children after a divorce also got the tenancy of the couple's council house.
Mr Gill was the brother of Paddy Gill, the mayor of St Helens, and told the Reporter: "I'm angry after all the work I've put into this house. I would not have minded if they'd offered me a flat, but they're going to chuck me out on the street." Mr Gill reckoned that he had spent £1,000 on furnishings for the house during his eight-year tenancy. He was also suffering from an illness connected with cystitis and the Housing Department had received a petition from over 50 residents in sympathy with his position.
As a result the council were holding fire in implementing an eviction order until Mr Gill was well enough to move. Cllr Jack Morris said: "We're not being ruthless about it – our concern is for the children. The children and mother have been living in lodgings. The children may be living in conditions which are not acceptable."
Mr Morris added that there was a possibility that the youngsters might have to be taken into care unless they could return to their former home. And Housing Director, Hugh Pye, said: "We're an enlightened housing authority – we're not inhuman. We've got sympathy for both sides. Our policy is to house the family unit. A single person can find accommodation himself."
Heather Cholerton was pictured in the Reporter after the 17-year-old from Pilkington Street in Rainford had gained thirteen O-level passes at Tower College in Rainhill. Six had received the award of grade 1. A photograph of policeman Joe Davies was also in the paper. But the picture was not connected to any crime fighting that the 40-year-old had made. Instead Joe from Coronation Road in St Helens was dubbed "one of the kings of the dahlia world", having returned from the London Dahlia Society Show with the top trophy for British seedling giant dahlias.
Theresa Morelli of Drayton Crescent on the Chain Lane estate was heavily critical of St Helens Education Department after her son Francis was denied a bus pass to Cowley School. To get to Cowley the 11-year-old had to either get two buses or walk just under 3 miles. "I am worried that something could happen to him on the winter mornings as he makes the walk to school. And if he goes on the bus it means about 50p a week."
But an Education Act stated that where a pupil was over eight years old, he or she could only qualify for free travel if their walk to school was a minimum of 3 miles. For those under eight, the walkable distance was reduced to 2 miles. And St Helens Education Department's Chief Administrative Officer, Frank Yates, said the boy had failed to qualify on two fronts:
"Apart from the three-mile limit, if a parent elects for her 11-year-old to go to a school purely from choice, when there are other schools nearer, then they have to foot the transport bill. When Cowley opened their gates to pupils without selection, and Mrs. Morelli sent her child there, it excluded him from gaining a bus pass. We have many such queries, and we have given out hundreds of passes. Sometimes we have people out in vehicles to prove to parents that they are under three miles from a school."
At the Theatre Royal on the 9th, Pat Phoenix and Alan Browning starred in a performance of the play 'Gaslight'. The Coronation Street stars had married in 1972, although when the couple came to St Helens, Browning was no longer playing his TV role of Alan Howard.
It would be three more years before Elvis Presley died and on the 11th the Capitol Cinema in St Helens showed 'Elvis On Tour' – but not, as we know, in this country.
On the 12th the grounds of Rainhill Hospital (pictured above) provided the setting for an attempt on a world record in what the Reporter called the new sport of "wellie throwing". Teams of four from throughout South West Lancashire gathered at the hospital to hurl the size 8 Wellington boots as far as they could. The competition was organised by Huyton Round Table and after the contest they held a buffet at the Black Horse.
The Parr Stocks Annual Pleasure Fair began on the 12th on land by the fire station. It lasted for two weeks but was usually closed on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. "Come early – Close early" was the strapline in Silcocks advert, presumably related to residents' complaints of late night noise from the fair.
The Leader of St Helens Council was Len Williams and he did not like reporters. At the beginning of the year the St Helens Reporter had accused Cllr Williams of hanging up the phone to six different journalists who, over a period of time, had approached him for comment on a story. The paper's editor then wrote:
"Councillor Williams has a perfect right to speak to whom he wishes, to be as rude as he likes to reporters and anyone else. But he is leaving Labour voters of St. Helens unrepresented. He is their speechless spokesman."
One would have thought that a council leader would have had some control over its own municipal magazine – but apparently not. At this week's meeting of the council's Environmental Health Committee, Cllr Gerald Baxter said a recent article in the council paper called St Helens Scene had caused a lot of upset in his department. Parts of it, he claimed, were untrue and some senior members of staff had been disappointed because their names had been left out.
Councillor Baxter then said angrily: "The people who run this are more interested in sensationalism than anything else." That led to Len Williams chipping in by saying: "I am not surprised by anything the Press do. They are well known for writing what suited them. These people are more interested in journalism than putting our points of view."
During the evening of the 13th and the afternoon of the 14th, Bold Power Station (pictured above) was opened to the public. On the Saturday a free minibus service was run at regular intervals from the Chalon Way car park. "Come and see how your electricity is made – a trip out for all the family", said their advert.
Over the last couple of years there had been much talk of relocating the St Helens Greyhound track in Park Road. In this week's Reporter on the 13th it was stated with some authority that the site for the new track was going to be on an old chemical waste tip off Merton Bank Road. The present 6-acre Park Road site would have 95 houses built on it and the new home for the dog track would also include a sports club, squash courts, crown green bowling etc.
The Reporter also described the fire that had hit Rainford High School at the end of last week. The school music room was demolished, a massive art theatre was damaged and changing room walls were blackened by smoke. The exact cause of the £40,000 blaze had not yet been ascertained but the police said they were anxious to interview the occupants of a dark coloured Ford Escort saloon that had been seen near the school early on Friday morning.
The 1,200 pupils at Rainford High were given a day off school on the Friday while the police and fire brigade raked through the debris for clues. And this week the school's headmaster David Hay had to arrange makeshift classes in corridors where desks and chairs were laid out. Storerooms had also been opened up so pupils could continue their studies. Mr Hay said: "We are still on an emergency footing. But I did not want part-time education at the school."
On the 14th the new Peasley Cross United Reformed Church was opened, replacing its previous 108-year-old building that had been destroyed by fire. And finally, on the 15th Norman Collier was on stage at Rainhill Hospital's Social Centre. The Yorkshire comic is best remembered for his faulty microphone routine and chicken impressions.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the new one-way system in Victoria Square, the boys responsible for the Rockware fire appear in court, the historic documents in Central Library and fears mount over job cuts at Pilks' Ravenhead factory.
At last week's Planning Committee meeting Pilkington's alternative sites for its proposed float glass plant in Gorsey Lane were made public for the first time. These were in Newton, Rainhill, Rainford Junction and at Collins Green and predictably there was outrage in these places when the news was known. Although Pilks' preferred site was in Clock Face, the six others were intended to serve as back ups.
Due to the preliminary nature of their site searches, Pilkington's had not felt it necessary to consult with parish councils but had been in close contact with St Helens Council. That led to Mike Doyle at Rainhill Parish Council on the 9th angrily criticising being kept in the dark. And after the meeting he told the Reporter:
"We were surprised we had to learn of this in the press. It is a big issue that could affect the whole of Rainhill and I have asked for full information and an urgent meeting to discuss the problem in detail." And Cllr Arthur Lowe commented: "I don't think you should have industrial development next door to residential. It should be on an industrial estate somewhere."
And at Rainford an emergency meeting of parish councillors took place to discuss in private the possibility of the float glass plant being located at Rainford Junction. A public meeting was also called for next Monday in the village hall. Rainford resident John Dyson, who was a Parliamentary candidate for Ince, described the plan as "horrifying", saying: "This incredible proposal is likely to be the centre of an enormous row that will rock the new St. Helens District Council to its core."
"Mayor's Brother In Home Row With Council", was the headline to a Reporter article on the 13th. It described how Tom Gill was refusing to hand over the keys of his three bedroomed council house in Perth Avenue to his ex-wife. The policy of St Helens Council was that whoever received custody of the children after a divorce also got the tenancy of the couple's council house.
Mr Gill was the brother of Paddy Gill, the mayor of St Helens, and told the Reporter: "I'm angry after all the work I've put into this house. I would not have minded if they'd offered me a flat, but they're going to chuck me out on the street." Mr Gill reckoned that he had spent £1,000 on furnishings for the house during his eight-year tenancy. He was also suffering from an illness connected with cystitis and the Housing Department had received a petition from over 50 residents in sympathy with his position.
As a result the council were holding fire in implementing an eviction order until Mr Gill was well enough to move. Cllr Jack Morris said: "We're not being ruthless about it – our concern is for the children. The children and mother have been living in lodgings. The children may be living in conditions which are not acceptable."
Mr Morris added that there was a possibility that the youngsters might have to be taken into care unless they could return to their former home. And Housing Director, Hugh Pye, said: "We're an enlightened housing authority – we're not inhuman. We've got sympathy for both sides. Our policy is to house the family unit. A single person can find accommodation himself."
Heather Cholerton was pictured in the Reporter after the 17-year-old from Pilkington Street in Rainford had gained thirteen O-level passes at Tower College in Rainhill. Six had received the award of grade 1. A photograph of policeman Joe Davies was also in the paper. But the picture was not connected to any crime fighting that the 40-year-old had made. Instead Joe from Coronation Road in St Helens was dubbed "one of the kings of the dahlia world", having returned from the London Dahlia Society Show with the top trophy for British seedling giant dahlias.
Theresa Morelli of Drayton Crescent on the Chain Lane estate was heavily critical of St Helens Education Department after her son Francis was denied a bus pass to Cowley School. To get to Cowley the 11-year-old had to either get two buses or walk just under 3 miles. "I am worried that something could happen to him on the winter mornings as he makes the walk to school. And if he goes on the bus it means about 50p a week."
But an Education Act stated that where a pupil was over eight years old, he or she could only qualify for free travel if their walk to school was a minimum of 3 miles. For those under eight, the walkable distance was reduced to 2 miles. And St Helens Education Department's Chief Administrative Officer, Frank Yates, said the boy had failed to qualify on two fronts:
"Apart from the three-mile limit, if a parent elects for her 11-year-old to go to a school purely from choice, when there are other schools nearer, then they have to foot the transport bill. When Cowley opened their gates to pupils without selection, and Mrs. Morelli sent her child there, it excluded him from gaining a bus pass. We have many such queries, and we have given out hundreds of passes. Sometimes we have people out in vehicles to prove to parents that they are under three miles from a school."
At the Theatre Royal on the 9th, Pat Phoenix and Alan Browning starred in a performance of the play 'Gaslight'. The Coronation Street stars had married in 1972, although when the couple came to St Helens, Browning was no longer playing his TV role of Alan Howard.
It would be three more years before Elvis Presley died and on the 11th the Capitol Cinema in St Helens showed 'Elvis On Tour' – but not, as we know, in this country.
The Parr Stocks Annual Pleasure Fair began on the 12th on land by the fire station. It lasted for two weeks but was usually closed on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. "Come early – Close early" was the strapline in Silcocks advert, presumably related to residents' complaints of late night noise from the fair.
The Leader of St Helens Council was Len Williams and he did not like reporters. At the beginning of the year the St Helens Reporter had accused Cllr Williams of hanging up the phone to six different journalists who, over a period of time, had approached him for comment on a story. The paper's editor then wrote:
"Councillor Williams has a perfect right to speak to whom he wishes, to be as rude as he likes to reporters and anyone else. But he is leaving Labour voters of St. Helens unrepresented. He is their speechless spokesman."
One would have thought that a council leader would have had some control over its own municipal magazine – but apparently not. At this week's meeting of the council's Environmental Health Committee, Cllr Gerald Baxter said a recent article in the council paper called St Helens Scene had caused a lot of upset in his department. Parts of it, he claimed, were untrue and some senior members of staff had been disappointed because their names had been left out.
Councillor Baxter then said angrily: "The people who run this are more interested in sensationalism than anything else." That led to Len Williams chipping in by saying: "I am not surprised by anything the Press do. They are well known for writing what suited them. These people are more interested in journalism than putting our points of view."
Over the last couple of years there had been much talk of relocating the St Helens Greyhound track in Park Road. In this week's Reporter on the 13th it was stated with some authority that the site for the new track was going to be on an old chemical waste tip off Merton Bank Road. The present 6-acre Park Road site would have 95 houses built on it and the new home for the dog track would also include a sports club, squash courts, crown green bowling etc.
The Reporter also described the fire that had hit Rainford High School at the end of last week. The school music room was demolished, a massive art theatre was damaged and changing room walls were blackened by smoke. The exact cause of the £40,000 blaze had not yet been ascertained but the police said they were anxious to interview the occupants of a dark coloured Ford Escort saloon that had been seen near the school early on Friday morning.
The 1,200 pupils at Rainford High were given a day off school on the Friday while the police and fire brigade raked through the debris for clues. And this week the school's headmaster David Hay had to arrange makeshift classes in corridors where desks and chairs were laid out. Storerooms had also been opened up so pupils could continue their studies. Mr Hay said: "We are still on an emergency footing. But I did not want part-time education at the school."
On the 14th the new Peasley Cross United Reformed Church was opened, replacing its previous 108-year-old building that had been destroyed by fire. And finally, on the 15th Norman Collier was on stage at Rainhill Hospital's Social Centre. The Yorkshire comic is best remembered for his faulty microphone routine and chicken impressions.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the new one-way system in Victoria Square, the boys responsible for the Rockware fire appear in court, the historic documents in Central Library and fears mount over job cuts at Pilks' Ravenhead factory.
This week's many stories include the blaze at Rainford High, the welly throwing at Rainhill, fury over the alternative sites for Pilks' new glass plant, a mother's anger at her son being denied a bus pass to travel to Cowley, a council house row in Sutton Heath involving a divorced couple and St Helens councillors describe their own municipal newspaper as being sensationalist.
At last week's Planning Committee meeting Pilkington's alternative sites for its proposed float glass plant in Gorsey Lane were made public for the first time.
These were in Newton, Rainhill, Rainford Junction and at Collins Green and predictably there was outrage in these places when the news was known.
Although Pilks' preferred site was in Clock Face, the six others were intended to serve as back ups.
Due to the preliminary nature of their site searches, Pilkington's had not felt it necessary to consult with parish councils but had been in close contact with St Helens Council.
That led to Mike Doyle at Rainhill Parish Council on the 9th angrily criticising being kept in the dark. And after the meeting he told the Reporter:
"We were surprised we had to learn of this in the press. It is a big issue that could affect the whole of Rainhill and I have asked for full information and an urgent meeting to discuss the problem in detail."
And Cllr Arthur Lowe commented: "I don't think you should have industrial development next door to residential. It should be on an industrial estate somewhere."
And at Rainford an emergency meeting of parish councillors took place to discuss in private the possibility of the float glass plant being located at Rainford Junction. A public meeting was also called for next Monday in the village hall.
Rainford resident John Dyson, who was a Parliamentary candidate for Ince, described the plan as "horrifying", saying:
"This incredible proposal is likely to be the centre of an enormous row that will rock the new St. Helens District Council to its core."
"Mayor's Brother In Home Row With Council", was the headline to a Reporter article on the 13th.
It described how Tom Gill was refusing to hand over the keys of his three bedroomed council house in Perth Avenue to his ex-wife.
The policy of St Helens Council was that whoever received custody of the children after a divorce also got the tenancy of the couple's council house.
Mr Gill was the brother of Paddy Gill, the mayor of St Helens, and told the Reporter:
"I'm angry after all the work I've put into this house. I would not have minded if they'd offered me a flat, but they're going to chuck me out on the street."
Mr Gill reckoned that he had spent £1,000 on furnishings for the house during his eight-year tenancy.
He was also suffering from an illness connected with cystitis and the Housing Department had received a petition from over 50 residents in sympathy with his position.
As a result the council were holding fire in implementing an eviction order until Mr Gill was well enough to move.
Cllr Jack Morris said: "We're not being ruthless about it – our concern is for the children. The children and mother have been living in lodgings. The children may be living in conditions which are not acceptable."
Mr Morris added that there was a possibility that the youngsters might have to be taken into care unless they could return to their former home.
And Housing Director, Hugh Pye, said: "We're an enlightened housing authority – we're not inhuman. We've got sympathy for both sides. Our policy is to house the family unit. A single person can find accommodation himself."
Heather Cholerton was pictured in the Reporter after the 17-year-old from Pilkington Street in Rainford had gained thirteen O-level passes at Tower College in Rainhill. Six had received the award of grade 1.
A photograph of policeman Joe Davies was also in the paper. But the picture was not connected to any crime fighting that the 40-year-old had made.
Instead Joe from Coronation Road in St Helens was dubbed "one of the kings of the dahlia world", having returned from the London Dahlia Society Show with the top trophy for British seedling giant dahlias.
Theresa Morelli of Drayton Crescent on the Chain Lane estate was heavily critical of St Helens Education Department after her son Francis was denied a bus pass to Cowley School.
To get to Cowley the 11-year-old had to either get two buses or walk just under 3 miles.
"I am worried that something could happen to him on the winter mornings as he makes the walk to school. And if he goes on the bus it means about 50p a week."
But an Education Act stated that where a pupil was over eight years old, he or she could only qualify for free travel if their walk to school was a minimum of 3 miles. For those under eight, the walkable distance was reduced to 2 miles.
And St Helens Education Department's Chief Administrative Officer, Frank Yates, said the boy had failed to qualify on two fronts:
"Apart from the three-mile limit, if a parent elects for her 11-year-old to go to a school purely from choice, when there are other schools nearer, then they have to foot the transport bill.
"When Cowley opened their gates to pupils without selection, and Mrs. Morelli sent her child there, it excluded him from gaining a bus pass.
"We have many such queries, and we have given out hundreds of passes. Sometimes we have people out in vehicles to prove to parents that they are under three miles from a school."
At the Theatre Royal on the 9th, Pat Phoenix and Alan Browning starred in a performance of the play 'Gaslight'.
The Coronation Street stars had married in 1972, although when the couple came to St Helens, Browning was no longer playing his TV role of Alan Howard.
It would be three more years before Elvis Presley died and on the 11th the Capitol Cinema in St Helens showed 'Elvis On Tour' – but not, as we know, in this country.
On the 12th the grounds of Rainhill Hospital (pictured above) provided the setting for an attempt on a world record in what the Reporter called the new sport of "wellie throwing".
Teams of four from throughout South West Lancashire gathered at the hospital to hurl the size 8 Wellington boots as far as they could.
The competition was organised by Huyton Round Table and after the contest they held a buffet at the Black Horse.
The Parr Stocks Annual Pleasure Fair began on the 12th on land by the fire station. It lasted for two weeks but was usually closed on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
"Come early – Close early" was the strapline in Silcocks advert, presumably related to residents' complaints of late night noise from the fair.
The Leader of St Helens Council was Len Williams and he did not like reporters.
At the beginning of the year the St Helens Reporter had accused Cllr Williams of hanging up the phone to six different journalists who, over a period of time, had approached him for comment on a story. The paper's editor then wrote:
"Councillor Williams has a perfect right to speak to whom he wishes, to be as rude as he likes to reporters and anyone else. But he is leaving Labour voters of St. Helens unrepresented. He is their speechless spokesman."
One would have thought that a council leader would have had some control over its own municipal magazine – but apparently not.
At this week's meeting of the council's Environmental Health Committee, Cllr Gerald Baxter said a recent article in the council paper called St Helens Scene had caused a lot of upset in his department.
Parts of it, he claimed, were untrue and some senior members of staff had been disappointed because their names had been left out.
Councillor Baxter then said angrily: "The people who run this are more interested in sensationalism than anything else."
That led to Len Williams chipping in by saying: "I am not surprised by anything the Press do. They are well known for writing what suited them. These people are more interested in journalism than putting our points of view."
During the evening of the 13th and the afternoon of the 14th, Bold Power Station (pictured above) was opened to the public.
On the Saturday a free minibus service was run at regular intervals from the Chalon Way car park.
"Come and see how your electricity is made – a trip out for all the family", said their advert.
Over the last couple of years there had been much talk of relocating the St Helens Greyhound track in Park Road.
In this week's Reporter on the 13th it was stated with some authority that the site for the new track was going to be on an old chemical waste tip off Merton Bank Road.
The present 6-acre Park Road site would have 95 houses built on it and the new home for the dog track would also include a sports club, squash courts, crown green bowling etc.
The Reporter also described the fire that had hit Rainford High School at the end of last week.
The school music room was demolished, a massive art theatre was damaged and changing room walls were blackened by smoke.
The exact cause of the £40,000 blaze had not yet been ascertained but the police said they were anxious to interview the occupants of a dark coloured Ford Escort saloon that had been seen near the school early on Friday morning.
The 1,200 pupils at Rainford High were given a day off school on the Friday while the police and fire brigade raked through the debris for clues.
And this week the school's headmaster David Hay had to arrange makeshift classes in corridors where desks and chairs were laid out. Storerooms had also been opened up so pupils could continue their studies.
Mr Hay said: "We are still on an emergency footing. But I did not want part-time education at the school."
On the 14th the new Peasley Cross United Reformed Church was opened, replacing its previous 108-year-old building that had been destroyed by fire.
And finally, on the 15th Norman Collier was on stage at Rainhill Hospital's Social Centre.
The Yorkshire comic is best remembered for his faulty microphone routine and chicken impressions.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the new one-way system in Victoria Square, the boys responsible for the Rockware fire appear in court, the historic documents in Central Library and fears mount over job cuts at Pilks' Ravenhead factory.
At last week's Planning Committee meeting Pilkington's alternative sites for its proposed float glass plant in Gorsey Lane were made public for the first time.
These were in Newton, Rainhill, Rainford Junction and at Collins Green and predictably there was outrage in these places when the news was known.
Although Pilks' preferred site was in Clock Face, the six others were intended to serve as back ups.
Due to the preliminary nature of their site searches, Pilkington's had not felt it necessary to consult with parish councils but had been in close contact with St Helens Council.
That led to Mike Doyle at Rainhill Parish Council on the 9th angrily criticising being kept in the dark. And after the meeting he told the Reporter:
"We were surprised we had to learn of this in the press. It is a big issue that could affect the whole of Rainhill and I have asked for full information and an urgent meeting to discuss the problem in detail."
And Cllr Arthur Lowe commented: "I don't think you should have industrial development next door to residential. It should be on an industrial estate somewhere."
And at Rainford an emergency meeting of parish councillors took place to discuss in private the possibility of the float glass plant being located at Rainford Junction. A public meeting was also called for next Monday in the village hall.
Rainford resident John Dyson, who was a Parliamentary candidate for Ince, described the plan as "horrifying", saying:
"This incredible proposal is likely to be the centre of an enormous row that will rock the new St. Helens District Council to its core."
"Mayor's Brother In Home Row With Council", was the headline to a Reporter article on the 13th.
It described how Tom Gill was refusing to hand over the keys of his three bedroomed council house in Perth Avenue to his ex-wife.
The policy of St Helens Council was that whoever received custody of the children after a divorce also got the tenancy of the couple's council house.
Mr Gill was the brother of Paddy Gill, the mayor of St Helens, and told the Reporter:
"I'm angry after all the work I've put into this house. I would not have minded if they'd offered me a flat, but they're going to chuck me out on the street."
Mr Gill reckoned that he had spent £1,000 on furnishings for the house during his eight-year tenancy.
He was also suffering from an illness connected with cystitis and the Housing Department had received a petition from over 50 residents in sympathy with his position.
As a result the council were holding fire in implementing an eviction order until Mr Gill was well enough to move.
Cllr Jack Morris said: "We're not being ruthless about it – our concern is for the children. The children and mother have been living in lodgings. The children may be living in conditions which are not acceptable."
Mr Morris added that there was a possibility that the youngsters might have to be taken into care unless they could return to their former home.
And Housing Director, Hugh Pye, said: "We're an enlightened housing authority – we're not inhuman. We've got sympathy for both sides. Our policy is to house the family unit. A single person can find accommodation himself."
Heather Cholerton was pictured in the Reporter after the 17-year-old from Pilkington Street in Rainford had gained thirteen O-level passes at Tower College in Rainhill. Six had received the award of grade 1.
A photograph of policeman Joe Davies was also in the paper. But the picture was not connected to any crime fighting that the 40-year-old had made.
Instead Joe from Coronation Road in St Helens was dubbed "one of the kings of the dahlia world", having returned from the London Dahlia Society Show with the top trophy for British seedling giant dahlias.
Theresa Morelli of Drayton Crescent on the Chain Lane estate was heavily critical of St Helens Education Department after her son Francis was denied a bus pass to Cowley School.
To get to Cowley the 11-year-old had to either get two buses or walk just under 3 miles.
"I am worried that something could happen to him on the winter mornings as he makes the walk to school. And if he goes on the bus it means about 50p a week."
But an Education Act stated that where a pupil was over eight years old, he or she could only qualify for free travel if their walk to school was a minimum of 3 miles. For those under eight, the walkable distance was reduced to 2 miles.
And St Helens Education Department's Chief Administrative Officer, Frank Yates, said the boy had failed to qualify on two fronts:
"Apart from the three-mile limit, if a parent elects for her 11-year-old to go to a school purely from choice, when there are other schools nearer, then they have to foot the transport bill.
"When Cowley opened their gates to pupils without selection, and Mrs. Morelli sent her child there, it excluded him from gaining a bus pass.
"We have many such queries, and we have given out hundreds of passes. Sometimes we have people out in vehicles to prove to parents that they are under three miles from a school."
At the Theatre Royal on the 9th, Pat Phoenix and Alan Browning starred in a performance of the play 'Gaslight'.
The Coronation Street stars had married in 1972, although when the couple came to St Helens, Browning was no longer playing his TV role of Alan Howard.
It would be three more years before Elvis Presley died and on the 11th the Capitol Cinema in St Helens showed 'Elvis On Tour' – but not, as we know, in this country.
Teams of four from throughout South West Lancashire gathered at the hospital to hurl the size 8 Wellington boots as far as they could.
The competition was organised by Huyton Round Table and after the contest they held a buffet at the Black Horse.
The Parr Stocks Annual Pleasure Fair began on the 12th on land by the fire station. It lasted for two weeks but was usually closed on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
"Come early – Close early" was the strapline in Silcocks advert, presumably related to residents' complaints of late night noise from the fair.
The Leader of St Helens Council was Len Williams and he did not like reporters.
At the beginning of the year the St Helens Reporter had accused Cllr Williams of hanging up the phone to six different journalists who, over a period of time, had approached him for comment on a story. The paper's editor then wrote:
"Councillor Williams has a perfect right to speak to whom he wishes, to be as rude as he likes to reporters and anyone else. But he is leaving Labour voters of St. Helens unrepresented. He is their speechless spokesman."
One would have thought that a council leader would have had some control over its own municipal magazine – but apparently not.
At this week's meeting of the council's Environmental Health Committee, Cllr Gerald Baxter said a recent article in the council paper called St Helens Scene had caused a lot of upset in his department.
Parts of it, he claimed, were untrue and some senior members of staff had been disappointed because their names had been left out.
Councillor Baxter then said angrily: "The people who run this are more interested in sensationalism than anything else."
That led to Len Williams chipping in by saying: "I am not surprised by anything the Press do. They are well known for writing what suited them. These people are more interested in journalism than putting our points of view."
On the Saturday a free minibus service was run at regular intervals from the Chalon Way car park.
"Come and see how your electricity is made – a trip out for all the family", said their advert.
Over the last couple of years there had been much talk of relocating the St Helens Greyhound track in Park Road.
In this week's Reporter on the 13th it was stated with some authority that the site for the new track was going to be on an old chemical waste tip off Merton Bank Road.
The present 6-acre Park Road site would have 95 houses built on it and the new home for the dog track would also include a sports club, squash courts, crown green bowling etc.
The Reporter also described the fire that had hit Rainford High School at the end of last week.
The school music room was demolished, a massive art theatre was damaged and changing room walls were blackened by smoke.
The exact cause of the £40,000 blaze had not yet been ascertained but the police said they were anxious to interview the occupants of a dark coloured Ford Escort saloon that had been seen near the school early on Friday morning.
The 1,200 pupils at Rainford High were given a day off school on the Friday while the police and fire brigade raked through the debris for clues.
And this week the school's headmaster David Hay had to arrange makeshift classes in corridors where desks and chairs were laid out. Storerooms had also been opened up so pupils could continue their studies.
Mr Hay said: "We are still on an emergency footing. But I did not want part-time education at the school."
On the 14th the new Peasley Cross United Reformed Church was opened, replacing its previous 108-year-old building that had been destroyed by fire.
And finally, on the 15th Norman Collier was on stage at Rainhill Hospital's Social Centre.
The Yorkshire comic is best remembered for his faulty microphone routine and chicken impressions.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the new one-way system in Victoria Square, the boys responsible for the Rockware fire appear in court, the historic documents in Central Library and fears mount over job cuts at Pilks' Ravenhead factory.