FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (9 - 15 OCTOBER 1973)
This week's many stories include the claims of reigns of terror and destruction in Parr, complaints over noisy speedboats on Carr Mill Dam, the happiness of a retired West Park couple, the laying of the foundation stone for the new Parr Baths, criticism of Central Library, the conundrum of whether a shop is a shop or a house and the remarkable results of the football managers' course that had taken place in St Helens.
We begin on the 9th when Alderman Arthur Luther, the chairman of the council's Works Committee, laid the foundation stone for the new Parr Baths (pictured above). The leisure facility in Recreation Street had taken nearly forty years to get to that stage, with Ald Luther having previously said: "The scheme has had a chequered history because of money troubles but I hope that this is the end of it. The pool will be 33 metres long and should be a great asset to the town."
The ongoing redevelopment programme in St Helens did throw up some anomalies – such as whether a house that had been used as a shop could be classified as a shop or a home. It mattered because compensation for owners of properties judged as unfit was far higher if the premises had primarily been retail rather than residential.
On the 12th the St Helens Reporter profiled the case of Tom Watkinson of Church Lane in Eccleston. The 79-year-old had owned premises at the corner of Peter Street and Lyon Street in St Helens. For forty years the property had been rented out to Mercer's confectioners but it was now going to be demolished. However, St Helens Corporation had ruled that the building was a house and had offered Tom only £95 compensation. If it had been classed as a shop, then between £1,000 and £2,000 would have been awarded.
Tom told the Reporter: "It was always one of the best shops in the area, and I know of others nearby who've received over £2,000. I can't see why I just get £95. This is ridiculous. They told me it wasn't fit to live in – but no one has ever lived in it. It was built as a shop, and a storeroom, but they are compensating me as if it was a house."
The Corporation explained that the owner of a shop that was being demolished received its full market value – but if a house was deemed unfit, the compensation awarded was only the site value. Just because the house was being used as a shop, did not mean its classification had changed. An inspector from the Department of the Environment had agreed with the council that the property was a house. However, Tom would be appealing his case to the Lands Tribunal.
This was the introduction to a disturbing front-page article in the Reporter published under the headline "Terror Gangs Rule At Nightfall": "Reigns of terror and destruction; motor-bike gangs running riot; people frightened to approach the police because of possible reprisals – that is the horrific picture of Parr painted by a councillor yesterday."
Continuing his piece journalist Ian Brandes then wrote: "Councillor Jack Morris, of Ashtons Green Drive, St. Helens, claimed that decent families were being driven out of Parr by vandalism and violence which had become part of their daily lives. He said: “People think that their windows will be ‘going in’ next. This is a bad area – we have fights, and vandalism – there's even been a murder. People are afraid to walk the streets at night.”"
Speedboats had been allowed to use Carr Mill Dam since 1930 but they were becoming more powerful and local residents were getting sick of the din. The Reporter described how an action committee was being set up to organise a mass petition with the aim of getting powerboats banned. Wally Wainwright of Hawes Avenue, overlooking the dam, said:
"Boats are being raced every weekend and practically every day during the week. Engines are being revved up at six o’clock in the morning and we can hear them into the night. They even use arc lamps and race round the dam at top speeds so that the noise is deafening. I'm a shift worker and getting to sleep is impossible. I also use the dam to fish and the anglers are getting no peace at all."
Peter Lenshan of the Fishing Cottage at Carr Mill was organising the action committee and said the racing club were now using powerboats rather than hydroplanes: "The hydroplanes were much quieter but these powerboats sound like 30 motor-bikes revving up at once. I believe the noise can be heard all the way to Hard Lane. This is something we are not going to put up with any longer.
"The people who race these boats have no consideration for the anglers or the water fowl. They come from all over the place and put this nuisance among us ignoring the environment and the people who live there." However, a spokesman for the Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club claimed that the complaints were highly exaggerated, saying they had never used arc lamps and didn't go on the water at 6 am.
Couples that had wed during the 1920s and had struggled during the early years of their marriage often appeared to be in the happiest period of their lives when profiled in the Reporter. Elizabeth and Arthur Anderton of Hazel Grove in West Park were celebrating their golden wedding after marrying at Christ Church in Eccleston in October 1923. 70-year-old Mr Anderton told the paper:
"My wife and I are living the best part of our life now. At the beginning of our marriage times were hard and it was a struggle. But now we are comfortable and don't want for anything. Our children have been very good to us and it's wonderful seeing them with families of their own and all very happy."
This week was 'Look At Libraries Week' in St Helens with a number of special events taking place to boost interest in the town's libraries. But one person who had looked at Central Library but not liked what he had seen was W. F. Pickavance who had this letter published in the Reporter:
"What was once the finest lending library for miles, deeply appreciated by all for kind service and spacious surroundings, not to mention a genuinely first-class book list, has degenerated over the past year into a confused and undignified sprawl. For months people have milled about unsure of the whereabouts of their particular choice of book and in many cases being genuinely embarrassed in the crush of bodies round the new layout of shelves."
The Reporter also described how pigeon fancier Jan Bilski of Pool End in Parr had lost twenty-one of his birds after his loft had been broken into. However, the 50-year-old was hoping for a simple solution to his troubles. At some point the pigeons would have to be released for an exercise flight and they would then likely fly back to St Helens.
Also on the 12th the Grimethorpe Colliery Band performed at the Theatre Royal. When the ensemble played in Corporation Street, Grimethorpe Colliery was still in existence – but it would close in 1993. Then on the 13th Vince Hill was in concert at the Theatre Royal and on the same day the Liverpool Echo wrote:
"Perhaps it's something in the air at St. Helens, but a managers' course held there during the summer seems to have produced some remarkable results. Bobby Charlton attended and now his Preston North End team are challenging at the top of the Second Division. Ron Yeats also went and his Tranmere squad have just vanquished Arsenal at Highbury in the League Cup. And Ian St. John was there before he went on to take over at Motherwell. Others on the course included Alan Durban, the new assistant manager of Shrewsbury Town and Tony Book who has just been appointed to a similar position with Manchester City."
The three-week long course was organised by the Professional Footballers Association and held at the St Helens College of Technology's hall of residence annexe at the Meads in Portico Lane. The tutors were announced as being Don Revie, Jimmy Armfield and Tony Walters. And Sir Matt Busby had been set to kick-off proceedings with an opening address.
The 13th was also when Shaws opened their "new-look store" in Duke Street. Preferring then to call themselves Shaws of St Helens rather than Ena Shaw, the premises were a 3-storey extension to their existing furnishings shop which doubled its size. And finally for 6 days from the 15th, the St Helens Amateur Operatic Society presented 'The Merry Widow' at the Theatre Royal.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the war of destruction in Derbyshire Hill, the golfers playing for free on the Sherdley Park course, an update on the computer brain planned for Thatto Heath and the effect of the Middle East oil crisis on St Helens buses.
The ongoing redevelopment programme in St Helens did throw up some anomalies – such as whether a house that had been used as a shop could be classified as a shop or a home. It mattered because compensation for owners of properties judged as unfit was far higher if the premises had primarily been retail rather than residential.
On the 12th the St Helens Reporter profiled the case of Tom Watkinson of Church Lane in Eccleston. The 79-year-old had owned premises at the corner of Peter Street and Lyon Street in St Helens. For forty years the property had been rented out to Mercer's confectioners but it was now going to be demolished. However, St Helens Corporation had ruled that the building was a house and had offered Tom only £95 compensation. If it had been classed as a shop, then between £1,000 and £2,000 would have been awarded.
Tom told the Reporter: "It was always one of the best shops in the area, and I know of others nearby who've received over £2,000. I can't see why I just get £95. This is ridiculous. They told me it wasn't fit to live in – but no one has ever lived in it. It was built as a shop, and a storeroom, but they are compensating me as if it was a house."
The Corporation explained that the owner of a shop that was being demolished received its full market value – but if a house was deemed unfit, the compensation awarded was only the site value. Just because the house was being used as a shop, did not mean its classification had changed. An inspector from the Department of the Environment had agreed with the council that the property was a house. However, Tom would be appealing his case to the Lands Tribunal.
This was the introduction to a disturbing front-page article in the Reporter published under the headline "Terror Gangs Rule At Nightfall": "Reigns of terror and destruction; motor-bike gangs running riot; people frightened to approach the police because of possible reprisals – that is the horrific picture of Parr painted by a councillor yesterday."
Continuing his piece journalist Ian Brandes then wrote: "Councillor Jack Morris, of Ashtons Green Drive, St. Helens, claimed that decent families were being driven out of Parr by vandalism and violence which had become part of their daily lives. He said: “People think that their windows will be ‘going in’ next. This is a bad area – we have fights, and vandalism – there's even been a murder. People are afraid to walk the streets at night.”"
"Boats are being raced every weekend and practically every day during the week. Engines are being revved up at six o’clock in the morning and we can hear them into the night. They even use arc lamps and race round the dam at top speeds so that the noise is deafening. I'm a shift worker and getting to sleep is impossible. I also use the dam to fish and the anglers are getting no peace at all."
Peter Lenshan of the Fishing Cottage at Carr Mill was organising the action committee and said the racing club were now using powerboats rather than hydroplanes: "The hydroplanes were much quieter but these powerboats sound like 30 motor-bikes revving up at once. I believe the noise can be heard all the way to Hard Lane. This is something we are not going to put up with any longer.
"The people who race these boats have no consideration for the anglers or the water fowl. They come from all over the place and put this nuisance among us ignoring the environment and the people who live there." However, a spokesman for the Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club claimed that the complaints were highly exaggerated, saying they had never used arc lamps and didn't go on the water at 6 am.
Couples that had wed during the 1920s and had struggled during the early years of their marriage often appeared to be in the happiest period of their lives when profiled in the Reporter. Elizabeth and Arthur Anderton of Hazel Grove in West Park were celebrating their golden wedding after marrying at Christ Church in Eccleston in October 1923. 70-year-old Mr Anderton told the paper:
"My wife and I are living the best part of our life now. At the beginning of our marriage times were hard and it was a struggle. But now we are comfortable and don't want for anything. Our children have been very good to us and it's wonderful seeing them with families of their own and all very happy."
This week was 'Look At Libraries Week' in St Helens with a number of special events taking place to boost interest in the town's libraries. But one person who had looked at Central Library but not liked what he had seen was W. F. Pickavance who had this letter published in the Reporter:
"What was once the finest lending library for miles, deeply appreciated by all for kind service and spacious surroundings, not to mention a genuinely first-class book list, has degenerated over the past year into a confused and undignified sprawl. For months people have milled about unsure of the whereabouts of their particular choice of book and in many cases being genuinely embarrassed in the crush of bodies round the new layout of shelves."
The Reporter also described how pigeon fancier Jan Bilski of Pool End in Parr had lost twenty-one of his birds after his loft had been broken into. However, the 50-year-old was hoping for a simple solution to his troubles. At some point the pigeons would have to be released for an exercise flight and they would then likely fly back to St Helens.
Also on the 12th the Grimethorpe Colliery Band performed at the Theatre Royal. When the ensemble played in Corporation Street, Grimethorpe Colliery was still in existence – but it would close in 1993. Then on the 13th Vince Hill was in concert at the Theatre Royal and on the same day the Liverpool Echo wrote:
"Perhaps it's something in the air at St. Helens, but a managers' course held there during the summer seems to have produced some remarkable results. Bobby Charlton attended and now his Preston North End team are challenging at the top of the Second Division. Ron Yeats also went and his Tranmere squad have just vanquished Arsenal at Highbury in the League Cup. And Ian St. John was there before he went on to take over at Motherwell. Others on the course included Alan Durban, the new assistant manager of Shrewsbury Town and Tony Book who has just been appointed to a similar position with Manchester City."
The three-week long course was organised by the Professional Footballers Association and held at the St Helens College of Technology's hall of residence annexe at the Meads in Portico Lane. The tutors were announced as being Don Revie, Jimmy Armfield and Tony Walters. And Sir Matt Busby had been set to kick-off proceedings with an opening address.
The 13th was also when Shaws opened their "new-look store" in Duke Street. Preferring then to call themselves Shaws of St Helens rather than Ena Shaw, the premises were a 3-storey extension to their existing furnishings shop which doubled its size. And finally for 6 days from the 15th, the St Helens Amateur Operatic Society presented 'The Merry Widow' at the Theatre Royal.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the war of destruction in Derbyshire Hill, the golfers playing for free on the Sherdley Park course, an update on the computer brain planned for Thatto Heath and the effect of the Middle East oil crisis on St Helens buses.
This week's many stories include the claims of reigns of terror and destruction in Parr, complaints over noisy speedboats on Carr Mill Dam, the happiness of a retired West Park couple, the laying of the foundation stone for the new Parr Baths, criticism of Central Library, the conundrum of whether a shop is a shop or a house and the remarkable results of the football managers' course that had taken place in St Helens.
We begin on the 9th when Alderman Arthur Luther, the chairman of the council's Works Committee, laid the foundation stone for the new Parr Baths (pictured above).
The leisure facility in Recreation Street had taken nearly forty years to get to that stage, with Ald Luther having previously said:
"The scheme has had a chequered history because of money troubles but I hope that this is the end of it. The pool will be 33 metres long and should be a great asset to the town."
The ongoing redevelopment programme in St Helens did throw up some anomalies – such as whether a house that had been used as a shop could be classified as a shop or a home.
It mattered because compensation for owners of properties judged as unfit was far higher if the premises had primarily been retail rather than residential.
On the 12th the St Helens Reporter profiled the case of Tom Watkinson of Church Lane in Eccleston.
The 79-year-old had owned premises at the corner of Peter Street and Lyon Street in St Helens.
For forty years the property had been rented out to Mercer's confectioners but it was now going to be demolished.
However, St Helens Corporation had ruled that the building was a house and had offered Tom only £95 compensation.
If it had been classed as a shop, then between £1,000 and £2,000 would have been awarded. Tom told the Reporter:
"It was always one of the best shops in the area, and I know of others nearby who've received over £2,000. I can't see why I just get £95. This is ridiculous.
"They told me it wasn't fit to live in – but no one has ever lived in it. It was built as a shop, and a storeroom, but they are compensating me as if it was a house."
The Corporation explained that the owner of a shop that was being demolished received its full market value – but if a house was deemed unfit, the compensation awarded was only the site value.
Just because the house was being used as a shop, did not mean its classification had changed.
An inspector from the Department of the Environment had agreed with the council that the property was a house. However, Tom would be appealing his case to the Lands Tribunal.
This was the introduction to a disturbing front-page article in the Reporter published under the headline "Terror Gangs Rule At Nightfall":
"Reigns of terror and destruction; motor-bike gangs running riot; people frightened to approach the police because of possible reprisals – that is the horrific picture of Parr painted by a councillor yesterday."
Continuing his piece journalist Ian Brandes then wrote:
"Councillor Jack Morris, of Ashtons Green Drive, St. Helens, claimed that decent families were being driven out of Parr by vandalism and violence which had become part of their daily lives.
"He said: “People think that their windows will be ‘going in’ next. This is a bad area – we have fights, and vandalism – there's even been a murder. People are afraid to walk the streets at night.”"
Speedboats had been allowed to use Carr Mill Dam (pictured above) since 1930 but they were becoming more powerful and local residents were getting sick of the din.
The Reporter described how an action committee was being set up to organise a mass petition with the aim of getting powerboats banned. Wally Wainwright of Hawes Avenue, overlooking the dam, said:
"Boats are being raced every weekend and practically every day during the week. Engines are being revved up at six o’clock in the morning and we can hear them into the night.
"They even use arc lamps and race round the dam at top speeds so that the noise is deafening. I'm a shift worker and getting to sleep is impossible. I also use the dam to fish and the anglers are getting no peace at all."
Peter Lenshan of the Fishing Cottage at Carr Mill was organising the action committee and said the racing club were now using powerboats rather than hydroplanes:
"The hydroplanes were much quieter but these powerboats sound like 30 motor-bikes revving up at once. I believe the noise can be heard all the way to Hard Lane.
"This is something we are not going to put up with any longer. The people who race these boats have no consideration for the anglers or the water fowl.
"They come from all over the place and put this nuisance among us ignoring the environment and the people who live there."
However, a spokesman for the Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club claimed that the complaints were highly exaggerated, saying they had never used arc lamps and didn't go on the water at 6 am.
Couples that had wed during the 1920s and had struggled during the early years of their marriage often appeared to be in the happiest period of their lives when profiled in the Reporter.
Elizabeth and Arthur Anderton of Hazel Grove in West Park were celebrating their golden wedding after marrying at Christ Church in Eccleston in October 1923. 70-year-old Mr Anderton told the paper:
"My wife and I are living the best part of our life now. At the beginning of our marriage times were hard and it was a struggle.
"But now we are comfortable and don't want for anything. Our children have been very good to us and it's wonderful seeing them with families of their own and all very happy."
This week was 'Look At Libraries Week' in St Helens with a number of special events taking place to boost interest in the town's libraries.
But one person who had looked at Central Library but not liked what he had seen was W. F. Pickavance who had this letter published in the Reporter:
"What was once the finest lending library for miles, deeply appreciated by all for kind service and spacious surroundings, not to mention a genuinely first-class book list, has degenerated over the past year into a confused and undignified sprawl.
"For months people have milled about unsure of the whereabouts of their particular choice of book and in many cases being genuinely embarrassed in the crush of bodies round the new layout of shelves."
The Reporter also described how pigeon fancier Jan Bilski of Pool End in Parr had lost twenty-one of his birds after his loft had been broken into.
However, the 50-year-old was hoping for a simple solution to his troubles. At some point the pigeons would have to be released for an exercise flight and they would then likely fly back to St Helens.
Also on the 12th the Grimethorpe Colliery Band performed at the Theatre Royal. When the ensemble played in Corporation Street, Grimethorpe Colliery was still in existence – but it would close in 1993.
Then on the 13th Vince Hill was in concert at the Theatre Royal and on the same day the Liverpool Echo wrote:
"Perhaps it's something in the air at St. Helens, but a managers' course held there during the summer seems to have produced some remarkable results.
"Bobby Charlton attended and now his Preston North End team are challenging at the top of the Second Division. Ron Yeats also went and his Tranmere squad have just vanquished Arsenal at Highbury in the League Cup.
"And Ian St. John was there before he went on to take over at Motherwell. Others on the course included Alan Durban, the new assistant manager of Shrewsbury Town and Tony Book who has just been appointed to a similar position with Manchester City."
The three-week long course was organised by the Professional Footballers Association and held at the St Helens College of Technology's hall of residence annexe at the Meads in Portico Lane.
The tutors were announced as being Don Revie, Jimmy Armfield and Tony Walters. And Sir Matt Busby had been set to kick-off proceedings with an opening address.
The 13th was also when Shaws opened their "new-look store" in Duke Street. Preferring then to call themselves Shaws of St Helens rather than Ena Shaw, the premises were a 3-storey extension to their existing furnishings shop which doubled its size.
And finally for 6 days from the 15th, the St Helens Amateur Operatic Society presented 'The Merry Widow' at the Theatre Royal.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the war of destruction in Derbyshire Hill, the golfers playing for free on the Sherdley Park course, an update on the computer brain planned for Thatto Heath and the effect of the Middle East oil crisis on St Helens buses.
The leisure facility in Recreation Street had taken nearly forty years to get to that stage, with Ald Luther having previously said:
"The scheme has had a chequered history because of money troubles but I hope that this is the end of it. The pool will be 33 metres long and should be a great asset to the town."
The ongoing redevelopment programme in St Helens did throw up some anomalies – such as whether a house that had been used as a shop could be classified as a shop or a home.
It mattered because compensation for owners of properties judged as unfit was far higher if the premises had primarily been retail rather than residential.
On the 12th the St Helens Reporter profiled the case of Tom Watkinson of Church Lane in Eccleston.
The 79-year-old had owned premises at the corner of Peter Street and Lyon Street in St Helens.
For forty years the property had been rented out to Mercer's confectioners but it was now going to be demolished.
However, St Helens Corporation had ruled that the building was a house and had offered Tom only £95 compensation.
If it had been classed as a shop, then between £1,000 and £2,000 would have been awarded. Tom told the Reporter:
"It was always one of the best shops in the area, and I know of others nearby who've received over £2,000. I can't see why I just get £95. This is ridiculous.
"They told me it wasn't fit to live in – but no one has ever lived in it. It was built as a shop, and a storeroom, but they are compensating me as if it was a house."
The Corporation explained that the owner of a shop that was being demolished received its full market value – but if a house was deemed unfit, the compensation awarded was only the site value.
Just because the house was being used as a shop, did not mean its classification had changed.
An inspector from the Department of the Environment had agreed with the council that the property was a house. However, Tom would be appealing his case to the Lands Tribunal.
This was the introduction to a disturbing front-page article in the Reporter published under the headline "Terror Gangs Rule At Nightfall":
"Reigns of terror and destruction; motor-bike gangs running riot; people frightened to approach the police because of possible reprisals – that is the horrific picture of Parr painted by a councillor yesterday."
Continuing his piece journalist Ian Brandes then wrote:
"Councillor Jack Morris, of Ashtons Green Drive, St. Helens, claimed that decent families were being driven out of Parr by vandalism and violence which had become part of their daily lives.
"He said: “People think that their windows will be ‘going in’ next. This is a bad area – we have fights, and vandalism – there's even been a murder. People are afraid to walk the streets at night.”"
The Reporter described how an action committee was being set up to organise a mass petition with the aim of getting powerboats banned. Wally Wainwright of Hawes Avenue, overlooking the dam, said:
"Boats are being raced every weekend and practically every day during the week. Engines are being revved up at six o’clock in the morning and we can hear them into the night.
"They even use arc lamps and race round the dam at top speeds so that the noise is deafening. I'm a shift worker and getting to sleep is impossible. I also use the dam to fish and the anglers are getting no peace at all."
Peter Lenshan of the Fishing Cottage at Carr Mill was organising the action committee and said the racing club were now using powerboats rather than hydroplanes:
"The hydroplanes were much quieter but these powerboats sound like 30 motor-bikes revving up at once. I believe the noise can be heard all the way to Hard Lane.
"This is something we are not going to put up with any longer. The people who race these boats have no consideration for the anglers or the water fowl.
"They come from all over the place and put this nuisance among us ignoring the environment and the people who live there."
However, a spokesman for the Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club claimed that the complaints were highly exaggerated, saying they had never used arc lamps and didn't go on the water at 6 am.
Couples that had wed during the 1920s and had struggled during the early years of their marriage often appeared to be in the happiest period of their lives when profiled in the Reporter.
Elizabeth and Arthur Anderton of Hazel Grove in West Park were celebrating their golden wedding after marrying at Christ Church in Eccleston in October 1923. 70-year-old Mr Anderton told the paper:
"My wife and I are living the best part of our life now. At the beginning of our marriage times were hard and it was a struggle.
"But now we are comfortable and don't want for anything. Our children have been very good to us and it's wonderful seeing them with families of their own and all very happy."
This week was 'Look At Libraries Week' in St Helens with a number of special events taking place to boost interest in the town's libraries.
But one person who had looked at Central Library but not liked what he had seen was W. F. Pickavance who had this letter published in the Reporter:
"What was once the finest lending library for miles, deeply appreciated by all for kind service and spacious surroundings, not to mention a genuinely first-class book list, has degenerated over the past year into a confused and undignified sprawl.
"For months people have milled about unsure of the whereabouts of their particular choice of book and in many cases being genuinely embarrassed in the crush of bodies round the new layout of shelves."
The Reporter also described how pigeon fancier Jan Bilski of Pool End in Parr had lost twenty-one of his birds after his loft had been broken into.
However, the 50-year-old was hoping for a simple solution to his troubles. At some point the pigeons would have to be released for an exercise flight and they would then likely fly back to St Helens.
Also on the 12th the Grimethorpe Colliery Band performed at the Theatre Royal. When the ensemble played in Corporation Street, Grimethorpe Colliery was still in existence – but it would close in 1993.
Then on the 13th Vince Hill was in concert at the Theatre Royal and on the same day the Liverpool Echo wrote:
"Perhaps it's something in the air at St. Helens, but a managers' course held there during the summer seems to have produced some remarkable results.
"Bobby Charlton attended and now his Preston North End team are challenging at the top of the Second Division. Ron Yeats also went and his Tranmere squad have just vanquished Arsenal at Highbury in the League Cup.
"And Ian St. John was there before he went on to take over at Motherwell. Others on the course included Alan Durban, the new assistant manager of Shrewsbury Town and Tony Book who has just been appointed to a similar position with Manchester City."
The three-week long course was organised by the Professional Footballers Association and held at the St Helens College of Technology's hall of residence annexe at the Meads in Portico Lane.
The tutors were announced as being Don Revie, Jimmy Armfield and Tony Walters. And Sir Matt Busby had been set to kick-off proceedings with an opening address.
The 13th was also when Shaws opened their "new-look store" in Duke Street. Preferring then to call themselves Shaws of St Helens rather than Ena Shaw, the premises were a 3-storey extension to their existing furnishings shop which doubled its size.
And finally for 6 days from the 15th, the St Helens Amateur Operatic Society presented 'The Merry Widow' at the Theatre Royal.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the war of destruction in Derbyshire Hill, the golfers playing for free on the Sherdley Park course, an update on the computer brain planned for Thatto Heath and the effect of the Middle East oil crisis on St Helens buses.