FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (20th - 26th JANUARY 1970)
This week's stories include the trainee engineer dolly girls at Pilks, the abusive phone calls over bin collections, the wall of silence in St Helens Road, the new industrial estate in Rainford and a dispute over the building of new homes on green space in Parr.
We begin with the Women's League of Health and Beauty who held an open night at the Fleece Hotel on the 20th. The league came to St Helens in 1968 and began their exercise classes at Grange Park School. However they had now decided to transfer to the hotel in Church Street in order to boost attendances as it was in a more central location.
Councillor Michael Samuel told a meeting of Rainford's Town Planning Committee on the same day that he feared that a new trading site could become an industrial slum. He was referring to the former Rainford Potteries site in Mill Lane that was set to become an industrial estate with over 30 tenants.
Councillor Samuel was concerned that many of those who planned to move in were engaged in vehicle repair work, metal and woodwork. He said: "All the trappings that go with these trades could turn the site into an industrial slum." Joint owner Clifford Martland told the meeting that he was delighted by the interest small firms had shown in the venture and sixteen people had already moved onto the 7-acre site next to the Carborundum.
The meeting also rejected a plan to create a 90-unit holiday caravan park on Crank Farm in Crank Road. This was on the basis that the site could be a source of pollution to a nearby reservoir.
Derby and Joan Clubs were still going strong in 1970. Last year a new club had been opened in Parr and this week work began on a new building in Blackbrook. The club near Chain Lane was scheduled to open in April at a cost of £9,000 with £3,000 having already been raised by members and friends.
At a St Helens Council's Works Committee meeting on the 21st, Len Cundy said he and his wife were getting fed up with abusive phone calls to their home. As the Corporation's cleansing superintendent Len was in charge of the bins and the flu epidemic had reduced the labour force. On average about fifteen binmen out of the usual ninety had been absent in the four weeks since Christmas. So callers wanted to know why their bins had not been emptied and some were quite angry. Although Mr Cundy was able to tell the committee that with the flu bug on the wane, matters were now improving.
The committee also heard that Boundary Road Baths (pictured above) was to have its 80-year-old coal-fired boilers replaced with oil-fired ones. The change at a cost of £28,000 (about £½ million in today's money) was being made because the district would shortly be made "smokeless".
Rael Brook "the world's leading shirt manufacturers" of Warrington Road in Rainhill was advertising in the Liverpool Echo on the 22nd. The company wrote: "Due to the further expansion at Rainhill, we are looking for outstanding young ladies to be trained in sewing. We have every right to be choosy for we work in an outstanding new building and spend a lot of time together out of working hours in a wide variety of social and sporting activities. We have full welfare facilities, a fine canteen and pay excellent wages."
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 23rd and described how Graham Atherton from Windle Hall Drive and James Talbot from nearby Wyresdale Avenue were planning to fly out to Nigeria. Both were members of the St Helens branch of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade and would be helping in the massive relieve operation to aid the starving Biafrans in the aftermath of war.
A prominent article in the paper was headlined "Dolly Girls Geared To a Man's World" and had this introduction: "Two pretty teenage girls have set a new trend in a man's world – as trainee engineers at a glass firm. Every day Christine Reeves and Christine Formby don boiler suits instead of mini-skirts and work alongside seven other apprentices – all boys – at Pilkington, St. Helens.
"Both girls started their apprenticeships in September – lasting until 1974. “We have four years to get used to working entirely with men,” said Christine Reeves, a 17-year-old blonde from Swann Avenue, Parr. “It is a bit frightening.” The girls stand beside the boys in the drawing office and work next to them in the instrument department. And already they can wield a spanner as easily as they can grind down a piece of metal."
Readers of my 150 years ago and 100 years ago articles will be very familiar with the violent arguments that neighbours often had. By 1970 life was more enlightened and squabbling neighbours simply stopped talking to each other. At least that was the case with headmaster Frank Jones and company director Noel Ault in their dispute over a garden wall. The Reporter's article was headlined "The Wall of Silence" and described how Mr Jones believed the wall to be his, while Mr Ault felt it was a shared party wall.
The latter had given a builder permission to remove part of a fence on top of the wall so that a garage could be built. But when Mr Jones saw what had occurred, he pushed down a piece of the newly-built garage wall and demanded that the fence be put back. Now Mr Ault was talking to a solicitor and the deeds were being checked and the two neighbours in St Helens Road were not speaking. Not quite as interesting as people bashing each other over the head with a poker but much more civilised!
Pictured in the paper was the son of Anne Petit, the headmistress of Corpus Christi School in Rainford, receiving a cheque for £120 on behalf of his mother. Mrs Petit of Victoria Street was retiring from the school and through illness had been unable to attend the event, which was attended by nearly 200 parishioners and well-wishers.
The Reporter also described how residents of new estates being built at Islands Brow, Chain Lane and Laffak Farm would have play areas provided for their children. This was after a Ratepayers Association had complained of being left in the dark about them. The play areas would be created in 1971 after the estates had been completed.
Ann Wilson had a letter published in the Reporter in which she complained about the condition of Newton Road in Parr. And she didn't mince her words: "It is a disgrace to the town. Provident Street is also a disgrace. Children going to school fall on the uneven pavement and the road is cobbled. We know it's Parr, but we still want our streets looking something like."
In December I wrote that the town's Transport Committee had reversed its policy of banning smoking on the new single-decker, one-man buses as the "no smoking" notices were routinely ignored. Smokers were now requested to sit at the rear of the bus while the ban on smoking remained at the front. However in a letter printed in the paper T. G. Franklin from Lugsmore Lane identified a problem with this approach. He/she said: "There is little point in the Transport Department putting "No Smoking" stickers in the front portion of one-man-operated buses when many of the drivers smoke during journeys."
The Reporter also revealed that there were 385 disabled people in St Helens who were looking for work. Ronald Kerry of the St Helens Employment Exchange said the number of disabled men and women seeking jobs had steadily increased over the last few years. Mr Kerry said many firms in St Helens were willing to employ disabled people but he called for more businesses to do the same.
Warings had a prominent ad that said "End of Sale – Fantastic bargains – Come in and see the money you can save – Your last chance to save £ £ £ – Last days to buy that genuine bargain". The message was clear but there was nothing that told the reader what they sold. However with three shops in Duke Street, Church Street and Parr Stocks Road, many people would know that Frank Waring sold electrical goods.
These days many people complain about proposed new housing developments, saying (amongst other things), that their view would be spoiled. There is nothing new in that and the Reporter described how parents in Monmouth Grove (off Ramford Street) "saw red" when they heard of the council's plans to build new houses. That was because they would be building the homes on an acre of grassland used by local children and spoiling residents' views. Fred Shuttleworth had lived in the Grove for 32 years and told the Reporter:
"I think it’s terrible that we are going to lose the view. All we will be able to see will be the backs of other houses." Resident John White said: "This will mean that the children won't have as much space to play in. They are taking the land away from the children – and if they build these houses they will be taking our view away, too." The council’s argument was that there was a pressing need for small houses in St Helens and their Housing Manager said the new Monmouth Grove homes would "go like hot cakes".
And finally a film guide. For seven days from the 25th the cold war spy picture 'Ice Station Zebra' starring Rock Hudson was shown at the ABC Savoy. And from the 26th for five days, the western 'Shalako' starring Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot was screened at the Capitol. It was a double feature along with the war film 'Triple Cross'.
Next week's stories will include what St Helens' women thought of the Pill, there is a naked prowler in Thatto Heath, Blaster Bates is back in town, snooker champion John Spencer plays at Lowe House and there's criticism of the police Panda car system as a crime wave hits the town.
We begin with the Women's League of Health and Beauty who held an open night at the Fleece Hotel on the 20th. The league came to St Helens in 1968 and began their exercise classes at Grange Park School. However they had now decided to transfer to the hotel in Church Street in order to boost attendances as it was in a more central location.
Councillor Michael Samuel told a meeting of Rainford's Town Planning Committee on the same day that he feared that a new trading site could become an industrial slum. He was referring to the former Rainford Potteries site in Mill Lane that was set to become an industrial estate with over 30 tenants.
Councillor Samuel was concerned that many of those who planned to move in were engaged in vehicle repair work, metal and woodwork. He said: "All the trappings that go with these trades could turn the site into an industrial slum." Joint owner Clifford Martland told the meeting that he was delighted by the interest small firms had shown in the venture and sixteen people had already moved onto the 7-acre site next to the Carborundum.
The meeting also rejected a plan to create a 90-unit holiday caravan park on Crank Farm in Crank Road. This was on the basis that the site could be a source of pollution to a nearby reservoir.
Derby and Joan Clubs were still going strong in 1970. Last year a new club had been opened in Parr and this week work began on a new building in Blackbrook. The club near Chain Lane was scheduled to open in April at a cost of £9,000 with £3,000 having already been raised by members and friends.
At a St Helens Council's Works Committee meeting on the 21st, Len Cundy said he and his wife were getting fed up with abusive phone calls to their home. As the Corporation's cleansing superintendent Len was in charge of the bins and the flu epidemic had reduced the labour force. On average about fifteen binmen out of the usual ninety had been absent in the four weeks since Christmas. So callers wanted to know why their bins had not been emptied and some were quite angry. Although Mr Cundy was able to tell the committee that with the flu bug on the wane, matters were now improving.
Rael Brook "the world's leading shirt manufacturers" of Warrington Road in Rainhill was advertising in the Liverpool Echo on the 22nd. The company wrote: "Due to the further expansion at Rainhill, we are looking for outstanding young ladies to be trained in sewing. We have every right to be choosy for we work in an outstanding new building and spend a lot of time together out of working hours in a wide variety of social and sporting activities. We have full welfare facilities, a fine canteen and pay excellent wages."
Liverpool Echo adverts for shirtmaker Rael Brook of Rainhill and houses in Gartons Lane in Sutton, St Helens
Liverpool Echo adverts for Rael Brook and houses in Gartons Lane
Liverpool Echo advert for Rael Brook
A prominent article in the paper was headlined "Dolly Girls Geared To a Man's World" and had this introduction: "Two pretty teenage girls have set a new trend in a man's world – as trainee engineers at a glass firm. Every day Christine Reeves and Christine Formby don boiler suits instead of mini-skirts and work alongside seven other apprentices – all boys – at Pilkington, St. Helens.
"Both girls started their apprenticeships in September – lasting until 1974. “We have four years to get used to working entirely with men,” said Christine Reeves, a 17-year-old blonde from Swann Avenue, Parr. “It is a bit frightening.” The girls stand beside the boys in the drawing office and work next to them in the instrument department. And already they can wield a spanner as easily as they can grind down a piece of metal."
Readers of my 150 years ago and 100 years ago articles will be very familiar with the violent arguments that neighbours often had. By 1970 life was more enlightened and squabbling neighbours simply stopped talking to each other. At least that was the case with headmaster Frank Jones and company director Noel Ault in their dispute over a garden wall. The Reporter's article was headlined "The Wall of Silence" and described how Mr Jones believed the wall to be his, while Mr Ault felt it was a shared party wall.
The latter had given a builder permission to remove part of a fence on top of the wall so that a garage could be built. But when Mr Jones saw what had occurred, he pushed down a piece of the newly-built garage wall and demanded that the fence be put back. Now Mr Ault was talking to a solicitor and the deeds were being checked and the two neighbours in St Helens Road were not speaking. Not quite as interesting as people bashing each other over the head with a poker but much more civilised!
Pictured in the paper was the son of Anne Petit, the headmistress of Corpus Christi School in Rainford, receiving a cheque for £120 on behalf of his mother. Mrs Petit of Victoria Street was retiring from the school and through illness had been unable to attend the event, which was attended by nearly 200 parishioners and well-wishers.
The Reporter also described how residents of new estates being built at Islands Brow, Chain Lane and Laffak Farm would have play areas provided for their children. This was after a Ratepayers Association had complained of being left in the dark about them. The play areas would be created in 1971 after the estates had been completed.
Ann Wilson had a letter published in the Reporter in which she complained about the condition of Newton Road in Parr. And she didn't mince her words: "It is a disgrace to the town. Provident Street is also a disgrace. Children going to school fall on the uneven pavement and the road is cobbled. We know it's Parr, but we still want our streets looking something like."
The Reporter also revealed that there were 385 disabled people in St Helens who were looking for work. Ronald Kerry of the St Helens Employment Exchange said the number of disabled men and women seeking jobs had steadily increased over the last few years. Mr Kerry said many firms in St Helens were willing to employ disabled people but he called for more businesses to do the same.
Warings had a prominent ad that said "End of Sale – Fantastic bargains – Come in and see the money you can save – Your last chance to save £ £ £ – Last days to buy that genuine bargain". The message was clear but there was nothing that told the reader what they sold. However with three shops in Duke Street, Church Street and Parr Stocks Road, many people would know that Frank Waring sold electrical goods.
These days many people complain about proposed new housing developments, saying (amongst other things), that their view would be spoiled. There is nothing new in that and the Reporter described how parents in Monmouth Grove (off Ramford Street) "saw red" when they heard of the council's plans to build new houses. That was because they would be building the homes on an acre of grassland used by local children and spoiling residents' views. Fred Shuttleworth had lived in the Grove for 32 years and told the Reporter:
"I think it’s terrible that we are going to lose the view. All we will be able to see will be the backs of other houses." Resident John White said: "This will mean that the children won't have as much space to play in. They are taking the land away from the children – and if they build these houses they will be taking our view away, too." The council’s argument was that there was a pressing need for small houses in St Helens and their Housing Manager said the new Monmouth Grove homes would "go like hot cakes".
And finally a film guide. For seven days from the 25th the cold war spy picture 'Ice Station Zebra' starring Rock Hudson was shown at the ABC Savoy. And from the 26th for five days, the western 'Shalako' starring Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot was screened at the Capitol. It was a double feature along with the war film 'Triple Cross'.
Next week's stories will include what St Helens' women thought of the Pill, there is a naked prowler in Thatto Heath, Blaster Bates is back in town, snooker champion John Spencer plays at Lowe House and there's criticism of the police Panda car system as a crime wave hits the town.
This week's stories include the trainee engineer dolly girls at Pilks, the abusive phone calls over bin collections, the wall of silence in St Helens Road, the new industrial estate in Rainford and a dispute over the building of new homes on green space in Parr.
We begin with the Women's League of Health and Beauty who held an open night at the Fleece Hotel on the 20th.
The league came to St Helens in 1968 and began their exercise classes at Grange Park School.
However they had now decided to transfer to the hotel in Church Street in order to boost attendances as it was in a more central location.
Councillor Michael Samuel told a meeting of Rainford's Town Planning Committee on the same day that he feared that a new trading site could become an industrial slum.
He was referring to the former Rainford Potteries site in Mill Lane that was set to become an industrial estate with over 30 tenants.
Councillor Samuel was concerned that many of those who planned to move in were engaged in vehicle repair work, metal and woodwork.
He said: "All the trappings that go with these trades could turn the site into an industrial slum."
Joint owner Clifford Martland told the meeting that he was delighted by the interest small firms had shown in the venture and 16 people had already moved onto the 7-acre site next to the Carborundum.
The meeting also rejected a plan to create a 90-unit holiday caravan park on Crank Farm in Crank Road.
This was on the basis that the site could be a source of pollution to a nearby reservoir.
Derby and Joan Clubs were still going strong in 1970. Last year a new club had been opened in Parr and this week work began on a new building in Blackbrook.
The club near Chain Lane was scheduled to open in April at a cost of £9,000 with £3,000 having already been raised by members and friends.
At a St Helens Council's Works Committee meeting on the 21st, Len Cundy said he and his wife were getting fed up with abusive phone calls to their home.
As the Corporation's cleansing superintendent Len was in charge of the bins and the flu epidemic had reduced the labour force.
On average about fifteen binmen out of the usual ninety had been absent in the four weeks since Christmas.
So callers wanted to know why their bins had not been emptied and some were quite angry.
Although Mr Cundy was able to tell the committee that with the flu bug on the wane, matters were now improving.
The committee also heard that Boundary Road Baths (pictured above) was to have its 80-year-old coal-fired boilers replaced with oil-fired ones.
The change at a cost of £28,000 (about £½ million in today's money) was being made because the district would shortly be made "smokeless".
Rael Brook "the world's leading shirt manufacturers" of Warrington Road in Rainhill was advertising in the Liverpool Echo on the 22nd. The company wrote:
"Due to the further expansion at Rainhill, we are looking for outstanding young ladies to be trained in sewing. We have every right to be choosy for we work in an outstanding new building and spend a lot of time together out of working hours in a wide variety of social and sporting activities. We have full welfare facilities, a fine canteen and pay excellent wages."
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 23rd and described how Graham Atherton from Windle Hall Drive and James Talbot from nearby Wyresdale Avenue were planning to fly out to Nigeria.
Both were members of the St Helens branch of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade and would be helping in the massive relieve operation to aid the starving Biafrans in the aftermath of war.
A prominent article in the paper was headlined "Dolly Girls Geared To a Man's World" and had this introduction:
"Two pretty teenage girls have set a new trend in a man's world – as trainee engineers at a glass firm. Every day Christine Reeves and Christine Formby don boiler suits instead of mini-skirts and work alongside seven other apprentices – all boys – at Pilkington, St. Helens.
"Both girls started their apprenticeships in September – lasting until 1974. “We have four years to get used to working entirely with men,” said Christine Reeves, a 17-year-old blonde from Swann Avenue, Parr. “It is a bit frightening.” The girls stand beside the boys in the drawing office and work next to them in the instrument department. And already they can wield a spanner as easily as they can grind down a piece of metal."
Readers of my 150 Years Ago and 100 Years Ago articles will be very familiar with the violent arguments that neighbours often had.
By 1970 life was more enlightened and squabbling neighbours simply stopped talking to each other.
At least that was the case with headmaster Frank Jones and company director Noel Ault in their dispute over a garden wall.
The Reporter's article was headlined "The Wall of Silence" and described how Mr Jones believed the wall to be his, while Mr Ault felt it was a shared party wall.
The latter had given a builder permission to remove part of a fence on top of the wall so that a garage could be built.
But when Mr Jones saw what had occurred, he pushed down a piece of the newly-built garage wall and demanded that the fence be put back.
Now Mr Ault was talking to a solicitor and the deeds were being checked and the two neighbours in St Helens Road were not speaking.
Not quite as interesting as people bashing each other over the head with a poker but much more civilised!
Pictured in the paper was the son of Anne Petit, the headmistress of Corpus Christi School in Rainford, receiving a cheque for £120 on behalf of his mother.
Mrs Petit of Victoria Street was retiring from the school and through illness had been unable to go to the event, which was attended by nearly 200 parishioners and well-wishers.
The Reporter also described how residents of new estates being built at Islands Brow, Chain Lane and Laffak Farm would have play areas provided for their children.
This was after a Ratepayers Association had complained of being left in the dark about them.
The play areas would be created in 1971 after the building of the estates had been completed.
Ann Wilson had a letter published in the Reporter in which she complained about the condition of Newton Road in Parr. And she didn't mince her words:
"It is a disgrace to the town. Provident Street is also a disgrace. Children going to school fall on the uneven pavement and the road is cobbled. We know it's Parr, but we still want our streets looking something like."
In December I wrote that the town's Transport Committee had reversed its policy of banning smoking on the new single-decker, one-man buses as the "no smoking" notices were routinely ignored.
Smokers were now requested to sit at the rear of the bus while the ban on smoking remained at the front.
However in a letter printed in the paper T. G. Franklin from Lugsmore Lane identified a problem with this approach. He/she said:
"There is little point in the Transport Department putting "No Smoking" stickers in the front portion of one-man-operated buses when many of the drivers smoke during journeys."
The Reporter also revealed that there were 385 disabled people in St Helens who were looking for work.
Ronald Kerry of the St Helens Employment Exchange said the number of disabled men and women seeking jobs had steadily increased over the last few years.
Mr Kerry stated that many firms in St Helens were willing to employ disabled people but he called for more businesses to do the same.
Warings had a prominent ad that said "End of Sale – Fantastic bargains – Come in and see the money you can save – Your last chance to save £ £ £ – Last days to buy that genuine bargain".
The message was clear but there was nothing that told the reader what they sold.
However with three shops in Duke Street, Church Street and Parr Stocks Road, many people would know that Frank Waring sold electrical goods.
These days many people complain about proposed new housing developments, saying (amongst other things), that their view would be spoiled.
There is nothing new in that and the Reporter described how parents in Monmouth Grove (off Ramford Street) "saw red" when they heard of the council's plans to build new houses.
That was because they would be building the homes on an acre of grassland used by local children and spoiling residents' views.
Fred Shuttleworth had lived in the Grove for 32 years and told the Reporter:
"I think it’s terrible that we are going to lose the view. All we will be able to see will be the backs of other houses."
Resident John White said: "This will mean that the children won't have as much space to play in. They are taking the land away from the children – and if they build these houses they will be taking our view away, too."
The council’s argument was that there was a pressing need for small houses in St Helens and their Housing Manager said the new Monmouth Grove homes would "go like hot cakes".
And finally a film guide. For seven days from the 25th the cold war spy picture 'Ice Station Zebra' starring Rock Hudson was shown at the ABC Savoy.
And from the 26th for five days, the western 'Shalako' starring Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot was screened at the Capitol. It was a double feature along with the war film 'Triple Cross'.
Next week's stories will include what St Helens' women thought of the Pill, there is a naked prowler in Thatto Heath, Blaster Bates is back in town, snooker champion John Spencer plays at Lowe House and there's criticism of the police Panda car system as a crime wave hits the town.
We begin with the Women's League of Health and Beauty who held an open night at the Fleece Hotel on the 20th.
The league came to St Helens in 1968 and began their exercise classes at Grange Park School.
However they had now decided to transfer to the hotel in Church Street in order to boost attendances as it was in a more central location.
Councillor Michael Samuel told a meeting of Rainford's Town Planning Committee on the same day that he feared that a new trading site could become an industrial slum.
He was referring to the former Rainford Potteries site in Mill Lane that was set to become an industrial estate with over 30 tenants.
Councillor Samuel was concerned that many of those who planned to move in were engaged in vehicle repair work, metal and woodwork.
He said: "All the trappings that go with these trades could turn the site into an industrial slum."
Joint owner Clifford Martland told the meeting that he was delighted by the interest small firms had shown in the venture and 16 people had already moved onto the 7-acre site next to the Carborundum.
The meeting also rejected a plan to create a 90-unit holiday caravan park on Crank Farm in Crank Road.
This was on the basis that the site could be a source of pollution to a nearby reservoir.
Derby and Joan Clubs were still going strong in 1970. Last year a new club had been opened in Parr and this week work began on a new building in Blackbrook.
The club near Chain Lane was scheduled to open in April at a cost of £9,000 with £3,000 having already been raised by members and friends.
At a St Helens Council's Works Committee meeting on the 21st, Len Cundy said he and his wife were getting fed up with abusive phone calls to their home.
As the Corporation's cleansing superintendent Len was in charge of the bins and the flu epidemic had reduced the labour force.
On average about fifteen binmen out of the usual ninety had been absent in the four weeks since Christmas.
So callers wanted to know why their bins had not been emptied and some were quite angry.
Although Mr Cundy was able to tell the committee that with the flu bug on the wane, matters were now improving.
The change at a cost of £28,000 (about £½ million in today's money) was being made because the district would shortly be made "smokeless".
Rael Brook "the world's leading shirt manufacturers" of Warrington Road in Rainhill was advertising in the Liverpool Echo on the 22nd. The company wrote:
"Due to the further expansion at Rainhill, we are looking for outstanding young ladies to be trained in sewing. We have every right to be choosy for we work in an outstanding new building and spend a lot of time together out of working hours in a wide variety of social and sporting activities. We have full welfare facilities, a fine canteen and pay excellent wages."
Liverpool Echo adverts for shirtmaker Rael Brook of Rainhill and houses in Gartons Lane in Sutton, St Helens
Liverpool Echo adverts for Rael Brook and houses in Gartons Lane
Liverpool Echo advert for Rael Brook
Both were members of the St Helens branch of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade and would be helping in the massive relieve operation to aid the starving Biafrans in the aftermath of war.
A prominent article in the paper was headlined "Dolly Girls Geared To a Man's World" and had this introduction:
"Two pretty teenage girls have set a new trend in a man's world – as trainee engineers at a glass firm. Every day Christine Reeves and Christine Formby don boiler suits instead of mini-skirts and work alongside seven other apprentices – all boys – at Pilkington, St. Helens.
"Both girls started their apprenticeships in September – lasting until 1974. “We have four years to get used to working entirely with men,” said Christine Reeves, a 17-year-old blonde from Swann Avenue, Parr. “It is a bit frightening.” The girls stand beside the boys in the drawing office and work next to them in the instrument department. And already they can wield a spanner as easily as they can grind down a piece of metal."
Readers of my 150 Years Ago and 100 Years Ago articles will be very familiar with the violent arguments that neighbours often had.
By 1970 life was more enlightened and squabbling neighbours simply stopped talking to each other.
At least that was the case with headmaster Frank Jones and company director Noel Ault in their dispute over a garden wall.
The Reporter's article was headlined "The Wall of Silence" and described how Mr Jones believed the wall to be his, while Mr Ault felt it was a shared party wall.
The latter had given a builder permission to remove part of a fence on top of the wall so that a garage could be built.
But when Mr Jones saw what had occurred, he pushed down a piece of the newly-built garage wall and demanded that the fence be put back.
Now Mr Ault was talking to a solicitor and the deeds were being checked and the two neighbours in St Helens Road were not speaking.
Not quite as interesting as people bashing each other over the head with a poker but much more civilised!
Pictured in the paper was the son of Anne Petit, the headmistress of Corpus Christi School in Rainford, receiving a cheque for £120 on behalf of his mother.
Mrs Petit of Victoria Street was retiring from the school and through illness had been unable to go to the event, which was attended by nearly 200 parishioners and well-wishers.
The Reporter also described how residents of new estates being built at Islands Brow, Chain Lane and Laffak Farm would have play areas provided for their children.
This was after a Ratepayers Association had complained of being left in the dark about them.
The play areas would be created in 1971 after the building of the estates had been completed.
Ann Wilson had a letter published in the Reporter in which she complained about the condition of Newton Road in Parr. And she didn't mince her words:
"It is a disgrace to the town. Provident Street is also a disgrace. Children going to school fall on the uneven pavement and the road is cobbled. We know it's Parr, but we still want our streets looking something like."
Smokers were now requested to sit at the rear of the bus while the ban on smoking remained at the front.
However in a letter printed in the paper T. G. Franklin from Lugsmore Lane identified a problem with this approach. He/she said:
"There is little point in the Transport Department putting "No Smoking" stickers in the front portion of one-man-operated buses when many of the drivers smoke during journeys."
The Reporter also revealed that there were 385 disabled people in St Helens who were looking for work.
Ronald Kerry of the St Helens Employment Exchange said the number of disabled men and women seeking jobs had steadily increased over the last few years.
Mr Kerry stated that many firms in St Helens were willing to employ disabled people but he called for more businesses to do the same.
Warings had a prominent ad that said "End of Sale – Fantastic bargains – Come in and see the money you can save – Your last chance to save £ £ £ – Last days to buy that genuine bargain".
The message was clear but there was nothing that told the reader what they sold.
However with three shops in Duke Street, Church Street and Parr Stocks Road, many people would know that Frank Waring sold electrical goods.
These days many people complain about proposed new housing developments, saying (amongst other things), that their view would be spoiled.
There is nothing new in that and the Reporter described how parents in Monmouth Grove (off Ramford Street) "saw red" when they heard of the council's plans to build new houses.
That was because they would be building the homes on an acre of grassland used by local children and spoiling residents' views.
Fred Shuttleworth had lived in the Grove for 32 years and told the Reporter:
"I think it’s terrible that we are going to lose the view. All we will be able to see will be the backs of other houses."
Resident John White said: "This will mean that the children won't have as much space to play in. They are taking the land away from the children – and if they build these houses they will be taking our view away, too."
The council’s argument was that there was a pressing need for small houses in St Helens and their Housing Manager said the new Monmouth Grove homes would "go like hot cakes".
And finally a film guide. For seven days from the 25th the cold war spy picture 'Ice Station Zebra' starring Rock Hudson was shown at the ABC Savoy.
And from the 26th for five days, the western 'Shalako' starring Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot was screened at the Capitol. It was a double feature along with the war film 'Triple Cross'.
Next week's stories will include what St Helens' women thought of the Pill, there is a naked prowler in Thatto Heath, Blaster Bates is back in town, snooker champion John Spencer plays at Lowe House and there's criticism of the police Panda car system as a crime wave hits the town.