FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 5 - 11 OCTOBER 1976
This week's many stories include the fire at the old Rothery Radio depot, Sutton Manor Colliery is threatened with a shut down, a claim that parents in Eccleston are apathetic, the plan to preserve the historic features of the Sankey Canal and a new coal seam is identified at Sutton Manor revealing the presence of millions of tons of coal.
We begin on the 5th when the former Rothery Radio service depot on the corner of Lowe Street and North John Street was gutted by fire. The warehouse – that had also previously been used by Beechams – had been burning for almost half-an-hour before anyone called the fire brigade. Their spokesman told the Press:
"It had certainly been blazing for some time before we arrived there, and it does often happen that a place can be on fire for quite a time before somebody rings us. It is amazing how people can ignore things like this – then they wonder why the fire brigade are late in coming."
On the 7th 32 tanker drivers employed by the British Oxygen Company in St Helens returned to work after a two-day strike. Their dispute had begun after it was claimed a driver had been asked to resign and during the strike, workers had formed a 24-hour picket outside the works in Washway Lane.
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 8th and described how Sutton Manor Colliery was in danger of shutting down, as a 4-day-old strike by National Coal Board drivers was beginning to bite. Their dispute was over concessionary coal and had already led to Parsonage and Bickershaw collieries being forced to close.
The strike was causing coal stocks at Sutton Manor to build up and it was expected that the 950 workers at the mine would soon have to be sent home. Ironically, the mine had just achieved a coal production record and a new seam had been identified, as was described in a separate Reporter article, which began:
"Sutton Manor Colliery, the local pit which has struggled to survive in recent years, now has a big future. For an untapped coal field has been found South of the colliery – and pit bosses believe it could last for up to 30 years." The new reserves were being called Barrows Green and boreholes had been sunk revealing millions of tons of coal. Colliery Manager, Peter Male, said:
"Sutton Manor has been in jeopardy for some years because of a shortage of results from the coal face and we have lost some money. But this new field opens up new roads for the future and there are reserves of coal to last the pit for up to thirty years." However, it would take about 18 months before the first Barrows Green production face would be ready.
The Reporter revealed some good news for shop staff. They would not have to work on Christmas Day! The decision had been taken this week at a meeting of the St Helens Chambers of Trade. Christmas Day in 1976 fell on a Saturday and the government had made Tuesday, December 28th a holiday, which meant that shops had the option to legally open on the 25th if they so wished. But members of the Chamber had decided to close on Christmas Day and give their staff an extra day off. How kind!
There was an advert in the Reporter for the Haydock Squash Centre whose premises were in Station Road. They said they had six "superb" courts with centrally-heated changing rooms and showers.
The Reporter described how Eccleston Parish Council had criticised parents for their lack of interest in their children. That was because mums and dads were not volunteering to help run a youth club that was planned for the Village Hall. Cllr Richard Pennington said:
"A number of youngsters have asked me to get the parish council to do something for them. But when I ask them to bring their parents to the meetings, no-one turns up. We need the involvement of parents to help us organise a youth club or disco for children. We are doing the very minimum for the youth of the area."
The Reporter revealed that in 1975, 168 trees in the borough had succumbed to Dutch Elm disease. So far in 1976, the council had found 54 trees on the streets and 61 in the parks that had been killed off by the disease. More arboreal victims were expected to be identified and another 47 trees would need to be removed after suffering badly from the drought.
Describing themselves as "Greenall Whitley's New Potato Pub", the Market Hotel in Bridge Street was advertising its Halloween Disco which would be taking place on the 31st, hosted by DJ Jimmy James. "Come and try our fabulous hot potato menu", said their ad.
The Reporter described how historic features of the Sankey Canal (aka St Helens Canal) were going to be preserved. A spokesman for their Technical Services Department said: "Our policy is to conserve features of industrial archaeological interest in the Sankey Valley Linear Park scheme. We intend to restore features there, such as locks and wharves, within the Job Creation Scheme, in accordance with safety requirements."
This week was what the Reporter had previously described as a "milestone in newspaper publishing history for the town". That was because its sister paper, the St Helens Newspaper, changed from its broadsheet format into what it called a compact form, although most people then preferred the term tabloid. The new-look newspaper that was published every Tuesday cost 6p – compared to the Friday Reporter that cost 9p.
The ABC Savoy in Bridge Street would normally begin running a new film from the 10th. However, they decided to retain 'Logan's Run', starring Michael York and Jenny Agutter, for another week. And the Capitol, which was now only operating five days a week, was screening 'Dirty Mary Crazy Larry', starring Susan George and Peter Fonda.
And finally, for a week from the 11th, the St Helens Amateur Operatic Society performed 'My Fair Lady' at the Theatre Royal, which was advertised as their most lavish production ever staged.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the staff shortages in St Helens hospitals, the plan to extend the Sankey Valley Linear Park to Newton, the hooligans causing trouble in Parr and the mayor apologises for calling cleaning ladies a rabble.
We begin on the 5th when the former Rothery Radio service depot on the corner of Lowe Street and North John Street was gutted by fire. The warehouse – that had also previously been used by Beechams – had been burning for almost half-an-hour before anyone called the fire brigade. Their spokesman told the Press:
"It had certainly been blazing for some time before we arrived there, and it does often happen that a place can be on fire for quite a time before somebody rings us. It is amazing how people can ignore things like this – then they wonder why the fire brigade are late in coming."
On the 7th 32 tanker drivers employed by the British Oxygen Company in St Helens returned to work after a two-day strike. Their dispute had begun after it was claimed a driver had been asked to resign and during the strike, workers had formed a 24-hour picket outside the works in Washway Lane.
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 8th and described how Sutton Manor Colliery was in danger of shutting down, as a 4-day-old strike by National Coal Board drivers was beginning to bite. Their dispute was over concessionary coal and had already led to Parsonage and Bickershaw collieries being forced to close.
The strike was causing coal stocks at Sutton Manor to build up and it was expected that the 950 workers at the mine would soon have to be sent home. Ironically, the mine had just achieved a coal production record and a new seam had been identified, as was described in a separate Reporter article, which began:
"Sutton Manor Colliery, the local pit which has struggled to survive in recent years, now has a big future. For an untapped coal field has been found South of the colliery – and pit bosses believe it could last for up to 30 years." The new reserves were being called Barrows Green and boreholes had been sunk revealing millions of tons of coal. Colliery Manager, Peter Male, said:
"Sutton Manor has been in jeopardy for some years because of a shortage of results from the coal face and we have lost some money. But this new field opens up new roads for the future and there are reserves of coal to last the pit for up to thirty years." However, it would take about 18 months before the first Barrows Green production face would be ready.
The Reporter revealed some good news for shop staff. They would not have to work on Christmas Day! The decision had been taken this week at a meeting of the St Helens Chambers of Trade. Christmas Day in 1976 fell on a Saturday and the government had made Tuesday, December 28th a holiday, which meant that shops had the option to legally open on the 25th if they so wished. But members of the Chamber had decided to close on Christmas Day and give their staff an extra day off. How kind!
There was an advert in the Reporter for the Haydock Squash Centre whose premises were in Station Road. They said they had six "superb" courts with centrally-heated changing rooms and showers.
The Reporter described how Eccleston Parish Council had criticised parents for their lack of interest in their children. That was because mums and dads were not volunteering to help run a youth club that was planned for the Village Hall. Cllr Richard Pennington said:
"A number of youngsters have asked me to get the parish council to do something for them. But when I ask them to bring their parents to the meetings, no-one turns up. We need the involvement of parents to help us organise a youth club or disco for children. We are doing the very minimum for the youth of the area."
The Reporter revealed that in 1975, 168 trees in the borough had succumbed to Dutch Elm disease. So far in 1976, the council had found 54 trees on the streets and 61 in the parks that had been killed off by the disease. More arboreal victims were expected to be identified and another 47 trees would need to be removed after suffering badly from the drought.
Describing themselves as "Greenall Whitley's New Potato Pub", the Market Hotel in Bridge Street was advertising its Halloween Disco which would be taking place on the 31st, hosted by DJ Jimmy James. "Come and try our fabulous hot potato menu", said their ad.
This week was what the Reporter had previously described as a "milestone in newspaper publishing history for the town". That was because its sister paper, the St Helens Newspaper, changed from its broadsheet format into what it called a compact form, although most people then preferred the term tabloid. The new-look newspaper that was published every Tuesday cost 6p – compared to the Friday Reporter that cost 9p.
The ABC Savoy in Bridge Street would normally begin running a new film from the 10th. However, they decided to retain 'Logan's Run', starring Michael York and Jenny Agutter, for another week. And the Capitol, which was now only operating five days a week, was screening 'Dirty Mary Crazy Larry', starring Susan George and Peter Fonda.
And finally, for a week from the 11th, the St Helens Amateur Operatic Society performed 'My Fair Lady' at the Theatre Royal, which was advertised as their most lavish production ever staged.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the staff shortages in St Helens hospitals, the plan to extend the Sankey Valley Linear Park to Newton, the hooligans causing trouble in Parr and the mayor apologises for calling cleaning ladies a rabble.
This week's many stories include the fire at the old Rothery Radio depot, Sutton Manor Colliery is threatened with a shut down, a claim that parents in Eccleston are apathetic, the plan to preserve the historic features of the Sankey Canal and a new coal seam is identified at Sutton Manor revealing the presence of millions of tons of coal.
We begin on the 5th when the former Rothery Radio service depot on the corner of Lowe Street and North John Street was gutted by fire.
The warehouse – that had also previously been used by Beechams – had been burning for almost half-an-hour before anyone called the fire brigade. Their spokesman told the Press:
"It had certainly been blazing for some time before we arrived there, and it does often happen that a place can be on fire for quite a time before somebody rings us. It is amazing how people can ignore things like this – then they wonder why the fire brigade are late in coming."
On the 7th 32 tanker drivers employed by the British Oxygen Company in St Helens returned to work after a two-day strike.
Their dispute had begun after it was claimed a driver had been asked to resign and during the strike, workers had formed a 24-hour picket outside the works in Washway Lane.
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 8th and described how Sutton Manor Colliery was in danger of shutting down, as a 4-day-old strike by National Coal Board drivers was beginning to bite.
Their dispute was over concessionary coal and had already led to Parsonage and Bickershaw collieries being forced to close.
The strike was causing coal stocks at Sutton Manor to build up and it was expected that the 950 workers at the mine would soon have to be sent home.
Ironically, the mine had just achieved a coal production record and a new seam had been identified, as was described in a separate Reporter article, which began:
"Sutton Manor Colliery, the local pit which has struggled to survive in recent years, now has a big future. For an untapped coal field has been found South of the colliery – and pit bosses believe it could last for up to 30 years."
The new reserves were being called Barrows Green and boreholes had been sunk revealing millions of tons of coal. Colliery Manager, Peter Male, said:
"Sutton Manor has been in jeopardy for some years because of a shortage of results from the coal face and we have lost some money. But this new field opens up new roads for the future and there are reserves of coal to last the pit for up to thirty years."
However, it would take about 18 months before the first Barrows Green production face would be ready.
The Reporter revealed some good news for shop staff. They would not have to work on Christmas Day!
The decision had been taken this week at a meeting of the St Helens Chambers of Trade.
Christmas Day in 1976 fell on a Saturday and the government had made Tuesday, December 28th a holiday, which meant that shops had the option to legally open on the 25th if they so wished.
But members of the Chamber had decided to close on Christmas Day and give their staff an extra day off. How kind!
There was an advert in the Reporter for the Haydock Squash Centre whose premises were in Station Road.
They said they had six "superb" courts with centrally-heated changing rooms and showers.
The Reporter described how Eccleston Parish Council had criticised parents for their lack of interest in their children.
That was because mums and dads were not volunteering to help run a youth club that was planned for the Village Hall. Cllr Richard Pennington said:
"A number of youngsters have asked me to get the parish council to do something for them. But when I ask them to bring their parents to the meetings, no-one turns up.
"We need the involvement of parents to help us organise a youth club or disco for children. We are doing the very minimum for the youth of the area."
The Reporter revealed that in 1975, 168 trees in the borough had succumbed to Dutch Elm disease.
So far in 1976, the council had found 54 trees on the streets and 61 in the parks that had been killed off by the disease.
More arboreal victims were expected to be identified and another 47 trees would need to be removed after suffering badly from the drought.
Describing themselves as "Greenall Whitley's New Potato Pub", the Market Hotel in Bridge Street was advertising its Halloween Disco which would be taking place on the 31st, hosted by DJ Jimmy James.
"Come and try our fabulous hot potato menu", said their ad.
The Reporter described how historic features of the Sankey Canal (aka St Helens Canal) were going to be preserved. A spokesman for their Technical Services Department said:
"Our policy is to conserve features of industrial archaeological interest in the Sankey Valley Linear Park scheme. We intend to restore features there, such as locks and wharves, within the Job Creation Scheme, in accordance with safety requirements."
This week was what the Reporter had previously described as a "milestone in newspaper publishing history for the town".
That was because its sister paper, the St Helens Newspaper, changed from its broadsheet format into what it called a compact form, although most people then preferred the term tabloid.
The new-look newspaper that was published every Tuesday cost 6p – compared to the Friday Reporter that cost 9p.
The ABC Savoy in Bridge Street would normally begin running a new film from the 10th. However, they decided to retain 'Logan's Run', starring Michael York and Jenny Agutter, for another week.
And the Capitol, which was now only operating five days a week, was screening 'Dirty Mary Crazy Larry', starring Susan George and Peter Fonda.
And finally, for a week from the 11th, the St Helens Amateur Operatic Society performed 'My Fair Lady' at the Theatre Royal, which was advertised as their most lavish production ever staged.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the staff shortages in St Helens hospitals, the plan to extend the Sankey Valley Linear Park to Newton, the hooligans causing trouble in Parr and the mayor apologises for calling cleaning ladies a rabble.
We begin on the 5th when the former Rothery Radio service depot on the corner of Lowe Street and North John Street was gutted by fire.
The warehouse – that had also previously been used by Beechams – had been burning for almost half-an-hour before anyone called the fire brigade. Their spokesman told the Press:
"It had certainly been blazing for some time before we arrived there, and it does often happen that a place can be on fire for quite a time before somebody rings us. It is amazing how people can ignore things like this – then they wonder why the fire brigade are late in coming."
On the 7th 32 tanker drivers employed by the British Oxygen Company in St Helens returned to work after a two-day strike.
Their dispute had begun after it was claimed a driver had been asked to resign and during the strike, workers had formed a 24-hour picket outside the works in Washway Lane.
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 8th and described how Sutton Manor Colliery was in danger of shutting down, as a 4-day-old strike by National Coal Board drivers was beginning to bite.
Their dispute was over concessionary coal and had already led to Parsonage and Bickershaw collieries being forced to close.
The strike was causing coal stocks at Sutton Manor to build up and it was expected that the 950 workers at the mine would soon have to be sent home.
Ironically, the mine had just achieved a coal production record and a new seam had been identified, as was described in a separate Reporter article, which began:
"Sutton Manor Colliery, the local pit which has struggled to survive in recent years, now has a big future. For an untapped coal field has been found South of the colliery – and pit bosses believe it could last for up to 30 years."
The new reserves were being called Barrows Green and boreholes had been sunk revealing millions of tons of coal. Colliery Manager, Peter Male, said:
"Sutton Manor has been in jeopardy for some years because of a shortage of results from the coal face and we have lost some money. But this new field opens up new roads for the future and there are reserves of coal to last the pit for up to thirty years."
However, it would take about 18 months before the first Barrows Green production face would be ready.
The Reporter revealed some good news for shop staff. They would not have to work on Christmas Day!
The decision had been taken this week at a meeting of the St Helens Chambers of Trade.
Christmas Day in 1976 fell on a Saturday and the government had made Tuesday, December 28th a holiday, which meant that shops had the option to legally open on the 25th if they so wished.
But members of the Chamber had decided to close on Christmas Day and give their staff an extra day off. How kind!
There was an advert in the Reporter for the Haydock Squash Centre whose premises were in Station Road.
They said they had six "superb" courts with centrally-heated changing rooms and showers.
The Reporter described how Eccleston Parish Council had criticised parents for their lack of interest in their children.
That was because mums and dads were not volunteering to help run a youth club that was planned for the Village Hall. Cllr Richard Pennington said:
"A number of youngsters have asked me to get the parish council to do something for them. But when I ask them to bring their parents to the meetings, no-one turns up.
"We need the involvement of parents to help us organise a youth club or disco for children. We are doing the very minimum for the youth of the area."
The Reporter revealed that in 1975, 168 trees in the borough had succumbed to Dutch Elm disease.
So far in 1976, the council had found 54 trees on the streets and 61 in the parks that had been killed off by the disease.
More arboreal victims were expected to be identified and another 47 trees would need to be removed after suffering badly from the drought.
Describing themselves as "Greenall Whitley's New Potato Pub", the Market Hotel in Bridge Street was advertising its Halloween Disco which would be taking place on the 31st, hosted by DJ Jimmy James.
"Come and try our fabulous hot potato menu", said their ad.
"Our policy is to conserve features of industrial archaeological interest in the Sankey Valley Linear Park scheme. We intend to restore features there, such as locks and wharves, within the Job Creation Scheme, in accordance with safety requirements."
This week was what the Reporter had previously described as a "milestone in newspaper publishing history for the town".
That was because its sister paper, the St Helens Newspaper, changed from its broadsheet format into what it called a compact form, although most people then preferred the term tabloid.
The new-look newspaper that was published every Tuesday cost 6p – compared to the Friday Reporter that cost 9p.
The ABC Savoy in Bridge Street would normally begin running a new film from the 10th. However, they decided to retain 'Logan's Run', starring Michael York and Jenny Agutter, for another week.
And the Capitol, which was now only operating five days a week, was screening 'Dirty Mary Crazy Larry', starring Susan George and Peter Fonda.
And finally, for a week from the 11th, the St Helens Amateur Operatic Society performed 'My Fair Lady' at the Theatre Royal, which was advertised as their most lavish production ever staged.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the staff shortages in St Helens hospitals, the plan to extend the Sankey Valley Linear Park to Newton, the hooligans causing trouble in Parr and the mayor apologises for calling cleaning ladies a rabble.