FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (20th - 26th FEBRUARY 1973)
This week's many stories include the rescue of a child from a blazing Parr home, a fresh wave of fury after another acid blowout from Leathers, Pilks rebel leader Gerry Caughey receives another rejection and an Ashtons Green chimney is blown to bits.
The week began with an update on the Jefferson Smurfitt dispute in Sutton. Two weeks ago the 230 workers at the packaging firm on the Reginald Road industrial estate had started a sit-in. The dispute began after seven women employees had refused to do what they considered to be a man's job. The union said they were willing to resume work once the seven women had been fully reinstated and a guarantee received that they wouldn't be moved from job to job. Both aims were achieved and later in the week the women returned to their jobs and were even promised back pay of £20.
On the 21st Rainhill Garrick Society presented its 97th production called 'Spring and Port Wine' at Rainhill Village Hall, with further performances continuing throughout the week. On the same night The Yetties performed their interpretation of West Country folk music at the Theatre Royal in St Helens.
The Liverpool Echo reported on the 20th that Gerry Caughey, the leader of the Pilkington glassworks strike in 1970, had had another application to return to his old job at Triplex rejected. Mr Caughey had received a letter from the firm that said: "Your latest application for employment with Triplex Safety Glass Company Limited has been considered and we regret that we are still not prepared to offer you employment."
A spokesman for Triplex denied that Mr Caughey had been banned for life but told the Echo: "It is our job to consider the interests of everyone involved in the operation of the company. We have done this with great care and have concluded that at this time it would not be in the interests of the company or its employees to re-engage Mr. Caughey."
Speaking from his home in Kipling Grove in Sutton Manor, Gerry Caughey told the Echo: "It looks like I am being used as an example to keep the other employees in line." As a result Triplex workers were being balloted on industrial action – such as an overtime ban – in support of Mr Caughey.
The Echo also reported how a £2m leisure, recreational and retail centre was being planned for 60 acres of land on the Knowsley Hall Estate. If approved the complex would become the biggest in the country and, according to the report, would equal any sporting and recreation centre in Europe.
On the 21st the Echo discussed the stray dog problem in the district with a number of local authorities appointing dog catchers. The paper reported that stray animals picked up in St Helens were taken to police kennels. If after seven days they had not been claimed, then the dogs were destroyed.
It was a rare week when Leathers Chemicals' sulphuric acid plant in Lancots Lane (pictured above) did not make the pages – usually the front page – of the St Helens Reporter. This week the paper described a "fresh wave of fury" after a blowout of acid had stripped skin off a woman's face. The acid shower had also led to a mother and her 8-year-old daughter requiring hospital treatment. As a result campaigners were trying to find out if a High Court injunction could be taken out to get the plant closed.
The sulphuric acid had gushed from a leaking pipe on the previous Friday at around 7 pm and had showered the Baxters Lane area. Joan Fyles of Marshalls Cross Road, who worked at Whelans Discount Stores, was walking along Baxters Lane when the acid fell. She said:
"My face and hands began to sting. I couldn't understand what was happening. I was frightened. I felt as if my face was coming out in blisters, and I wanted to scratch and claw at them. I went to Whelans where I washed. Then I noticed my tights were in ribbons, and there were spots all over my clothes."
Mrs Fyles reported the matter to the police and a spokesman said: "We were told by the firm that undiluted sulphuric acid had escaped in liquid form, from a section which was immediately shut off, but a spray may have reached Baxters Lane. This is a civil, not a police matter."
Mary Wilson and her daughter Michelle were also burnt by the acid and described how they felt "something like a mist" stinging their faces and eyes. Ken Griffiths, chairman of the local residents action group, blamed the Town Council for what had occurred, saying: "No-one but these men is to blame for permitting this poison gas plant to come into a residential area."
Alderman Harold Rimmer – the Chairman of the Planning Committee that had granted Leathers permission to operate in St Helens – admitted the assurances they'd been given by the firm "hadn't quite worked out". Leathers had been asked to comment by the Reporter but had not responded.
Cyril Heyes was pictured in the paper. The 64-year-old chemist was about to retire after 41 years serving Rainford people's medicinal needs from his Church Road pharmacy. During that time Cyril said the village had grown considerably: "A lot of new people have moved here and it's created a lot more trade. The shop has had to be extended – it's twice as big now."
Concern was also expressed in the Reporter that the forthcoming local government reorganisation would likely mean that Rainford would lose its registrar of births, deaths and marriages. Cllr. Audrey Berry said: "We have had a registrar for 136 years. It would be a 20p bus ride into St. Helens – not easy for someone with a young baby."
The two main demolition men that brought down chimneys in St Helens during the early ‘70s were Derek "Blaster" Bates and Harry Davies. The former blew up chimneys and the latter patiently took them down brick-by-brick, thus preventing any nearby properties from being damaged.
Bill Standish from Orrell was another of the "blow ‘em up" brigade and he had been commissioned to turn a 160 ft high redundant column in Parr into rubble. The chimney had been used by Southport Colliery but had been left in place after the mine closed in 1931. St Helens Corporation now wanted to redevelop the site and so the whole area was being cleared.
Within 10 seconds of the blast the chimney had been turned into 700 tons of rubble, comprising more than 220,000 bricks. The Reporter had the usual dramatic picture of the chimney frozen at 45 degrees as it fell to the ground. Although this is the first time I've come across a mention of Bill Standish destroying stacks in St Helens, this had been his 20th such blast.
On the 24th Micki and Griff were in concert at the Theatre Royal. On the same day twenty large firms in the St Helens, Wigan, Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn areas were amongst others that had their gas supplies cut off or reduced. North West Gas said they had taken the decision because of a series of strikes by production workers and the disruption was expected to last for a week.
On the 25th two courageous St Helens firemen saved the life of a little girl after dashing into Tracy Topping's blazing house in Parr and bringing her out. Leading Firemen Kevin Hamlet and Sub-Officer Thomas Brannelly were the two heroes that rescued the 6-year-old from her Waring Avenue home. And then Station-Officer David McGrath led an operation to revive Tracy with heart massage and oxygen after it appeared that she was dead.
Alan Topping and his wife Thelma had managed to get their family out of their house once the alarm was raised. But Tracy slipped back inside and neighbours who tried to save her were driven back by the intense heat and smoke. The two firemen wearing breathing apparatus went into the blazing house to search for Tracy and discovered her lying unconscious in a smoke-filled bedroom. Station Officer McGrath said:
"Two firemen searched the first floor and the bedrooms. There was a lot of smoke and intense heat and there was the danger of the floor collapsing. She was lying unconscious on the bed. We gave cardiac massage and artificial resuscitation using oxygen. At first Tracy wasn't breathing, and we could not feel any pulse. The men did an excellent job and if they had not found the child so quickly, I have no doubt that she wouldn't be alive now."
And finally on the 26th the renowned English Chamber Orchestra and their celebrated guest conductor and soloist Geza Anda received an enthusiastic welcome from the audience at the Theatre Royal. They were making their debut visit to St Helens as part of the theatre's Second International Concert series.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the man imprisoned for pouring boiling water on dogs in Parr, the Portico baby born ten weeks premature goes home, the dog lasso rescue in Jackson Street and the Covered Market customer confusion.
The week began with an update on the Jefferson Smurfitt dispute in Sutton. Two weeks ago the 230 workers at the packaging firm on the Reginald Road industrial estate had started a sit-in. The dispute began after seven women employees had refused to do what they considered to be a man's job. The union said they were willing to resume work once the seven women had been fully reinstated and a guarantee received that they wouldn't be moved from job to job. Both aims were achieved and later in the week the women returned to their jobs and were even promised back pay of £20.
On the 21st Rainhill Garrick Society presented its 97th production called 'Spring and Port Wine' at Rainhill Village Hall, with further performances continuing throughout the week. On the same night The Yetties performed their interpretation of West Country folk music at the Theatre Royal in St Helens.
The Liverpool Echo reported on the 20th that Gerry Caughey, the leader of the Pilkington glassworks strike in 1970, had had another application to return to his old job at Triplex rejected. Mr Caughey had received a letter from the firm that said: "Your latest application for employment with Triplex Safety Glass Company Limited has been considered and we regret that we are still not prepared to offer you employment."
A spokesman for Triplex denied that Mr Caughey had been banned for life but told the Echo: "It is our job to consider the interests of everyone involved in the operation of the company. We have done this with great care and have concluded that at this time it would not be in the interests of the company or its employees to re-engage Mr. Caughey."
Speaking from his home in Kipling Grove in Sutton Manor, Gerry Caughey told the Echo: "It looks like I am being used as an example to keep the other employees in line." As a result Triplex workers were being balloted on industrial action – such as an overtime ban – in support of Mr Caughey.
The Echo also reported how a £2m leisure, recreational and retail centre was being planned for 60 acres of land on the Knowsley Hall Estate. If approved the complex would become the biggest in the country and, according to the report, would equal any sporting and recreation centre in Europe.
On the 21st the Echo discussed the stray dog problem in the district with a number of local authorities appointing dog catchers. The paper reported that stray animals picked up in St Helens were taken to police kennels. If after seven days they had not been claimed, then the dogs were destroyed.
The sulphuric acid had gushed from a leaking pipe on the previous Friday at around 7 pm and had showered the Baxters Lane area. Joan Fyles of Marshalls Cross Road, who worked at Whelans Discount Stores, was walking along Baxters Lane when the acid fell. She said:
"My face and hands began to sting. I couldn't understand what was happening. I was frightened. I felt as if my face was coming out in blisters, and I wanted to scratch and claw at them. I went to Whelans where I washed. Then I noticed my tights were in ribbons, and there were spots all over my clothes."
Mrs Fyles reported the matter to the police and a spokesman said: "We were told by the firm that undiluted sulphuric acid had escaped in liquid form, from a section which was immediately shut off, but a spray may have reached Baxters Lane. This is a civil, not a police matter."
Mary Wilson and her daughter Michelle were also burnt by the acid and described how they felt "something like a mist" stinging their faces and eyes. Ken Griffiths, chairman of the local residents action group, blamed the Town Council for what had occurred, saying: "No-one but these men is to blame for permitting this poison gas plant to come into a residential area."
Alderman Harold Rimmer – the Chairman of the Planning Committee that had granted Leathers permission to operate in St Helens – admitted the assurances they'd been given by the firm "hadn't quite worked out". Leathers had been asked to comment by the Reporter but had not responded.
Cyril Heyes was pictured in the paper. The 64-year-old chemist was about to retire after 41 years serving Rainford people's medicinal needs from his Church Road pharmacy. During that time Cyril said the village had grown considerably: "A lot of new people have moved here and it's created a lot more trade. The shop has had to be extended – it's twice as big now."
Concern was also expressed in the Reporter that the forthcoming local government reorganisation would likely mean that Rainford would lose its registrar of births, deaths and marriages. Cllr. Audrey Berry said: "We have had a registrar for 136 years. It would be a 20p bus ride into St. Helens – not easy for someone with a young baby."
The two main demolition men that brought down chimneys in St Helens during the early ‘70s were Derek "Blaster" Bates and Harry Davies. The former blew up chimneys and the latter patiently took them down brick-by-brick, thus preventing any nearby properties from being damaged.
Bill Standish from Orrell was another of the "blow ‘em up" brigade and he had been commissioned to turn a 160 ft high redundant column in Parr into rubble. The chimney had been used by Southport Colliery but had been left in place after the mine closed in 1931. St Helens Corporation now wanted to redevelop the site and so the whole area was being cleared.
Within 10 seconds of the blast the chimney had been turned into 700 tons of rubble, comprising more than 220,000 bricks. The Reporter had the usual dramatic picture of the chimney frozen at 45 degrees as it fell to the ground. Although this is the first time I've come across a mention of Bill Standish destroying stacks in St Helens, this had been his 20th such blast.
On the 24th Micki and Griff were in concert at the Theatre Royal. On the same day twenty large firms in the St Helens, Wigan, Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn areas were amongst others that had their gas supplies cut off or reduced. North West Gas said they had taken the decision because of a series of strikes by production workers and the disruption was expected to last for a week.
On the 25th two courageous St Helens firemen saved the life of a little girl after dashing into Tracy Topping's blazing house in Parr and bringing her out. Leading Firemen Kevin Hamlet and Sub-Officer Thomas Brannelly were the two heroes that rescued the 6-year-old from her Waring Avenue home. And then Station-Officer David McGrath led an operation to revive Tracy with heart massage and oxygen after it appeared that she was dead.
Alan Topping and his wife Thelma had managed to get their family out of their house once the alarm was raised. But Tracy slipped back inside and neighbours who tried to save her were driven back by the intense heat and smoke. The two firemen wearing breathing apparatus went into the blazing house to search for Tracy and discovered her lying unconscious in a smoke-filled bedroom. Station Officer McGrath said:
"Two firemen searched the first floor and the bedrooms. There was a lot of smoke and intense heat and there was the danger of the floor collapsing. She was lying unconscious on the bed. We gave cardiac massage and artificial resuscitation using oxygen. At first Tracy wasn't breathing, and we could not feel any pulse. The men did an excellent job and if they had not found the child so quickly, I have no doubt that she wouldn't be alive now."
And finally on the 26th the renowned English Chamber Orchestra and their celebrated guest conductor and soloist Geza Anda received an enthusiastic welcome from the audience at the Theatre Royal. They were making their debut visit to St Helens as part of the theatre's Second International Concert series.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the man imprisoned for pouring boiling water on dogs in Parr, the Portico baby born ten weeks premature goes home, the dog lasso rescue in Jackson Street and the Covered Market customer confusion.
This week's many stories include the rescue of a child from a blazing Parr home, a fresh wave of fury after another acid blowout from Leathers, Pilks rebel leader Gerry Caughey receives another rejection and an Ashtons Green chimney is blown to bits.
The week began with an update on the Jefferson Smurfitt dispute in Sutton. Two weeks ago the 230 workers at the packaging firm on the Reginald Road industrial estate had started a sit-in.
The dispute began after seven women employees had refused to do what they considered to be a man's job.
The union said they were willing to resume work once the seven women had been fully reinstated and a guarantee received that they wouldn't be moved from job to job.
Both aims were achieved and later in the week the women returned to their jobs and were even promised back pay of £20.
On the 21st Rainhill Garrick Society presented its 97th production called 'Spring and Port Wine' at Rainhill Village Hall, with further performances continuing throughout the week.
On the same night The Yetties performed their interpretation of West Country folk music at the Theatre Royal in St Helens.
The Liverpool Echo reported on the 20th that Gerry Caughey, the leader of the Pilkington glassworks strike in 1970, had had another application to return to his old job at Triplex rejected.
Mr Caughey had received a letter from the firm that said: "Your latest application for employment with Triplex Safety Glass Company Limited has been considered and we regret that we are still not prepared to offer you employment."
A spokesman for Triplex denied that Mr Caughey had been banned for life but told the Echo:
"It is our job to consider the interests of everyone involved in the operation of the company. We have done this with great care and have concluded that at this time it would not be in the interests of the company or its employees to re-engage Mr. Caughey."
Speaking from his home in Kipling Grove in Sutton Manor, Gerry Caughey told the Echo: "It looks like I am being used as an example to keep the other employees in line."
As a result Triplex workers were being balloted on industrial action – such as an overtime ban – in support of Mr Caughey.
The Echo also reported how a £2m leisure, recreational and retail centre was being planned for 60 acres of land on the Knowsley Hall Estate.
If approved the complex would become the biggest in the country and, according to the report, would equal any sporting and recreation centre in Europe.
On the 21st the Echo discussed the stray dog problem in the district with a number of local authorities appointing dog catchers.
The paper reported that stray animals picked up in St Helens were taken to police kennels. If after seven days they had not been claimed, then the dogs were destroyed.
It was a rare week when Leathers Chemicals' sulphuric acid plant in Lancots Lane (pictured above) did not make the pages – usually the front page – of the St Helens Reporter.
This week the paper described a "fresh wave of fury" after a blowout of acid had stripped skin off a woman's face.
The acid shower had also led to a mother and her 8-year-old daughter requiring hospital treatment.
As a result campaigners were trying to find out if a High Court injunction could be taken out to get the plant closed.
The sulphuric acid had gushed from a leaking pipe on the previous Friday at around 7 pm and had showered the Baxters Lane area.
Joan Fyles of Marshalls Cross Road, who worked at Whelans Discount Stores, was walking along Baxters Lane when the acid fell. She said:
"My face and hands began to sting. I couldn't understand what was happening. I was frightened. I felt as if my face was coming out in blisters, and I wanted to scratch and claw at them. I went to Whelans where I washed. Then I noticed my tights were in ribbons, and there were spots all over my clothes."
Mrs Fyles reported the matter to the police and a spokesman said:
"We were told by the firm that undiluted sulphuric acid had escaped in liquid form, from a section which was immediately shut off, but a spray may have reached Baxters Lane. This is a civil, not a police matter."
Mary Wilson and her daughter Michelle were also burnt by the acid and described how they felt "something like a mist" stinging their faces and eyes.
Ken Griffiths, chairman of the local residents action group, blamed the Town Council for what had occurred, saying:
"No-one but these men is to blame for permitting this poison gas plant to come into a residential area."
Alderman Harold Rimmer – the Chairman of the Planning Committee that had granted Leathers permission to operate in St Helens – admitted the assurances they'd been given by the firm "hadn't quite worked out".
Leathers had been asked to comment by the Reporter but had not responded.
Cyril Heyes was pictured in the paper. The 64-year-old chemist was about to retire after 41 years serving Rainford people's medicinal needs from his Church Road pharmacy. During that time Cyril said the village had grown considerably:
"A lot of new people have moved here and it's created a lot more trade. The shop has had to be extended – it's twice as big now."
Concern was also expressed in the Reporter that the forthcoming local government reorganisation would likely mean that Rainford would lose its registrar of births, deaths and marriages.
Cllr. Audrey Berry said: "We have had a registrar for 136 years. It would be a 20p bus ride into St. Helens – not easy for someone with a young baby."
The two main demolition men that brought down chimneys in St Helens during the early ‘70s were Derek "Blaster" Bates and Harry Davies.
The former blew up chimneys and the latter patiently took them down brick-by-brick, thus preventing any nearby properties from being damaged.
Bill Standish from Orrell was another of the "blow ‘em up" brigade and he had been commissioned to turn a 160 ft high redundant column in Parr into rubble.
The chimney had been used by Southport Colliery but had been left in place after the mine closed in 1931.
St Helens Corporation now wanted to redevelop the site and so the whole area was being cleared.
Within 10 seconds of the blast the chimney had been turned into 700 tons of rubble, comprising more than 220,000 bricks.
The Reporter had the usual dramatic picture of the chimney frozen at 45 degrees as it fell to the ground.
Although this is the first time I've come across a mention of Bill Standish destroying stacks in St Helens, this had been his 20th such blast.
On the 24th Micki and Griff were in concert at the Theatre Royal. On the same day twenty large firms in the St Helens, Wigan, Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn areas were amongst others that had their gas supplies cut off or reduced.
North West Gas said they had taken the decision because of a series of strikes by production workers and the disruption was expected to last for a week.
On the 25th two courageous St Helens firemen saved the life of a little girl after dashing into Tracy Topping's blazing house in Parr and bringing her out.
Leading Firemen Kevin Hamlet and Sub-Officer Thomas Brannelly were the two heroes that rescued the 6-year-old from her Waring Avenue home.
And then Station-Officer David McGrath led an operation to revive Tracy with heart massage and oxygen after it appeared that she was dead.
Alan Topping and his wife Thelma had managed to get their family out of their house once the alarm was raised.
But Tracy slipped back inside and neighbours who tried to save her were driven back by the intense heat and smoke.
The two firemen wearing breathing apparatus went into the blazing house to search for Tracy and discovered her lying unconscious in a smoke-filled bedroom. Station Officer McGrath said:
"Two firemen searched the first floor and the bedrooms. There was a lot of smoke and intense heat and there was the danger of the floor collapsing. She was lying unconscious on the bed.
"We gave cardiac massage and artificial resuscitation using oxygen. At first Tracy wasn't breathing, and we could not feel any pulse. The men did an excellent job and if they had not found the child so quickly, I have no doubt that she wouldn't be alive now."
And finally on the 26th the renowned English Chamber Orchestra and their celebrated guest conductor and soloist Geza Anda received an enthusiastic welcome from the audience at the Theatre Royal.
They were making their debut visit to St Helens as part of the theatre's Second International Concert series.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the man imprisoned for pouring boiling water on dogs in Parr, the Portico baby born ten weeks premature goes home, the dog lasso rescue in Jackson Street and the Covered Market customer confusion.
The week began with an update on the Jefferson Smurfitt dispute in Sutton. Two weeks ago the 230 workers at the packaging firm on the Reginald Road industrial estate had started a sit-in.
The dispute began after seven women employees had refused to do what they considered to be a man's job.
The union said they were willing to resume work once the seven women had been fully reinstated and a guarantee received that they wouldn't be moved from job to job.
Both aims were achieved and later in the week the women returned to their jobs and were even promised back pay of £20.
On the 21st Rainhill Garrick Society presented its 97th production called 'Spring and Port Wine' at Rainhill Village Hall, with further performances continuing throughout the week.
On the same night The Yetties performed their interpretation of West Country folk music at the Theatre Royal in St Helens.
The Liverpool Echo reported on the 20th that Gerry Caughey, the leader of the Pilkington glassworks strike in 1970, had had another application to return to his old job at Triplex rejected.
Mr Caughey had received a letter from the firm that said: "Your latest application for employment with Triplex Safety Glass Company Limited has been considered and we regret that we are still not prepared to offer you employment."
A spokesman for Triplex denied that Mr Caughey had been banned for life but told the Echo:
"It is our job to consider the interests of everyone involved in the operation of the company. We have done this with great care and have concluded that at this time it would not be in the interests of the company or its employees to re-engage Mr. Caughey."
Speaking from his home in Kipling Grove in Sutton Manor, Gerry Caughey told the Echo: "It looks like I am being used as an example to keep the other employees in line."
As a result Triplex workers were being balloted on industrial action – such as an overtime ban – in support of Mr Caughey.
The Echo also reported how a £2m leisure, recreational and retail centre was being planned for 60 acres of land on the Knowsley Hall Estate.
If approved the complex would become the biggest in the country and, according to the report, would equal any sporting and recreation centre in Europe.
On the 21st the Echo discussed the stray dog problem in the district with a number of local authorities appointing dog catchers.
The paper reported that stray animals picked up in St Helens were taken to police kennels. If after seven days they had not been claimed, then the dogs were destroyed.
This week the paper described a "fresh wave of fury" after a blowout of acid had stripped skin off a woman's face.
The acid shower had also led to a mother and her 8-year-old daughter requiring hospital treatment.
As a result campaigners were trying to find out if a High Court injunction could be taken out to get the plant closed.
The sulphuric acid had gushed from a leaking pipe on the previous Friday at around 7 pm and had showered the Baxters Lane area.
Joan Fyles of Marshalls Cross Road, who worked at Whelans Discount Stores, was walking along Baxters Lane when the acid fell. She said:
"My face and hands began to sting. I couldn't understand what was happening. I was frightened. I felt as if my face was coming out in blisters, and I wanted to scratch and claw at them. I went to Whelans where I washed. Then I noticed my tights were in ribbons, and there were spots all over my clothes."
Mrs Fyles reported the matter to the police and a spokesman said:
"We were told by the firm that undiluted sulphuric acid had escaped in liquid form, from a section which was immediately shut off, but a spray may have reached Baxters Lane. This is a civil, not a police matter."
Mary Wilson and her daughter Michelle were also burnt by the acid and described how they felt "something like a mist" stinging their faces and eyes.
Ken Griffiths, chairman of the local residents action group, blamed the Town Council for what had occurred, saying:
"No-one but these men is to blame for permitting this poison gas plant to come into a residential area."
Alderman Harold Rimmer – the Chairman of the Planning Committee that had granted Leathers permission to operate in St Helens – admitted the assurances they'd been given by the firm "hadn't quite worked out".
Leathers had been asked to comment by the Reporter but had not responded.
Cyril Heyes was pictured in the paper. The 64-year-old chemist was about to retire after 41 years serving Rainford people's medicinal needs from his Church Road pharmacy. During that time Cyril said the village had grown considerably:
"A lot of new people have moved here and it's created a lot more trade. The shop has had to be extended – it's twice as big now."
Concern was also expressed in the Reporter that the forthcoming local government reorganisation would likely mean that Rainford would lose its registrar of births, deaths and marriages.
Cllr. Audrey Berry said: "We have had a registrar for 136 years. It would be a 20p bus ride into St. Helens – not easy for someone with a young baby."
The two main demolition men that brought down chimneys in St Helens during the early ‘70s were Derek "Blaster" Bates and Harry Davies.
The former blew up chimneys and the latter patiently took them down brick-by-brick, thus preventing any nearby properties from being damaged.
Bill Standish from Orrell was another of the "blow ‘em up" brigade and he had been commissioned to turn a 160 ft high redundant column in Parr into rubble.
The chimney had been used by Southport Colliery but had been left in place after the mine closed in 1931.
St Helens Corporation now wanted to redevelop the site and so the whole area was being cleared.
Within 10 seconds of the blast the chimney had been turned into 700 tons of rubble, comprising more than 220,000 bricks.
The Reporter had the usual dramatic picture of the chimney frozen at 45 degrees as it fell to the ground.
Although this is the first time I've come across a mention of Bill Standish destroying stacks in St Helens, this had been his 20th such blast.
On the 24th Micki and Griff were in concert at the Theatre Royal. On the same day twenty large firms in the St Helens, Wigan, Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn areas were amongst others that had their gas supplies cut off or reduced.
North West Gas said they had taken the decision because of a series of strikes by production workers and the disruption was expected to last for a week.
On the 25th two courageous St Helens firemen saved the life of a little girl after dashing into Tracy Topping's blazing house in Parr and bringing her out.
Leading Firemen Kevin Hamlet and Sub-Officer Thomas Brannelly were the two heroes that rescued the 6-year-old from her Waring Avenue home.
And then Station-Officer David McGrath led an operation to revive Tracy with heart massage and oxygen after it appeared that she was dead.
Alan Topping and his wife Thelma had managed to get their family out of their house once the alarm was raised.
But Tracy slipped back inside and neighbours who tried to save her were driven back by the intense heat and smoke.
The two firemen wearing breathing apparatus went into the blazing house to search for Tracy and discovered her lying unconscious in a smoke-filled bedroom. Station Officer McGrath said:
"Two firemen searched the first floor and the bedrooms. There was a lot of smoke and intense heat and there was the danger of the floor collapsing. She was lying unconscious on the bed.
"We gave cardiac massage and artificial resuscitation using oxygen. At first Tracy wasn't breathing, and we could not feel any pulse. The men did an excellent job and if they had not found the child so quickly, I have no doubt that she wouldn't be alive now."
And finally on the 26th the renowned English Chamber Orchestra and their celebrated guest conductor and soloist Geza Anda received an enthusiastic welcome from the audience at the Theatre Royal.
They were making their debut visit to St Helens as part of the theatre's Second International Concert series.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the man imprisoned for pouring boiling water on dogs in Parr, the Portico baby born ten weeks premature goes home, the dog lasso rescue in Jackson Street and the Covered Market customer confusion.