FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (13th - 19th APRIL 1970)
This week's 15 stories include the latest news of the Pilkington strike, the end of spending a penny in ladies' loos, Rainford seeks a Carnival Queen, two peacocks are killed in Taylor Park and why the redevelopment of the town centre was bad news for some tenants.
The Pilkington strike was now in its third week and on the 13th a mass meeting of 5,000 workers took place at Saints' ground in Knowsley Road. Attitudes were hardening with Pilks' management saying they would not negotiate under duress. The strike had yet to be made official and David Basnett of the General and Municipal Workers Union was reported as having rowed with shop stewards and strike convenor Gerry Caughey.
Mr Basnett wanted a secret ballot of the workforce to take place but other more militant officials were totally opposed. At Knowsley Road Mr Caughey from Kipling Grove in Sutton Manor had declared that the strikers held the aces and they would not return to work "for promises or pennies".
Pilkingtons had now guaranteed the jobs of hourly-paid staff that were not on strike until April 25th and the union wanted Barbara Castle's Department of Employment to get involved. Meanwhile about 150 extra social security staff had been drafted into St Helens to handle claims arising from the strike. These would only be accepted in cases where strikers had families.
In other strike news sixty drivers at British Road Services' Sherdley Road depot walked out on the 13th demanding a basic wage of £30 a week. At present the men received a top-line basic of £17 per week.
The Housing Committee met at the Town Hall on the 13th and considered a petition signed by 700 council tenants that had been submitted by St Helens' MP Leslie Spriggs. The residents on the Cherry Tree Drive, Dorothy Street, Mount Pleasant and Redgate Drive estate were complaining about their open-plan lawns becoming mud baths in wet weather. However Alderman Margaret Shard wondered how many of the tenants bothered to look after their lawns. The residents were also concerned about lack of privacy and the committee decided to visit the estate and inspect the conditions for themselves.
'The Virgin Soldiers' started six days of screenings at the Capitol on the 13th with 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' shown at the ABC Savoy.
It was revealed this week that the death rate in St Helens during the first quarter of this year had shown a considerable increase on the same period in 1969. This was mainly blamed on the recent flu epidemic.
In August Rainford was reviving its village carnival after a gap of twenty years. This week the organising committee appealed for local girls aged 16 to 20 to apply to become Carnival Queen. Heats were taking place in April and May with the final to be held in July. The organisers said: "This will be the most spectacular carnival the village has ever known. We hope the girls won't be shy, and will come forward for the judging. It promises to be a splendid affair."
An unusual public inquiry took place in the Town Hall (shown above) on the 14th. It concerned do-it-yourself enthusiast Terence Leigh of Consett Road in Nutgrove who had appealed against an enforcement notice from the council. The 35-year-old welder had upset some of his neighbours by regularly hammering away in his garage workshop after midnight. They accused him of running a business from the house and so Mr Leigh was served with a notice prohibiting the use of his premises for industrial processes.
The Ministry of Housing inspector who conducted the inquiry heard that Mr Leigh was simply a "super do-it-yourself man trying to improve his home". Using his garage as a workshop he had made wrought-iron gates and fences, a central heating boiler and an incinerator, among many other things. The Deputy Town Clerk told the hearing that although every man had a right to carry on a hobby, one such as Mr Leigh's was "not appropriate in a residential area". The inspector's decision would be announced later.
On the 15th the Whiston Leisure and Recreation Committee was asked to renew its efforts to purchase land in Lester Drive in Eccleston. "Rats are to be seen coming from this land and it is a general eyesore", complained Cllr. Ray Crosby. The committee had previously tried to buy the land but could not agree a price with the owner.
The Reporter on the 17th highlighted a case in which three men had charged two elderly sisters £35 for supposedly repairing their roof and chimney stack. That was over £500 in today's money and Clara Thrush, aged 81, and Eva Austin, aged 91, of Windsor Road said they had only spent about an hour doing the work. Chief Inspector Moores of St Helens CID said the men had been traced and advised old people who lived alone to check with the police if strangers offered to undertake work for them.
The Reporter was conducting a poll of views on whether Sunday football and rugby should be permitted on council-owned pitches. These days we are used to the ease of taking part in competitions or signing on-line petitions via the internet or by telephone or text message. However to participate in the paper's poll, the people of St Helens were expected to tick a box on a form, cut it out from the paper and then place the form in an envelope and address it to the Reporter in College Street.
Then they had buy and stick a stamp on the envelope, seal it and take the thing to a pillar box. Something we've all done countless times (and still do occasionally). But doesn't it sound convoluted when you think about it? I wonder what people in the future will make of us doing all that?
As we all know there are very few public toilets within St Helens these days. However in 1970 there were seventeen. This was stated in a short article in the Reporter, which revealed that the council's Works Committee had decided to scrap charges in women's loos. That was because of the impending decimalisation, which meant that new locks would have to be fitted to every cubicle with each costing £36 (about £600 in today's money).
As well as the expense to the council, the Borough Engineer George James was also concerned that charging women 1p instead of 1d would lead to an outcry from women's organisations. However the committee's decision would have to be ratified by the Town Council at their next meeting.
"Even if the striking Pilkington workers get the £10 pay increase they are seeking, scores of them will have to live a hand-to-mouth existence." That was the introduction to an article in the Reporter that explained the dilemma facing many tenants in condemned houses. Tom Cliff was a labourer at Pilks whose take home pay was around £14 a week. The 48-year-old's Oldfield Street house was one of many that were going to be bulldozed under the council's redevelopment plans.
Currently Tom was only paying 12 shillings per week rent but once he and his family were rehoused in a new council house, the weekly rent was expected to increase to over £4. "I can't sleep at night thinking about it", Tom told the Reporter. "How we are going to manage I just don't know. I am worried sick, I tell you." Currently Tom was able to walk to work but was expecting to be rehoused away from the town centre – meaning bus fares and other expenses would have to be paid.
Last week in the Reporter there had been a picture of a dead swan on the canal at Blackbrook that youths had shot. This week it was the slaughter of two peacocks in the aviary in Taylor Park (pictured above) by what the paper dubbed "airgun thugs" that sickened people. George Wetton of Lyon Street said: "The birds used to be a real attraction for the kiddies. It's a terrible shame when people kill two beautiful creatures like this."
Enid Jones of North Road told the Reporter: "They should go to prison. It's probably young lads who do this type of thing, but they must have really sick minds." However the good news was that next week two replacement peacocks were going to be installed in the aviary in Taylor Park.
The Reporter also revealed that Eccleston Ratepayers Association had written to the Health Minister Richard Crossman to complain about a lack of a health clinic. Lancashire County Council had rejected their latest application for a clinic, although they were building two at Halewood and one at Knowsley. "We are baffled and angry about this decision", said association secretary Cllr. Tom McCormack. "The need for a clinic in Eccleston is just as urgent as elsewhere. At present we make do with sessions at the old people's recreation hut in Lester Drive. About 3,000 people are concerned about this matter and I feel they deserve more consideration than they have received from the county council."
Bold was another area demanding a health clinic. At a recent meeting of Whiston Health and Housing Committee it was decided to investigate whether the Methodist Mission Hall in Clock Face could be used as a temporary clinic.
And finally on the 17th it was Fancy Dress Night at the Plaza Theatre Club in Duke Street. "No fancy dress – no admission", went their ad.
Next week's stories will include Pilks' strikers' rejection of a pay offer, the cheeky theft of Terence Lennon's Rolls Royce, the midnight phantom rose snatchers of Windle, the intruder in the vicar of St Peter's bedroom and the doomed eyesore of Gerards Bridge.
The Pilkington strike was now in its third week and on the 13th a mass meeting of 5,000 workers took place at Saints' ground in Knowsley Road. Attitudes were hardening with Pilks' management saying they would not negotiate under duress. The strike had yet to be made official and David Basnett of the General and Municipal Workers Union was reported as having rowed with shop stewards and strike convenor Gerry Caughey.
Mr Basnett wanted a secret ballot of the workforce to take place but other more militant officials were totally opposed. At Knowsley Road Mr Caughey from Kipling Grove in Sutton Manor had declared that the strikers held the aces and they would not return to work "for promises or pennies".
Pilkingtons had now guaranteed the jobs of hourly-paid staff that were not on strike until April 25th and the union wanted Barbara Castle's Department of Employment to get involved. Meanwhile about 150 extra social security staff had been drafted into St Helens to handle claims arising from the strike. These would only be accepted in cases where strikers had families.
In other strike news sixty drivers at British Road Services' Sherdley Road depot walked out on the 13th demanding a basic wage of £30 a week. At present the men received a top-line basic of £17 per week.
The Housing Committee met at the Town Hall on the 13th and considered a petition signed by 700 council tenants that had been submitted by St Helens' MP Leslie Spriggs. The residents on the Cherry Tree Drive, Dorothy Street, Mount Pleasant and Redgate Drive estate were complaining about their open-plan lawns becoming mud baths in wet weather. However Alderman Margaret Shard wondered how many of the tenants bothered to look after their lawns. The residents were also concerned about lack of privacy and the committee decided to visit the estate and inspect the conditions for themselves.
'The Virgin Soldiers' started six days of screenings at the Capitol on the 13th with 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' shown at the ABC Savoy.
It was revealed this week that the death rate in St Helens during the first quarter of this year had shown a considerable increase on the same period in 1969. This was mainly blamed on the recent flu epidemic.
In August Rainford was reviving its village carnival after a gap of twenty years. This week the organising committee appealed for local girls aged 16 to 20 to apply to become Carnival Queen. Heats were taking place in April and May with the final to be held in July. The organisers said: "This will be the most spectacular carnival the village has ever known. We hope the girls won't be shy, and will come forward for the judging. It promises to be a splendid affair."
The Ministry of Housing inspector who conducted the inquiry heard that Mr Leigh was simply a "super do-it-yourself man trying to improve his home". Using his garage as a workshop he had made wrought-iron gates and fences, a central heating boiler and an incinerator, among many other things. The Deputy Town Clerk told the hearing that although every man had a right to carry on a hobby, one such as Mr Leigh's was "not appropriate in a residential area". The inspector's decision would be announced later.
On the 15th the Whiston Leisure and Recreation Committee was asked to renew its efforts to purchase land in Lester Drive in Eccleston. "Rats are to be seen coming from this land and it is a general eyesore", complained Cllr. Ray Crosby. The committee had previously tried to buy the land but could not agree a price with the owner.
The Reporter on the 17th highlighted a case in which three men had charged two elderly sisters £35 for supposedly repairing their roof and chimney stack. That was over £500 in today's money and Clara Thrush, aged 81, and Eva Austin, aged 91, of Windsor Road said they had only spent about an hour doing the work. Chief Inspector Moores of St Helens CID said the men had been traced and advised old people who lived alone to check with the police if strangers offered to undertake work for them.
The Reporter was conducting a poll of views on whether Sunday football and rugby should be permitted on council-owned pitches. These days we are used to the ease of taking part in competitions or signing on-line petitions via the internet or by telephone or text message. However to participate in the paper's poll, the people of St Helens were expected to tick a box on a form, cut it out from the paper and then place the form in an envelope and address it to the Reporter in College Street.
Then they had buy and stick a stamp on the envelope, seal it and take the thing to a pillar box. Something we've all done countless times (and still do occasionally). But doesn't it sound convoluted when you think about it? I wonder what people in the future will make of us doing all that?
As we all know there are very few public toilets within St Helens these days. However in 1970 there were seventeen. This was stated in a short article in the Reporter, which revealed that the council's Works Committee had decided to scrap charges in women's loos. That was because of the impending decimalisation, which meant that new locks would have to be fitted to every cubicle with each costing £36 (about £600 in today's money).
As well as the expense to the council, the Borough Engineer George James was also concerned that charging women 1p instead of 1d would lead to an outcry from women's organisations. However the committee's decision would have to be ratified by the Town Council at their next meeting.
"Even if the striking Pilkington workers get the £10 pay increase they are seeking, scores of them will have to live a hand-to-mouth existence." That was the introduction to an article in the Reporter that explained the dilemma facing many tenants in condemned houses. Tom Cliff was a labourer at Pilks whose take home pay was around £14 a week. The 48-year-old's Oldfield Street house was one of many that were going to be bulldozed under the council's redevelopment plans.
Currently Tom was only paying 12 shillings per week rent but once he and his family were rehoused in a new council house, the weekly rent was expected to increase to over £4. "I can't sleep at night thinking about it", Tom told the Reporter. "How we are going to manage I just don't know. I am worried sick, I tell you." Currently Tom was able to walk to work but was expecting to be rehoused away from the town centre – meaning bus fares and other expenses would have to be paid.
Enid Jones of North Road told the Reporter: "They should go to prison. It's probably young lads who do this type of thing, but they must have really sick minds." However the good news was that next week two replacement peacocks were going to be installed in the aviary in Taylor Park.
The Reporter also revealed that Eccleston Ratepayers Association had written to the Health Minister Richard Crossman to complain about a lack of a health clinic. Lancashire County Council had rejected their latest application for a clinic, although they were building two at Halewood and one at Knowsley. "We are baffled and angry about this decision", said association secretary Cllr. Tom McCormack. "The need for a clinic in Eccleston is just as urgent as elsewhere. At present we make do with sessions at the old people's recreation hut in Lester Drive. About 3,000 people are concerned about this matter and I feel they deserve more consideration than they have received from the county council."
Bold was another area demanding a health clinic. At a recent meeting of Whiston Health and Housing Committee it was decided to investigate whether the Methodist Mission Hall in Clock Face could be used as a temporary clinic.
And finally on the 17th it was Fancy Dress Night at the Plaza Theatre Club in Duke Street. "No fancy dress – no admission", went their ad.
Next week's stories will include Pilks' strikers' rejection of a pay offer, the cheeky theft of Terence Lennon's Rolls Royce, the midnight phantom rose snatchers of Windle, the intruder in the vicar of St Peter's bedroom and the doomed eyesore of Gerards Bridge.
This week's 15 stories include the latest news of the Pilkington strike, the end of spending a penny in ladies' loos, Rainford seeks a Carnival Queen, two peacocks are killed in Taylor Park and why the redevelopment of the town centre was bad news for some tenants.
The Pilkington strike was now in its third week and on the 13th a mass meeting of 5,000 workers took place at Saints' ground in Knowsley Road.
Attitudes were hardening with Pilks' management saying they would not negotiate under duress.
The strike had yet to be made official and David Basnett of the General and Municipal Workers Union was reported as having rowed with shop stewards and strike convenor Gerry Caughey.
Mr Basnett wanted a secret ballot of the workforce to take place but other more militant officials were totally opposed.
At Knowsley Road Mr Caughey from Kipling Grove in Sutton Manor had declared that the strikers held the aces and they would not return to work "for promises or pennies".
Pilkingtons had now guaranteed the jobs of hourly-paid staff that were not on strike until April 25th and the union wanted Barbara Castle's Department of Employment to get involved.
Meanwhile about 150 extra social security staff had been drafted into St Helens to handle claims arising from the strike.
These would only be accepted in cases where strikers had families.
In other strike news sixty drivers at British Road Services' Sherdley Road depot walked out on the 13th demanding a basic wage of £30 a week.
At present the men received a top-line basic of £17 per week.
The Housing Committee met at the Town Hall on the 13th and considered a petition signed by 700 council tenants that had been submitted by St Helens' MP Leslie Spriggs.
The residents on the Cherry Tree Drive, Dorothy Street, Mount Pleasant and Redgate Drive estate were complaining about their open-plan lawns becoming mud baths in wet weather.
However Alderman Margaret Shard wondered how many of the tenants bothered to look after their lawns.
The residents were also concerned about lack of privacy and the committee decided to visit the estate and inspect the conditions for themselves.
'The Virgin Soldiers' started six days of screenings at the Capitol on the 13th with 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' shown at the ABC Savoy.
It was revealed this week that the death rate in St Helens during the first quarter of this year had shown a considerable increase on the same period in 1969.
This was mainly blamed on the recent flu epidemic.
In August Rainford was reviving its village carnival after a gap of twenty years.
This week the organising committee appealed for local girls aged 16 to 20 to apply to become Carnival Queen.
Heats were taking place in April and May with the final to be held in July. The organisers said:
"This will be the most spectacular carnival the village has ever known. We hope the girls won't be shy, and will come forward for the judging. It promises to be a splendid affair."
An unusual public inquiry took place in the Town Hall (shown above) on the 14th.
It concerned do-it-yourself enthusiast Terence Leigh of Consett Road in Nutgrove who had appealed against an enforcement notice from the council.
The 35-year-old welder had upset some of his neighbours by regularly hammering away in his garage workshop after midnight.
They accused him of running a business from the house and so Mr Leigh was served with a notice prohibiting the use of his premises for industrial processes.
The Ministry of Housing inspector who conducted the inquiry heard that Mr Leigh was simply a "super do-it-yourself man trying to improve his home".
Using his garage as a workshop he had made wrought-iron gates and fences, a central heating boiler and an incinerator, among many other things.
The Deputy Town Clerk told the hearing that although every man had a right to carry on a hobby, one such as Mr Leigh's was "not appropriate in a residential area". The inspector's decision would be announced later.
On the 15th the Whiston Leisure and Recreation Committee was asked to renew its efforts to purchase land in Lester Drive in Eccleston.
"Rats are to be seen coming from this land and it is a general eyesore", complained Cllr. Ray Crosby.
The committee had previously tried to buy the land but could not agree a price with the owner.
The Reporter on the 17th highlighted a case in which three men had charged two elderly sisters £35 for supposedly repairing their roof and chimney stack.
That was over £500 in today's money and Clara Thrush, aged 81, and Eva Austin, aged 91, of Windsor Road said they had only spent about an hour doing the work.
Chief Inspector Moores of St Helens CID said the men had been traced and advised old people who lived alone to check with the police if strangers offered to undertake work for them.
The Reporter was conducting a poll of views on whether Sunday football and rugby should be permitted on council-owned pitches.
These days we are used to the ease of taking part in competitions or signing on-line petitions via the internet or by telephone or text message.
However to participate in the paper's poll, the people of St Helens were expected to tick a box on a form, cut it out from the paper and then place the form in an envelope and address it to the Reporter in College Street.
Then they had buy and stick a stamp on the envelope, seal it and take the thing to a pillar box.
Something we've all done countless times (and still do occasionally).
But doesn't it sound convoluted when you think about it? I wonder what people in the future will make of us doing all that?
As we all know there are very few public toilets within St Helens these days. However in 1970 there were seventeen.
This was stated in a short article in the Reporter, which revealed that the council's Works Committee had decided to scrap charges in women's loos.
That was because of the impending decimalisation, which meant that new locks would have to be fitted to every cubicle with each costing £36 (about £600 in today's money).
As well as the expense to the council, the Borough Engineer George James was also concerned that charging women 1p instead of 1d would lead to an outcry from women's organisations.
However the committee's decision would have to be ratified by the Town Council at their next meeting.
"Even if the striking Pilkington workers get the £10 pay increase they are seeking, scores of them will have to live a hand-to-mouth existence."
That was the introduction to an article in the Reporter that explained the dilemma facing many tenants in condemned houses.
Tom Cliff was a labourer at Pilks whose take home pay was around £14 a week.
The 48-year-old's Oldfield Street house was one of many that were going to be bulldozed under the council's redevelopment plans.
Currently Tom was only paying 12 shillings per week rent but once he and his family were rehoused in a new council house, the weekly rent was expected to increase to over £4.
"I can't sleep at night thinking about it", Tom told the Reporter. "How we are going to manage I just don't know. I am worried sick, I tell you."
Currently Tom was able to walk to work but was expecting to be rehoused away from the town centre – meaning bus fares and other expenses would have to be paid.
Last week in the Reporter there had been a picture of a dead swan on the canal at Blackbrook that youths had shot.
This week it was the slaughter of two peacocks in the aviary in Taylor Park (pictured above) by what the paper dubbed "airgun thugs" that sickened people.
George Wetton of Lyon Street said: "The birds used to be a real attraction for the kiddies. It's a terrible shame when people kill two beautiful creatures like this."
Enid Jones of North Road told the Reporter: "They should go to prison. It's probably young lads who do this type of thing, but they must have really sick minds."
However the good news was that next week two replacement peacocks were going to be installed in the aviary in Taylor Park.
The Reporter also revealed that Eccleston Ratepayers Association had written to the Health Minister Richard Crossman to complain about a lack of a health clinic.
Lancashire County Council had rejected their latest application for a clinic, although they were building two at Halewood and one at Knowsley.
"We are baffled and angry about this decision", said association secretary Cllr. Tom McCormack.
"The need for a clinic in Eccleston is just as urgent as elsewhere. At present we make do with sessions at the old people's recreation hut in Lester Drive.
"About 3,000 people are concerned about this matter and I feel they deserve more consideration than they have received from the county council."
Bold was another area demanding a health clinic.
At a recent meeting of Whiston Health and Housing Committee it was decided to investigate whether the Methodist Mission Hall in Clock Face could be used as a temporary clinic.
And finally on the 17th it was Fancy Dress Night at the Plaza Theatre Club in Duke Street. "No fancy dress – no admission", went their ad.
Next week's stories will include Pilks' strikers' rejection of a pay offer, the cheeky theft of Terence Lennon's Rolls Royce, the midnight phantom rose snatchers of Windle, the intruder in the vicar of St Peter's bedroom and the doomed eyesore of Gerards Bridge.
The Pilkington strike was now in its third week and on the 13th a mass meeting of 5,000 workers took place at Saints' ground in Knowsley Road.
Attitudes were hardening with Pilks' management saying they would not negotiate under duress.
The strike had yet to be made official and David Basnett of the General and Municipal Workers Union was reported as having rowed with shop stewards and strike convenor Gerry Caughey.
Mr Basnett wanted a secret ballot of the workforce to take place but other more militant officials were totally opposed.
At Knowsley Road Mr Caughey from Kipling Grove in Sutton Manor had declared that the strikers held the aces and they would not return to work "for promises or pennies".
Pilkingtons had now guaranteed the jobs of hourly-paid staff that were not on strike until April 25th and the union wanted Barbara Castle's Department of Employment to get involved.
Meanwhile about 150 extra social security staff had been drafted into St Helens to handle claims arising from the strike.
These would only be accepted in cases where strikers had families.
In other strike news sixty drivers at British Road Services' Sherdley Road depot walked out on the 13th demanding a basic wage of £30 a week.
At present the men received a top-line basic of £17 per week.
The Housing Committee met at the Town Hall on the 13th and considered a petition signed by 700 council tenants that had been submitted by St Helens' MP Leslie Spriggs.
The residents on the Cherry Tree Drive, Dorothy Street, Mount Pleasant and Redgate Drive estate were complaining about their open-plan lawns becoming mud baths in wet weather.
However Alderman Margaret Shard wondered how many of the tenants bothered to look after their lawns.
The residents were also concerned about lack of privacy and the committee decided to visit the estate and inspect the conditions for themselves.
'The Virgin Soldiers' started six days of screenings at the Capitol on the 13th with 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' shown at the ABC Savoy.
It was revealed this week that the death rate in St Helens during the first quarter of this year had shown a considerable increase on the same period in 1969.
This was mainly blamed on the recent flu epidemic.
In August Rainford was reviving its village carnival after a gap of twenty years.
This week the organising committee appealed for local girls aged 16 to 20 to apply to become Carnival Queen.
Heats were taking place in April and May with the final to be held in July. The organisers said:
"This will be the most spectacular carnival the village has ever known. We hope the girls won't be shy, and will come forward for the judging. It promises to be a splendid affair."
It concerned do-it-yourself enthusiast Terence Leigh of Consett Road in Nutgrove who had appealed against an enforcement notice from the council.
The 35-year-old welder had upset some of his neighbours by regularly hammering away in his garage workshop after midnight.
They accused him of running a business from the house and so Mr Leigh was served with a notice prohibiting the use of his premises for industrial processes.
The Ministry of Housing inspector who conducted the inquiry heard that Mr Leigh was simply a "super do-it-yourself man trying to improve his home".
Using his garage as a workshop he had made wrought-iron gates and fences, a central heating boiler and an incinerator, among many other things.
The Deputy Town Clerk told the hearing that although every man had a right to carry on a hobby, one such as Mr Leigh's was "not appropriate in a residential area". The inspector's decision would be announced later.
On the 15th the Whiston Leisure and Recreation Committee was asked to renew its efforts to purchase land in Lester Drive in Eccleston.
"Rats are to be seen coming from this land and it is a general eyesore", complained Cllr. Ray Crosby.
The committee had previously tried to buy the land but could not agree a price with the owner.
The Reporter on the 17th highlighted a case in which three men had charged two elderly sisters £35 for supposedly repairing their roof and chimney stack.
That was over £500 in today's money and Clara Thrush, aged 81, and Eva Austin, aged 91, of Windsor Road said they had only spent about an hour doing the work.
Chief Inspector Moores of St Helens CID said the men had been traced and advised old people who lived alone to check with the police if strangers offered to undertake work for them.
The Reporter was conducting a poll of views on whether Sunday football and rugby should be permitted on council-owned pitches.
These days we are used to the ease of taking part in competitions or signing on-line petitions via the internet or by telephone or text message.
However to participate in the paper's poll, the people of St Helens were expected to tick a box on a form, cut it out from the paper and then place the form in an envelope and address it to the Reporter in College Street.
Then they had buy and stick a stamp on the envelope, seal it and take the thing to a pillar box.
Something we've all done countless times (and still do occasionally).
But doesn't it sound convoluted when you think about it? I wonder what people in the future will make of us doing all that?
As we all know there are very few public toilets within St Helens these days. However in 1970 there were seventeen.
This was stated in a short article in the Reporter, which revealed that the council's Works Committee had decided to scrap charges in women's loos.
That was because of the impending decimalisation, which meant that new locks would have to be fitted to every cubicle with each costing £36 (about £600 in today's money).
As well as the expense to the council, the Borough Engineer George James was also concerned that charging women 1p instead of 1d would lead to an outcry from women's organisations.
However the committee's decision would have to be ratified by the Town Council at their next meeting.
"Even if the striking Pilkington workers get the £10 pay increase they are seeking, scores of them will have to live a hand-to-mouth existence."
That was the introduction to an article in the Reporter that explained the dilemma facing many tenants in condemned houses.
Tom Cliff was a labourer at Pilks whose take home pay was around £14 a week.
The 48-year-old's Oldfield Street house was one of many that were going to be bulldozed under the council's redevelopment plans.
Currently Tom was only paying 12 shillings per week rent but once he and his family were rehoused in a new council house, the weekly rent was expected to increase to over £4.
"I can't sleep at night thinking about it", Tom told the Reporter. "How we are going to manage I just don't know. I am worried sick, I tell you."
Currently Tom was able to walk to work but was expecting to be rehoused away from the town centre – meaning bus fares and other expenses would have to be paid.
This week it was the slaughter of two peacocks in the aviary in Taylor Park (pictured above) by what the paper dubbed "airgun thugs" that sickened people.
George Wetton of Lyon Street said: "The birds used to be a real attraction for the kiddies. It's a terrible shame when people kill two beautiful creatures like this."
Enid Jones of North Road told the Reporter: "They should go to prison. It's probably young lads who do this type of thing, but they must have really sick minds."
However the good news was that next week two replacement peacocks were going to be installed in the aviary in Taylor Park.
The Reporter also revealed that Eccleston Ratepayers Association had written to the Health Minister Richard Crossman to complain about a lack of a health clinic.
Lancashire County Council had rejected their latest application for a clinic, although they were building two at Halewood and one at Knowsley.
"We are baffled and angry about this decision", said association secretary Cllr. Tom McCormack.
"The need for a clinic in Eccleston is just as urgent as elsewhere. At present we make do with sessions at the old people's recreation hut in Lester Drive.
"About 3,000 people are concerned about this matter and I feel they deserve more consideration than they have received from the county council."
Bold was another area demanding a health clinic.
At a recent meeting of Whiston Health and Housing Committee it was decided to investigate whether the Methodist Mission Hall in Clock Face could be used as a temporary clinic.
And finally on the 17th it was Fancy Dress Night at the Plaza Theatre Club in Duke Street. "No fancy dress – no admission", went their ad.
Next week's stories will include Pilks' strikers' rejection of a pay offer, the cheeky theft of Terence Lennon's Rolls Royce, the midnight phantom rose snatchers of Windle, the intruder in the vicar of St Peter's bedroom and the doomed eyesore of Gerards Bridge.