FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (12th - 18th OCTOBER 1970)
This week's many stories include the plague of giant rats in Silkstone Street, the Rothery Radio strike, the revolutionary Rainford bus fare scheme, the Moss Bank tunnel road, the Eccleston women wanting ladies-only bars and the Pilkington protest march against job losses that resulted in more sackings.
We begin at the ABC Savoy on the 12th where a special 12-day-long presentation of 'Gone With The Wind' began. The Clark Gable / Vivien Leigh Oscar-winner has now effectively been banned from our screens because of its depictions of slavery but was quite uncontroversial in 1970. The Capitol was showing the comedy film 'The Gay Deceivers' and announcing a new heating system had been installed in the cinema.
On the same day 35 television engineers at Rothery Radio's repairs depot in Lowe Street went on strike – followed by four of their telephone receptionists. The men downed screwdrivers and soldering irons in support of their pay claim and the girls walked out because customers were being rude to them!
Later in the week the St Helens Reporter quoted "attractive" 19-year-old "mini-skirted" Pam Currant of Balmoral Avenue in Sutton saying: "We were rushed off our feet with complaints. People were losing their tempers and some were extremely rude because no one had been to repair their television. We decided that we would be better off if we went on strike with the men."
Nearly 1,000 workers – including 130 sacked from Pilkingtons – took part in a mass march through St Helens on the 12th. The demonstration had been organised by the glass giant's unofficial Rank and File Committee, who'd been behind the 7-week strike earlier in the year. The group led by Gerry Caughey had also organised a three-day token strike at Pilkingtons at the beginning of August, which had led to the 130 job losses.
Building workers from the £800,000 re-development site at Liverpool Road stopped work to take part in the protest march and there were also Liverpool dockers and construction workers participating. The Liverpool Echo wrote: "Chanting slogans as they went the marchers set out from the Queen's Recreation Park at 11.30 a.m. to cover a four mile route which would take them past all six Pilkington plants in St. Helens and the firm's head office in Prescot Road."
However on the following day the 59 marching building workers were all sacked for taking the time off. The remaining 16 men at the Liverpool Road site downed tools in sympathy, putting what the Reporter called the "showpiece corporation housing project", well behind schedule.
The council's Public Works Committee met on the 14th and gave the go-ahead for the building of a £130,000 tunnel road under the East Lancs. The underpass would follow the route of a disused railway line from St Helens to Rainford and would hopefully reduce the number of accidents at the renowned black spot. The new two-way single carriageway would be more than half a mile long and travel from an island at Moss Bank to Washway Lane. However negotiations with British Rail to buy the land had yet to be finalised and the Ministry of Transport had not yet approved the scheme.
Throughout the week the St Helens Amateur Operatic Society presented their 60th anniversary production of 'The Student Prince' at the Theatre Royal.
At a meeting of the St Helens Health Committee this week Alderman Margaret Shard attacked the planned closure of Cowley Hill Maternity Hospital, saying: "The mothers will have to go to Whiston and this will bring expense to those who perhaps have small families. I am not decrying Whiston Hospital, but the closure of Cowley Hill Hospital is going to be a great loss to this town. I think it is a scandal that we should allow it to slip through our fingers like this." The matter was out of the council's hands, although they had sent a letter of protest to the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board.
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 16th and described a big rodent problem in Silkstone Street: "Plagues of giant rats have turned Silkstone Street, St. Helens, into a street of fear. For mothers are terrified that when their children are out playing they will be bitten by one of them. People living in the terraced council houses are even afraid to go down the yard to their toilets in case they come face to face with a rat."
The Reporter described how residents were ensuring their doors and windows were kept tightly shut, with rats having been seen coming out of dustbins, sitting in verandas and darting across backyards. "I saw four rats in my back yard last Saturday. It was terrifying," said Dolly Ashcroft. Her neighbour Margaret Bridge was concerned for the safety of her four youngsters. "I dare not leave my children alone", she said. "I dread to think what would happen if one of them should come into contact with a rat."
The residents claimed that a derelict piece of land at the back of their homes was the source of the infestation and that the council had been told of the problem three months earlier. "This land has been lying like this for at last four years and there is a disused railway line running through it," explained Mrs Ashcroft. "The area is being used for tipping all sorts of rubbish, and the rats are breeding there."
A petition had been got up demanding action but the council's Public Health Department said they were doing their best. A spokesman explained: "The stuff that we are using to get rid of these rats is the best that money can buy. But it takes time. As soon as we have got rid of the rats, we shall set about cleaning up the land."
The Reporter also described a new "revolutionary" bus fare scheme "pioneered" by Rainford Council, which would allow over 70s to travel at half-price. Until the 1974 local authority reorganisation, Rainford had an urban district council, which had many powers – including matters of transport. After years of discussions, the Ribble Motor Company had finally agreed to the half-price scheme, which would also be recognised by St Helens Corporation's Passenger Transport Department.
However there was a catch – although it doesn't appear to have been seen as a catch then. Elderly residents who wished to take advantage of the concessionary arrangement had to make regular trips to the council offices in the Village Hall to buy bundles of tickets. The minimum amount would be 10 shillings worth, which OAPs could buy for 5 shillings, with passes, apparently, not yet being considered.
Or perhaps the canny bus companies felt that having to buy advance bus tickets in bundles would deter much concessionary travel – as the council did not appear to be subsidising the scheme. Despite the hassle, the Rainford councillors were pleased as Punch with the arrangement, with Councillor Ron Jones saying: "It is gratifying to see a scheme like this come into operation. It is one which I am sure will be greatly appreciated by our elderly residents."
It was also reported that police were keeping a close watch on Windle Hall (pictured above) after Lady Pilkington had received a threatening telephone call at 2 am. As a result all calls to the mansion were being diverted to the telephone exchange for screening. There had also been a threat made to burn down Fibreglass and the homes of two Pilkington executives had recently been attacked. One had a brick thrown through a window.
"Where are all the brave men these days?”, enquired Valerie Belshaw in the Reporter. And she wasn’t referring to the nocturnal brick throwers or males that threatened women over the phone in the middle of the night! The journalist was pondering why no men had come forward to support – or even oppose – her campaign for "ladies only" rooms in pubs. All the correspondence she had received came from women, with this joint letter sent in by neighbours Mrs M. Ashcroft, Mrs. B. Manchester and Mrs V. Geidart of Millwood Avenue in Eccleston:
"Husbands go out far too often and leave us women. We all agree that it would be nice to go out when and where we feel like it without all the cribbing and long faces of our men. A bar for women would be the ideal thing, or better still, a drinking club for women only. Is it any wonder that most women are constantly taking tablets of some description for nerves etc. All day and night they're saddled with two or more children.
"We knew when we got married that we'd have to have babies and look after the home, but that doesn't mean to say men OWN us. They tend to forget that home life and children are as much their responsibility as ours. Let them have their pint. They deserve it after a long day's work, but so do we. Come on landlords, buck up a bit!"
Next week's stories will include a sit-down strike at the Town Hall, complaints of jerry building on the new Sutton Manor estates, the Moss Bank girl who ate cream buns to get into the army, a discussion on whether dolly bird wives lived longer and why Rainhill Hospital was searching for kind-hearted landladies.
On the same day 35 television engineers at Rothery Radio's repairs depot in Lowe Street went on strike – followed by four of their telephone receptionists. The men downed screwdrivers and soldering irons in support of their pay claim and the girls walked out because customers were being rude to them!
Later in the week the St Helens Reporter quoted "attractive" 19-year-old "mini-skirted" Pam Currant of Balmoral Avenue in Sutton saying: "We were rushed off our feet with complaints. People were losing their tempers and some were extremely rude because no one had been to repair their television. We decided that we would be better off if we went on strike with the men."
Nearly 1,000 workers – including 130 sacked from Pilkingtons – took part in a mass march through St Helens on the 12th. The demonstration had been organised by the glass giant's unofficial Rank and File Committee, who'd been behind the 7-week strike earlier in the year. The group led by Gerry Caughey had also organised a three-day token strike at Pilkingtons at the beginning of August, which had led to the 130 job losses.
Building workers from the £800,000 re-development site at Liverpool Road stopped work to take part in the protest march and there were also Liverpool dockers and construction workers participating. The Liverpool Echo wrote: "Chanting slogans as they went the marchers set out from the Queen's Recreation Park at 11.30 a.m. to cover a four mile route which would take them past all six Pilkington plants in St. Helens and the firm's head office in Prescot Road."
However on the following day the 59 marching building workers were all sacked for taking the time off. The remaining 16 men at the Liverpool Road site downed tools in sympathy, putting what the Reporter called the "showpiece corporation housing project", well behind schedule.
The council's Public Works Committee met on the 14th and gave the go-ahead for the building of a £130,000 tunnel road under the East Lancs. The underpass would follow the route of a disused railway line from St Helens to Rainford and would hopefully reduce the number of accidents at the renowned black spot. The new two-way single carriageway would be more than half a mile long and travel from an island at Moss Bank to Washway Lane. However negotiations with British Rail to buy the land had yet to be finalised and the Ministry of Transport had not yet approved the scheme.
Throughout the week the St Helens Amateur Operatic Society presented their 60th anniversary production of 'The Student Prince' at the Theatre Royal.
At a meeting of the St Helens Health Committee this week Alderman Margaret Shard attacked the planned closure of Cowley Hill Maternity Hospital, saying: "The mothers will have to go to Whiston and this will bring expense to those who perhaps have small families. I am not decrying Whiston Hospital, but the closure of Cowley Hill Hospital is going to be a great loss to this town. I think it is a scandal that we should allow it to slip through our fingers like this." The matter was out of the council's hands, although they had sent a letter of protest to the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board.
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 16th and described a big rodent problem in Silkstone Street: "Plagues of giant rats have turned Silkstone Street, St. Helens, into a street of fear. For mothers are terrified that when their children are out playing they will be bitten by one of them. People living in the terraced council houses are even afraid to go down the yard to their toilets in case they come face to face with a rat."
The Reporter described how residents were ensuring their doors and windows were kept tightly shut, with rats having been seen coming out of dustbins, sitting in verandas and darting across backyards. "I saw four rats in my back yard last Saturday. It was terrifying," said Dolly Ashcroft. Her neighbour Margaret Bridge was concerned for the safety of her four youngsters. "I dare not leave my children alone", she said. "I dread to think what would happen if one of them should come into contact with a rat."
The residents claimed that a derelict piece of land at the back of their homes was the source of the infestation and that the council had been told of the problem three months earlier. "This land has been lying like this for at last four years and there is a disused railway line running through it," explained Mrs Ashcroft. "The area is being used for tipping all sorts of rubbish, and the rats are breeding there."
A petition had been got up demanding action but the council's Public Health Department said they were doing their best. A spokesman explained: "The stuff that we are using to get rid of these rats is the best that money can buy. But it takes time. As soon as we have got rid of the rats, we shall set about cleaning up the land."
The Reporter also described a new "revolutionary" bus fare scheme "pioneered" by Rainford Council, which would allow over 70s to travel at half-price. Until the 1974 local authority reorganisation, Rainford had an urban district council, which had many powers – including matters of transport. After years of discussions, the Ribble Motor Company had finally agreed to the half-price scheme, which would also be recognised by St Helens Corporation's Passenger Transport Department.
However there was a catch – although it doesn't appear to have been seen as a catch then. Elderly residents who wished to take advantage of the concessionary arrangement had to make regular trips to the council offices in the Village Hall to buy bundles of tickets. The minimum amount would be 10 shillings worth, which OAPs could buy for 5 shillings, with passes, apparently, not yet being considered.
Or perhaps the canny bus companies felt that having to buy advance bus tickets in bundles would deter much concessionary travel – as the council did not appear to be subsidising the scheme. Despite the hassle, the Rainford councillors were pleased as Punch with the arrangement, with Councillor Ron Jones saying: "It is gratifying to see a scheme like this come into operation. It is one which I am sure will be greatly appreciated by our elderly residents."
"Where are all the brave men these days?”, enquired Valerie Belshaw in the Reporter. And she wasn’t referring to the nocturnal brick throwers or males that threatened women over the phone in the middle of the night! The journalist was pondering why no men had come forward to support – or even oppose – her campaign for "ladies only" rooms in pubs. All the correspondence she had received came from women, with this joint letter sent in by neighbours Mrs M. Ashcroft, Mrs. B. Manchester and Mrs V. Geidart of Millwood Avenue in Eccleston:
"Husbands go out far too often and leave us women. We all agree that it would be nice to go out when and where we feel like it without all the cribbing and long faces of our men. A bar for women would be the ideal thing, or better still, a drinking club for women only. Is it any wonder that most women are constantly taking tablets of some description for nerves etc. All day and night they're saddled with two or more children.
"We knew when we got married that we'd have to have babies and look after the home, but that doesn't mean to say men OWN us. They tend to forget that home life and children are as much their responsibility as ours. Let them have their pint. They deserve it after a long day's work, but so do we. Come on landlords, buck up a bit!"
Next week's stories will include a sit-down strike at the Town Hall, complaints of jerry building on the new Sutton Manor estates, the Moss Bank girl who ate cream buns to get into the army, a discussion on whether dolly bird wives lived longer and why Rainhill Hospital was searching for kind-hearted landladies.
This week's many stories include the plague of giant rats in Silkstone Street, the Rothery Radio strike, the revolutionary Rainford bus fare scheme, the Moss Bank tunnel road, the Eccleston women wanting ladies-only bars and the Pilkington protest march against job losses that resulted in more sackings.
We begin at the ABC Savoy on the 12th where a special 12-day-long presentation of 'Gone With The Wind' began.
The Clark Gable / Vivien Leigh Oscar-winner has now effectively been banned from our screens because of its depictions of slavery but was quite uncontroversial in 1970.
The Capitol was showing the comedy film 'The Gay Deceivers' and announcing a new heating system had been installed in the cinema.
On the same day 35 television engineers at Rothery Radio's repairs depot in Lowe Street went on strike – followed by four of their telephone receptionists.
The men downed screwdrivers and soldering irons in support of their pay claim and the girls walked out because customers were being rude to them!
Later in the week the St Helens Reporter quoted "attractive" 19-year-old "mini-skirted" Pam Currant of Balmoral Avenue in Sutton saying:
"We were rushed off our feet with complaints. People were losing their tempers and some were extremely rude because no one had been to repair their television. We decided that we would be better off if we went on strike with the men."
Nearly 1,000 workers – including 130 sacked from Pilkingtons – took part in a mass march through St Helens on the 12th.
The demonstration had been organised by the glass giant's unofficial Rank and File Committee, who'd been behind the 7-week strike earlier in the year.
The group led by Gerry Caughey had also organised a three-day token strike at Pilkingtons at the beginning of August, which had led to the 130 job losses.
Building workers from the £800,000 re-development site at Liverpool Road stopped work to take part in the protest march and there were also Liverpool dockers and construction workers participating.
The Liverpool Echo wrote: "Chanting slogans as they went the marchers set out from the Queen's Recreation Park at 11.30 a.m. to cover a four mile route which would take them past all six Pilkington plants in St. Helens and the firm's head office in Prescot Road."
However on the following day the 59 marching building workers were all sacked for taking the time off.
The remaining 16 men at the Liverpool Road site downed tools in sympathy, putting what the Reporter called the "showpiece corporation housing project", well behind schedule.
The council's Public Works Committee met on the 14th and gave the go-ahead for the building of a £130,000 tunnel road under the East Lancs.
The underpass would follow the route of a disused railway line from St Helens to Rainford and would hopefully reduce the number of accidents at the renowned black spot.
The new two-way single carriageway would be more than half a mile long and travel from an island at Moss Bank to Washway Lane.
However negotiations with British Rail to buy the land had yet to be finalised and the Ministry of Transport had not yet approved the scheme.
Throughout the week the St Helens Amateur Operatic Society presented their 60th anniversary production of 'The Student Prince' at the Theatre Royal.
At a meeting of the St Helens Health Committee this week Alderman Margaret Shard attacked the planned closure of Cowley Hill Maternity Hospital, saying:
"The mothers will have to go to Whiston and this will bring expense to those who perhaps have small families. I am not decrying Whiston Hospital, but the closure of Cowley Hill Hospital is going to be a great loss to this town. I think it is a scandal that we should allow it to slip through our fingers like this."
The matter was out of the council's hands, although they had sent a letter of protest to the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board.
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 16th and described a big rodent problem in Silkstone Street:
"Plagues of giant rats have turned Silkstone Street, St. Helens, into a street of fear. For mothers are terrified that when their children are out playing they will be bitten by one of them. People living in the terraced council houses are even afraid to go down the yard to their toilets in case they come face to face with a rat."
The Reporter described how residents were ensuring their doors and windows were kept tightly shut, with rats having been seen coming out of dustbins, sitting in verandas and darting across backyards.
"I saw four rats in my back yard last Saturday. It was terrifying," said Dolly Ashcroft.
Her neighbour Margaret Bridge was concerned for the safety of her four youngsters.
"I dare not leave my children alone", she said. "I dread to think what would happen if one of them should come into contact with a rat."
The residents claimed that a derelict piece of land at the back of their homes was the source of the infestation and that the council had been told of the problem three months earlier.
"This land has been lying like this for at last four years and there is a disused railway line running through it," explained Mrs Ashcroft. "The area is being used for tipping all sorts of rubbish, and the rats are breeding there."
A petition had been got up demanding action but the council's Public Health Department said they were doing their best.
A spokesman explained: "The stuff that we are using to get rid of these rats is the best that money can buy. But it takes time. As soon as we have got rid of the rats, we shall set about cleaning up the land."
The Reporter also described a new "revolutionary" bus fare scheme "pioneered" by Rainford Council, which would allow over 70s to travel at half-price.
Until the 1974 local authority reorganisation, Rainford had an urban district council, which had many powers – including matters of transport.
After years of discussions, the Ribble Motor Company had finally agreed to the half-price scheme, which would also be recognised by St Helens Corporation's Passenger Transport Department.
However there was a catch – although it doesn't appear to have been seen as a catch then.
Elderly residents who wished to take advantage of the concessionary arrangement had to make regular trips to the council offices in the Village Hall to buy bundles of tickets.
The minimum amount would be 10 shillings worth, which OAPs could buy for 5 shillings, with passes, apparently, not yet being considered.
Or perhaps the canny bus companies felt that having to buy advance bus tickets in bundles would deter much concessionary travel – as the council did not appear to be subsidising the scheme.
Despite the hassle, the Rainford councillors were pleased as Punch with the arrangement, with Councillor Ron Jones saying:
"It is gratifying to see a scheme like this come into operation. It is one which I am sure will be greatly appreciated by our elderly residents."
It was also reported that police were keeping a close watch on Windle Hall (pictured above) after Lady Pilkington had received a threatening telephone call at 2 am.
As a result all calls to the mansion were being diverted to the telephone exchange for screening.
There had also been a threat made to burn down Fibreglass and the homes of two Pilkington executives had recently been attacked. One had a brick thrown through a window.
"Where are all the brave men these days?”, enquired Valerie Belshaw in the Reporter.
And she wasn’t referring to the nocturnal brick throwers or males that threatened women over the phone in the middle of the night!
The journalist was pondering why no men had come forward to support – or even oppose – her campaign for "ladies only" rooms in pubs.
All the correspondence she had received came from women, with this joint letter sent in by neighbours Mrs M. Ashcroft, Mrs. B. Manchester and Mrs V. Geidart of Millwood Avenue in Eccleston:
"Husbands go out far too often and leave us women. We all agree that it would be nice to go out when and where we feel like it without all the cribbing and long faces of our men.
"A bar for women would be the ideal thing, or better still, a drinking club for women only. Is it any wonder that most women are constantly taking tablets of some description for nerves etc. All day and night they're saddled with two or more children.
"We knew when we got married that we'd have to have babies and look after the home, but that doesn't mean to say men OWN us. They tend to forget that home life and children are as much their responsibility as ours.
"Let them have their pint. They deserve it after a long day's work, but so do we. Come on landlords, buck up a bit!"
Next week's stories will include a sit-down strike at the Town Hall, complaints of jerry building on the new Sutton Manor estates, the Moss Bank girl who ate cream buns to get into the army, a discussion on whether dolly bird wives lived longer and why Rainhill Hospital was searching for kind-hearted landladies.
We begin at the ABC Savoy on the 12th where a special 12-day-long presentation of 'Gone With The Wind' began.
The Capitol was showing the comedy film 'The Gay Deceivers' and announcing a new heating system had been installed in the cinema.
On the same day 35 television engineers at Rothery Radio's repairs depot in Lowe Street went on strike – followed by four of their telephone receptionists.
The men downed screwdrivers and soldering irons in support of their pay claim and the girls walked out because customers were being rude to them!
Later in the week the St Helens Reporter quoted "attractive" 19-year-old "mini-skirted" Pam Currant of Balmoral Avenue in Sutton saying:
"We were rushed off our feet with complaints. People were losing their tempers and some were extremely rude because no one had been to repair their television. We decided that we would be better off if we went on strike with the men."
Nearly 1,000 workers – including 130 sacked from Pilkingtons – took part in a mass march through St Helens on the 12th.
The demonstration had been organised by the glass giant's unofficial Rank and File Committee, who'd been behind the 7-week strike earlier in the year.
The group led by Gerry Caughey had also organised a three-day token strike at Pilkingtons at the beginning of August, which had led to the 130 job losses.
Building workers from the £800,000 re-development site at Liverpool Road stopped work to take part in the protest march and there were also Liverpool dockers and construction workers participating.
The Liverpool Echo wrote: "Chanting slogans as they went the marchers set out from the Queen's Recreation Park at 11.30 a.m. to cover a four mile route which would take them past all six Pilkington plants in St. Helens and the firm's head office in Prescot Road."
However on the following day the 59 marching building workers were all sacked for taking the time off.
The remaining 16 men at the Liverpool Road site downed tools in sympathy, putting what the Reporter called the "showpiece corporation housing project", well behind schedule.
The council's Public Works Committee met on the 14th and gave the go-ahead for the building of a £130,000 tunnel road under the East Lancs.
The underpass would follow the route of a disused railway line from St Helens to Rainford and would hopefully reduce the number of accidents at the renowned black spot.
The new two-way single carriageway would be more than half a mile long and travel from an island at Moss Bank to Washway Lane.
However negotiations with British Rail to buy the land had yet to be finalised and the Ministry of Transport had not yet approved the scheme.
Throughout the week the St Helens Amateur Operatic Society presented their 60th anniversary production of 'The Student Prince' at the Theatre Royal.
At a meeting of the St Helens Health Committee this week Alderman Margaret Shard attacked the planned closure of Cowley Hill Maternity Hospital, saying:
"The mothers will have to go to Whiston and this will bring expense to those who perhaps have small families. I am not decrying Whiston Hospital, but the closure of Cowley Hill Hospital is going to be a great loss to this town. I think it is a scandal that we should allow it to slip through our fingers like this."
The matter was out of the council's hands, although they had sent a letter of protest to the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board.
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 16th and described a big rodent problem in Silkstone Street:
"Plagues of giant rats have turned Silkstone Street, St. Helens, into a street of fear. For mothers are terrified that when their children are out playing they will be bitten by one of them. People living in the terraced council houses are even afraid to go down the yard to their toilets in case they come face to face with a rat."
The Reporter described how residents were ensuring their doors and windows were kept tightly shut, with rats having been seen coming out of dustbins, sitting in verandas and darting across backyards.
"I saw four rats in my back yard last Saturday. It was terrifying," said Dolly Ashcroft.
Her neighbour Margaret Bridge was concerned for the safety of her four youngsters.
"I dare not leave my children alone", she said. "I dread to think what would happen if one of them should come into contact with a rat."
The residents claimed that a derelict piece of land at the back of their homes was the source of the infestation and that the council had been told of the problem three months earlier.
"This land has been lying like this for at last four years and there is a disused railway line running through it," explained Mrs Ashcroft. "The area is being used for tipping all sorts of rubbish, and the rats are breeding there."
A petition had been got up demanding action but the council's Public Health Department said they were doing their best.
A spokesman explained: "The stuff that we are using to get rid of these rats is the best that money can buy. But it takes time. As soon as we have got rid of the rats, we shall set about cleaning up the land."
The Reporter also described a new "revolutionary" bus fare scheme "pioneered" by Rainford Council, which would allow over 70s to travel at half-price.
Until the 1974 local authority reorganisation, Rainford had an urban district council, which had many powers – including matters of transport.
After years of discussions, the Ribble Motor Company had finally agreed to the half-price scheme, which would also be recognised by St Helens Corporation's Passenger Transport Department.
However there was a catch – although it doesn't appear to have been seen as a catch then.
Elderly residents who wished to take advantage of the concessionary arrangement had to make regular trips to the council offices in the Village Hall to buy bundles of tickets.
The minimum amount would be 10 shillings worth, which OAPs could buy for 5 shillings, with passes, apparently, not yet being considered.
Or perhaps the canny bus companies felt that having to buy advance bus tickets in bundles would deter much concessionary travel – as the council did not appear to be subsidising the scheme.
Despite the hassle, the Rainford councillors were pleased as Punch with the arrangement, with Councillor Ron Jones saying:
"It is gratifying to see a scheme like this come into operation. It is one which I am sure will be greatly appreciated by our elderly residents."
As a result all calls to the mansion were being diverted to the telephone exchange for screening.
There had also been a threat made to burn down Fibreglass and the homes of two Pilkington executives had recently been attacked. One had a brick thrown through a window.
"Where are all the brave men these days?”, enquired Valerie Belshaw in the Reporter.
And she wasn’t referring to the nocturnal brick throwers or males that threatened women over the phone in the middle of the night!
The journalist was pondering why no men had come forward to support – or even oppose – her campaign for "ladies only" rooms in pubs.
All the correspondence she had received came from women, with this joint letter sent in by neighbours Mrs M. Ashcroft, Mrs. B. Manchester and Mrs V. Geidart of Millwood Avenue in Eccleston:
"Husbands go out far too often and leave us women. We all agree that it would be nice to go out when and where we feel like it without all the cribbing and long faces of our men.
"A bar for women would be the ideal thing, or better still, a drinking club for women only. Is it any wonder that most women are constantly taking tablets of some description for nerves etc. All day and night they're saddled with two or more children.
"We knew when we got married that we'd have to have babies and look after the home, but that doesn't mean to say men OWN us. They tend to forget that home life and children are as much their responsibility as ours.
"Let them have their pint. They deserve it after a long day's work, but so do we. Come on landlords, buck up a bit!"
Next week's stories will include a sit-down strike at the Town Hall, complaints of jerry building on the new Sutton Manor estates, the Moss Bank girl who ate cream buns to get into the army, a discussion on whether dolly bird wives lived longer and why Rainhill Hospital was searching for kind-hearted landladies.