FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (7th - 13th MARCH 1972)
This week's 19 stories include Pilks' shock announcement of a glass tank closure, the expansion of one-man buses in St Helens, the dangerous Dorothy Street dump, a campaign for more newspaper sellers in Rainford, the Duke of Edinburgh plans to come to St Helens but Queen Mary's reign in Taylor Park is brought to an end.
We begin on the 7th when William Atherton of Devon Street was presented with a £25 retirement award (around £400 in today's money). He was the first beneficiary of a new scheme that would allow all St Helens Corporation employees with a minimum of 25 years service to receive such a gratuity upon retiring.
One-man operated buses began operations in St Helens in November 1968. Passengers were asked to board the single-deckers at the front and exit via a centre door. The first services started from Bridge Street and tickets could be bought in advance from a kiosk. Within weeks Rainhill Parish Council criticised the "menace" and "monstrosity" of one-man buses with one member claiming to have seen as many as 150 cars being held up while the driver collected fares. Smoking was at first not allowed but as some passengers defied the ban, it was decided to ask smokers to sit at the back of the bus.
Slowly more routes were switching over to one-man operation and this week it was announced that the Clinkham Wood to Sutton Manor service would convert in May. Nine new single-decker buses had been acquired and the Corporation's Transport Manager, Alex Barlow, told the council's Transport Committee: "They will provide a more frequent service, particularly at peak periods, and should cater for the increasing housing development in the Sutton area."
West Sutton Labour Club in Jubits Lane was raided by thieves on the 8th and 4,500 cigarettes were stolen. They also stole £40 worth of tanners, or 2½p pieces as they were now called.
On the 9th Pilkingtons made the surprise announcement that a glass tank at their Grove Street sheetworks would close in 3 to 4 months time. That would affect 500 workers but the glass giant promised no enforced redundancies for a year. Half of the workforce would be transferred to Cowley Hill where a new float glass tank would soon open. It was hoped that the remaining men would accept voluntary redundancy or retirement. The company said the closure had been caused by reduced demand for sheet glass and the switch to float glass production.
Also on the 9th, James Lock from Ashcroft Street in Parr was fined £20 by St Helens magistrates after reversing his car in Sutton Road – and colliding with a police car! On the same day the Liverpool Echo reported that a jousting tournament with knights on horseback and a display of archery would be a feature of the fifth St Helens Show in July. There would also be an artists' corner and the organisers were appealing for painters and other creatives from the St Helens district to exhibit their work.
It was revealed this week that the Duke of Edinburgh would be paying a brief visit to St Helens during the summer as part of his two-day tour of the North. Prince Philip would be inspecting teenagers' work for the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and would arrive by helicopter at Grange Park secondary school. There the Duke would view a display in the newly built sports hall. However, the school's 700 pupils would not be able to do any Royal spotting during the 80-minute tour, as they would all be on half-term holiday.
However, in another announcement, it was revealed this week that St Helens would be losing a Royal. It was the Queen Mary, which had taken trippers round Taylor Park lake for more than 50 years. The boat was being removed from service because it was beyond repair and would be replaced by a plastic version costing £1,800.
On the front page of the Reporter on the 10th there was a photograph of an unusual load slowly manoeuvring round a corner in Clock Face. A Pickford's lorry was hauling the 180ft-long consignment from William Neill's engineering works at Bold to the Stanlow oil refinery. Just exactly what was being carried was not stated – but it weighed 104 tons and took a full day to travel to its destination thirty miles away.
Andrew Jarman was pictured in the paper in his Prescot Road home along with 176 Easter eggs. However, the two-year-old wasn't allowed to eat any of the eggs as they belonged to St Helens Round Table. Its members would be handing them out to children in Providence and St Helens hospitals and also to children in care.
"Firm Switch To Computer", was the headline to a brief article on Todd Steels who were spending £30,000 (more than £400,000 in today's money) on a machine to process its stock control and invoicing. Usually the Reporter would call computers giant brains, but failed to do so on this occasion!
"Down Your Way In St. Helens" was the headline to an advertising feature in the Reporter. The advertisers included: Fredericks Dairies of 52 Kirkland Street ("Home freezers supplied"); C. A. Critchley, 109 Church Street ("The Hoover centre"); Derbyshires, 12 College Street ("Wallpapers from 25p, Dulux Gloss 45p per pint"); Beamans, Eccleston Street ("Sparkling kitchens & bathrooms"); Vital Foods, 19 Barrow Street ("Try our natural remedies for your everyday ailments"); Tony Sampson, Rexmore House, Cotham Street ("Get in on the Tony Sampson ‘Budgie scene’"); Smith & Sons, 91 Church Street ("The town carpet specialists"); Ben Brooks, Duke Street ("Soccer, rugby, hockey - stockists of Puma, Adidas, Mitre boots"); Penmans The Jewellers, 99 Corporation Street ("When you give a diamond - she'll know it's for always"); Dixon's World Wide Travel, 25 Baldwin Street ("Let us take the worry, you take the holiday") and G. D. Estates, 47 Baldwin Street ("Estate agents - 95% to 100% mortgages available").
The Reporter also carried a full-page feature advertising Dave's DIY Supermarket in Rainhill Road, Rainhill, which had opened on the previous day. The Dave was David Lyon who co-owned the business with Norman Pickett.
It seems that getting your shop supplied with newspapers is not a straightforward business – at least it wasn't in the 1970s. Joan Hough was featured in the Reporter after Abel Heywood – the main newspaper wholesalers in St Helens – refused to supply her sweets and tobacco shop in Rookery Drive in Rainford. Mrs Hough said: "I opened my shop three months ago, and since then almost everyone who comes in has asked me to sell newspapers." Joan had previously sold papers in Sutton but Abel Heywood said it would be uneconomical to supply her in Rainford, as there were already three newsagents in the village. However, a 200-name petition had been collected in support of her campaign, with many signatures from pensioners who said they were faced with a 20-minute walk to buy a paper.
Also airing her grievance in the Reporter was Doreen Burgess of Dorothy Street in St Helens who wanted a wall building round the side of her council home. "A brick wall would stop people using my garden as a rubbish tip," Mrs Burgess complained. Her garden was littered with cans, broken glass and scrap that people had dumped. There was an existing concrete fence along its edge – but that was crumbling and dangerous.
Four years earlier her husband Gerald had lost the use of his left hand when it became trapped under falling concrete from the fence. "I'm too scared to let my children play there", added Doreen, "in case they cut themselves on the glass, or the fence falls on them. Town Hall officials have been here many times during the last five years – if they had brought a brick on every visit, I would have had a wall long since." A spokesman for St Helens Housing Department tersely said: "The matter is in hand".
Last June a police raid on Ernie Buckley's newsagent's in Duke Street in St Helens had led to the seizure of 425 books and magazines and charges of possessing obscene literature for sale. There had been several adjournments of court proceedings but on the 10th he finally appeared before the magistrates in St Helens and was fined £75, with £75 costs. Mr Buckley had pleaded not guilty but, during sentencing, the Chairman of the Bench said they had considered imposing a suspended prison sentence upon him.
On the 10th a line of showcases set in the corridor walls at St Helens Town Hall was officially handed over to the Mayor, Cllr. Charles Martin. The glass plants at Rockware, Ravenhead Tablewear and UGB had donated the cases. The display consisted of glass containers, tumblers and stemware.
Last July, George Wilson, the St Helens Chief Fire Officer, had said his brigade based at Parr Stocks Fire Station (pictured above) was 25% below strength and complained of the difficulty in recruiting men. However, on the 10th, Mr Wilson said things had markedly improved:
"The drift away from the service as men were attracted by better wages in industry has been stopped. There has been a dramatic improvement in the situation and the position possibly reflects the present unemployment situation and the recent pay rise, which means members of the fire service are getting similar wages to people in industry."
On the morning of the 12th, the pews in St Nicholas Church in Sutton were fully occupied after married couples had been invited to renew their marriage vows. Similar services were also held at All Saints and St Michael's churches in Sutton Parish. Somewhat appropriately, 'Love Story' starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal began seven days of screenings at the ABC Savoy from the 12th. Meanwhile at the Capitol, 'How To Succeed With Sex' was shown.
Next Week's stories will include the pain-crazed dog on the East Lancs caught in a rabbit trap, Parr is dubbed the dustbin of the town, a modernisation scheme for old council homes is announced and a Green Shield Stamps feature is in the Reporter.
We begin on the 7th when William Atherton of Devon Street was presented with a £25 retirement award (around £400 in today's money). He was the first beneficiary of a new scheme that would allow all St Helens Corporation employees with a minimum of 25 years service to receive such a gratuity upon retiring.
One-man operated buses began operations in St Helens in November 1968. Passengers were asked to board the single-deckers at the front and exit via a centre door. The first services started from Bridge Street and tickets could be bought in advance from a kiosk. Within weeks Rainhill Parish Council criticised the "menace" and "monstrosity" of one-man buses with one member claiming to have seen as many as 150 cars being held up while the driver collected fares. Smoking was at first not allowed but as some passengers defied the ban, it was decided to ask smokers to sit at the back of the bus.
Slowly more routes were switching over to one-man operation and this week it was announced that the Clinkham Wood to Sutton Manor service would convert in May. Nine new single-decker buses had been acquired and the Corporation's Transport Manager, Alex Barlow, told the council's Transport Committee: "They will provide a more frequent service, particularly at peak periods, and should cater for the increasing housing development in the Sutton area."
West Sutton Labour Club in Jubits Lane was raided by thieves on the 8th and 4,500 cigarettes were stolen. They also stole £40 worth of tanners, or 2½p pieces as they were now called.
On the 9th Pilkingtons made the surprise announcement that a glass tank at their Grove Street sheetworks would close in 3 to 4 months time. That would affect 500 workers but the glass giant promised no enforced redundancies for a year. Half of the workforce would be transferred to Cowley Hill where a new float glass tank would soon open. It was hoped that the remaining men would accept voluntary redundancy or retirement. The company said the closure had been caused by reduced demand for sheet glass and the switch to float glass production.
Also on the 9th, James Lock from Ashcroft Street in Parr was fined £20 by St Helens magistrates after reversing his car in Sutton Road – and colliding with a police car! On the same day the Liverpool Echo reported that a jousting tournament with knights on horseback and a display of archery would be a feature of the fifth St Helens Show in July. There would also be an artists' corner and the organisers were appealing for painters and other creatives from the St Helens district to exhibit their work.
It was revealed this week that the Duke of Edinburgh would be paying a brief visit to St Helens during the summer as part of his two-day tour of the North. Prince Philip would be inspecting teenagers' work for the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and would arrive by helicopter at Grange Park secondary school. There the Duke would view a display in the newly built sports hall. However, the school's 700 pupils would not be able to do any Royal spotting during the 80-minute tour, as they would all be on half-term holiday.
However, in another announcement, it was revealed this week that St Helens would be losing a Royal. It was the Queen Mary, which had taken trippers round Taylor Park lake for more than 50 years. The boat was being removed from service because it was beyond repair and would be replaced by a plastic version costing £1,800.
On the front page of the Reporter on the 10th there was a photograph of an unusual load slowly manoeuvring round a corner in Clock Face. A Pickford's lorry was hauling the 180ft-long consignment from William Neill's engineering works at Bold to the Stanlow oil refinery. Just exactly what was being carried was not stated – but it weighed 104 tons and took a full day to travel to its destination thirty miles away.
Andrew Jarman was pictured in the paper in his Prescot Road home along with 176 Easter eggs. However, the two-year-old wasn't allowed to eat any of the eggs as they belonged to St Helens Round Table. Its members would be handing them out to children in Providence and St Helens hospitals and also to children in care.
"Firm Switch To Computer", was the headline to a brief article on Todd Steels who were spending £30,000 (more than £400,000 in today's money) on a machine to process its stock control and invoicing. Usually the Reporter would call computers giant brains, but failed to do so on this occasion!
"Down Your Way In St. Helens" was the headline to an advertising feature in the Reporter. The advertisers included: Fredericks Dairies of 52 Kirkland Street ("Home freezers supplied"); C. A. Critchley, 109 Church Street ("The Hoover centre"); Derbyshires, 12 College Street ("Wallpapers from 25p, Dulux Gloss 45p per pint"); Beamans, Eccleston Street ("Sparkling kitchens & bathrooms"); Vital Foods, 19 Barrow Street ("Try our natural remedies for your everyday ailments"); Tony Sampson, Rexmore House, Cotham Street ("Get in on the Tony Sampson ‘Budgie scene’"); Smith & Sons, 91 Church Street ("The town carpet specialists"); Ben Brooks, Duke Street ("Soccer, rugby, hockey - stockists of Puma, Adidas, Mitre boots"); Penmans The Jewellers, 99 Corporation Street ("When you give a diamond - she'll know it's for always"); Dixon's World Wide Travel, 25 Baldwin Street ("Let us take the worry, you take the holiday") and G. D. Estates, 47 Baldwin Street ("Estate agents - 95% to 100% mortgages available").
The Reporter also carried a full-page feature advertising Dave's DIY Supermarket in Rainhill Road, Rainhill, which had opened on the previous day. The Dave was David Lyon who co-owned the business with Norman Pickett.
It seems that getting your shop supplied with newspapers is not a straightforward business – at least it wasn't in the 1970s. Joan Hough was featured in the Reporter after Abel Heywood – the main newspaper wholesalers in St Helens – refused to supply her sweets and tobacco shop in Rookery Drive in Rainford. Mrs Hough said: "I opened my shop three months ago, and since then almost everyone who comes in has asked me to sell newspapers." Joan had previously sold papers in Sutton but Abel Heywood said it would be uneconomical to supply her in Rainford, as there were already three newsagents in the village. However, a 200-name petition had been collected in support of her campaign, with many signatures from pensioners who said they were faced with a 20-minute walk to buy a paper.
Also airing her grievance in the Reporter was Doreen Burgess of Dorothy Street in St Helens who wanted a wall building round the side of her council home. "A brick wall would stop people using my garden as a rubbish tip," Mrs Burgess complained. Her garden was littered with cans, broken glass and scrap that people had dumped. There was an existing concrete fence along its edge – but that was crumbling and dangerous.
Four years earlier her husband Gerald had lost the use of his left hand when it became trapped under falling concrete from the fence. "I'm too scared to let my children play there", added Doreen, "in case they cut themselves on the glass, or the fence falls on them. Town Hall officials have been here many times during the last five years – if they had brought a brick on every visit, I would have had a wall long since." A spokesman for St Helens Housing Department tersely said: "The matter is in hand".
Last June a police raid on Ernie Buckley's newsagent's in Duke Street in St Helens had led to the seizure of 425 books and magazines and charges of possessing obscene literature for sale. There had been several adjournments of court proceedings but on the 10th he finally appeared before the magistrates in St Helens and was fined £75, with £75 costs. Mr Buckley had pleaded not guilty but, during sentencing, the Chairman of the Bench said they had considered imposing a suspended prison sentence upon him.
On the 10th a line of showcases set in the corridor walls at St Helens Town Hall was officially handed over to the Mayor, Cllr. Charles Martin. The glass plants at Rockware, Ravenhead Tablewear and UGB had donated the cases. The display consisted of glass containers, tumblers and stemware.
"The drift away from the service as men were attracted by better wages in industry has been stopped. There has been a dramatic improvement in the situation and the position possibly reflects the present unemployment situation and the recent pay rise, which means members of the fire service are getting similar wages to people in industry."
On the morning of the 12th, the pews in St Nicholas Church in Sutton were fully occupied after married couples had been invited to renew their marriage vows. Similar services were also held at All Saints and St Michael's churches in Sutton Parish. Somewhat appropriately, 'Love Story' starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal began seven days of screenings at the ABC Savoy from the 12th. Meanwhile at the Capitol, 'How To Succeed With Sex' was shown.
Next Week's stories will include the pain-crazed dog on the East Lancs caught in a rabbit trap, Parr is dubbed the dustbin of the town, a modernisation scheme for old council homes is announced and a Green Shield Stamps feature is in the Reporter.
This week's 19 stories include Pilks' shock announcement of a glass tank closure, the expansion of one-man buses in St Helens, the dangerous Dorothy Street dump, a campaign for more newspaper sellers in Rainford, the Duke of Edinburgh plans to come to St Helens but Queen Mary's reign in Taylor Park is brought to an end.
We begin on the 7th when William Atherton of Devon Street was presented with a £25 retirement award (around £400 in today's money).
He was the first beneficiary of a new scheme that would allow all St Helens Corporation employees with a minimum of 25 years service to receive such a gratuity upon retiring.
One-man operated buses began operations in St Helens in November 1968.
Passengers were asked to board the single-deckers at the front and exit via a centre door.
The first services started from Bridge Street and tickets could be bought in advance from a kiosk.
Within weeks Rainhill Parish Council criticised the "menace" and "monstrosity" of one-man buses with one member claiming to have seen as many as 150 cars being held up while the driver collected fares.
Smoking was at first not allowed but as some passengers defied the ban, it was decided to ask smokers to sit at the back of the bus.
Slowly more routes were switching over to one-man operation and this week it was announced that the Clinkham Wood to Sutton Manor service would convert in May.
Nine new single-decker buses had been acquired and the Corporation's Transport Manager, Alex Barlow, told the council's Transport Committee:
"They will provide a more frequent service, particularly at peak periods, and should cater for the increasing housing development in the Sutton area."
West Sutton Labour Club in Jubits Lane was raided by thieves on the 8th and 4,500 cigarettes were stolen. They also stole £40 worth of tanners, or 2½p pieces as they were now called.
On the 9th Pilkingtons made the surprise announcement that a glass tank at their Grove Street sheetworks would close in 3 to 4 months time.
That would affect 500 workers but the glass giant promised no enforced redundancies for a year.
Half of the workforce would be transferred to Cowley Hill where a new float glass tank would soon open.
It was hoped that the remaining men would accept voluntary redundancy or retirement.
The company said the closure had been caused by reduced demand for sheet glass and the switch to float glass production.
Also on the 9th, James Lock from Ashcroft Street in Parr was fined £20 by St Helens magistrates after reversing his car in Sutton Road – and colliding with a police car!
On the same day the Liverpool Echo reported that a jousting tournament with knights on horseback and a display of archery would be a feature of the fifth St Helens Show in July.
There would also be an artists' corner and the organisers were appealing for painters and other creatives from the St Helens district to exhibit their work.
It was revealed this week that the Duke of Edinburgh would be paying a brief visit to St Helens during the summer as part of his two-day tour of the North.
Prince Philip would be inspecting teenagers' work for the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and would arrive by helicopter at Grange Park secondary school.
There the Duke would view a display in the newly built sports hall. However, the school's 700 pupils would not be able to do any Royal spotting during the 80-minute tour, as they would all be on half-term holiday.
However, in another announcement, it was revealed this week that St Helens would be losing a Royal.
It was the Queen Mary, which had taken trippers round Taylor Park lake for more than 50 years.
The boat was being removed from service because it was beyond repair and would be replaced by a plastic version costing £1,800.
On the front page of the Reporter on the 10th there was a photograph of an unusual load slowly manoeuvring round a corner in Clock Face.
A Pickford's lorry was hauling the 180ft-long consignment from William Neill's engineering works at Bold to the Stanlow oil refinery.
Just exactly what was being carried was not stated – but it weighed 104 tons and took a full day to travel to its destination thirty miles away.
Andrew Jarman was pictured in the paper in his Prescot Road home surrounded by 176 Easter eggs.
However, the two-year-old wasn't allowed to eat any of the eggs as they belonged to St Helens Round Table.
Its members would be handing them out to children in Providence and St Helens hospitals and also to children in care.
"Firm Switch To Computer", was the headline to a brief article on Todd Steels who were spending £30,000 (more than £400,000 in today's money) on a machine to process its stock control and invoicing.
Usually the Reporter would call computers giant brains, but failed to do so on this occasion!
"Down Your Way In St. Helens" was the headline to an advertising feature in the Reporter. The advertisers included:
Fredericks Dairies of 52 Kirkland Street ("Home freezers supplied"); C. A. Critchley, 109 Church Street ("The Hoover centre"); Derbyshires, 12 College Street ("Wallpapers from 25p, Dulux Gloss 45p per pint"); Beamans, Eccleston Street ("Sparkling kitchens & bathrooms"); Vital Foods, 19 Barrow Street ("Try our natural remedies for your everyday ailments") and Tony Sampson, Rexmore House, Cotham Street ("Get in on the Tony Sampson ‘Budgie scene’").
There was also: Smith & Sons, 91 Church Street ("The town carpet specialists"); Ben Brooks, Duke Street ("Soccer, rugby, hockey - stockists of Puma, Adidas, Mitre boots"); Penmans The Jewellers, 99 Corporation Street ("When you give a diamond - she'll know it's for always"); Dixon's World Wide Travel, 25 Baldwin Street ("Let us take the worry, you take the holiday") and G. D. Estates, 47 Baldwin Street ("Estate agents - 95% to 100% mortgages available").
The Reporter also carried a full-page feature advertising Dave's DIY Supermarket in Rainhill Road, Rainhill, which had opened on the previous day.
The Dave was David Lyon who co-owned the business with Norman Pickett.
It seems that getting your shop supplied with newspapers is not a straightforward business – at least it wasn't in the 1970s.
Joan Hough was featured in the Reporter after Abel Heywood – the main newspaper wholesalers in St Helens – refused to supply her sweets and tobacco shop in Rookery Drive in Rainford. Mrs Hough said:
"I opened my shop three months ago, and since then almost everyone who comes in has asked me to sell newspapers."
Joan had previously sold papers in Sutton but Abel Heywood said it would be uneconomical to supply her in Rainford, as there were already three newsagents in the village.
However, a 200-name petition had been collected in support of her campaign, with many signatures from pensioners who said they were faced with a 20-minute walk to buy a paper.
Also airing her grievance in the Reporter was Doreen Burgess of Dorothy Street in St Helens who wanted a wall building round the side of her council home.
"A brick wall would stop people using my garden as a rubbish tip," Mrs Burgess complained.
Her garden was littered with cans, broken glass and scrap that people had dumped.
There was an existing concrete fence along its edge – but that was crumbling and dangerous.
Four years earlier her husband Gerald had lost the use of his left hand when it became trapped under falling concrete from the fence.
"I'm too scared to let my children play there", added Doreen, "in case they cut themselves on the glass, or the fence falls on them.
"Town Hall officials have been here many times during the last five years – if they had brought a brick on every visit, I would have had a wall long since."
A spokesman for St Helens Housing Department tersely said: "The matter is in hand".
Last June a police raid on Ernie Buckley's newsagent's in Duke Street in St Helens had led to the seizure of 425 books and magazines and charges of possessing obscene literature for sale.
There had been several adjournments of court proceedings but on the 10th he finally appeared before the magistrates in St Helens and was fined £75, with £75 costs.
Mr Buckley had pleaded not guilty but, during sentencing, the Chairman of the Bench said they had considered imposing a suspended prison sentence upon him.
On the 10th a line of showcases set in the corridor walls at St Helens Town Hall was officially handed over to the Mayor, Cllr. Charles Martin.
The glass plants at Rockware, Ravenhead Tablewear and UGB had donated the cases. The display consisted of glass containers, tumblers and stemware.
Last July, George Wilson, the St Helens Chief Fire Officer, had said his brigade based at Parr Stocks Fire Station (pictured above) was 25% below strength and complained of the difficulty in recruiting men. However, on the 10th, Mr Wilson said things had markedly improved:
"The drift away from the service as men were attracted by better wages in industry has been stopped. There has been a dramatic improvement in the situation and the position possibly reflects the present unemployment situation and the recent pay rise, which means members of the fire service are getting similar wages to people in industry."
On the morning of the 12th, the pews in St Nicholas Church in Sutton were fully occupied after married couples had been invited to renew their marriage vows. Similar services were also held at All Saints and St Michael's churches in Sutton Parish.
Somewhat appropriately, 'Love Story' starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal began seven days of screenings at the ABC Savoy from the 12th. Meanwhile at the Capitol, 'How To Succeed With Sex' was shown.
Next week's stories will include the pain-crazed dog on the East Lancs caught in a rabbit trap, Parr is dubbed the dustbin of the town, a modernisation scheme for old council homes is announced and a Green Shield Stamps feature is in the Reporter.
We begin on the 7th when William Atherton of Devon Street was presented with a £25 retirement award (around £400 in today's money).
He was the first beneficiary of a new scheme that would allow all St Helens Corporation employees with a minimum of 25 years service to receive such a gratuity upon retiring.
One-man operated buses began operations in St Helens in November 1968.
Passengers were asked to board the single-deckers at the front and exit via a centre door.
The first services started from Bridge Street and tickets could be bought in advance from a kiosk.
Within weeks Rainhill Parish Council criticised the "menace" and "monstrosity" of one-man buses with one member claiming to have seen as many as 150 cars being held up while the driver collected fares.
Smoking was at first not allowed but as some passengers defied the ban, it was decided to ask smokers to sit at the back of the bus.
Slowly more routes were switching over to one-man operation and this week it was announced that the Clinkham Wood to Sutton Manor service would convert in May.
Nine new single-decker buses had been acquired and the Corporation's Transport Manager, Alex Barlow, told the council's Transport Committee:
"They will provide a more frequent service, particularly at peak periods, and should cater for the increasing housing development in the Sutton area."
West Sutton Labour Club in Jubits Lane was raided by thieves on the 8th and 4,500 cigarettes were stolen. They also stole £40 worth of tanners, or 2½p pieces as they were now called.
On the 9th Pilkingtons made the surprise announcement that a glass tank at their Grove Street sheetworks would close in 3 to 4 months time.
That would affect 500 workers but the glass giant promised no enforced redundancies for a year.
Half of the workforce would be transferred to Cowley Hill where a new float glass tank would soon open.
It was hoped that the remaining men would accept voluntary redundancy or retirement.
The company said the closure had been caused by reduced demand for sheet glass and the switch to float glass production.
Also on the 9th, James Lock from Ashcroft Street in Parr was fined £20 by St Helens magistrates after reversing his car in Sutton Road – and colliding with a police car!
On the same day the Liverpool Echo reported that a jousting tournament with knights on horseback and a display of archery would be a feature of the fifth St Helens Show in July.
There would also be an artists' corner and the organisers were appealing for painters and other creatives from the St Helens district to exhibit their work.
It was revealed this week that the Duke of Edinburgh would be paying a brief visit to St Helens during the summer as part of his two-day tour of the North.
Prince Philip would be inspecting teenagers' work for the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and would arrive by helicopter at Grange Park secondary school.
There the Duke would view a display in the newly built sports hall. However, the school's 700 pupils would not be able to do any Royal spotting during the 80-minute tour, as they would all be on half-term holiday.
However, in another announcement, it was revealed this week that St Helens would be losing a Royal.
It was the Queen Mary, which had taken trippers round Taylor Park lake for more than 50 years.
The boat was being removed from service because it was beyond repair and would be replaced by a plastic version costing £1,800.
On the front page of the Reporter on the 10th there was a photograph of an unusual load slowly manoeuvring round a corner in Clock Face.
A Pickford's lorry was hauling the 180ft-long consignment from William Neill's engineering works at Bold to the Stanlow oil refinery.
Just exactly what was being carried was not stated – but it weighed 104 tons and took a full day to travel to its destination thirty miles away.
Andrew Jarman was pictured in the paper in his Prescot Road home surrounded by 176 Easter eggs.
However, the two-year-old wasn't allowed to eat any of the eggs as they belonged to St Helens Round Table.
Its members would be handing them out to children in Providence and St Helens hospitals and also to children in care.
"Firm Switch To Computer", was the headline to a brief article on Todd Steels who were spending £30,000 (more than £400,000 in today's money) on a machine to process its stock control and invoicing.
Usually the Reporter would call computers giant brains, but failed to do so on this occasion!
"Down Your Way In St. Helens" was the headline to an advertising feature in the Reporter. The advertisers included:
Fredericks Dairies of 52 Kirkland Street ("Home freezers supplied"); C. A. Critchley, 109 Church Street ("The Hoover centre"); Derbyshires, 12 College Street ("Wallpapers from 25p, Dulux Gloss 45p per pint"); Beamans, Eccleston Street ("Sparkling kitchens & bathrooms"); Vital Foods, 19 Barrow Street ("Try our natural remedies for your everyday ailments") and Tony Sampson, Rexmore House, Cotham Street ("Get in on the Tony Sampson ‘Budgie scene’").
There was also: Smith & Sons, 91 Church Street ("The town carpet specialists"); Ben Brooks, Duke Street ("Soccer, rugby, hockey - stockists of Puma, Adidas, Mitre boots"); Penmans The Jewellers, 99 Corporation Street ("When you give a diamond - she'll know it's for always"); Dixon's World Wide Travel, 25 Baldwin Street ("Let us take the worry, you take the holiday") and G. D. Estates, 47 Baldwin Street ("Estate agents - 95% to 100% mortgages available").
The Reporter also carried a full-page feature advertising Dave's DIY Supermarket in Rainhill Road, Rainhill, which had opened on the previous day.
The Dave was David Lyon who co-owned the business with Norman Pickett.
It seems that getting your shop supplied with newspapers is not a straightforward business – at least it wasn't in the 1970s.
Joan Hough was featured in the Reporter after Abel Heywood – the main newspaper wholesalers in St Helens – refused to supply her sweets and tobacco shop in Rookery Drive in Rainford. Mrs Hough said:
"I opened my shop three months ago, and since then almost everyone who comes in has asked me to sell newspapers."
Joan had previously sold papers in Sutton but Abel Heywood said it would be uneconomical to supply her in Rainford, as there were already three newsagents in the village.
However, a 200-name petition had been collected in support of her campaign, with many signatures from pensioners who said they were faced with a 20-minute walk to buy a paper.
Also airing her grievance in the Reporter was Doreen Burgess of Dorothy Street in St Helens who wanted a wall building round the side of her council home.
"A brick wall would stop people using my garden as a rubbish tip," Mrs Burgess complained.
Her garden was littered with cans, broken glass and scrap that people had dumped.
There was an existing concrete fence along its edge – but that was crumbling and dangerous.
Four years earlier her husband Gerald had lost the use of his left hand when it became trapped under falling concrete from the fence.
"I'm too scared to let my children play there", added Doreen, "in case they cut themselves on the glass, or the fence falls on them.
"Town Hall officials have been here many times during the last five years – if they had brought a brick on every visit, I would have had a wall long since."
A spokesman for St Helens Housing Department tersely said: "The matter is in hand".
Last June a police raid on Ernie Buckley's newsagent's in Duke Street in St Helens had led to the seizure of 425 books and magazines and charges of possessing obscene literature for sale.
There had been several adjournments of court proceedings but on the 10th he finally appeared before the magistrates in St Helens and was fined £75, with £75 costs.
Mr Buckley had pleaded not guilty but, during sentencing, the Chairman of the Bench said they had considered imposing a suspended prison sentence upon him.
On the 10th a line of showcases set in the corridor walls at St Helens Town Hall was officially handed over to the Mayor, Cllr. Charles Martin.
The glass plants at Rockware, Ravenhead Tablewear and UGB had donated the cases. The display consisted of glass containers, tumblers and stemware.
"The drift away from the service as men were attracted by better wages in industry has been stopped. There has been a dramatic improvement in the situation and the position possibly reflects the present unemployment situation and the recent pay rise, which means members of the fire service are getting similar wages to people in industry."
On the morning of the 12th, the pews in St Nicholas Church in Sutton were fully occupied after married couples had been invited to renew their marriage vows. Similar services were also held at All Saints and St Michael's churches in Sutton Parish.
Somewhat appropriately, 'Love Story' starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal began seven days of screenings at the ABC Savoy from the 12th. Meanwhile at the Capitol, 'How To Succeed With Sex' was shown.
Next week's stories will include the pain-crazed dog on the East Lancs caught in a rabbit trap, Parr is dubbed the dustbin of the town, a modernisation scheme for old council homes is announced and a Green Shield Stamps feature is in the Reporter.