FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 2 - 8 MARCH 1976
This week's many stories include the troublesome travellers in Rainhill, the stopping of The Court's disco for teenagers, the burglary at the Lord Nelson Hotel in Parr, the St Helens Civic Society claim lack of support and Eccleston Parish Council complains about developers chopping down trees.
We begin with what was billed as "An Evening With Mike Harding, ‘The Rochdale Cowboy’", which took place on the 2nd at the Theatre Royal with all seats costing £1.
Also on the 2nd, what were described as "five caravan loads of gipsies" did not simply ignore a summons that ordered them to leave land that they were trespassing on in Rainhill – they burnt the court order in a public show of defiance. For eight days the travellers had been occupying land in Warrington Road that belonged to the Rael Brook shirt factory.
They were given three days to vacate the area but their leader, John Murphy, declared: "We shall not be moved. We're staying. We're tired of being hounded from post to pillar. We'll be getting drunk tonight, and we'll have a good sing-song on Rael Brook." But the group would probably have to go out of Rainhill to be served, as they had been banned from local pubs. The Black Horse in Warrington Road had stopped serving them after a bottle was thrown through a bar window showering glass on one of the locals.
Mr Murphy told the Reporter: "All we want is a place to stay." When informed that St Helens Council had its own traveller site in Sherdley Road – and was one of the few local authorities in the country to do so – Mr Murphy replied that it was too crowded. The Reporter journalist counted about 10 children on the site that were wandering about "bedraggled and shoeless". Meanwhile Rael Brook said they would give the travellers three days to leave and, if they did not go, they would tow the caravans off their land.
There was an advert in the Newton Guardian on the 3rd from Julian Swift who said they were closing down their shop in Barrow Street in St Helens. The firm said they had 2,000 carpets that had to be cleared: "Bargains by the yard must go at silly prices – Many less than half the cost price." And the St Helens Co-op was also advertising their "fresh food festival", which focussed on Danish bacon and ham with dividend stamps available.
The St Helens Civic Society had been founded in 1972 with conservation as its main priority, along with improving and developing the environment of the town. But this week, Brian Wilson, its chairman and founder, resigned.
Although he cited pressure of work as his main reason for stepping down and said he would continue as a member, Mr Wilson also said he was disappointed with the lack of support the society had received with its membership having dropped from about 100 to 40. "I think that to a certain extent there has been a lack of action on our part, but things have been so lousy in the town for so long that people don't seem to care."
On the 4th thieves broke into the Lord Nelson Hotel in Parr Stocks Road and made off with £800 worth of goods. The intruders took a case of whisky, 8,000 cigarettes and a colour TV and in their efforts to get inside, had smashed toilet windows and the pub's front door.
The dancing school called 'The Court' had opened its doors in Prescot Road in St Helens in February 1969 and by 1975 claimed to have 1,000 members. The Court was owned and named after Courtenay Castle, who had a chain of dance schools and is credited with making dancing more accessible to the general British public. But the St Helens Reporter on the 5th described how their twice-weekly disco night for teenagers had run into trouble.
Residents from nearby Bank Street were protesting that the "endless thudding" of pop music could be heard above their televisions and kept their children awake until 11 pm when the disco finished. Irene Carney told the paper: "We've been complaining about it for years. The manager turns the music down, but it eventually gets loud again. It gets on our nerves, because we're right on top of it. They have always been very helpful when we have complained, and they have made attempts to soundproof the building. But the noise has been bad, and we're hoping to move because of it."
But The Court's decision to temporarily stop their Friday and Sunday evening sessions while they tried to find other means of soundproofing the building had gone down badly with one of their attendees. The unnamed teenager had written to the paper saying:
"We cannot go to the Plaza or to any of the pubs because of the licensing laws, and if we did try to go, or roamed the streets causing trouble, then I think the ones who have complained would be the first to complain again."
The Reporter also wrote that "nature-loving councillors" had launched a campaign to save Eccleston's trees and footpaths. At a meeting of the Parish Council, concerns had been expressed over developers indiscriminately felling trees, which was seen as threatening the village's environment.
As a result all trees in the area were now going to be surveyed and tree preservation orders applied for wherever appropriate. Councillor Tom Latto said: "Trees are very important, and while a Tree preservation Order will not prevent developers from cutting them down, it would provide a hurdle."
The Reporter described how a new Rector of Sutton had been appointed. He was the Rev Michael Soulsby who was going to be a team vicar heading a three-man ministry.
The paper also reported how Anthony Marsh of Burnage Avenue in Clock Face was upset over losing his prized telescope. While his parents were at St Helens Police Station helping out a neighbour, burglars broke into their home and stole the telescope that the 10-year-old had only received as a birthday present a month before. Now Anthony and his parents were described as making an "impassioned plea" to whoever stole the telescope to return it.
At the Capitol Cinema for 7 days from the 7th, 'Death Race 2000' starring David Carradine was retained for a second week. Meanwhile at the ABC Savoy, 'Great Expectations' starring Michael York replaced 'Dog Day Afternoon' starring Al Pacino.
And finally, at the Theatre Royal for a week commencing on the 8th, there was a show that would never be allowed today. It was called the "Al Jolson Dixie Minstrel Show" which starred John Boulter and featured "minstrel singers" and dancers.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the dog packs spreading terror in Sutton, Terence Lennon's Rolls Royce has a smash, there's criticism of pirate taxis in St Helens, the boy scalped at Silcock's fair and the gay men creating a nuisance at Queens Park.
We begin with what was billed as "An Evening With Mike Harding, ‘The Rochdale Cowboy’", which took place on the 2nd at the Theatre Royal with all seats costing £1.
Also on the 2nd, what were described as "five caravan loads of gipsies" did not simply ignore a summons that ordered them to leave land that they were trespassing on in Rainhill – they burnt the court order in a public show of defiance. For eight days the travellers had been occupying land in Warrington Road that belonged to the Rael Brook shirt factory.
They were given three days to vacate the area but their leader, John Murphy, declared: "We shall not be moved. We're staying. We're tired of being hounded from post to pillar. We'll be getting drunk tonight, and we'll have a good sing-song on Rael Brook." But the group would probably have to go out of Rainhill to be served, as they had been banned from local pubs. The Black Horse in Warrington Road had stopped serving them after a bottle was thrown through a bar window showering glass on one of the locals.
Mr Murphy told the Reporter: "All we want is a place to stay." When informed that St Helens Council had its own traveller site in Sherdley Road – and was one of the few local authorities in the country to do so – Mr Murphy replied that it was too crowded. The Reporter journalist counted about 10 children on the site that were wandering about "bedraggled and shoeless". Meanwhile Rael Brook said they would give the travellers three days to leave and, if they did not go, they would tow the caravans off their land.
The St Helens Civic Society had been founded in 1972 with conservation as its main priority, along with improving and developing the environment of the town. But this week, Brian Wilson, its chairman and founder, resigned.
Although he cited pressure of work as his main reason for stepping down and said he would continue as a member, Mr Wilson also said he was disappointed with the lack of support the society had received with its membership having dropped from about 100 to 40. "I think that to a certain extent there has been a lack of action on our part, but things have been so lousy in the town for so long that people don't seem to care."
On the 4th thieves broke into the Lord Nelson Hotel in Parr Stocks Road and made off with £800 worth of goods. The intruders took a case of whisky, 8,000 cigarettes and a colour TV and in their efforts to get inside, had smashed toilet windows and the pub's front door.
The dancing school called 'The Court' had opened its doors in Prescot Road in St Helens in February 1969 and by 1975 claimed to have 1,000 members. The Court was owned and named after Courtenay Castle, who had a chain of dance schools and is credited with making dancing more accessible to the general British public. But the St Helens Reporter on the 5th described how their twice-weekly disco night for teenagers had run into trouble.
Residents from nearby Bank Street were protesting that the "endless thudding" of pop music could be heard above their televisions and kept their children awake until 11 pm when the disco finished. Irene Carney told the paper: "We've been complaining about it for years. The manager turns the music down, but it eventually gets loud again. It gets on our nerves, because we're right on top of it. They have always been very helpful when we have complained, and they have made attempts to soundproof the building. But the noise has been bad, and we're hoping to move because of it."
But The Court's decision to temporarily stop their Friday and Sunday evening sessions while they tried to find other means of soundproofing the building had gone down badly with one of their attendees. The unnamed teenager had written to the paper saying:
"We cannot go to the Plaza or to any of the pubs because of the licensing laws, and if we did try to go, or roamed the streets causing trouble, then I think the ones who have complained would be the first to complain again."
The Reporter also wrote that "nature-loving councillors" had launched a campaign to save Eccleston's trees and footpaths. At a meeting of the Parish Council, concerns had been expressed over developers indiscriminately felling trees, which was seen as threatening the village's environment.
As a result all trees in the area were now going to be surveyed and tree preservation orders applied for wherever appropriate. Councillor Tom Latto said: "Trees are very important, and while a Tree preservation Order will not prevent developers from cutting them down, it would provide a hurdle."
The Reporter described how a new Rector of Sutton had been appointed. He was the Rev Michael Soulsby who was going to be a team vicar heading a three-man ministry.
The paper also reported how Anthony Marsh of Burnage Avenue in Clock Face was upset over losing his prized telescope. While his parents were at St Helens Police Station helping out a neighbour, burglars broke into their home and stole the telescope that the 10-year-old had only received as a birthday present a month before. Now Anthony and his parents were described as making an "impassioned plea" to whoever stole the telescope to return it.
At the Capitol Cinema for 7 days from the 7th, 'Death Race 2000' starring David Carradine was retained for a second week. Meanwhile at the ABC Savoy, 'Great Expectations' starring Michael York replaced 'Dog Day Afternoon' starring Al Pacino.
And finally, at the Theatre Royal for a week commencing on the 8th, there was a show that would never be allowed today. It was called the "Al Jolson Dixie Minstrel Show" which starred John Boulter and featured "minstrel singers" and dancers.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the dog packs spreading terror in Sutton, Terence Lennon's Rolls Royce has a smash, there's criticism of pirate taxis in St Helens, the boy scalped at Silcock's fair and the gay men creating a nuisance at Queens Park.
This week's many stories include the troublesome travellers in Rainhill, the stopping of The Court's disco for teenagers, the burglary at the Lord Nelson Hotel in Parr, the St Helens Civic Society claim lack of support and Eccleston Parish Council complains about developers chopping down trees.
We begin with what was billed as "An Evening With Mike Harding, ‘The Rochdale Cowboy’", which took place on the 2nd at the Theatre Royal with all seats costing £1.
Also on the 2nd, what were described as "five caravan loads of gipsies" did not simply ignore a summons that ordered them to leave land that they were trespassing on in Rainhill – they burnt the court order in a public show of defiance.
For eight days the travellers had been occupying land in Warrington Road that belonged to the Rael Brook shirt factory.
They were given three days to vacate the area but their leader, John Murphy, declared:
"We shall not be moved. We're staying. We're tired of being hounded from post to pillar. We'll be getting drunk tonight, and we'll have a good sing-song on Rael Brook."
But the group would probably have to go out of Rainhill to be served, as they had been banned from local pubs.
The Black Horse in Warrington Road had stopped serving them after a bottle was thrown through a bar window showering glass on one of the locals.
Mr Murphy told the Reporter: "All we want is a place to stay."
When informed that St Helens Council had its own traveller site in Sherdley Road – and was one of the few local authorities in the country to do so – Mr Murphy replied that it was too crowded.
The Reporter journalist counted about 10 children on the site that were wandering about "bedraggled and shoeless".
Meanwhile Rael Brook said they would give the travellers three days to leave and, if they did not go, they would tow the caravans off their land.
There was an advert in the Newton Guardian on the 3rd from Julian Swift who said they were closing down their shop in Barrow Street in St Helens.
The firm said they had 2,000 carpets that had to be cleared: "Bargains by the yard must go at silly prices – Many less than half the cost price."
And the St Helens Co-op was also advertising their "fresh food festival", which focussed on Danish bacon and ham with dividend stamps available.
The St Helens Civic Society had been founded in 1972 with conservation as its main priority, along with improving and developing the environment of the town. But this week, Brian Wilson, its chairman and founder, resigned.
Although he cited pressure of work as his main reason for stepping down and said he would continue as a member, Mr Wilson also said he was disappointed with the lack of support the society had received with its membership having dropped from about 100 to 40.
"I think that to a certain extent there has been a lack of action on our part, but things have been so lousy in the town for so long that people don't seem to care."
On the 4th thieves broke into the Lord Nelson Hotel in Parr Stocks Road and made off with £800 worth of goods.
The intruders took a case of whisky, 8,000 cigarettes and a colour TV and in their efforts to get inside, had smashed toilet windows and the pub's front door.
The dancing school called 'The Court' had opened its doors in Prescot Road in St Helens in February 1969 and by 1975 claimed to have 1,000 members.
The Court was owned and named after Courtenay Castle, who had a chain of dance schools and is credited with making dancing more accessible to the general British public.
But the St Helens Reporter on the 5th described how their twice-weekly disco night for teenagers had run into trouble.
Residents from nearby Bank Street were protesting that the "endless thudding" of pop music could be heard above their televisions and kept their children awake until 11 pm when the disco finished.
Irene Carney told the paper: "We've been complaining about it for years. The manager turns the music down, but it eventually gets loud again. It gets on our nerves, because we're right on top of it.
"They have always been very helpful when we have complained, and they have made attempts to soundproof the building. But the noise has been bad, and we're hoping to move because of it."
But The Court's decision to temporarily stop their Friday and Sunday evening sessions while they tried to find other means of soundproofing the building had gone down badly with one of their attendees.
The unnamed teenager had written to the paper saying:
"We cannot go to the Plaza or to any of the pubs because of the licensing laws, and if we did try to go, or roamed the streets causing trouble, then I think the ones who have complained would be the first to complain again."
The Reporter also wrote that "nature-loving councillors" had launched a campaign to save Eccleston's trees and footpaths.
At a meeting of the Parish Council, concerns had been expressed over developers indiscriminately felling trees, which was seen as threatening the village's environment.
As a result all trees in the area were now going to be surveyed and tree preservation orders applied for wherever appropriate.
Councillor Tom Latto said: "Trees are very important, and while a Tree preservation Order will not prevent developers from cutting them down, it would provide a hurdle."
The Reporter described how a new Rector of Sutton had been appointed. He was the Rev Michael Soulsby who was going to be a team vicar heading a three-man ministry.
The paper also reported how Anthony Marsh of Burnage Avenue in Clock Face was upset over losing his prized telescope.
While his parents were at St Helens Police Station helping out a neighbour, burglars broke into their home and stole the telescope that the 10-year-old had only received as a birthday present a month before.
Now Anthony and his parents were described as making an "impassioned plea" to whoever stole the telescope to return it.
At the Capitol Cinema for 7 days from the 7th, 'Death Race 2000' starring David Carradine was retained for a second week.
Meanwhile at the ABC Savoy, 'Great Expectations' starring Michael York replaced 'Dog Day Afternoon' starring Al Pacino.
And finally, at the Theatre Royal for a week commencing on the 8th, there was a show that would never be allowed today.
It was called the "Al Jolson Dixie Minstrel Show" which starred John Boulter and featured "minstrel singers" and dancers.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the dog packs spreading terror in Sutton, Terence Lennon's Rolls Royce has a smash, there's criticism of pirate taxis in St Helens, the boy scalped at Silcock's fair and the gay men creating a nuisance at Queens Park.
We begin with what was billed as "An Evening With Mike Harding, ‘The Rochdale Cowboy’", which took place on the 2nd at the Theatre Royal with all seats costing £1.
Also on the 2nd, what were described as "five caravan loads of gipsies" did not simply ignore a summons that ordered them to leave land that they were trespassing on in Rainhill – they burnt the court order in a public show of defiance.
For eight days the travellers had been occupying land in Warrington Road that belonged to the Rael Brook shirt factory.
They were given three days to vacate the area but their leader, John Murphy, declared:
"We shall not be moved. We're staying. We're tired of being hounded from post to pillar. We'll be getting drunk tonight, and we'll have a good sing-song on Rael Brook."
But the group would probably have to go out of Rainhill to be served, as they had been banned from local pubs.
The Black Horse in Warrington Road had stopped serving them after a bottle was thrown through a bar window showering glass on one of the locals.
Mr Murphy told the Reporter: "All we want is a place to stay."
When informed that St Helens Council had its own traveller site in Sherdley Road – and was one of the few local authorities in the country to do so – Mr Murphy replied that it was too crowded.
The Reporter journalist counted about 10 children on the site that were wandering about "bedraggled and shoeless".
Meanwhile Rael Brook said they would give the travellers three days to leave and, if they did not go, they would tow the caravans off their land.
There was an advert in the Newton Guardian on the 3rd from Julian Swift who said they were closing down their shop in Barrow Street in St Helens.
The firm said they had 2,000 carpets that had to be cleared: "Bargains by the yard must go at silly prices – Many less than half the cost price."
The St Helens Civic Society had been founded in 1972 with conservation as its main priority, along with improving and developing the environment of the town. But this week, Brian Wilson, its chairman and founder, resigned.
Although he cited pressure of work as his main reason for stepping down and said he would continue as a member, Mr Wilson also said he was disappointed with the lack of support the society had received with its membership having dropped from about 100 to 40.
"I think that to a certain extent there has been a lack of action on our part, but things have been so lousy in the town for so long that people don't seem to care."
On the 4th thieves broke into the Lord Nelson Hotel in Parr Stocks Road and made off with £800 worth of goods.
The intruders took a case of whisky, 8,000 cigarettes and a colour TV and in their efforts to get inside, had smashed toilet windows and the pub's front door.
The dancing school called 'The Court' had opened its doors in Prescot Road in St Helens in February 1969 and by 1975 claimed to have 1,000 members.
The Court was owned and named after Courtenay Castle, who had a chain of dance schools and is credited with making dancing more accessible to the general British public.
But the St Helens Reporter on the 5th described how their twice-weekly disco night for teenagers had run into trouble.
Residents from nearby Bank Street were protesting that the "endless thudding" of pop music could be heard above their televisions and kept their children awake until 11 pm when the disco finished.
Irene Carney told the paper: "We've been complaining about it for years. The manager turns the music down, but it eventually gets loud again. It gets on our nerves, because we're right on top of it.
"They have always been very helpful when we have complained, and they have made attempts to soundproof the building. But the noise has been bad, and we're hoping to move because of it."
But The Court's decision to temporarily stop their Friday and Sunday evening sessions while they tried to find other means of soundproofing the building had gone down badly with one of their attendees.
The unnamed teenager had written to the paper saying:
"We cannot go to the Plaza or to any of the pubs because of the licensing laws, and if we did try to go, or roamed the streets causing trouble, then I think the ones who have complained would be the first to complain again."
The Reporter also wrote that "nature-loving councillors" had launched a campaign to save Eccleston's trees and footpaths.
At a meeting of the Parish Council, concerns had been expressed over developers indiscriminately felling trees, which was seen as threatening the village's environment.
As a result all trees in the area were now going to be surveyed and tree preservation orders applied for wherever appropriate.
Councillor Tom Latto said: "Trees are very important, and while a Tree preservation Order will not prevent developers from cutting them down, it would provide a hurdle."
The Reporter described how a new Rector of Sutton had been appointed. He was the Rev Michael Soulsby who was going to be a team vicar heading a three-man ministry.
The paper also reported how Anthony Marsh of Burnage Avenue in Clock Face was upset over losing his prized telescope.
While his parents were at St Helens Police Station helping out a neighbour, burglars broke into their home and stole the telescope that the 10-year-old had only received as a birthday present a month before.
Now Anthony and his parents were described as making an "impassioned plea" to whoever stole the telescope to return it.
At the Capitol Cinema for 7 days from the 7th, 'Death Race 2000' starring David Carradine was retained for a second week.
Meanwhile at the ABC Savoy, 'Great Expectations' starring Michael York replaced 'Dog Day Afternoon' starring Al Pacino.
And finally, at the Theatre Royal for a week commencing on the 8th, there was a show that would never be allowed today.
It was called the "Al Jolson Dixie Minstrel Show" which starred John Boulter and featured "minstrel singers" and dancers.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the dog packs spreading terror in Sutton, Terence Lennon's Rolls Royce has a smash, there's criticism of pirate taxis in St Helens, the boy scalped at Silcock's fair and the gay men creating a nuisance at Queens Park.