FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 29 JULY - 4 AUG 1974
This week's many stories include Pilkington's lay offs, the search for Jedder and Faz hots up, the creation of Age Concern, the championship-winning Haydock Band is upset with St Helens Council, St Helens Communists occupy the Town Hall, the fight back against Pilks' proposed Gorsey Lane factory, a backlash over criticism of military displays at the St Helens Show and two new cafes are planned for Sherdley Park and Taylor Park.
We begin on the 29th when at Rainford Parish Council's monthly meeting the thorny subject of a youth club in the village was again discussed. For over fifteen years the councillors had been calling for such a meeting place for teenagers – but without any success.
Cllr Dennis Collins put the blame firmly on Lancashire County Council, which, he claimed, had "done them down" at the last minute prior to the local government reorganisation, adding, "There is a crying need for a youth club here." Cllr Bob Rose agreed that Rainford had been shabbily treated for years and Cllr Collins – who was also a member of the new St Helens District Council – said he would agitate for some cash from his colleagues.
Pilkingtons were in crisis mode this week with their dispute with their office workers over pay and conditions deepening. As a result of selective strikes by members of the Association of Scientific Technical and Managerial Staffs, no glass was leaving the Cowley Hill or Fibreglass plants. Hundreds of orders had been stopped and tons of glass was piling up in warehouses and lay-offs without pay were beginning.
However, a dispute with another union was looming, as the GMWU said if their members were laid off they wanted them to be paid. By the end of the week 1,000 workers had been laid off with the ASTMS union threatening legal action alleging breach of contract.
On the 31st the famous wrestler Jackie Pallo was at the Fleece Hotel in St Helens grappling with Bobby Barron, who was billed as the "arrogant blond star". Pedro the Gypsy was also in action at the Church Street hotel.
Last week the Mayor of St Helens, Cllr Paddy Gill, offered a £25 reward out of his own pocket for information leading to the arrest of two graffiti artists. Jedder and Faz had signed their names all over St Helens and according to Cllr Gill they had made the town a disgrace. The news of the mayor's offer was revealed in last week's Reporter and in this week's edition – which was published on August 2nd – it was stated that within hours of the paper's publication, several "bounty hunters" had been in touch.
Tip-offs about the identity of the duo came by telephone and through personal contact with their reporters. The mayor had also been contacted and the names supplied had been passed on to the police. It was now believed that Jedder lived in Liverpool Road and Faz in Eccleston.
The St Helens branch of the Communist Party of Great Britain was still active in the town in 1974 and its chairman was Peter Lenehan. But the group was experiencing problems in hiring rooms in pubs to hold their meetings because of who they were. And so Mr Lenehan turned to St Helens Town Hall and to his surprise they said, "no problem – you are welcome"!
"The Town Hall were very helpful", explained Mr Lenehan in the Reporter, "and said as we were a political party we had a right to use the building." The Communists would have to pay the usual hire fee but hoped to make the Town Hall their regular venue for meetings.
The Reporter described how a crackdown on traffic offenders was now likely in St Helens as traffic wardens had been awarded new powers. Previously they could only dole out tickets for parking offences but were now able to issue them for failing to display an excise licence, breaching lighting regulations and flouting rules in disc and meter zones.
The Reporter also revealed that two new cafes costing a total of £80,000 had been earmarked for Sherdley Park and Taylor Park. Work on them would begin next year providing St Helens Council was able to find the money and each cafe would accommodate up to 40 people.
The new cafes were planned to replace the existing ones which could no longer cope with the increased number of visitors. At Sherdley Park the new building would have an adjoining terrace and was expected to be situated near the existing timber-made cafe and at Taylor Park it would overlook the lake. If everything went as planned, the cafes should be completed by 1976.
Haydock and Ashton Band were upset with St Helens Council after winning their second successive world championship. Civic receptions and parties marked their victory in Holland after beating the world's top brass bands but when they returned home they complained of receiving nothing.
Conductor Charles Fradley said: "It is disgusting not to be given some sort of recognition after winning two world championships. They don't realise how big an achievement it is to win. There are bands from all over the world competing and it is the musical equivalent to winning the Olympics or World Cup."
Councillor Hugh Littler agreed that the band's success was a great achievement but explained that no one had told the council about it, adding: "We are tremendously proud of them, and if they had informed us of their success we could probably have arranged something in their honour."
The Saracens Head in Carr Mill was advertising their hot and cold lunches in the Reporter. But unlike today when most pubs make food an essential part of their offering 7 days a week, their menus were only available from 12 to 2pm, Monday to Friday.
The Pilkington Gala at Ruskin Drive that was planned for next week was also advertised in the Reporter. The "star attraction" would be the separate appearances of "TV personalities" Eddie Waring and Stuart Hall. Admission on Saturday, the main day of the gala, would cost 20p.
Age Concern (now Age UK) was created nationally in 1971 and this week's Reporter revealed that the organisation had arrived in St Helens. St Helens Council had agreed to grant Age Concern St Helens the sum of £4,720 to support a 2½-year project in the town starting in October.
A further £2,400 was being donated by Pilkington's Rainford Trust and Age Concern England were supporting their new group with a grant of £3,285. Volunteers from the various elderly people's welfare groups within the St Helens district had agreed to sit on Age Concern's committee which would coordinate all their work.
"What a wonderful display the Army had at the St. Helens Show", was the introduction to one letter in the Reporter. A number of councillors had been critical of what they called the "military takeover" of the annual Sherdley Park show and a letter in last week's paper had supported their view.
Among other criticisms that person had complained that the armed forces do not mention to new recruits that they might get shot in Northern Ireland. That led to a backlash in this week's paper in which a number of correspondents supported the army's many activities at the Show and pointed out that no recruiting was allowed in Sherdley Park.
"Don't Miss Russon's (Fashion Shoes) Sale", said an ad in the Reporter. "Today, Friday, 2nd Aug. 19, Duke Street".
A few weeks ago Pilkingtons had submitted an application for outline planning permission to build a float glass factory on 100 acres of farmland in Gorsey Lane. The plant was expected to cost about £20 million, which in today's money would equate to around £300m. The Reporter said at the time that Pilks were hoping that any objections to their scheme would be "muted by the danger that the town would lose 800 jobs". That was because if their application was rejected, the firm might choose to build their new factory away from St Helens.
On the 3rd a meeting of 120 Clock Face residents met two of the Pilkington men that were planning the factory. Float glass planner Dick Rimmer and David Lord from the company's Estates Department were bombarded with tough questions. The two men explained how Pilkingtons wanted a site within 5 miles of their sheet works so workers could easily travel to the new factory. And the company had ruled out building on land that they already owned because none of their sites was large enough.
However, when Mr Rimmer said the chosen site seemed geologically sound, a Leach Lane resident called Chisnall angrily remarked: "Anyone who says that site is suitable because it's free from mining subsidence mustn't know his history or geography. And anyone who has the audacity to consider Gorsey Lane suitable for several hundred heavy lorries each day must be out of his mind."
After the two men had left the room, Sutton ward councillors Jim Bond, Tom Harvey and Gerry Parr came to the front of the meeting. After being asked by one protester what those in the room could do to fight the plan, Councillor Parr replied: "If this is the way you're fighting it now, I can't see Pilkington getting a cat in hell chance, because the councillors must represent your views. Pilkington's haven't got this by any means – and I doubt if they could get it."
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the St Helens schools at risk of a roof collapse, the streakers at Rainhill's Loyola Hall, why Rainford Carnival organisers were upset over cricket and the ex-mayor who thought vandals should receive a belting.
We begin on the 29th when at Rainford Parish Council's monthly meeting the thorny subject of a youth club in the village was again discussed. For over fifteen years the councillors had been calling for such a meeting place for teenagers – but without any success.
Cllr Dennis Collins put the blame firmly on Lancashire County Council, which, he claimed, had "done them down" at the last minute prior to the local government reorganisation, adding, "There is a crying need for a youth club here." Cllr Bob Rose agreed that Rainford had been shabbily treated for years and Cllr Collins – who was also a member of the new St Helens District Council – said he would agitate for some cash from his colleagues.
Pilkingtons were in crisis mode this week with their dispute with their office workers over pay and conditions deepening. As a result of selective strikes by members of the Association of Scientific Technical and Managerial Staffs, no glass was leaving the Cowley Hill or Fibreglass plants. Hundreds of orders had been stopped and tons of glass was piling up in warehouses and lay-offs without pay were beginning.
However, a dispute with another union was looming, as the GMWU said if their members were laid off they wanted them to be paid. By the end of the week 1,000 workers had been laid off with the ASTMS union threatening legal action alleging breach of contract.
On the 31st the famous wrestler Jackie Pallo was at the Fleece Hotel in St Helens grappling with Bobby Barron, who was billed as the "arrogant blond star". Pedro the Gypsy was also in action at the Church Street hotel.
Last week the Mayor of St Helens, Cllr Paddy Gill, offered a £25 reward out of his own pocket for information leading to the arrest of two graffiti artists. Jedder and Faz had signed their names all over St Helens and according to Cllr Gill they had made the town a disgrace. The news of the mayor's offer was revealed in last week's Reporter and in this week's edition – which was published on August 2nd – it was stated that within hours of the paper's publication, several "bounty hunters" had been in touch.
Tip-offs about the identity of the duo came by telephone and through personal contact with their reporters. The mayor had also been contacted and the names supplied had been passed on to the police. It was now believed that Jedder lived in Liverpool Road and Faz in Eccleston.
"The Town Hall were very helpful", explained Mr Lenehan in the Reporter, "and said as we were a political party we had a right to use the building." The Communists would have to pay the usual hire fee but hoped to make the Town Hall their regular venue for meetings.
The Reporter described how a crackdown on traffic offenders was now likely in St Helens as traffic wardens had been awarded new powers. Previously they could only dole out tickets for parking offences but were now able to issue them for failing to display an excise licence, breaching lighting regulations and flouting rules in disc and meter zones.
The Reporter also revealed that two new cafes costing a total of £80,000 had been earmarked for Sherdley Park and Taylor Park. Work on them would begin next year providing St Helens Council was able to find the money and each cafe would accommodate up to 40 people.
The new cafes were planned to replace the existing ones which could no longer cope with the increased number of visitors. At Sherdley Park the new building would have an adjoining terrace and was expected to be situated near the existing timber-made cafe and at Taylor Park it would overlook the lake. If everything went as planned, the cafes should be completed by 1976.
Haydock and Ashton Band were upset with St Helens Council after winning their second successive world championship. Civic receptions and parties marked their victory in Holland after beating the world's top brass bands but when they returned home they complained of receiving nothing.
Conductor Charles Fradley said: "It is disgusting not to be given some sort of recognition after winning two world championships. They don't realise how big an achievement it is to win. There are bands from all over the world competing and it is the musical equivalent to winning the Olympics or World Cup."
Councillor Hugh Littler agreed that the band's success was a great achievement but explained that no one had told the council about it, adding: "We are tremendously proud of them, and if they had informed us of their success we could probably have arranged something in their honour."
The Saracens Head in Carr Mill was advertising their hot and cold lunches in the Reporter. But unlike today when most pubs make food an essential part of their offering 7 days a week, their menus were only available from 12 to 2pm, Monday to Friday.
The Pilkington Gala at Ruskin Drive that was planned for next week was also advertised in the Reporter. The "star attraction" would be the separate appearances of "TV personalities" Eddie Waring and Stuart Hall. Admission on Saturday, the main day of the gala, would cost 20p.
Age Concern (now Age UK) was created nationally in 1971 and this week's Reporter revealed that the organisation had arrived in St Helens. St Helens Council had agreed to grant Age Concern St Helens the sum of £4,720 to support a 2½-year project in the town starting in October.
A further £2,400 was being donated by Pilkington's Rainford Trust and Age Concern England were supporting their new group with a grant of £3,285. Volunteers from the various elderly people's welfare groups within the St Helens district had agreed to sit on Age Concern's committee which would coordinate all their work.
"What a wonderful display the Army had at the St. Helens Show", was the introduction to one letter in the Reporter. A number of councillors had been critical of what they called the "military takeover" of the annual Sherdley Park show and a letter in last week's paper had supported their view.
Among other criticisms that person had complained that the armed forces do not mention to new recruits that they might get shot in Northern Ireland. That led to a backlash in this week's paper in which a number of correspondents supported the army's many activities at the Show and pointed out that no recruiting was allowed in Sherdley Park.
"Don't Miss Russon's (Fashion Shoes) Sale", said an ad in the Reporter. "Today, Friday, 2nd Aug. 19, Duke Street".
A few weeks ago Pilkingtons had submitted an application for outline planning permission to build a float glass factory on 100 acres of farmland in Gorsey Lane. The plant was expected to cost about £20 million, which in today's money would equate to around £300m. The Reporter said at the time that Pilks were hoping that any objections to their scheme would be "muted by the danger that the town would lose 800 jobs". That was because if their application was rejected, the firm might choose to build their new factory away from St Helens.
On the 3rd a meeting of 120 Clock Face residents met two of the Pilkington men that were planning the factory. Float glass planner Dick Rimmer and David Lord from the company's Estates Department were bombarded with tough questions. The two men explained how Pilkingtons wanted a site within 5 miles of their sheet works so workers could easily travel to the new factory. And the company had ruled out building on land that they already owned because none of their sites was large enough.
However, when Mr Rimmer said the chosen site seemed geologically sound, a Leach Lane resident called Chisnall angrily remarked: "Anyone who says that site is suitable because it's free from mining subsidence mustn't know his history or geography. And anyone who has the audacity to consider Gorsey Lane suitable for several hundred heavy lorries each day must be out of his mind."
After the two men had left the room, Sutton ward councillors Jim Bond, Tom Harvey and Gerry Parr came to the front of the meeting. After being asked by one protester what those in the room could do to fight the plan, Councillor Parr replied: "If this is the way you're fighting it now, I can't see Pilkington getting a cat in hell chance, because the councillors must represent your views. Pilkington's haven't got this by any means – and I doubt if they could get it."
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the St Helens schools at risk of a roof collapse, the streakers at Rainhill's Loyola Hall, why Rainford Carnival organisers were upset over cricket and the ex-mayor who thought vandals should receive a belting.
This week's many stories include Pilkington's lay offs, the search for Jedder and Faz hots up, the creation of Age Concern, the championship-winning Haydock Band is upset with St Helens Council, St Helens Communists occupy the Town Hall, the fight back against Pilks' proposed Gorsey Lane factory, a backlash over criticism of military displays at the St Helens Show and two new cafes are planned for Sherdley Park and Taylor Park.
We begin on the 29th when at Rainford Parish Council's monthly meeting the thorny subject of a youth club in the village was again discussed.
For over fifteen years the councillors had been calling for such a meeting place for teenagers – but without any success.
Cllr Dennis Collins put the blame firmly on Lancashire County Council, which, he claimed, had "done them down" at the last minute prior to the local government reorganisation, adding, "There is a crying need for a youth club here."
Cllr Bob Rose agreed that Rainford had been shabbily treated for years and Cllr Collins – who was also a member of the new St Helens District Council – said he would agitate for some cash from his colleagues.
Pilkingtons were in crisis mode this week with their dispute with their office workers over pay and conditions deepening.
As a result of selective strikes by members of the Association of Scientific Technical and Managerial Staffs, no glass was leaving the Cowley Hill or Fibreglass plants.
Hundreds of orders had been stopped and tons of glass was piling up in warehouses and lay-offs without pay were beginning.
However, a dispute with another union was looming, as the GMWU said if their members were laid off they wanted them to be paid.
By the end of the week 1,000 workers had been laid off with the ASTMS union threatening legal action alleging breach of contract.
On the 31st the famous wrestler Jackie Pallo was at the Fleece Hotel in St Helens grappling with Bobby Barron, who was billed as the "arrogant blond star". Pedro the Gypsy was also in action at the Church Street hotel.
Last week the Mayor of St Helens, Cllr Paddy Gill, offered a £25 reward out of his own pocket for information leading to the arrest of two graffiti artists.
Jedder and Faz had signed their names all over St Helens and according to Cllr Gill they had made the town a disgrace.
The news of the mayor's offer was revealed in last week's Reporter and in this week's edition – which was published on August 2nd – it was stated that within hours of the paper's publication, several "bounty hunters" had been in touch.
Tip-offs about the identity of the duo came by telephone and through personal contact with their reporters.
The mayor had also been contacted and the names supplied had been passed on to the police. It was now believed that Jedder lived in Liverpool Road and Faz in Eccleston.
The St Helens branch of the Communist Party of Great Britain was still active in the town in 1974 and its chairman was Peter Lenehan.
But the group was experiencing problems in hiring rooms in pubs to hold their meetings because of who they were.
And so Mr Lenehan turned to St Helens Town Hall and to his surprise they said, "no problem – you are welcome"!
"The Town Hall were very helpful", explained Mr Lenehan in the Reporter, "and said as we were a political party we had a right to use the building."
The Communists would have to pay the usual hire fee but hoped to make the Town Hall their regular venue for meetings.
The Reporter described how a crackdown on traffic offenders was now likely in St Helens as traffic wardens had been awarded new powers.
Previously they could only dole out tickets for parking offences but were now able to issue them for failing to display an excise licence, breaching lighting regulations and flouting rules in disc and meter zones.
The Reporter also revealed that two new cafes costing a total of £80,000 had been earmarked for Sherdley Park and Taylor Park.
Work on them would begin next year providing St Helens Council was able to find the money and each cafe would accommodate up to 40 people.
The new cafes were planned to replace the existing ones which could no longer cope with the increased number of visitors.
At Sherdley Park the new building would have an adjoining terrace and was expected to be situated near the existing timber-made cafe and at Taylor Park it would overlook the lake. If everything went as planned, the cafes should be completed by 1976.
Haydock and Ashton Band were upset with St Helens Council after winning their second successive world championship.
Civic receptions and parties marked their victory in Holland after beating the world's top brass bands but when they returned home they complained of receiving nothing.
Conductor Charles Fradley said: "It is disgusting not to be given some sort of recognition after winning two world championships.
"They don't realise how big an achievement it is to win. There are bands from all over the world competing and it is the musical equivalent to winning the Olympics or World Cup."
Councillor Hugh Littler agreed that the band's success was a great achievement but explained that no one had told the council about it, adding:
"We are tremendously proud of them, and if they had informed us of their success we could probably have arranged something in their honour."
The Saracens Head in Carr Mill was advertising their hot and cold lunches in the Reporter.
But unlike today when most pubs make food an essential part of their offering 7 days a week, their menus were only available from 12 to 2pm, Monday to Friday.
The Pilkington Gala at Ruskin Drive that was planned for next week was also advertised in the Reporter.
The "star attraction" would be the separate appearances of "TV personalities" Eddie Waring and Stuart Hall. Admission on Saturday, the main day of the gala, would cost 20p.
Age Concern (now Age UK) was created nationally in 1971 and this week's Reporter revealed that the organisation had arrived in St Helens.
St Helens Council had agreed to grant Age Concern St Helens the sum of £4,720 to support a 2½-year project in the town starting in October.
A further £2,400 was being donated by Pilkington's Rainford Trust and Age Concern England were supporting their new group with a grant of £3,285.
Volunteers from the various elderly people's welfare groups within the St Helens district had agreed to sit on Age Concern's committee which would coordinate all their work.
"What a wonderful display the Army had at the St. Helens Show", was the introduction to one letter in the Reporter.
A number of councillors had been critical of what they called the "military takeover" of the annual Sherdley Park show and a letter in last week's paper had supported their view.
Among other criticisms that person had complained that the armed forces do not mention to new recruits that they might get shot in Northern Ireland.
That led to a backlash in this week's paper in which a number of correspondents supported the army's many activities at the Show and pointed out that no recruiting was allowed in Sherdley Park.
"Don't Miss Russon's (Fashion Shoes) Sale", said an ad in the Reporter. "Today, Friday, 2nd Aug. 19, Duke Street".
A few weeks ago Pilkingtons had submitted an application for outline planning permission to build a float glass factory on 100 acres of farmland in Gorsey Lane.
The plant was expected to cost about £20 million, which in today's money would equate to around £300m.
The Reporter said at the time that Pilks were hoping that any objections to their scheme would be "muted by the danger that the town would lose 800 jobs".
That was because if their application was rejected, the firm might choose to build their new factory away from St Helens.
On the 3rd a meeting of 120 Clock Face residents met two of the Pilkington men that were planning the factory.
Float glass planner Dick Rimmer and David Lord from the company's Estates Department were bombarded with tough questions.
The two men explained how Pilkingtons wanted a site within 5 miles of their sheet works so workers could easily travel to the new factory.
And the company had ruled out building on land that they already owned because none of their sites was large enough.
However, when Mr Rimmer said the chosen site seemed geologically sound, a Leach Lane resident called Chisnall angrily remarked:
"Anyone who says that site is suitable because it's free from mining subsidence mustn't know his history or geography.
"And anyone who has the audacity to consider Gorsey Lane suitable for several hundred heavy lorries each day must be out of his mind."
After the two men had left the room, Sutton ward councillors Jim Bond, Tom Harvey and Gerry Parr came to the front of the meeting.
After being asked by one protester what those in the room could do to fight the plan, Councillor Parr replied:
"If this is the way you're fighting it now, I can't see Pilkington getting a cat in hell chance, because the councillors must represent your views. Pilkington's haven't got this by any means – and I doubt if they could get it."
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the St Helens schools at risk of a roof collapse, the streakers at Rainhill's Loyola Hall, why Rainford Carnival organisers were upset over cricket and the ex-mayor who thought vandals should receive a belting.
We begin on the 29th when at Rainford Parish Council's monthly meeting the thorny subject of a youth club in the village was again discussed.
For over fifteen years the councillors had been calling for such a meeting place for teenagers – but without any success.
Cllr Dennis Collins put the blame firmly on Lancashire County Council, which, he claimed, had "done them down" at the last minute prior to the local government reorganisation, adding, "There is a crying need for a youth club here."
Cllr Bob Rose agreed that Rainford had been shabbily treated for years and Cllr Collins – who was also a member of the new St Helens District Council – said he would agitate for some cash from his colleagues.
Pilkingtons were in crisis mode this week with their dispute with their office workers over pay and conditions deepening.
As a result of selective strikes by members of the Association of Scientific Technical and Managerial Staffs, no glass was leaving the Cowley Hill or Fibreglass plants.
Hundreds of orders had been stopped and tons of glass was piling up in warehouses and lay-offs without pay were beginning.
However, a dispute with another union was looming, as the GMWU said if their members were laid off they wanted them to be paid.
By the end of the week 1,000 workers had been laid off with the ASTMS union threatening legal action alleging breach of contract.
On the 31st the famous wrestler Jackie Pallo was at the Fleece Hotel in St Helens grappling with Bobby Barron, who was billed as the "arrogant blond star". Pedro the Gypsy was also in action at the Church Street hotel.
Last week the Mayor of St Helens, Cllr Paddy Gill, offered a £25 reward out of his own pocket for information leading to the arrest of two graffiti artists.
Jedder and Faz had signed their names all over St Helens and according to Cllr Gill they had made the town a disgrace.
The news of the mayor's offer was revealed in last week's Reporter and in this week's edition – which was published on August 2nd – it was stated that within hours of the paper's publication, several "bounty hunters" had been in touch.
Tip-offs about the identity of the duo came by telephone and through personal contact with their reporters.
The mayor had also been contacted and the names supplied had been passed on to the police. It was now believed that Jedder lived in Liverpool Road and Faz in Eccleston.
But the group was experiencing problems in hiring rooms in pubs to hold their meetings because of who they were.
And so Mr Lenehan turned to St Helens Town Hall and to his surprise they said, "no problem – you are welcome"!
"The Town Hall were very helpful", explained Mr Lenehan in the Reporter, "and said as we were a political party we had a right to use the building."
The Communists would have to pay the usual hire fee but hoped to make the Town Hall their regular venue for meetings.
The Reporter described how a crackdown on traffic offenders was now likely in St Helens as traffic wardens had been awarded new powers.
Previously they could only dole out tickets for parking offences but were now able to issue them for failing to display an excise licence, breaching lighting regulations and flouting rules in disc and meter zones.
The Reporter also revealed that two new cafes costing a total of £80,000 had been earmarked for Sherdley Park and Taylor Park.
Work on them would begin next year providing St Helens Council was able to find the money and each cafe would accommodate up to 40 people.
The new cafes were planned to replace the existing ones which could no longer cope with the increased number of visitors.
At Sherdley Park the new building would have an adjoining terrace and was expected to be situated near the existing timber-made cafe and at Taylor Park it would overlook the lake. If everything went as planned, the cafes should be completed by 1976.
Haydock and Ashton Band were upset with St Helens Council after winning their second successive world championship.
Civic receptions and parties marked their victory in Holland after beating the world's top brass bands but when they returned home they complained of receiving nothing.
Conductor Charles Fradley said: "It is disgusting not to be given some sort of recognition after winning two world championships.
"They don't realise how big an achievement it is to win. There are bands from all over the world competing and it is the musical equivalent to winning the Olympics or World Cup."
Councillor Hugh Littler agreed that the band's success was a great achievement but explained that no one had told the council about it, adding:
"We are tremendously proud of them, and if they had informed us of their success we could probably have arranged something in their honour."
The Saracens Head in Carr Mill was advertising their hot and cold lunches in the Reporter.
But unlike today when most pubs make food an essential part of their offering 7 days a week, their menus were only available from 12 to 2pm, Monday to Friday.
The Pilkington Gala at Ruskin Drive that was planned for next week was also advertised in the Reporter.
The "star attraction" would be the separate appearances of "TV personalities" Eddie Waring and Stuart Hall. Admission on Saturday, the main day of the gala, would cost 20p.
Age Concern (now Age UK) was created nationally in 1971 and this week's Reporter revealed that the organisation had arrived in St Helens.
St Helens Council had agreed to grant Age Concern St Helens the sum of £4,720 to support a 2½-year project in the town starting in October.
A further £2,400 was being donated by Pilkington's Rainford Trust and Age Concern England were supporting their new group with a grant of £3,285.
Volunteers from the various elderly people's welfare groups within the St Helens district had agreed to sit on Age Concern's committee which would coordinate all their work.
"What a wonderful display the Army had at the St. Helens Show", was the introduction to one letter in the Reporter.
A number of councillors had been critical of what they called the "military takeover" of the annual Sherdley Park show and a letter in last week's paper had supported their view.
Among other criticisms that person had complained that the armed forces do not mention to new recruits that they might get shot in Northern Ireland.
That led to a backlash in this week's paper in which a number of correspondents supported the army's many activities at the Show and pointed out that no recruiting was allowed in Sherdley Park.
"Don't Miss Russon's (Fashion Shoes) Sale", said an ad in the Reporter. "Today, Friday, 2nd Aug. 19, Duke Street".
A few weeks ago Pilkingtons had submitted an application for outline planning permission to build a float glass factory on 100 acres of farmland in Gorsey Lane.
The plant was expected to cost about £20 million, which in today's money would equate to around £300m.
The Reporter said at the time that Pilks were hoping that any objections to their scheme would be "muted by the danger that the town would lose 800 jobs".
That was because if their application was rejected, the firm might choose to build their new factory away from St Helens.
On the 3rd a meeting of 120 Clock Face residents met two of the Pilkington men that were planning the factory.
Float glass planner Dick Rimmer and David Lord from the company's Estates Department were bombarded with tough questions.
The two men explained how Pilkingtons wanted a site within 5 miles of their sheet works so workers could easily travel to the new factory.
And the company had ruled out building on land that they already owned because none of their sites was large enough.
However, when Mr Rimmer said the chosen site seemed geologically sound, a Leach Lane resident called Chisnall angrily remarked:
"Anyone who says that site is suitable because it's free from mining subsidence mustn't know his history or geography.
"And anyone who has the audacity to consider Gorsey Lane suitable for several hundred heavy lorries each day must be out of his mind."
After the two men had left the room, Sutton ward councillors Jim Bond, Tom Harvey and Gerry Parr came to the front of the meeting.
After being asked by one protester what those in the room could do to fight the plan, Councillor Parr replied:
"If this is the way you're fighting it now, I can't see Pilkington getting a cat in hell chance, because the councillors must represent your views. Pilkington's haven't got this by any means – and I doubt if they could get it."
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the St Helens schools at risk of a roof collapse, the streakers at Rainhill's Loyola Hall, why Rainford Carnival organisers were upset over cricket and the ex-mayor who thought vandals should receive a belting.