FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 10 - 16 NOVEMBER 1975
This week's many stories include the war of the sexes at Pilks, the increase in games charges in St Helens parks, Silcocks winter pleasure fair in Thatto Heath, the nudist colony that wanted rate relief, the use of Rainhill Hospital's operating theatre to reduce waiting times, the environmental clean-up planned for Newton and Haydock and the race against time to get a youth club up and running in Rainhill.
We begin on the 10th with a meeting of the council's Leisure and Recreation Committee who decided that their games and leisure charges in St Helens parks (such as Taylor Park, pictured above) would have to drastically increase. The council charged people to play pursuits like tennis, bowls, golf, pitch & putt and hiring a boat etc. But the huge level of inflation – which in 1975 was 24% – was leaving a big hole in their budget. During the 1974/75 financial year, £26,000 had been raised from such charges. But the council had needed to pay out £423,000 for their parks and leisure facilities and said they wanted those who actually used them to contribute more.
This week was the St Helens Arts Week and Autumn Show. It was the first time the two events had been combined, although the Autumn Show only took place at the weekend. The attendance at the Town Hall for the art exhibition was described as good and the entries for all show classes were said to be well up to standard.
On the 12th bomb squad experts blew up a suspect package found on the M62 motorway bridge that crossed the A57 at Jubits Lane in Sutton Manor. The road was closed for two hours but only the remains of a small drum of oil and water were found.
The Newton and Earlestown Guardian wrote on the 12th: "Newton and Haydock are taking a big step forward in an environmental clean-up involving disused railway works and coal mine spoil heaps. And through 100 per cent. Government grants for the reclamation of derelict land the two areas could be linked in a landscaped greenery which would wipe-out eye-sores of many years duration."
Merseyside County Planning authority in consultation with St Helens Council was proposing a reclamation programme for derelict land that embraced the Lyme and Wood pits' spoil heaps, Earlestown railway sidings, Garswood railway station and the old Boston coal mine railway.
The St Helens Reporter on the 14th described how union members at Pilkington's Sheet Works were at loggerheads. In an article headlined "War Of Sexes Starts At Plant" it was explained that the closure last month of Pilkington's Pontypool factory had brought additional work to the St Helens plant in Watson Street.
During the recent recession the female glasscutters at Pilks had been given other jobs to do. But now with the extra orders, they were able to return to their original work, which was better paid. However, it was claimed that fellow male union members who were already on cutting work were trying to block the women's return, fearing they would lose overtime payments.
The Reporter also revealed that Rainhill might not be getting their badly needed youth club. A Mr Edwards had donated the chosen site on Old Lane to the council in 1919. But he had specified that it should only be used as a children's playground for youngsters under the age of 14. And the present Rainhill Parish Council wanted to use the site as a youth club that would serve persons up to the age of 20.
Another problem was the time factor, as the scheme needed to begin before March 31st 1976 in order to qualify for a government grant. If no one objected to the plans and the problem with the deed could be overcome, then that deadline could be met. However, that was considered unlikely, as it was expected that some residents would raise objections that would delay the implementation of the scheme past the March deadline.
With Rainhill Hospital (pictured above) being so large it had its own operating theatre and X-ray department to treat its patients. But the Reporter revealed that their use was now only occasional and so permission had been obtained for the facilities to be used to cut long waiting lists at St Helens own hospitals. However, there was a snag. Medical staff needed to be found to operate all the equipment and treat patients and these were in short supply.
The Liverpool Sun and Air Society was a nudist colony based near Cronton Colliery. They made the pages of the Reporter as objections had been made to a proposed rate relief grant to them from St Helens Council. Some councillors thought that their near £300 award could be better spent elsewhere on the disabled and what were described as mentally handicapped. As a result, a Finance subcommittee would consider the matter.
There was annoyance in the Reporter that a new cut-price ticketing arrangement for Merseyside excluded bus journeys from St Helens to Liverpool. Essentially, these were day or weekly tickets that the 317, 320 and 39 bus services had been excluded from.
It was also reported that the five-year-old council-owned traveller site off Sherdley Road would get a £4,500 facelift in the New Year. The site needed to be resurfaced and have a new drainage system installed after it was found that the land quickly became waterlogged.
Transport firm Sutton and Son received short shrift from the council this week. They had asked the authority to construct a fence between their depot and the Sherdley Park golf course to protect them from vandals. But at a meeting in which the request was rejected, Councillor Gordon Roberts said: "The application is nothing more or less than an attempt to have a fence built at the council's expense."
St Helens police put out a warning this week for farmers and butchers to step up their security to protect their stock during the build up to Christmas. This followed a raid on a cash-and-carry store in Haydock when thieves got away with £1,500 worth of oven-ready turkeys.
And from a vehicle parked in a yard in Church Street in St Helens, eleven sides of pigs were stolen. Superintendent Harry Asher said: "Every year during the period before Christmas we have a spate of poultry thefts. Butchers, farmers – in fact, anyone who keeps poultry, should look carefully at their own security arrangements and be more alert."
Silcocks held an annual winter fair in Thatto Heath but instead of running for a fixed period as in the summer, it was instead open-ended. That allowed them to pack up when business dried up. In this week's Reporter, Silcocks ad said: "Thatto Heath Annual November Pleasure Fair – Commences Thursday, November 13, on usual ground at Elephant Lane, until further notice. Pleasure for all. Please come early for we close early."
The Ormskirk Advertiser wrote on the 13th that a report had been made to Merseyside County Council calling for improvements to be made to transport services in Rainford. The two main complaints were: a) Isolation of the communities of Rainford Junction and Crank from facilities in Rainford because of poor bus services. b) Neglected use of Rainford Junction station because of a lack of connecting bus services.
It was stated that a mother who wanted to take her child to a doctor's surgery from Rainford Junction to the village in the morning would have to wait for a return bus for over 90 minutes after spending 30 minutes in Rainford.
And finally, on the 16th at the ABC Savoy cinema 'Black Christmas' starring Olivia Hussey replaced 'Confessions Of A Pop Performer' starring Robin Askwith. And at the Capitol Cinema, 'Freebie and the Bean' starring James Caan and Alan Arkin was replaced by a film called 'King Of Kung Fu'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Four Acre flagpole dispute, the genesis of Scott Clinic at Rainhill Hospital, the protest march against unemployment and the new housing estate off College Street that was dividing opinion.
This week was the St Helens Arts Week and Autumn Show. It was the first time the two events had been combined, although the Autumn Show only took place at the weekend. The attendance at the Town Hall for the art exhibition was described as good and the entries for all show classes were said to be well up to standard.
On the 12th bomb squad experts blew up a suspect package found on the M62 motorway bridge that crossed the A57 at Jubits Lane in Sutton Manor. The road was closed for two hours but only the remains of a small drum of oil and water were found.
The Newton and Earlestown Guardian wrote on the 12th: "Newton and Haydock are taking a big step forward in an environmental clean-up involving disused railway works and coal mine spoil heaps. And through 100 per cent. Government grants for the reclamation of derelict land the two areas could be linked in a landscaped greenery which would wipe-out eye-sores of many years duration."
Merseyside County Planning authority in consultation with St Helens Council was proposing a reclamation programme for derelict land that embraced the Lyme and Wood pits' spoil heaps, Earlestown railway sidings, Garswood railway station and the old Boston coal mine railway.
The St Helens Reporter on the 14th described how union members at Pilkington's Sheet Works were at loggerheads. In an article headlined "War Of Sexes Starts At Plant" it was explained that the closure last month of Pilkington's Pontypool factory had brought additional work to the St Helens plant in Watson Street.
During the recent recession the female glasscutters at Pilks had been given other jobs to do. But now with the extra orders, they were able to return to their original work, which was better paid. However, it was claimed that fellow male union members who were already on cutting work were trying to block the women's return, fearing they would lose overtime payments.
The Reporter also revealed that Rainhill might not be getting their badly needed youth club. A Mr Edwards had donated the chosen site on Old Lane to the council in 1919. But he had specified that it should only be used as a children's playground for youngsters under the age of 14. And the present Rainhill Parish Council wanted to use the site as a youth club that would serve persons up to the age of 20.
Another problem was the time factor, as the scheme needed to begin before March 31st 1976 in order to qualify for a government grant. If no one objected to the plans and the problem with the deed could be overcome, then that deadline could be met. However, that was considered unlikely, as it was expected that some residents would raise objections that would delay the implementation of the scheme past the March deadline.
The Liverpool Sun and Air Society was a nudist colony based near Cronton Colliery. They made the pages of the Reporter as objections had been made to a proposed rate relief grant to them from St Helens Council. Some councillors thought that their near £300 award could be better spent elsewhere on the disabled and what were described as mentally handicapped. As a result, a Finance subcommittee would consider the matter.
There was annoyance in the Reporter that a new cut-price ticketing arrangement for Merseyside excluded bus journeys from St Helens to Liverpool. Essentially, these were day or weekly tickets that the 317, 320 and 39 bus services had been excluded from.
It was also reported that the five-year-old council-owned traveller site off Sherdley Road would get a £4,500 facelift in the New Year. The site needed to be resurfaced and have a new drainage system installed after it was found that the land quickly became waterlogged.
Transport firm Sutton and Son received short shrift from the council this week. They had asked the authority to construct a fence between their depot and the Sherdley Park golf course to protect them from vandals. But at a meeting in which the request was rejected, Councillor Gordon Roberts said: "The application is nothing more or less than an attempt to have a fence built at the council's expense."
St Helens police put out a warning this week for farmers and butchers to step up their security to protect their stock during the build up to Christmas. This followed a raid on a cash-and-carry store in Haydock when thieves got away with £1,500 worth of oven-ready turkeys.
And from a vehicle parked in a yard in Church Street in St Helens, eleven sides of pigs were stolen. Superintendent Harry Asher said: "Every year during the period before Christmas we have a spate of poultry thefts. Butchers, farmers – in fact, anyone who keeps poultry, should look carefully at their own security arrangements and be more alert."
Silcocks held an annual winter fair in Thatto Heath but instead of running for a fixed period as in the summer, it was instead open-ended. That allowed them to pack up when business dried up. In this week's Reporter, Silcocks ad said: "Thatto Heath Annual November Pleasure Fair – Commences Thursday, November 13, on usual ground at Elephant Lane, until further notice. Pleasure for all. Please come early for we close early."
The Ormskirk Advertiser wrote on the 13th that a report had been made to Merseyside County Council calling for improvements to be made to transport services in Rainford. The two main complaints were: a) Isolation of the communities of Rainford Junction and Crank from facilities in Rainford because of poor bus services. b) Neglected use of Rainford Junction station because of a lack of connecting bus services.
It was stated that a mother who wanted to take her child to a doctor's surgery from Rainford Junction to the village in the morning would have to wait for a return bus for over 90 minutes after spending 30 minutes in Rainford.
And finally, on the 16th at the ABC Savoy cinema 'Black Christmas' starring Olivia Hussey replaced 'Confessions Of A Pop Performer' starring Robin Askwith. And at the Capitol Cinema, 'Freebie and the Bean' starring James Caan and Alan Arkin was replaced by a film called 'King Of Kung Fu'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Four Acre flagpole dispute, the genesis of Scott Clinic at Rainhill Hospital, the protest march against unemployment and the new housing estate off College Street that was dividing opinion.
This week's many stories include the war of the sexes at Pilks, the increase in games charges in St Helens parks, Silcocks winter pleasure fair in Thatto Heath, the nudist colony that wanted rate relief, the use of Rainhill Hospital's operating theatre to reduce waiting times, the environmental clean-up planned for Newton and Haydock and the race against time to get a youth club up and running in Rainhill.
We begin on the 10th with a meeting of the council's Leisure and Recreation Committee who decided that their games and leisure charges in St Helens parks (such as in Taylor Park pictured above) would have to drastically increase.
The council charged people to play pursuits like tennis, bowls, golf, pitch & putt and hiring a boat etc. But the huge level of inflation – which in 1975 was 24% – was leaving a big hole in their budget.
During the 1974/75 financial year, £26,000 had been raised from such charges. But the council had needed to pay out £423,000 for their parks and leisure facilities and said they wanted those who actually used them to contribute more.
This week was the St Helens Arts Week and Autumn Show. It was the first time the two events had been combined, although the Autumn Show only took place at the weekend.
The attendance at the Town Hall for the art exhibition was described as good and the entries for all show classes were said to be well up to standard.
On the 12th bomb squad experts blew up a suspect package found on the M62 motorway bridge that crossed the A57 at Jubits Lane in Sutton Manor.
The road was closed for two hours but only the remains of a small drum of oil and water were found.
The Newton and Earlestown Guardian wrote on the 12th:
"Newton and Haydock are taking a big step forward in an environmental clean-up involving disused railway works and coal mine spoil heaps.
"And through 100 per cent. Government grants for the reclamation of derelict land the two areas could be linked in a landscaped greenery which would wipe-out eye-sores of many years duration."
Merseyside County Planning authority in consultation with St Helens Council was proposing a reclamation programme for derelict land that embraced the Lyme and Wood pits' spoil heaps, Earlestown railway sidings, Garswood railway station and the old Boston coal mine railway.
The St Helens Reporter on the 14th described how union members at Pilkington's Sheet Works were at loggerheads.
In an article headlined "War Of Sexes Starts At Plant" it was explained that the closure last month of Pilkington's Pontypool factory had brought additional work to the St Helens plant in Watson Street.
During the recent recession the female glasscutters at Pilks had been given other jobs to do. But now with the extra orders, they were able to return to their original work, which was better paid.
However, it was claimed that fellow male union members who were already on cutting work were trying to block the women's return, fearing they would lose overtime payments.
The Reporter also revealed that Rainhill might not be getting their badly needed youth club.
A Mr Edwards had donated the chosen site on Old Lane to the council in 1919. But he had specified that it should only be used as a children's playground for youngsters under the age of 14.
And the present Rainhill Parish Council wanted to use the site as a youth club that would serve persons up to the age of 20.
Another problem was the time factor, as the scheme needed to begin before March 31st 1976 in order to qualify for a government grant.
If no one objected to the plans and the problem with the deed could be overcome, then that deadline could be met.
However, that was considered unlikely, as it was expected that some residents would raise objections that would delay the implementation of the scheme past the March deadline.
With Rainhill Hospital (pictured above) being so large it had its own operating theatre and X-ray department to treat its patients.
But the Reporter revealed that their use was now only occasional and so permission had been obtained for the facilities to be used to cut long waiting lists at St Helens own hospitals.
However, there was a snag. Medical staff needed to be found to operate all the equipment and treat patients and these were in short supply.
The Liverpool Sun and Air Society was a nudist colony based near Cronton Colliery.
They made the pages of the Reporter as objections had been made to a proposed rate relief grant to them from St Helens Council.
Some councillors thought that their near £300 award could be better spent elsewhere on the disabled and what were described as mentally handicapped. As a result, a Finance subcommittee would consider the matter.
There was annoyance in the Reporter that a new cut-price ticketing arrangement for Merseyside excluded bus journeys from St Helens to Liverpool.
Essentially, these were day or weekly tickets that the 317, 320 and 39 bus services had been excluded from.
It was also reported that the five-year-old council-owned traveller site off Sherdley Road would get a £4,500 facelift in the New Year.
The site needed to be resurfaced and have a new drainage system installed after it was found that the land quickly became waterlogged.
Transport firm Sutton and Son received short shrift from the council this week.
They had asked the authority to construct a fence between their depot and the Sherdley Park golf course to protect them from vandals.
But at a meeting in which the request was rejected, Councillor Gordon Roberts said: "The application is nothing more or less than an attempt to have a fence built at the council's expense."
St Helens police put out a warning this week for farmers and butchers to step up their security to protect their stock during the build up to Christmas.
This followed a raid on a cash-and-carry store in Haydock when thieves got away with £1,500 worth of oven-ready turkeys.
And from a vehicle parked in a yard in Church Street in St Helens, eleven sides of pigs were stolen.
Superintendent Harry Asher said: "Every year during the period before Christmas we have a spate of poultry thefts. Butchers, farmers – in fact, anyone who keeps poultry, should look carefully at their own security arrangements and be more alert."
Silcocks held an annual winter fair in Thatto Heath but instead of running for a fixed period as in the summer, it was instead open-ended.
That allowed them to pack up when business dried up. In this week's Reporter, Silcocks ad said:
"Thatto Heath Annual November Pleasure Fair – Commences Thursday, November 13, on usual ground at Elephant Lane, until further notice. Pleasure for all. Please come early for we close early."
The Ormskirk Advertiser wrote on the 13th that a report had been made to Merseyside County Council calling for improvements to be made to transport services in Rainford.
The two main complaints were: a) Isolation of the communities of Rainford Junction and Crank from facilities in Rainford because of poor bus services.
b) Neglected use of Rainford Junction station because of a lack of connecting bus services.
It was stated that a mother who wanted to take her child to a doctor's surgery from Rainford Junction to the village in the morning would have to wait for a return bus for over 90 minutes after spending 30 minutes in Rainford.
And finally, on the 16th at the ABC Savoy cinema 'Black Christmas' starring Olivia Hussey replaced 'Confessions Of A Pop Performer' starring Robin Askwith.
And at the Capitol Cinema, 'Freebie and the Bean' starring James Caan and Alan Arkin was replaced by a film called 'King Of Kung Fu'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Four Acre flagpole dispute, the genesis of Scott Clinic at Rainhill Hospital, the protest march against unemployment and the new housing estate off College Street that was dividing opinion.
The council charged people to play pursuits like tennis, bowls, golf, pitch & putt and hiring a boat etc. But the huge level of inflation – which in 1975 was 24% – was leaving a big hole in their budget.
During the 1974/75 financial year, £26,000 had been raised from such charges. But the council had needed to pay out £423,000 for their parks and leisure facilities and said they wanted those who actually used them to contribute more.
This week was the St Helens Arts Week and Autumn Show. It was the first time the two events had been combined, although the Autumn Show only took place at the weekend.
The attendance at the Town Hall for the art exhibition was described as good and the entries for all show classes were said to be well up to standard.
On the 12th bomb squad experts blew up a suspect package found on the M62 motorway bridge that crossed the A57 at Jubits Lane in Sutton Manor.
The road was closed for two hours but only the remains of a small drum of oil and water were found.
The Newton and Earlestown Guardian wrote on the 12th:
"Newton and Haydock are taking a big step forward in an environmental clean-up involving disused railway works and coal mine spoil heaps.
"And through 100 per cent. Government grants for the reclamation of derelict land the two areas could be linked in a landscaped greenery which would wipe-out eye-sores of many years duration."
Merseyside County Planning authority in consultation with St Helens Council was proposing a reclamation programme for derelict land that embraced the Lyme and Wood pits' spoil heaps, Earlestown railway sidings, Garswood railway station and the old Boston coal mine railway.
The St Helens Reporter on the 14th described how union members at Pilkington's Sheet Works were at loggerheads.
In an article headlined "War Of Sexes Starts At Plant" it was explained that the closure last month of Pilkington's Pontypool factory had brought additional work to the St Helens plant in Watson Street.
During the recent recession the female glasscutters at Pilks had been given other jobs to do. But now with the extra orders, they were able to return to their original work, which was better paid.
However, it was claimed that fellow male union members who were already on cutting work were trying to block the women's return, fearing they would lose overtime payments.
The Reporter also revealed that Rainhill might not be getting their badly needed youth club.
A Mr Edwards had donated the chosen site on Old Lane to the council in 1919. But he had specified that it should only be used as a children's playground for youngsters under the age of 14.
And the present Rainhill Parish Council wanted to use the site as a youth club that would serve persons up to the age of 20.
Another problem was the time factor, as the scheme needed to begin before March 31st 1976 in order to qualify for a government grant.
If no one objected to the plans and the problem with the deed could be overcome, then that deadline could be met.
However, that was considered unlikely, as it was expected that some residents would raise objections that would delay the implementation of the scheme past the March deadline.
But the Reporter revealed that their use was now only occasional and so permission had been obtained for the facilities to be used to cut long waiting lists at St Helens own hospitals.
However, there was a snag. Medical staff needed to be found to operate all the equipment and treat patients and these were in short supply.
The Liverpool Sun and Air Society was a nudist colony based near Cronton Colliery.
They made the pages of the Reporter as objections had been made to a proposed rate relief grant to them from St Helens Council.
Some councillors thought that their near £300 award could be better spent elsewhere on the disabled and what were described as mentally handicapped. As a result, a Finance subcommittee would consider the matter.
There was annoyance in the Reporter that a new cut-price ticketing arrangement for Merseyside excluded bus journeys from St Helens to Liverpool.
Essentially, these were day or weekly tickets that the 317, 320 and 39 bus services had been excluded from.
It was also reported that the five-year-old council-owned traveller site off Sherdley Road would get a £4,500 facelift in the New Year.
The site needed to be resurfaced and have a new drainage system installed after it was found that the land quickly became waterlogged.
Transport firm Sutton and Son received short shrift from the council this week.
They had asked the authority to construct a fence between their depot and the Sherdley Park golf course to protect them from vandals.
But at a meeting in which the request was rejected, Councillor Gordon Roberts said: "The application is nothing more or less than an attempt to have a fence built at the council's expense."
St Helens police put out a warning this week for farmers and butchers to step up their security to protect their stock during the build up to Christmas.
This followed a raid on a cash-and-carry store in Haydock when thieves got away with £1,500 worth of oven-ready turkeys.
And from a vehicle parked in a yard in Church Street in St Helens, eleven sides of pigs were stolen.
Superintendent Harry Asher said: "Every year during the period before Christmas we have a spate of poultry thefts. Butchers, farmers – in fact, anyone who keeps poultry, should look carefully at their own security arrangements and be more alert."
Silcocks held an annual winter fair in Thatto Heath but instead of running for a fixed period as in the summer, it was instead open-ended.
That allowed them to pack up when business dried up. In this week's Reporter, Silcocks ad said:
"Thatto Heath Annual November Pleasure Fair – Commences Thursday, November 13, on usual ground at Elephant Lane, until further notice. Pleasure for all. Please come early for we close early."
The Ormskirk Advertiser wrote on the 13th that a report had been made to Merseyside County Council calling for improvements to be made to transport services in Rainford.
The two main complaints were: a) Isolation of the communities of Rainford Junction and Crank from facilities in Rainford because of poor bus services.
b) Neglected use of Rainford Junction station because of a lack of connecting bus services.
It was stated that a mother who wanted to take her child to a doctor's surgery from Rainford Junction to the village in the morning would have to wait for a return bus for over 90 minutes after spending 30 minutes in Rainford.
And finally, on the 16th at the ABC Savoy cinema 'Black Christmas' starring Olivia Hussey replaced 'Confessions Of A Pop Performer' starring Robin Askwith.
And at the Capitol Cinema, 'Freebie and the Bean' starring James Caan and Alan Arkin was replaced by a film called 'King Of Kung Fu'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Four Acre flagpole dispute, the genesis of Scott Clinic at Rainhill Hospital, the protest march against unemployment and the new housing estate off College Street that was dividing opinion.