FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (16th - 22nd JANUARY 1973)
This week's stories include the storm over the sale of a war hero's medals, the Blackbrook steeplejack's sibling kidney transplant, the noisy lorries on the Birchley Street car park, the binmen struck down by sickness, the demolition of Sutton Nash and the Lorne Hotel prepares for last orders.
We begin in Prescot Magistrates Court when a Maghull man was sentenced to three months imprisonment suspended for two years for his involvement in pirate radio. John Hunter denied that he was a prime mover in Radio Free Liverpool but admitted broadcasting illegally from fields in Rainford and Huyton.
Meanwhile, in St Helens Magistrates Court this week a 39-year-old man was fined £20 after pleading guilty to abandoning a dog in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering. An officer of the RSPCA and a police officer had discovered the dead dog in a mummified condition in a deserted house in Dentons Green Lane.
Police were also searching this week for the perpetrators of a raid on a pigeon loft in Marshalls Cross Road. Two dozen racing pigeons worth £2,000 were stolen and five were killed. "There was blood and feathers everywhere", said Jim Pickavance, the son of the 83-year-old owner and champion fancier Sam Pickavance.
Although kidney transplants had begun in the early 1950s, drugs to help prevent rejection had not been available until the mid-‘60s. Such operations were still fairly new and so the Echo ran a lengthy piece on the 16th on Elsie Jones. The 33-year-old from Wyresdale Avenue in St Helens had been seriously ill for a year, of which two months had been spent in a coma. Doctors discovered that Mrs Jones only possessed one kidney which was not functioning correctly.
Elsie was only surviving through treatment from a kidney dialysis machine but now her brother had agreed to donate her one of his kidneys. "I never thought of saying no. I am not afraid. If my sister can last for 35 years on one kidney, I can go another 30 years without one of mine", remarked Harry Davies.
The 47-year-old from Frodsham Drive in Blackbrook had never been troubled by tall challenges, as he was a steeplejack who spent weeks on top of chimneys taking them down brick-by-brick. "When I asked my brother about donating one of his kidneys, his reaction was spontaneous. I owe a lot to him," said a grateful Elsie. The operation was due to take place next month with a predicted 90% success rate.
On the 18th Jake Thackray made his debut appearance at the Theatre Royal in St Helens where he was billed as "the contemporary folk star". At the Capitol this week 'The Magnificent Seven Ride' – described as "a brand new 7 film" – was shown. And the ABC Savoy in Bridge Street began their second week's screening of what they called "The screen sensation of 1972". That was Marlon Brando in 'The Godfather'.
In the St Helens Reporter on the 19th, residents living near to the Birchley Street car park were complaining about the nocturnal noise from lorries. Evelyn Ward had organised a 40-name petition against the 15 or so lorries that used the car park each night to change trailers. Her neighbour Sheila Dyer said: "These lorries are using the park as a shunting yard, some coming on to it at two o’clock in the morning and leaving at four. They wake up my two children, aged four and six with their revving." The council stated that as a result of the petition they had decided to ban heavy lorries from using the Birchley Street car park.
A big story in the Reporter was how John Molyneux's son had "secretly" sent his late father's war medals for auction in London. The Victoria Cross holder (pictured above) had died some months earlier and Joseph Molyneux said he should not be expected to donate his dad's medal to St Helens:
"I don't see any reason why the town should have it. Dad always said they didn't do much for him. If the corporation want the Victoria Cross let them bid for it. Sotheby's said I could expect between £1,700 and £2,000 for the VC. It will be a nice little nest egg. I can take my wife and daughter on a holiday. Dad would agree. He always told me that once he was dead, the best thing I could do would be to sell the medal. I know there will be a few moans from his old regiment and people in the town. But it's my medal now, and I'll do what I want with it."
Cllr Eric Kerr, chairman of St. Helens Libraries and Museum Committee, said: "I intend to have talks with other members of the council. Many people will be upset about the medal being sold. It belongs to St. Helens. We must now decide whether to bid for it." Some might dispute the claim that the town had done little for John Molyneux. In 1917 after being awarded the VC, St Helens honoured its war hero over two days in which he received a public reception, a £50 war bond (equivalent to around £5,000 in today's money), a gold watch, silver cigarette case, an illuminated address and, as he was a musician, a concertina.
It was also reported that a sickness outbreak amongst refuse collectors in St Helens was delaying the emptying of bins. Leonard Cundy, the Corporation's Cleansing Superintendent, explained the problem: "We have about 90 men working on refuse collection, but over the past few weeks we have had an average of 24 off sick every day. The problem has become worse since Christmas. We have 17 areas of collection in the borough, and in 15 of these the period between collections is 10 to 13 days – when it should be once a week."
The Sutton Manor and Clock Face areas were particularly badly affected. In order to help cope with the problem, libraries in St Helens were going to hand out what were described as plastic sacks for households to fill. We, of course, would call them bin liners but such products were not then in general use. Mr Cundy had to explain that householders needed to leave the filled bags by their dustbins for refuse workers to collect when they emptied the bins.
The Whalley's World column in the Reporter lamented the recent demolition of Sutton National School (pictured above), writing: "The old satanic-looking seat of learning, a nostril twitch away from the old stinking brook, is now reduced to rubble. It's a facet of old time Sutton which, along with the mean terraces that crouch around it, are slowly submitting to the demolition man’s hammer. Progress must go on … but you can’t stem the flow of nostalgia."
This week plans were agreed to give 182 council houses in Blackbrook a facelift. The area for improvement would include Blackbrook Road, O’Sullivan Crescent, Dearnley Avenue and Whiteside Avenue. The work would include moving the bathroom upstairs, improving the kitchen to Parker Morris standards and installing central heating. The town's Chief Architect, Derek Billam, said: "We will be carrying out internal improvements as well, and giving the houses a general face-lift."
The Reporter also described how the Corporation's compulsory purchase orders in the Fingerpost district of St Helens had been confirmed by the Secretary of State for the Environment. That would lead to the demolition of 120 properties, including two historic pubs. The Lorne Hotel in Parr Street had been going for 147 years and the Nags Head had been built in 1786 and served as a pub since 1848.
The last landlord of the Lorne was John Cunliffe who lamented its loss: "There is a homeliness about these old places, they are more intimate. It's a shame to see them go. The new pubs have nothing on these; they haven't the same personal contact. But the change is inevitable. This was our first pub, and we've spent two happy years here." John's wife, Elsie, described the tremendous community spirit within the pub and said one customer had told her: "I don't know what I'll do – I’ve been coming here since I was 18. It will be a part of my life gone."
And finally on the 22nd, the Theatre Royal began a fortnight's performances of 'Red Riding Hood' – which they called the "grand family pantomime" and starred Lancashire comic and panto dame Tommy Trafford.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the window smashing at St Cuthbert's, the Laffak dog that grew and grew, the hollow victory for King Street residents and the Bold Colliery mineworker who retired after 51 years service but had never been underground.
We begin in Prescot Magistrates Court when a Maghull man was sentenced to three months imprisonment suspended for two years for his involvement in pirate radio. John Hunter denied that he was a prime mover in Radio Free Liverpool but admitted broadcasting illegally from fields in Rainford and Huyton.
Meanwhile, in St Helens Magistrates Court this week a 39-year-old man was fined £20 after pleading guilty to abandoning a dog in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering. An officer of the RSPCA and a police officer had discovered the dead dog in a mummified condition in a deserted house in Dentons Green Lane.
Police were also searching this week for the perpetrators of a raid on a pigeon loft in Marshalls Cross Road. Two dozen racing pigeons worth £2,000 were stolen and five were killed. "There was blood and feathers everywhere", said Jim Pickavance, the son of the 83-year-old owner and champion fancier Sam Pickavance.
Although kidney transplants had begun in the early 1950s, drugs to help prevent rejection had not been available until the mid-‘60s. Such operations were still fairly new and so the Echo ran a lengthy piece on the 16th on Elsie Jones. The 33-year-old from Wyresdale Avenue in St Helens had been seriously ill for a year, of which two months had been spent in a coma. Doctors discovered that Mrs Jones only possessed one kidney which was not functioning correctly.
Elsie was only surviving through treatment from a kidney dialysis machine but now her brother had agreed to donate her one of his kidneys. "I never thought of saying no. I am not afraid. If my sister can last for 35 years on one kidney, I can go another 30 years without one of mine", remarked Harry Davies.
The 47-year-old from Frodsham Drive in Blackbrook had never been troubled by tall challenges, as he was a steeplejack who spent weeks on top of chimneys taking them down brick-by-brick. "When I asked my brother about donating one of his kidneys, his reaction was spontaneous. I owe a lot to him," said a grateful Elsie. The operation was due to take place next month with a predicted 90% success rate.
On the 18th Jake Thackray made his debut appearance at the Theatre Royal in St Helens where he was billed as "the contemporary folk star". At the Capitol this week 'The Magnificent Seven Ride' – described as "a brand new 7 film" – was shown. And the ABC Savoy in Bridge Street began their second week's screening of what they called "The screen sensation of 1972". That was Marlon Brando in 'The Godfather'.
In the St Helens Reporter on the 19th, residents living near to the Birchley Street car park were complaining about the nocturnal noise from lorries. Evelyn Ward had organised a 40-name petition against the 15 or so lorries that used the car park each night to change trailers. Her neighbour Sheila Dyer said: "These lorries are using the park as a shunting yard, some coming on to it at two o’clock in the morning and leaving at four. They wake up my two children, aged four and six with their revving." The council stated that as a result of the petition they had decided to ban heavy lorries from using the Birchley Street car park.
"I don't see any reason why the town should have it. Dad always said they didn't do much for him. If the corporation want the Victoria Cross let them bid for it. Sotheby's said I could expect between £1,700 and £2,000 for the VC. It will be a nice little nest egg. I can take my wife and daughter on a holiday. Dad would agree. He always told me that once he was dead, the best thing I could do would be to sell the medal. I know there will be a few moans from his old regiment and people in the town. But it's my medal now, and I'll do what I want with it."
Cllr Eric Kerr, chairman of St. Helens Libraries and Museum Committee, said: "I intend to have talks with other members of the council. Many people will be upset about the medal being sold. It belongs to St. Helens. We must now decide whether to bid for it." Some might dispute the claim that the town had done little for John Molyneux. In 1917 after being awarded the VC, St Helens honoured its war hero over two days in which he received a public reception, a £50 war bond (equivalent to around £5,000 in today's money), a gold watch, silver cigarette case, an illuminated address and, as he was a musician, a concertina.
It was also reported that a sickness outbreak amongst refuse collectors in St Helens was delaying the emptying of bins. Leonard Cundy, the Corporation's Cleansing Superintendent, explained the problem: "We have about 90 men working on refuse collection, but over the past few weeks we have had an average of 24 off sick every day. The problem has become worse since Christmas. We have 17 areas of collection in the borough, and in 15 of these the period between collections is 10 to 13 days – when it should be once a week."
The Sutton Manor and Clock Face areas were particularly badly affected. In order to help cope with the problem, libraries in St Helens were going to hand out what were described as plastic sacks for households to fill. We, of course, would call them bin liners but such products were not then in general use. Mr Cundy had to explain that householders needed to leave the filled bags by their dustbins for refuse workers to collect when they emptied the bins.
This week plans were agreed to give 182 council houses in Blackbrook a facelift. The area for improvement would include Blackbrook Road, O’Sullivan Crescent, Dearnley Avenue and Whiteside Avenue. The work would include moving the bathroom upstairs, improving the kitchen to Parker Morris standards and installing central heating. The town's Chief Architect, Derek Billam, said: "We will be carrying out internal improvements as well, and giving the houses a general face-lift."
The Reporter also described how the Corporation's compulsory purchase orders in the Fingerpost district of St Helens had been confirmed by the Secretary of State for the Environment. That would lead to the demolition of 120 properties, including two historic pubs. The Lorne Hotel in Parr Street had been going for 147 years and the Nags Head had been built in 1786 and served as a pub since 1848.
The last landlord of the Lorne was John Cunliffe who lamented its loss: "There is a homeliness about these old places, they are more intimate. It's a shame to see them go. The new pubs have nothing on these; they haven't the same personal contact. But the change is inevitable. This was our first pub, and we've spent two happy years here." John's wife, Elsie, described the tremendous community spirit within the pub and said one customer had told her: "I don't know what I'll do – I’ve been coming here since I was 18. It will be a part of my life gone."
And finally on the 22nd, the Theatre Royal began a fortnight's performances of 'Red Riding Hood' – which they called the "grand family pantomime" and starred Lancashire comic and panto dame Tommy Trafford.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the window smashing at St Cuthbert's, the Laffak dog that grew and grew, the hollow victory for King Street residents and the Bold Colliery mineworker who retired after 51 years service but had never been underground.
This week's stories include the storm over the sale of a war hero's medals, the Blackbrook steeplejack's sibling kidney transplant, the noisy lorries on the Birchley Street car park, the binmen struck down by sickness, the demolition of Sutton Nash and the Lorne Hotel prepares for last orders.
We begin in Prescot Magistrates Court when a Maghull man was sentenced to three months imprisonment suspended for two years for his involvement in pirate radio.
John Hunter denied that he was a prime mover in Radio Free Liverpool but admitted broadcasting illegally from fields in Rainford and Huyton.
Meanwhile, in St Helens Magistrates Court this week a 39-year-old man was fined £20 after pleading guilty to abandoning a dog in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering.
An officer of the RSPCA and a police officer had discovered the dead dog in a mummified condition in a deserted house in Dentons Green Lane.
Police were also searching this week for the perpetrators of a raid on a pigeon loft in Marshalls Cross Road.
Two dozen racing pigeons worth £2,000 were stolen and five were killed. "There was blood and feathers everywhere", said Jim Pickavance, the son of the 83-year-old owner and champion fancier Sam Pickavance.
Although kidney transplants had begun in the early 1950s, drugs to help prevent rejection had not been available until the mid-‘60s.
Such operations were still fairly new and so the Echo ran a lengthy piece on the 16th on Elsie Jones.
The 33-year-old from Wyresdale Avenue in St Helens had been seriously ill for a year, of which two months had been spent in a coma.
Doctors discovered that Mrs Jones only possessed one kidney which was not functioning correctly.
Elsie was only surviving through treatment from a kidney dialysis machine but now her brother had agreed to donate her one of his kidneys.
"I never thought of saying no. I am not afraid. If my sister can last for 35 years on one kidney, I can go another 30 years without one of mine", remarked Harry Davies.
The 47-year-old from Frodsham Drive in Blackbrook had never been troubled by tall challenges, as he was a steeplejack who spent weeks on top of chimneys taking them down brick-by-brick.
"When I asked my brother about donating one of his kidneys, his reaction was spontaneous. I owe a lot to him," said a grateful Elsie.
The operation was due to take place next month with a predicted 90% success rate.
On the 18th Jake Thackray made his debut appearance at the Theatre Royal in St Helens where he was billed as "the contemporary folk star".
At the Capitol this week 'The Magnificent Seven Ride' – described as "a brand new 7 film" – was shown.
And the ABC Savoy in Bridge Street began their second week's screening of what they called "The screen sensation of 1972". That was Marlon Brando in 'The Godfather'.
In the St Helens Reporter on the 19th, residents living near to the Birchley Street car park were complaining about the nocturnal noise from lorries.
Evelyn Ward had organised a 40-name petition against the 15 or so lorries that used the car park each night to change trailers.
Her neighbour Sheila Dyer said: "These lorries are using the park as a shunting yard, some coming on to it at two o’clock in the morning and leaving at four. They wake up my two children, aged four and six with their revving."
The council stated that as a result of the petition they had decided to ban heavy lorries from using the Birchley Street car park.
A big story in the Reporter was how John Molyneux's son had "secretly" sent his late father's war medals for auction in London.
The Victoria Cross holder (pictured above) had died some months earlier and Joseph Molyneux said he should not be expected to donate his dad's medal to St Helens:
"I don't see any reason why the town should have it. Dad always said they didn't do much for him. If the corporation want the Victoria Cross let them bid for it.
"Sotheby's said I could expect between £1,700 and £2,000 for the VC. It will be a nice little nest egg. I can take my wife and daughter on a holiday.
"Dad would agree. He always told me that once he was dead, the best thing I could do would be to sell the medal. I know there will be a few moans from his old regiment and people in the town. But it's my medal now, and I'll do what I want with it."
Cllr Eric Kerr, chairman of St. Helens Libraries and Museum Committee, said:
"I intend to have talks with other members of the council. Many people will be upset about the medal being sold. It belongs to St. Helens. We must now decide whether to bid for it."
Some might dispute the claim that the town had done little for John Molyneux.
In 1917 after being awarded the VC, St Helens honoured its war hero over two days in which he received a public reception, a £50 war bond (equivalent to around £5,000 in today's money), a gold watch, silver cigarette case, an illuminated address and, as he was a musician, a concertina.
It was also reported that a sickness outbreak amongst refuse collectors in St Helens was delaying the emptying of bins.
Leonard Cundy, the Corporation's Cleansing Superintendent, explained the problem:
"We have about 90 men working on refuse collection, but over the past few weeks we have had an average of 24 off sick every day. The problem has become worse since Christmas.
"We have 17 areas of collection in the borough, and in 15 of these the period between collections is 10 to 13 days – when it should be once a week."
The Sutton Manor and Clock Face areas were particularly badly affected. In order to help cope with the problem, libraries in St Helens were going to hand out what were described as plastic sacks for households to fill.
We, of course, would call them bin liners but such products were not then in general use.
Mr Cundy had to explain that householders needed to leave the filled bags by their dustbins for refuse workers to collect when they emptied the bins.
The Whalley's World column in the Reporter lamented the recent demolition of Sutton National School (pictured above), writing:
"The old satanic-looking seat of learning, a nostril twitch away from the old stinking brook, is now reduced to rubble.
"It's a facet of old time Sutton which, along with the mean terraces that crouch around it, are slowly submitting to the demolition man’s hammer. Progress must go on … but you can’t stem the flow of nostalgia."
This week plans were agreed to give 182 council houses in Blackbrook a facelift.
The area for improvement would include Blackbrook Road, O’Sullivan Crescent, Dearnley Avenue and Whiteside Avenue.
The work would include moving the bathroom upstairs, improving the kitchen to Parker Morris standards and installing central heating.
The town's Chief Architect, Derek Billam, said: "We will be carrying out internal improvements as well, and giving the houses a general face-lift."
The Reporter also described how the Corporation's compulsory purchase orders in the Fingerpost district of St Helens had been confirmed by the Secretary of State for the Environment.
That would lead to the demolition of 120 properties, including two historic pubs.
The Lorne Hotel in Parr Street had been going for 147 years and the Nags Head had been built in 1786 and served as a pub since 1848.
The last landlord of the Lorne was John Cunliffe who lamented its loss:
"There is a homeliness about these old places, they are more intimate. It's a shame to see them go. The new pubs have nothing on these; they haven't the same personal contact. But the change is inevitable. This was our first pub, and we've spent two happy years here."
John's wife, Elsie, described the tremendous community spirit within the pub and said one customer had told her:
"I don't know what I'll do – I’ve been coming here since I was 18. It will be a part of my life gone."
And finally on the 22nd, the Theatre Royal began a fortnight's performances of 'Red Riding Hood' – which they called the "grand family pantomime" and starred Lancashire comic and panto dame Tommy Trafford.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the window smashing at St Cuthbert's, the Laffak dog that grew and grew, the hollow victory for King Street residents and the Bold Colliery mineworker who retired after 51 years service but had never been underground.
We begin in Prescot Magistrates Court when a Maghull man was sentenced to three months imprisonment suspended for two years for his involvement in pirate radio.
John Hunter denied that he was a prime mover in Radio Free Liverpool but admitted broadcasting illegally from fields in Rainford and Huyton.
Meanwhile, in St Helens Magistrates Court this week a 39-year-old man was fined £20 after pleading guilty to abandoning a dog in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering.
An officer of the RSPCA and a police officer had discovered the dead dog in a mummified condition in a deserted house in Dentons Green Lane.
Police were also searching this week for the perpetrators of a raid on a pigeon loft in Marshalls Cross Road.
Two dozen racing pigeons worth £2,000 were stolen and five were killed. "There was blood and feathers everywhere", said Jim Pickavance, the son of the 83-year-old owner and champion fancier Sam Pickavance.
Although kidney transplants had begun in the early 1950s, drugs to help prevent rejection had not been available until the mid-‘60s.
Such operations were still fairly new and so the Echo ran a lengthy piece on the 16th on Elsie Jones.
The 33-year-old from Wyresdale Avenue in St Helens had been seriously ill for a year, of which two months had been spent in a coma.
Doctors discovered that Mrs Jones only possessed one kidney which was not functioning correctly.
Elsie was only surviving through treatment from a kidney dialysis machine but now her brother had agreed to donate her one of his kidneys.
"I never thought of saying no. I am not afraid. If my sister can last for 35 years on one kidney, I can go another 30 years without one of mine", remarked Harry Davies.
The 47-year-old from Frodsham Drive in Blackbrook had never been troubled by tall challenges, as he was a steeplejack who spent weeks on top of chimneys taking them down brick-by-brick.
"When I asked my brother about donating one of his kidneys, his reaction was spontaneous. I owe a lot to him," said a grateful Elsie.
The operation was due to take place next month with a predicted 90% success rate.
On the 18th Jake Thackray made his debut appearance at the Theatre Royal in St Helens where he was billed as "the contemporary folk star".
At the Capitol this week 'The Magnificent Seven Ride' – described as "a brand new 7 film" – was shown.
And the ABC Savoy in Bridge Street began their second week's screening of what they called "The screen sensation of 1972". That was Marlon Brando in 'The Godfather'.
In the St Helens Reporter on the 19th, residents living near to the Birchley Street car park were complaining about the nocturnal noise from lorries.
Evelyn Ward had organised a 40-name petition against the 15 or so lorries that used the car park each night to change trailers.
Her neighbour Sheila Dyer said: "These lorries are using the park as a shunting yard, some coming on to it at two o’clock in the morning and leaving at four. They wake up my two children, aged four and six with their revving."
The council stated that as a result of the petition they had decided to ban heavy lorries from using the Birchley Street car park.
The Victoria Cross holder (pictured above) had died some months earlier and Joseph Molyneux said he should not be expected to donate his dad's medal to St Helens:
"I don't see any reason why the town should have it. Dad always said they didn't do much for him. If the corporation want the Victoria Cross let them bid for it.
"Sotheby's said I could expect between £1,700 and £2,000 for the VC. It will be a nice little nest egg. I can take my wife and daughter on a holiday.
"Dad would agree. He always told me that once he was dead, the best thing I could do would be to sell the medal. I know there will be a few moans from his old regiment and people in the town. But it's my medal now, and I'll do what I want with it."
Cllr Eric Kerr, chairman of St. Helens Libraries and Museum Committee, said:
"I intend to have talks with other members of the council. Many people will be upset about the medal being sold. It belongs to St. Helens. We must now decide whether to bid for it."
Some might dispute the claim that the town had done little for John Molyneux.
In 1917 after being awarded the VC, St Helens honoured its war hero over two days in which he received a public reception, a £50 war bond (equivalent to around £5,000 in today's money), a gold watch, silver cigarette case, an illuminated address and, as he was a musician, a concertina.
It was also reported that a sickness outbreak amongst refuse collectors in St Helens was delaying the emptying of bins.
Leonard Cundy, the Corporation's Cleansing Superintendent, explained the problem:
"We have about 90 men working on refuse collection, but over the past few weeks we have had an average of 24 off sick every day. The problem has become worse since Christmas.
"We have 17 areas of collection in the borough, and in 15 of these the period between collections is 10 to 13 days – when it should be once a week."
The Sutton Manor and Clock Face areas were particularly badly affected. In order to help cope with the problem, libraries in St Helens were going to hand out what were described as plastic sacks for households to fill.
We, of course, would call them bin liners but such products were not then in general use.
Mr Cundy had to explain that householders needed to leave the filled bags by their dustbins for refuse workers to collect when they emptied the bins.
"The old satanic-looking seat of learning, a nostril twitch away from the old stinking brook, is now reduced to rubble.
"It's a facet of old time Sutton which, along with the mean terraces that crouch around it, are slowly submitting to the demolition man’s hammer. Progress must go on … but you can’t stem the flow of nostalgia."
This week plans were agreed to give 182 council houses in Blackbrook a facelift.
The area for improvement would include Blackbrook Road, O’Sullivan Crescent, Dearnley Avenue and Whiteside Avenue.
The work would include moving the bathroom upstairs, improving the kitchen to Parker Morris standards and installing central heating.
The town's Chief Architect, Derek Billam, said: "We will be carrying out internal improvements as well, and giving the houses a general face-lift."
The Reporter also described how the Corporation's compulsory purchase orders in the Fingerpost district of St Helens had been confirmed by the Secretary of State for the Environment.
That would lead to the demolition of 120 properties, including two historic pubs.
The Lorne Hotel in Parr Street had been going for 147 years and the Nags Head had been built in 1786 and served as a pub since 1848.
The last landlord of the Lorne was John Cunliffe who lamented its loss:
"There is a homeliness about these old places, they are more intimate. It's a shame to see them go. The new pubs have nothing on these; they haven't the same personal contact. But the change is inevitable. This was our first pub, and we've spent two happy years here."
John's wife, Elsie, described the tremendous community spirit within the pub and said one customer had told her:
"I don't know what I'll do – I’ve been coming here since I was 18. It will be a part of my life gone."
And finally on the 22nd, the Theatre Royal began a fortnight's performances of 'Red Riding Hood' – which they called the "grand family pantomime" and starred Lancashire comic and panto dame Tommy Trafford.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the window smashing at St Cuthbert's, the Laffak dog that grew and grew, the hollow victory for King Street residents and the Bold Colliery mineworker who retired after 51 years service but had never been underground.