FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (5 - 11 JUNE 1973)
This week's many stories include the magpie blaze in Blackbrook, little Tracy Topping thanks the firemen that saved her life, Nevins open their Sutton superstore, there's an update on the Beth Avenue council estate in Sutton, the gift of a large art collection to the town and the feared loss of the "Chester zoo of Rainford".
We begin with what appeared to be an opportunistic theft – or, perhaps, an inside job – in Sherdley Road in St Helens. Thieves had helped themselves to £14,000 of whisky when they found the gate to the heavy goods compound of British Road Services unlocked and the door to an articulated lorry and trailer open. Quickly the robbers disappeared from the scene along with 500 cases of Bells whisky, 150 cases of Queen Anne whisky and 20 cases of Drambuie.
The St Helens District Community Council was launched on the 5th as a replacement for the St Helens Council of Social Service and similar bodies within neighbouring areas. The group planned to be the focal point for the voluntary movement in the district and represent about 50 organisations.
St Helens Fire Brigade had an unusual task on the 5th – to put out a blaze 40 feet high in a tree. And arson was suspected – by a thieving magpie! The treetop fire broke out at breakfast time at the Blackbrook House residential school in St Helens. When the firemen arrived on the scene they saw smoke pouring out of a hollow tree and a magpie's nest in flames. School gardener Eric Eccleston said:
"The local magpies are great hoarders. They pick up cigarette ends and take them to their nests." A smouldering dog end was suspected of causing the fire, which was a new experience for the brigade. A spokesman said: "We have known cases of birds setting houses on fire by leaving cigarette ends in the eaves but never their own homes."
On the 6th Nevins opened their new "superstore" in Robins Lane in Sutton. No famous personality to open it – but their advert did say there was a free gift for those with a couple of pounds to spend:
"FREE!! To customers spending £2.00 or over, 1 Plastic Wash-up Bowl." Closing on Mondays does seem odd to us today and their "late night" opening on Thursdays and Fridays until just 8pm is also early by our standards. It was Nevins largest store so far and the twenty-first in their expanding chain.
There was a nice photo of little Tracy Topping in a firemen's helmet in the St Helens Reporter on the 8th. The 6-year-old had visited the fire station to thank Kevin Hamlet and Tom Brannell for rescuing her from her blazing Waring Avenue home in Parr last February. Tracy appeared to be dead when the two firemen had got her outside. But after three minutes of heart massage and oxygen the little girl was revived. Kevin and Tom were now to receive bravery awards from the Lancashire Fire Brigade Friendly Society.
The Reporter also provided an update on the Beth Avenue council estate between New Street and Gerards Lane in Sutton that the paper had previously dubbed “Downtown Morocco”. Work on building the 768 properties had begun over two years before and so far 170 homes had been handed over to tenants. The remainder would be finished within 18 months and during a recent inspection by councillors, the architects responsible for the unusually shaped houses had explained how they were attempting to instil a community spirit.
They said they wanted to build into the massive estate the togetherness of close-knit terraced properties by grouping them together as units of 16, each with its own play and rest area. A spokesman for the architects later told the Reporter:
"I think this is the first time in St. Helens that so much emphasis has been put on establishing a community feeling on a new estate. One must avoid putting people down in a new area without good community facilities. St. Helens is ahead of most other places with this venture. It is a serious attempt to solve a social problem."
The Reporter described how a large art collection had been donated to the town. Colonel Guy Pilkington and his wife Marjery had accumulated the thirty-six watercolours and drawings from the early 1930s. Mrs Pilkington had died in February at Fairfield, her home in Crank, and it had been her wish that the collection should be donated to the people of St Helens.
At a presentation this week the couple's son, Godfrey Pilkington, handed the artworks over and said every painting had brought back memories to his parents of places they had visited and things that they'd done. The complete collection would be exhibited at the Gamble Institute for a week. Then it was hoped each half of the artworks would be on permanent show in rotation. Alderman Jim Hand was present at the handover and said: "Over the years, Colonel Guy and his wife did a lot to bring the arts to St. Helens", adding that the donation was a "fine gesture".
Disappointment was expressed in the Reporter that what locals had dubbed the "Chester zoo of Rainford" would soon be lost. That was a reference to the wildfowl in a lake off Heyes Avenue near which twenty houses were going to be built. Rainford Council had given planning permission for the scheme to go ahead on a 3-acre field, despite opposition from local residents who had presented them with a petition.
One of the protesters was Charles Rhodes, who told the paper: "The scene will be spoiled. It's a really beautiful place and it's going to be lost. The lake, which was once part of the old Muncaster Hall Estate, has an island and a boathouse and is bounded by trees. There are fish in it and it is used by wild duck. The land and lake could be used for a park, it would be an ideal place, especially for children."
Other Rainford residents unhappy this week were those living in Old Lane. A 300-acre site at Holiday Moss in Rainford was being turned into a tip and in April the Reporter had written: "A village fears that a massive refuse tip to be developed on its doorstep will become a smelly eyesore." The paper was then expressing the concerns of those living near the new dump. But the residents of Old Lane had a different worry.
They were concerned that heavy lorries going to the tip would be running past their homes and endangering their children's safety. The normal number of trips along the narrow road would be 35 per day – but for a time that would rise to 100. A special meeting of Rainford Council had been called to discuss the issue, which was attended by thirty residents who presented councillors with a 161-name petition.
The firm involved, White Moss Peat, promised to explore the idea of a road just for lorries – but that did not allay residents' concerns. And White Moss Peat's offer to reduce the number of daily trips from 100 to 10 through the use of "giant lorries" was also not well received. Planning permission for the new tip had been granted in 1968. However, many of the protestors had not moved to Old Lane until the following year and so had not been in a position to object to the plan.
The Reporter also described how a "massive luxury school" was being built at Bold to cater for the educational and recreational needs of children and adults. Workmen were set to move in during the summer to begin work on the school, which would accommodate 900 pupils and a sports centre. Sited in Barrows Hall Lane, the complex would be known as the Great Sankey High School.
The paper also carried an advert for the St Helens Show, which this year would take place on the 26th, 27th and 28th July. The special attractions for 1973 included the Red Devils Free Fall team; the Royal Marines and White Helmets motorcycle display teams; a rescue helicopter demonstration; sheepdog displays; a high-wire act; army combat displays; performances by the Band of the Royal Marines and a concluding grand firework display.
And finally, 'Ulzana's Raid' – described as the "bloodiest massacre in the West" and starring Burt Lancaster – began a week's screening at the Capitol Cinema on the 10th. Meanwhile, at the ABC Savoy, 'That'll Be The Day', starring David Essex, Rosemary, Leach and Ringo Starr, was shown.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the storm over the playing of Sunday sport in St Helens’ parks, a price is put on the shocking level of vandalism in the town, Hughie Green returns to Eccleston and the battle of Sutton Park.
We begin with what appeared to be an opportunistic theft – or, perhaps, an inside job – in Sherdley Road in St Helens. Thieves had helped themselves to £14,000 of whisky when they found the gate to the heavy goods compound of British Road Services unlocked and the door to an articulated lorry and trailer open. Quickly the robbers disappeared from the scene along with 500 cases of Bells whisky, 150 cases of Queen Anne whisky and 20 cases of Drambuie.
The St Helens District Community Council was launched on the 5th as a replacement for the St Helens Council of Social Service and similar bodies within neighbouring areas. The group planned to be the focal point for the voluntary movement in the district and represent about 50 organisations.
St Helens Fire Brigade had an unusual task on the 5th – to put out a blaze 40 feet high in a tree. And arson was suspected – by a thieving magpie! The treetop fire broke out at breakfast time at the Blackbrook House residential school in St Helens. When the firemen arrived on the scene they saw smoke pouring out of a hollow tree and a magpie's nest in flames. School gardener Eric Eccleston said:
"The local magpies are great hoarders. They pick up cigarette ends and take them to their nests." A smouldering dog end was suspected of causing the fire, which was a new experience for the brigade. A spokesman said: "We have known cases of birds setting houses on fire by leaving cigarette ends in the eaves but never their own homes."
On the 6th Nevins opened their new "superstore" in Robins Lane in Sutton. No famous personality to open it – but their advert did say there was a free gift for those with a couple of pounds to spend:
"FREE!! To customers spending £2.00 or over, 1 Plastic Wash-up Bowl." Closing on Mondays does seem odd to us today and their "late night" opening on Thursdays and Fridays until just 8pm is also early by our standards. It was Nevins largest store so far and the twenty-first in their expanding chain.
There was a nice photo of little Tracy Topping in a firemen's helmet in the St Helens Reporter on the 8th. The 6-year-old had visited the fire station to thank Kevin Hamlet and Tom Brannell for rescuing her from her blazing Waring Avenue home in Parr last February. Tracy appeared to be dead when the two firemen had got her outside. But after three minutes of heart massage and oxygen the little girl was revived. Kevin and Tom were now to receive bravery awards from the Lancashire Fire Brigade Friendly Society.
They said they wanted to build into the massive estate the togetherness of close-knit terraced properties by grouping them together as units of 16, each with its own play and rest area. A spokesman for the architects later told the Reporter:
"I think this is the first time in St. Helens that so much emphasis has been put on establishing a community feeling on a new estate. One must avoid putting people down in a new area without good community facilities. St. Helens is ahead of most other places with this venture. It is a serious attempt to solve a social problem."
The Reporter described how a large art collection had been donated to the town. Colonel Guy Pilkington and his wife Marjery had accumulated the thirty-six watercolours and drawings from the early 1930s. Mrs Pilkington had died in February at Fairfield, her home in Crank, and it had been her wish that the collection should be donated to the people of St Helens.
At a presentation this week the couple's son, Godfrey Pilkington, handed the artworks over and said every painting had brought back memories to his parents of places they had visited and things that they'd done. The complete collection would be exhibited at the Gamble Institute for a week. Then it was hoped each half of the artworks would be on permanent show in rotation. Alderman Jim Hand was present at the handover and said: "Over the years, Colonel Guy and his wife did a lot to bring the arts to St. Helens", adding that the donation was a "fine gesture".
Disappointment was expressed in the Reporter that what locals had dubbed the "Chester zoo of Rainford" would soon be lost. That was a reference to the wildfowl in a lake off Heyes Avenue near which twenty houses were going to be built. Rainford Council had given planning permission for the scheme to go ahead on a 3-acre field, despite opposition from local residents who had presented them with a petition.
One of the protesters was Charles Rhodes, who told the paper: "The scene will be spoiled. It's a really beautiful place and it's going to be lost. The lake, which was once part of the old Muncaster Hall Estate, has an island and a boathouse and is bounded by trees. There are fish in it and it is used by wild duck. The land and lake could be used for a park, it would be an ideal place, especially for children."
Other Rainford residents unhappy this week were those living in Old Lane. A 300-acre site at Holiday Moss in Rainford was being turned into a tip and in April the Reporter had written: "A village fears that a massive refuse tip to be developed on its doorstep will become a smelly eyesore." The paper was then expressing the concerns of those living near the new dump. But the residents of Old Lane had a different worry.
They were concerned that heavy lorries going to the tip would be running past their homes and endangering their children's safety. The normal number of trips along the narrow road would be 35 per day – but for a time that would rise to 100. A special meeting of Rainford Council had been called to discuss the issue, which was attended by thirty residents who presented councillors with a 161-name petition.
The firm involved, White Moss Peat, promised to explore the idea of a road just for lorries – but that did not allay residents' concerns. And White Moss Peat's offer to reduce the number of daily trips from 100 to 10 through the use of "giant lorries" was also not well received. Planning permission for the new tip had been granted in 1968. However, many of the protestors had not moved to Old Lane until the following year and so had not been in a position to object to the plan.
The Reporter also described how a "massive luxury school" was being built at Bold to cater for the educational and recreational needs of children and adults. Workmen were set to move in during the summer to begin work on the school, which would accommodate 900 pupils and a sports centre. Sited in Barrows Hall Lane, the complex would be known as the Great Sankey High School.
The paper also carried an advert for the St Helens Show, which this year would take place on the 26th, 27th and 28th July. The special attractions for 1973 included the Red Devils Free Fall team; the Royal Marines and White Helmets motorcycle display teams; a rescue helicopter demonstration; sheepdog displays; a high-wire act; army combat displays; performances by the Band of the Royal Marines and a concluding grand firework display.
And finally, 'Ulzana's Raid' – described as the "bloodiest massacre in the West" and starring Burt Lancaster – began a week's screening at the Capitol Cinema on the 10th. Meanwhile, at the ABC Savoy, 'That'll Be The Day', starring David Essex, Rosemary, Leach and Ringo Starr, was shown.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the storm over the playing of Sunday sport in St Helens’ parks, a price is put on the shocking level of vandalism in the town, Hughie Green returns to Eccleston and the battle of Sutton Park.
This week's many stories include the magpie blaze in Blackbrook, little Tracy Topping thanks the firemen that saved her life, Nevins open their Sutton superstore, there's an update on the Beth Avenue council estate in Sutton, the gift of a large art collection to the town and the feared loss of the "Chester zoo of Rainford".
We begin with what appeared to be an opportunistic theft – or, perhaps, an inside job – in Sherdley Road in St Helens.
Thieves had helped themselves to £14,000 of whisky when they found the gate to the heavy goods compound of British Road Services unlocked and the door to an articulated lorry and trailer open.
Quickly the robbers disappeared from the scene along with 500 cases of Bells whisky, 150 cases of Queen Anne whisky and 20 cases of Drambuie.
The St Helens District Community Council was launched on the 5th as a replacement for the St Helens Council of Social Service and similar bodies within neighbouring areas.
The group planned to be the focal point for the voluntary movement in the district and represent about 50 organisations.
St Helens Fire Brigade had an unusual task on the 5th – to put out a blaze 40 feet high in a tree. And arson was suspected – by a thieving magpie!
The treetop fire broke out at breakfast time at the Blackbrook House residential school in St Helens.
When the firemen arrived on the scene they saw smoke pouring out of a hollow tree and a magpie's nest in flames. School gardener Eric Eccleston said:
"The local magpies are great hoarders. They pick up cigarette ends and take them to their nests."
A smouldering dog end was suspected of causing the fire, which was a new experience for the brigade. A spokesman said:
"We have known cases of birds setting houses on fire by leaving cigarette ends in the eaves but never their own homes."
On the 6th Nevins opened their new "superstore" in Robins Lane in Sutton. No famous personality to open it – but their advert did say there was a free gift for those with a couple of pounds to spend:
"FREE!! To customers spending £2.00 or over, 1 Plastic Wash-up Bowl." Closing on Mondays does seem odd to us today and their "late night" opening on Thursdays and Fridays until just 8pm is also early by our standards.
It was Nevins largest store so far and the twenty-first in their expanding chain.
There was a nice photo of little Tracy Topping in a firemen's helmet in the St Helens Reporter on the 8th.
The 6-year-old had visited the fire station to thank Kevin Hamlet and Tom Brannell for rescuing her from her blazing Waring Avenue home in Parr last February.
Tracy appeared to be dead when the two firemen had got her outside. But after three minutes of heart massage and oxygen the little girl was revived.
Kevin and Tom were now to receive bravery awards from the Lancashire Fire Brigade Friendly Society.
The Reporter also provided an update on the Beth Avenue council estate between New Street and Gerards Lane in Sutton that the paper had previously dubbed “Downtown Morocco”.
Work on building the 768 properties had begun over two years before and so far 170 homes had been handed over to tenants.
The remainder would be finished within 18 months and during a recent inspection by councillors, the architects responsible for the unusually shaped houses had explained how they were attempting to instil a community spirit.
They said they wanted to build into the massive estate the togetherness of close-knit terraced properties by grouping them together as units of 16, each with its own play and rest area.
A spokesman for the architects later told the Reporter:
"I think this is the first time in St. Helens that so much emphasis has been put on establishing a community feeling on a new estate. One must avoid putting people down in a new area without good community facilities.
"St. Helens is ahead of most other places with this venture. It is a serious attempt to solve a social problem."
The Reporter described how a large art collection had been donated to the town.
Colonel Guy Pilkington and his wife Marjery had accumulated the thirty-six watercolours and drawings from the early 1930s.
Mrs Pilkington had died in February at Fairfield, her home in Crank, and it had been her wish that the collection should be donated to the people of St Helens.
At a presentation this week the couple's son, Godfrey Pilkington, handed the artworks over and said every painting had brought back memories to his parents of places they had visited and things that they'd done.
The complete collection would be exhibited at the Gamble Institute for a week. Then it was hoped each half of the artworks would be on permanent show in rotation.
Alderman Jim Hand was present at the handover and said:
"Over the years, Colonel Guy and his wife did a lot to bring the arts to St. Helens", adding that the donation was a "fine gesture".
Disappointment was expressed in the Reporter that what locals had dubbed the "Chester zoo of Rainford" would soon be lost.
That was a reference to the wildfowl in a lake off Heyes Avenue near which twenty houses were going to be built.
Rainford Council had given planning permission for the scheme to go ahead on a 3-acre field, despite opposition from local residents who had presented them with a petition.
One of the protesters was Charles Rhodes, who told the paper:
"The scene will be spoiled. It's a really beautiful place and it's going to be lost. The lake, which was once part of the old Muncaster Hall Estate, has an island and a boathouse and is bounded by trees.
"There are fish in it and it is used by wild duck. The land and lake could be used for a park, it would be an ideal place, especially for children."
Other Rainford residents unhappy this week were those living in Old Lane. A 300-acre site at Holiday Moss in Rainford was being turned into a tip and in April the Reporter had written:
"A village fears that a massive refuse tip to be developed on its doorstep will become a smelly eyesore."
The paper was then expressing the concerns of those living near the new dump. But the residents of Old Lane had a different worry.
They were concerned that heavy lorries going to the tip would be running past their homes and endangering their children's safety.
The normal number of trips along the narrow road would be 35 per day – but for a time that would rise to 100.
A special meeting of Rainford Council had been called to discuss the issue, which was attended by thirty residents who presented councillors with a 161-name petition.
The firm involved, White Moss Peat, promised to explore the idea of a road just for lorries – but that did not allay residents' concerns.
And White Moss Peat's offer to reduce the number of daily trips from 100 to 10 through the use of "giant lorries" was also not well received.
Planning permission for the new tip had been granted in 1968. However, many of the protestors had not moved to Old Lane until the following year and so had not been in a position to object to the plan.
The Reporter also described how a "massive luxury school" was being built at Bold to cater for the educational and recreational needs of children and adults.
Workmen were set to move in during the summer to begin work on the school, which would accommodate 900 pupils and a sports centre.
Sited in Barrows Hall Lane, the complex would be known as the Great Sankey High School.
The paper also carried an advert for the St Helens Show, which this year would take place on the 26th, 27th and 28th July.
The special attractions for 1973 included the Red Devils Free Fall team; the Royal Marines and White Helmets motorcycle display teams; a rescue helicopter demonstration; sheepdog displays; a high-wire act; army combat displays; performances by the Band of the Royal Marines and a concluding grand firework display.
And finally, 'Ulzana's Raid' – described as the "bloodiest massacre in the West" and starring Burt Lancaster – began a week's screening at the Capitol Cinema on the 10th.
Meanwhile, at the ABC Savoy, 'That'll Be The Day', starring David Essex, Rosemary, Leach and Ringo Starr, was shown.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the storm over the playing of Sunday sport in St Helens’ parks, a price is put on the shocking level of vandalism in the town, Hughie Green returns to Eccleston and the battle of Sutton Park.
We begin with what appeared to be an opportunistic theft – or, perhaps, an inside job – in Sherdley Road in St Helens.
Thieves had helped themselves to £14,000 of whisky when they found the gate to the heavy goods compound of British Road Services unlocked and the door to an articulated lorry and trailer open.
Quickly the robbers disappeared from the scene along with 500 cases of Bells whisky, 150 cases of Queen Anne whisky and 20 cases of Drambuie.
The St Helens District Community Council was launched on the 5th as a replacement for the St Helens Council of Social Service and similar bodies within neighbouring areas.
The group planned to be the focal point for the voluntary movement in the district and represent about 50 organisations.
St Helens Fire Brigade had an unusual task on the 5th – to put out a blaze 40 feet high in a tree. And arson was suspected – by a thieving magpie!
The treetop fire broke out at breakfast time at the Blackbrook House residential school in St Helens.
When the firemen arrived on the scene they saw smoke pouring out of a hollow tree and a magpie's nest in flames. School gardener Eric Eccleston said:
"The local magpies are great hoarders. They pick up cigarette ends and take them to their nests."
A smouldering dog end was suspected of causing the fire, which was a new experience for the brigade. A spokesman said:
"We have known cases of birds setting houses on fire by leaving cigarette ends in the eaves but never their own homes."
On the 6th Nevins opened their new "superstore" in Robins Lane in Sutton. No famous personality to open it – but their advert did say there was a free gift for those with a couple of pounds to spend:
"FREE!! To customers spending £2.00 or over, 1 Plastic Wash-up Bowl." Closing on Mondays does seem odd to us today and their "late night" opening on Thursdays and Fridays until just 8pm is also early by our standards.
It was Nevins largest store so far and the twenty-first in their expanding chain.
There was a nice photo of little Tracy Topping in a firemen's helmet in the St Helens Reporter on the 8th.
The 6-year-old had visited the fire station to thank Kevin Hamlet and Tom Brannell for rescuing her from her blazing Waring Avenue home in Parr last February.
Tracy appeared to be dead when the two firemen had got her outside. But after three minutes of heart massage and oxygen the little girl was revived.
Kevin and Tom were now to receive bravery awards from the Lancashire Fire Brigade Friendly Society.
Work on building the 768 properties had begun over two years before and so far 170 homes had been handed over to tenants.
The remainder would be finished within 18 months and during a recent inspection by councillors, the architects responsible for the unusually shaped houses had explained how they were attempting to instil a community spirit.
They said they wanted to build into the massive estate the togetherness of close-knit terraced properties by grouping them together as units of 16, each with its own play and rest area.
A spokesman for the architects later told the Reporter:
"I think this is the first time in St. Helens that so much emphasis has been put on establishing a community feeling on a new estate. One must avoid putting people down in a new area without good community facilities.
"St. Helens is ahead of most other places with this venture. It is a serious attempt to solve a social problem."
The Reporter described how a large art collection had been donated to the town.
Colonel Guy Pilkington and his wife Marjery had accumulated the thirty-six watercolours and drawings from the early 1930s.
Mrs Pilkington had died in February at Fairfield, her home in Crank, and it had been her wish that the collection should be donated to the people of St Helens.
At a presentation this week the couple's son, Godfrey Pilkington, handed the artworks over and said every painting had brought back memories to his parents of places they had visited and things that they'd done.
The complete collection would be exhibited at the Gamble Institute for a week. Then it was hoped each half of the artworks would be on permanent show in rotation.
Alderman Jim Hand was present at the handover and said:
"Over the years, Colonel Guy and his wife did a lot to bring the arts to St. Helens", adding that the donation was a "fine gesture".
Disappointment was expressed in the Reporter that what locals had dubbed the "Chester zoo of Rainford" would soon be lost.
That was a reference to the wildfowl in a lake off Heyes Avenue near which twenty houses were going to be built.
Rainford Council had given planning permission for the scheme to go ahead on a 3-acre field, despite opposition from local residents who had presented them with a petition.
One of the protesters was Charles Rhodes, who told the paper:
"The scene will be spoiled. It's a really beautiful place and it's going to be lost. The lake, which was once part of the old Muncaster Hall Estate, has an island and a boathouse and is bounded by trees.
"There are fish in it and it is used by wild duck. The land and lake could be used for a park, it would be an ideal place, especially for children."
Other Rainford residents unhappy this week were those living in Old Lane. A 300-acre site at Holiday Moss in Rainford was being turned into a tip and in April the Reporter had written:
"A village fears that a massive refuse tip to be developed on its doorstep will become a smelly eyesore."
The paper was then expressing the concerns of those living near the new dump. But the residents of Old Lane had a different worry.
They were concerned that heavy lorries going to the tip would be running past their homes and endangering their children's safety.
The normal number of trips along the narrow road would be 35 per day – but for a time that would rise to 100.
A special meeting of Rainford Council had been called to discuss the issue, which was attended by thirty residents who presented councillors with a 161-name petition.
The firm involved, White Moss Peat, promised to explore the idea of a road just for lorries – but that did not allay residents' concerns.
And White Moss Peat's offer to reduce the number of daily trips from 100 to 10 through the use of "giant lorries" was also not well received.
Planning permission for the new tip had been granted in 1968. However, many of the protestors had not moved to Old Lane until the following year and so had not been in a position to object to the plan.
The Reporter also described how a "massive luxury school" was being built at Bold to cater for the educational and recreational needs of children and adults.
Workmen were set to move in during the summer to begin work on the school, which would accommodate 900 pupils and a sports centre.
Sited in Barrows Hall Lane, the complex would be known as the Great Sankey High School.
The paper also carried an advert for the St Helens Show, which this year would take place on the 26th, 27th and 28th July.
The special attractions for 1973 included the Red Devils Free Fall team; the Royal Marines and White Helmets motorcycle display teams; a rescue helicopter demonstration; sheepdog displays; a high-wire act; army combat displays; performances by the Band of the Royal Marines and a concluding grand firework display.
And finally, 'Ulzana's Raid' – described as the "bloodiest massacre in the West" and starring Burt Lancaster – began a week's screening at the Capitol Cinema on the 10th.
Meanwhile, at the ABC Savoy, 'That'll Be The Day', starring David Essex, Rosemary, Leach and Ringo Starr, was shown.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the storm over the playing of Sunday sport in St Helens’ parks, a price is put on the shocking level of vandalism in the town, Hughie Green returns to Eccleston and the battle of Sutton Park.