FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (6th - 12th JUNE 1972)
This week's many stories include the prospect of industrial action at Pilks, the petticoat protest at Ashall's Garage, the naming of the new boat on Taylor Park lake, the old-time bar room rat battles, a rising star called Bernie Clifton and a solution is found to resolve the cold ambulance HQ dispute in Jackson Street.
We begin on the 6th when West Park Rugby Football Club presented a cheque for £200 to Pilkington Gala Girl Margaret Pinnington for her chosen charity Spina Bifida. A match played between the club's female section and what were described as club veterans aged over 30 had raised the money.
Last week the St Helens Reporter had stated that the strike at Sutton's Transport in Elton Head Road appeared to be ending – but conceded that the "peace" agreed between the men and management was "fragile". The 200 drivers had gone on strike after a new driver had refused to join the Transport and General Workers Union – although he had since changed his mind.
There was also concern over a pay deal but the Reporter thought that sufficient progress had been made for the men to return to work. But it didn't happen and at a further meeting held on the 8th, the drivers voted to continue their stoppage. A new basic pay rate had been agreed but the union representatives and Sutton's management could not agree on bonus payments – and so the dispute would drag on.
The Reporter's lead story on the 9th bore the headline "Glass Strike Fears In Pay Row" and described how Pilkingtons was facing the prospect of industrial action – on three fronts. Maintenance men had rejected the glass giant's "final offer" of a £2.40 a week pay rise; 9,000 production workers were demanding a £3 a week increase and negotiators for 5,000 other staff were described as locked in talks with management over a new pay deal.
Also making the front page of the Reporter were the sacked young ladies of Ashall's. They were picketing the City Road garage and urging drivers not to buy petrol from the firm. Twenty-one shop floor men and youths had also walked out in sympathy with the girls' dismissal. What the Reporter described as the "petticoat protest" had begun when Terry Oates had ticked off Karen Lewis.
The foreman claimed that the 17-year-old from Mount Pleasant Avenue had been talking to another employee when she should have been cleaning a car. Karen's explanation was that she had finished the job and was discussing union business with shop "stewardess" Sheila Hamer. She also accused Mr Oates of reducing her to tears and claimed he had been "getting" at her. A complaint was subsequently submitted to the management of St Helens' biggest car dealers, along with other grievances.
These included poor working conditions and bad language that some of the men were said to have used in the girls' presence. However, it was claimed that nothing had been done – and so nine of the young ladies walked out and were immediately sacked. In a statement to the Reporter, the directors of Ashall's said they were meeting to discuss the matter and did not wish to make any statement at present.
Billy Clarke was again featured in the Reporter – this time in 'Whalley's World'. Two years ago the keen tegestologist (beermat collector) said he had 2,000 pub souvenirs in his collection. This had now grown to almost 3,400 beermats and the 17-year-old Grange Park pupil had become the area representative of the British Beer Mat Collectors Society. Two years ago Billy had explained to the Reporter how his collection took some organisation: "You don't just pile them all together. They go into the various categories, and are then indexed into either sets, or under the name of the brewery."
Also profiled by Alan Whalley this week was Tom Mawdsley, a "reet character", who had died in the 1940s and had a peculiar hobby: "Owd Tom's favourite sport was to imitate a terrier, and tussle – toothwise – with wild rats on the bar counters of sawdust-type pubs around town. He lost only one battle – when the rat nipped his tongue and put him out of action for a spell."
The information came from Owd Tom's son Jim Mawdsley from Parr who explained how Blackbrook and Haydock used to host a number of characters who carried rats inside their shirts. Those, Alan wrote, took part in "bar counter battles that raised the odd free pint."
Wilf Britch of Crag Grove in Clinkham Wood reminisced in the column about the old silent days at the St Helens picture houses. His father had been a policeman and sometimes was on duty at the Parrvilion (aka Parr Dog) in Jackson Street. Wilf said: "When th’owed chap came to the Parr Dog I used to get a free viewing. People used to queue for two hours to get a seat at a penny a time. The audience was all agog at the exploits of 'The Hooded Terror' and Pearl White. When there was a full house, they used to cram in an extra row by putting a long plank across petrol drums at the front."
Researching your own family tree was, of course, much more difficult in the non-computerised seventies than today. And so if anyone was able to make interesting discoveries about their ancestors, their reward could be a big write-up in the papers. This week the Reporter described how Vera Richards of St Helens Road in Rainford had learnt some curious facts about her grandfather.
He was police constable Thomas Howarth who had joined the force in 1877 and at one time made what the Reporter called "one of the strangest arrests ever". Despite being badly assaulted by a man in Prescot, PC Howarth was still able to overcome his assailant. But being unable to escort him to the police station in the usual way, he had instead got his prisoner to the lockup by rolling him down a hill! For that act Thomas was promoted to first-class constable.
The Reporter profiled a new rising star with the stage name of Bernie Clifton. Formerly of Cowley Hill Lane in St Helens, Bernard Quinn attended Holy Cross and West Park schools. Although the comedian now lived in Chesterfield, his father Danny Quinn resided in Ribble Crescent in Billinge. This summer Bernie was appearing at the Pavillion in Blackpool and was recording for ITV's 'The Comedians', having also appeared in 'The Good Old Days' on the BBC.
It was announced this week that the new pleasure launch expected to go into service on Taylor Park lake (pictured above) in July had finally been named. It would be called – (drum roll, wait for it…!) – 'St Helens'. Now there's originality for you! A lot of thought had clearly got into that decision. They must have spent weeks thinking that up! The new plastic boat would replace the wooden Queen Mary, which had taken trippers round the lake for more than 50 years and had been removed from service because it was beyond repair.
Tom Docherty, chairman of the Gipsy Council, claimed this week that some councils – including Preston and Leigh – were trying to dump travellers on St Helens because the town had its own dedicated gipsy site. Mr Docherty said: "St. Helens has done its bit, but other local authorities who have not provided sites are pushing gipsies into St. Helens. This is not fair." He added that the Gipsy Council and the Department of the Environment had agreed that St Helens should be given power to evict all "surplus gipsies" who could not find room on the Dobson's Lane site in Sutton.
It was the Rainhill Rose Queen ceremony on the 10th, the first such event to have taken place in the village since 1954. Ten-year-old Diana Palfreyman was crowned Rose Queen by Lady Pilkington. That's Patricia Pilkington, the wife of Sir Alastair, the float glass inventor who lived in View Road – not Lord Harry's wife Mavis at Windle Hall.
The 10th was also the day of the biennial Pilkington pensioners gathering at Ruskin Drive. Four thousand attended from all over the country in brilliant sunshine, with entertainment on offer including bingo, shows, bowls and wrestling.
And finally, some good news for the cold ambulance workers in Jackson Street. St Helens Health Committee announced this week that they would be spending £2,400 (about £35,000 in today's money) to warm up the garage at their ambulance HQ (pictured above). That was intended to bring to an end a long-running dispute with staff. For months the ambulance men had refused to carry out cleaning duties on their vehicles because they said the garage was too cold.
In a showdown meeting with the council in April, the men had threatened to walk out after they were warned they could be suspended if they continued their cleaning boycott. One main reason why the garage was cold was due to the doors being left open for ambulances to go in and out. And so an automatic garage door-closing device was going to be installed, as well as a new gas boiler and ceiling fan heaters.
Next week's stories will include the grumpy gander at Windle Farm, the newly designated play street in St Helens town centre, the furious Rainhill DIY store boss and a family's dramatic escape from their fire-ravaged home in Thatto Heath.
We begin on the 6th when West Park Rugby Football Club presented a cheque for £200 to Pilkington Gala Girl Margaret Pinnington for her chosen charity Spina Bifida. A match played between the club's female section and what were described as club veterans aged over 30 had raised the money.
Last week the St Helens Reporter had stated that the strike at Sutton's Transport in Elton Head Road appeared to be ending – but conceded that the "peace" agreed between the men and management was "fragile". The 200 drivers had gone on strike after a new driver had refused to join the Transport and General Workers Union – although he had since changed his mind.
There was also concern over a pay deal but the Reporter thought that sufficient progress had been made for the men to return to work. But it didn't happen and at a further meeting held on the 8th, the drivers voted to continue their stoppage. A new basic pay rate had been agreed but the union representatives and Sutton's management could not agree on bonus payments – and so the dispute would drag on.
The Reporter's lead story on the 9th bore the headline "Glass Strike Fears In Pay Row" and described how Pilkingtons was facing the prospect of industrial action – on three fronts. Maintenance men had rejected the glass giant's "final offer" of a £2.40 a week pay rise; 9,000 production workers were demanding a £3 a week increase and negotiators for 5,000 other staff were described as locked in talks with management over a new pay deal.
Also making the front page of the Reporter were the sacked young ladies of Ashall's. They were picketing the City Road garage and urging drivers not to buy petrol from the firm. Twenty-one shop floor men and youths had also walked out in sympathy with the girls' dismissal. What the Reporter described as the "petticoat protest" had begun when Terry Oates had ticked off Karen Lewis.
The foreman claimed that the 17-year-old from Mount Pleasant Avenue had been talking to another employee when she should have been cleaning a car. Karen's explanation was that she had finished the job and was discussing union business with shop "stewardess" Sheila Hamer. She also accused Mr Oates of reducing her to tears and claimed he had been "getting" at her. A complaint was subsequently submitted to the management of St Helens' biggest car dealers, along with other grievances.
These included poor working conditions and bad language that some of the men were said to have used in the girls' presence. However, it was claimed that nothing had been done – and so nine of the young ladies walked out and were immediately sacked. In a statement to the Reporter, the directors of Ashall's said they were meeting to discuss the matter and did not wish to make any statement at present.
Billy Clarke was again featured in the Reporter – this time in 'Whalley's World'. Two years ago the keen tegestologist (beermat collector) said he had 2,000 pub souvenirs in his collection. This had now grown to almost 3,400 beermats and the 17-year-old Grange Park pupil had become the area representative of the British Beer Mat Collectors Society. Two years ago Billy had explained to the Reporter how his collection took some organisation: "You don't just pile them all together. They go into the various categories, and are then indexed into either sets, or under the name of the brewery."
Also profiled by Alan Whalley this week was Tom Mawdsley, a "reet character", who had died in the 1940s and had a peculiar hobby: "Owd Tom's favourite sport was to imitate a terrier, and tussle – toothwise – with wild rats on the bar counters of sawdust-type pubs around town. He lost only one battle – when the rat nipped his tongue and put him out of action for a spell."
The information came from Owd Tom's son Jim Mawdsley from Parr who explained how Blackbrook and Haydock used to host a number of characters who carried rats inside their shirts. Those, Alan wrote, took part in "bar counter battles that raised the odd free pint."
Wilf Britch of Crag Grove in Clinkham Wood reminisced in the column about the old silent days at the St Helens picture houses. His father had been a policeman and sometimes was on duty at the Parrvilion (aka Parr Dog) in Jackson Street. Wilf said: "When th’owed chap came to the Parr Dog I used to get a free viewing. People used to queue for two hours to get a seat at a penny a time. The audience was all agog at the exploits of 'The Hooded Terror' and Pearl White. When there was a full house, they used to cram in an extra row by putting a long plank across petrol drums at the front."
Researching your own family tree was, of course, much more difficult in the non-computerised seventies than today. And so if anyone was able to make interesting discoveries about their ancestors, their reward could be a big write-up in the papers. This week the Reporter described how Vera Richards of St Helens Road in Rainford had learnt some curious facts about her grandfather.
He was police constable Thomas Howarth who had joined the force in 1877 and at one time made what the Reporter called "one of the strangest arrests ever". Despite being badly assaulted by a man in Prescot, PC Howarth was still able to overcome his assailant. But being unable to escort him to the police station in the usual way, he had instead got his prisoner to the lockup by rolling him down a hill! For that act Thomas was promoted to first-class constable.
The Reporter profiled a new rising star with the stage name of Bernie Clifton. Formerly of Cowley Hill Lane in St Helens, Bernard Quinn attended Holy Cross and West Park schools. Although the comedian now lived in Chesterfield, his father Danny Quinn resided in Ribble Crescent in Billinge. This summer Bernie was appearing at the Pavillion in Blackpool and was recording for ITV's 'The Comedians', having also appeared in 'The Good Old Days' on the BBC.
Tom Docherty, chairman of the Gipsy Council, claimed this week that some councils – including Preston and Leigh – were trying to dump travellers on St Helens because the town had its own dedicated gipsy site. Mr Docherty said: "St. Helens has done its bit, but other local authorities who have not provided sites are pushing gipsies into St. Helens. This is not fair." He added that the Gipsy Council and the Department of the Environment had agreed that St Helens should be given power to evict all "surplus gipsies" who could not find room on the Dobson's Lane site in Sutton.
It was the Rainhill Rose Queen ceremony on the 10th, the first such event to have taken place in the village since 1954. Ten-year-old Diana Palfreyman was crowned Rose Queen by Lady Pilkington. That's Patricia Pilkington, the wife of Sir Alastair, the float glass inventor who lived in View Road – not Lord Harry's wife Mavis at Windle Hall.
The 10th was also the day of the biennial Pilkington pensioners gathering at Ruskin Drive. Four thousand attended from all over the country in brilliant sunshine, with entertainment on offer including bingo, shows, bowls and wrestling.
In a showdown meeting with the council in April, the men had threatened to walk out after they were warned they could be suspended if they continued their cleaning boycott. One main reason why the garage was cold was due to the doors being left open for ambulances to go in and out. And so an automatic garage door-closing device was going to be installed, as well as a new gas boiler and ceiling fan heaters.
Next week's stories will include the grumpy gander at Windle Farm, the newly designated play street in St Helens town centre, the furious Rainhill DIY store boss and a family's dramatic escape from their fire-ravaged home in Thatto Heath.
This week's many stories include the prospect of industrial action at Pilks, the petticoat protest at Ashall's Garage, the naming of the new boat on Taylor Park lake, the old-time bar room rat battles, a rising star called Bernie Clifton and a solution is found to resolve the cold ambulance HQ dispute in Jackson Street.
We begin on the 6th when West Park Rugby Football Club presented a cheque for £200 to Pilkington Gala Girl Margaret Pinnington for her chosen charity Spina Bifida.
A match played between the club's female section and what were described as club veterans aged over 30 had raised the money.
Last week the St Helens Reporter had stated that the strike at Sutton's Transport in Elton Head Road appeared to be ending – but conceded that the "peace" agreed between the men and management was "fragile".
The 200 drivers had gone on strike after a new driver had refused to join the Transport and General Workers Union – although he had since changed his mind.
There was also concern over a pay deal but the Reporter thought that sufficient progress had been made for the men to return to work.
But it didn't happen and at a further meeting held on the 8th, the drivers voted to continue their stoppage.
A new basic pay rate had been agreed but the union representatives and Sutton's management could not agree on bonus payments – and so the dispute would drag on.
The Reporter's lead story on the 9th bore the headline "Glass Strike Fears In Pay Row" and described how Pilkingtons was facing the prospect of industrial action – on three fronts.
Maintenance men had rejected the glass giant's "final offer" of a £2.40 a week pay rise; 9,000 production workers were demanding a £3 a week increase and negotiators for 5,000 other staff were described as locked in talks with management over a new pay deal.
Also making the front page of the Reporter were the sacked young ladies of Ashall's. They were picketing the City Road garage and urging drivers not to buy petrol from the firm.
Twenty-one shop floor men and youths had also walked out in sympathy with the girls' dismissal.
What the Reporter described as the "petticoat protest" had begun when Terry Oates had ticked off Karen Lewis.
The foreman claimed that the 17-year-old from Mount Pleasant Avenue had been talking to another employee when she should have been cleaning a car.
Karen's explanation was that she had finished the job and was discussing union business with shop "stewardess" Sheila Hamer.
She also accused Mr Oates of reducing her to tears and claimed he had been "getting" at her.
A complaint was subsequently submitted to the management of St Helens' biggest car dealers, along with other grievances.
These included poor working conditions and bad language that some of the men were said to have used in the girls' presence.
However, it was claimed that nothing had been done – and so nine of the young ladies walked out and were immediately sacked.
In a statement to the Reporter, the directors of Ashall's said they were meeting to discuss the matter and did not wish to make any statement at present.
Billy Clarke was again featured in the Reporter – this time in 'Whalley's World'. Two years ago the keen tegestologist (beermat collector) said he had 2,000 pub souvenirs in his collection.
This had now grown to almost 3,400 beermats and the 17-year-old Grange Park pupil had become the area representative of the British Beer Mat Collectors Society.
Two years ago Billy had explained to the Reporter how his collection took some organisation:
"You don't just pile them all together. They go into the various categories, and are then indexed into either sets, or under the name of the brewery."
Also profiled by Alan Whalley this week was Tom Mawdsley, a "reet character", who had died in the 1940s and had a peculiar hobby:
"Owd Tom's favourite sport was to imitate a terrier, and tussle – toothwise – with wild rats on the bar counters of sawdust-type pubs around town. He lost only one battle – when the rat nipped his tongue and put him out of action for a spell."
The information came from Owd Tom's son Jim Mawdsley from Parr who explained how Blackbrook and Haydock used to host a number of characters who carried rats inside their shirts.
Those, Alan wrote, took part in "bar counter battles that raised the odd free pint."
Wilf Britch of Crag Grove in Clinkham Wood reminisced in the column about the old silent days at the St Helens picture houses.
His father had been a policeman and sometimes was on duty at the Parrvilion (aka Parr Dog) in Jackson Street. Wilf said:
"When th’owed chap came to the Parr Dog I used to get a free viewing. People used to queue for two hours to get a seat at a penny a time. The audience was all agog at the exploits of 'The Hooded Terror' and Pearl White. When there was a full house, they used to cram in an extra row by putting a long plank across petrol drums at the front."
Researching your own family tree was, of course, much more difficult in the non-computerised seventies than today.
And so if anyone was able to make interesting discoveries about their ancestors, their reward could be a big write-up in the papers.
This week the Reporter described how Vera Richards of St Helens Road in Rainford had learnt some curious facts about her grandfather.
He was police constable Thomas Howarth who had joined the force in 1877 and at one time made what the Reporter called "one of the strangest arrests ever".
Despite being badly assaulted by a man in Prescot, PC Howarth was still able to overcome his assailant.
But being unable to escort him to the police station in the usual way, he had instead got his prisoner to the lockup by rolling him down a hill! For that act Thomas was promoted to first-class constable.
The Reporter profiled a new rising star with the stage name of Bernie Clifton.
Formerly of Cowley Hill Lane in St Helens, Bernard Quinn attended Holy Cross and West Park schools.
Although the comedian now lived in Chesterfield, his father Danny Quinn resided in Ribble Crescent in Billinge.
This summer Bernie was appearing at the Pavillion in Blackpool and was recording for ITV's 'The Comedians', having also appeared in 'The Good Old Days' on the BBC.
It was announced this week that the new pleasure launch expected to go into service on Taylor Park lake (pictured above) in July had finally been named.
It would be called – (drum roll, wait for it…!) – 'St Helens'.
Now there's originality for you! A lot of thought had clearly got into that decision. They must have spent weeks thinking that up!
The new plastic boat would replace the wooden Queen Mary, which had taken trippers round the lake for more than 50 years and had been removed from service because it was beyond repair.
Tom Docherty, chairman of the Gipsy Council, claimed this week that some councils – including Preston and Leigh – were trying to dump travellers on St Helens because the town had its own dedicated gipsy site. Mr Docherty said:
"St. Helens has done its bit, but other local authorities who have not provided sites are pushing gipsies into St. Helens. This is not fair."
He added that the Gipsy Council and the Department of the Environment had agreed that St Helens should be given power to evict all "surplus gipsies" who could not find room on the Dobson's Lane site in Sutton.
It was the Rainhill Rose Queen ceremony on the 10th, the first such event to have taken place in the village since 1954.
Ten-year-old Diana Palfreyman was crowned Rose Queen by Lady Pilkington.
That's Patricia Pilkington, the wife of Sir Alastair, the float glass inventor who lived in View Road – not Lord Harry's wife Mavis at Windle Hall.
The 10th was also the day of the biennial Pilkington pensioners gathering at Ruskin Drive.
Four thousand attended from all over the country in brilliant sunshine, with entertainment on offer including bingo, shows, bowls and wrestling.
And finally, some good news for the cold ambulance workers in Jackson Street.
St Helens Health Committee announced this week that they would be spending £2,400 (about £35,000 in today's money) to warm up the garage at their ambulance HQ (pictured above).
That was intended to bring to an end a long-running dispute with staff.
For months the ambulance men had refused to carry out cleaning duties on their vehicles because they said the garage was too cold.
In a showdown meeting with the council in April, the men had threatened to walk out after they were warned they could be suspended if they continued their cleaning boycott.
One main reason why the garage was cold was due to the doors being left open for ambulances to go in and out.
And so an automatic garage door-closing device was going to be installed, as well as a new gas boiler and ceiling fan heaters.
Next week's stories will include the grumpy gander at Windle Farm, the newly designated play street in St Helens town centre, the furious Rainhill DIY store boss and a family's dramatic escape from their fire-ravaged home in Thatto Heath.
We begin on the 6th when West Park Rugby Football Club presented a cheque for £200 to Pilkington Gala Girl Margaret Pinnington for her chosen charity Spina Bifida.
A match played between the club's female section and what were described as club veterans aged over 30 had raised the money.
Last week the St Helens Reporter had stated that the strike at Sutton's Transport in Elton Head Road appeared to be ending – but conceded that the "peace" agreed between the men and management was "fragile".
The 200 drivers had gone on strike after a new driver had refused to join the Transport and General Workers Union – although he had since changed his mind.
There was also concern over a pay deal but the Reporter thought that sufficient progress had been made for the men to return to work.
But it didn't happen and at a further meeting held on the 8th, the drivers voted to continue their stoppage.
A new basic pay rate had been agreed but the union representatives and Sutton's management could not agree on bonus payments – and so the dispute would drag on.
The Reporter's lead story on the 9th bore the headline "Glass Strike Fears In Pay Row" and described how Pilkingtons was facing the prospect of industrial action – on three fronts.
Maintenance men had rejected the glass giant's "final offer" of a £2.40 a week pay rise; 9,000 production workers were demanding a £3 a week increase and negotiators for 5,000 other staff were described as locked in talks with management over a new pay deal.
Also making the front page of the Reporter were the sacked young ladies of Ashall's. They were picketing the City Road garage and urging drivers not to buy petrol from the firm.
Twenty-one shop floor men and youths had also walked out in sympathy with the girls' dismissal.
What the Reporter described as the "petticoat protest" had begun when Terry Oates had ticked off Karen Lewis.
The foreman claimed that the 17-year-old from Mount Pleasant Avenue had been talking to another employee when she should have been cleaning a car.
Karen's explanation was that she had finished the job and was discussing union business with shop "stewardess" Sheila Hamer.
She also accused Mr Oates of reducing her to tears and claimed he had been "getting" at her.
A complaint was subsequently submitted to the management of St Helens' biggest car dealers, along with other grievances.
These included poor working conditions and bad language that some of the men were said to have used in the girls' presence.
However, it was claimed that nothing had been done – and so nine of the young ladies walked out and were immediately sacked.
In a statement to the Reporter, the directors of Ashall's said they were meeting to discuss the matter and did not wish to make any statement at present.
Billy Clarke was again featured in the Reporter – this time in 'Whalley's World'. Two years ago the keen tegestologist (beermat collector) said he had 2,000 pub souvenirs in his collection.
This had now grown to almost 3,400 beermats and the 17-year-old Grange Park pupil had become the area representative of the British Beer Mat Collectors Society.
Two years ago Billy had explained to the Reporter how his collection took some organisation:
"You don't just pile them all together. They go into the various categories, and are then indexed into either sets, or under the name of the brewery."
Also profiled by Alan Whalley this week was Tom Mawdsley, a "reet character", who had died in the 1940s and had a peculiar hobby:
"Owd Tom's favourite sport was to imitate a terrier, and tussle – toothwise – with wild rats on the bar counters of sawdust-type pubs around town. He lost only one battle – when the rat nipped his tongue and put him out of action for a spell."
The information came from Owd Tom's son Jim Mawdsley from Parr who explained how Blackbrook and Haydock used to host a number of characters who carried rats inside their shirts.
Those, Alan wrote, took part in "bar counter battles that raised the odd free pint."
Wilf Britch of Crag Grove in Clinkham Wood reminisced in the column about the old silent days at the St Helens picture houses.
His father had been a policeman and sometimes was on duty at the Parrvilion (aka Parr Dog) in Jackson Street. Wilf said:
"When th’owed chap came to the Parr Dog I used to get a free viewing. People used to queue for two hours to get a seat at a penny a time. The audience was all agog at the exploits of 'The Hooded Terror' and Pearl White. When there was a full house, they used to cram in an extra row by putting a long plank across petrol drums at the front."
Researching your own family tree was, of course, much more difficult in the non-computerised seventies than today.
And so if anyone was able to make interesting discoveries about their ancestors, their reward could be a big write-up in the papers.
This week the Reporter described how Vera Richards of St Helens Road in Rainford had learnt some curious facts about her grandfather.
He was police constable Thomas Howarth who had joined the force in 1877 and at one time made what the Reporter called "one of the strangest arrests ever".
Despite being badly assaulted by a man in Prescot, PC Howarth was still able to overcome his assailant.
But being unable to escort him to the police station in the usual way, he had instead got his prisoner to the lockup by rolling him down a hill! For that act Thomas was promoted to first-class constable.
The Reporter profiled a new rising star with the stage name of Bernie Clifton.
Formerly of Cowley Hill Lane in St Helens, Bernard Quinn attended Holy Cross and West Park schools.
Although the comedian now lived in Chesterfield, his father Danny Quinn resided in Ribble Crescent in Billinge.
This summer Bernie was appearing at the Pavillion in Blackpool and was recording for ITV's 'The Comedians', having also appeared in 'The Good Old Days' on the BBC.
It would be called – (drum roll, wait for it…!) – 'St Helens'.
Now there's originality for you! A lot of thought had clearly got into that decision. They must have spent weeks thinking that up!
The new plastic boat would replace the wooden Queen Mary, which had taken trippers round the lake for more than 50 years and had been removed from service because it was beyond repair.
Tom Docherty, chairman of the Gipsy Council, claimed this week that some councils – including Preston and Leigh – were trying to dump travellers on St Helens because the town had its own dedicated gipsy site. Mr Docherty said:
"St. Helens has done its bit, but other local authorities who have not provided sites are pushing gipsies into St. Helens. This is not fair."
He added that the Gipsy Council and the Department of the Environment had agreed that St Helens should be given power to evict all "surplus gipsies" who could not find room on the Dobson's Lane site in Sutton.
It was the Rainhill Rose Queen ceremony on the 10th, the first such event to have taken place in the village since 1954.
Ten-year-old Diana Palfreyman was crowned Rose Queen by Lady Pilkington.
That's Patricia Pilkington, the wife of Sir Alastair, the float glass inventor who lived in View Road – not Lord Harry's wife Mavis at Windle Hall.
The 10th was also the day of the biennial Pilkington pensioners gathering at Ruskin Drive.
Four thousand attended from all over the country in brilliant sunshine, with entertainment on offer including bingo, shows, bowls and wrestling.
St Helens Health Committee announced this week that they would be spending £2,400 (about £35,000 in today's money) to warm up the garage at their ambulance HQ (pictured above).
That was intended to bring to an end a long-running dispute with staff.
For months the ambulance men had refused to carry out cleaning duties on their vehicles because they said the garage was too cold.
In a showdown meeting with the council in April, the men had threatened to walk out after they were warned they could be suspended if they continued their cleaning boycott.
One main reason why the garage was cold was due to the doors being left open for ambulances to go in and out.
And so an automatic garage door-closing device was going to be installed, as well as a new gas boiler and ceiling fan heaters.
Next week's stories will include the grumpy gander at Windle Farm, the newly designated play street in St Helens town centre, the furious Rainhill DIY store boss and a family's dramatic escape from their fire-ravaged home in Thatto Heath.