FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (20th - 26th SEPTEMBER 1971)
This week's 16 stories include the shocking dog castration in North Road, St Helens schools ban the clackers craze, the opening of the new Bridge Street post office, the Carr Mill football hooligan, the local men honoured for bravery and the planned re-development of the Westfield Street area receives the green light.
Monday was the day when St Helens Police gave the Press the list of shop break-ins in the town over the previous weekend. It was often the case that relatively little was taken during these burglaries – probably because the robbers tended to be amateurs targeting small businesses. These were more likely to offer little protection against break-ins but may also have not much worth stealing.
In a raid on Myatt's barber's shop in George Street, just 50p and razor blades worth £20 were taken. Perhaps it was the same thieves that broke into a hairdresser's in Market Street and stole a cash box containing documents and £33. They also took razor blades worth £3. Penketh's butcher's shop in Cambridge Road was also broken into at the weekend and thieves stole five oven-ready turkeys, fifteen oven-ready chickens, chicken portions and beefburgers worth a total of £18. Ross Foods of Lowfield Lane in Lea Green also had unwanted weekend visitors who took away a quantity of cigarettes. Also on the 20th it was announced that Joseph Davies, of Elm Grove in Eccleston Park, had been made a County Court judge.
St Helens Town Council was given the go-ahead this week to bulldoze 247 homes and shops situated within the Westfield Street area of the town (shown above). Every few months for the past few years, the Corporation would issue compulsory purchase orders on houses that were deemed unfit to live in. However, some of the residents with a long attachment to their homes would disagree and appeal against the orders to the Government. A public inquiry was then held at St Helens Town Hall and an inspector would hear the evidence, inspect some houses himself and then later report back with his decision.
These invariably were in favour of the Corporation, as was the case this week. After holding an inquiry last June, an inspector from the Department of Environment ruled that the council could take over and demolish old property in Peter Street, Lowe Street, Kirkland Street, Raglan Street and Lyon Street. These formed a seven-acre area and would be replaced by new houses and flats and a major roadworks scheme.
Throughout this week a new comedy called 'Cat In The Bag' was presented at the Theatre Royal. Although many people in St Helens might have been drawn to the show to see the former Coronation Street actors Doreen Keogh (Concepta Riley) and Alan Rothwell (David Barlow), I would liked to have seen Bill Maynard on stage. He was a few years away from becoming a TV star in 'Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt' and then later 'Heartbeat'.
On the 22nd David Peters of Weyman Avenue in Whiston and Alistair Davies of Sandhurst Road in Rainhill were presented with bravery awards on behalf of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society. Both men had plunged into the fast-flowing River Dulas at Corris in Montgomery to save the life of 15-year-old John Connell of Fazakerley who had slipped into the water. Councillor Jack Bohanna, chairman of Whiston Rural District Council, also presented a framed certificate and a cheque for £5 to James Tither of Green End Lane in St Helens. The angler had rescued Graham Simpson of Eccleston last year after the five-year-old had got into trouble in Eccleston Mere. Cllr. Bohanna congratulated the three men on their splendid efforts and as well as the certificates, he also presented them with premium bonds on behalf of the council.
Do you remember that 'Dad's Army' episode when Godfrey's beautiful cottage was scheduled for demolition in order to build an aerodrome? Reading this next story brought that to mind. Liverpool Corporation was deciding on the course for the new M62 motorway as it entered the city. The preferred route across Bowring park golf course would involved the demolition of 130 houses, two pubs and a church. On the 22nd the Echo interviewed some of the people who would be affected, including the Barton siblings who came from St Helens to live closer to the Royal Hospital:
"For 30 years Miss Martha Barton has lived with her brother Wilfred at an ivy-covered cottage in Bowring Park Road. But she accepts the fact that it is now likely to be bulldozed out of the way for a motorway, with remarkable calm. “I never thought it would happen” she says. “But they've told us they will find us alternative accommodation.” One thing she will miss is her large garden at the back of the cottage. “It's a very nice one” she says, “A shame it's got to go. And the cottage.”
"Miss Barton, who is now in her seventies, first came to the cottage at the outbreak of the 2nd world war. “Our family lived in St. Helens”, she says, “But my sister had arthritis and she had to have treatment at the Royal Infirmary. So we all moved here. We've been very happy too.” Some of the houses around Miss Barton's little cottage are already boarded up at the windows. Their owners have gone early. “I suppose” says Miss Barton, “It will be our turn soon.”"
During the afternoon of the 22nd, a safe containing cash and securities worth over £11,000 was stolen from the house of Albert Barlow in Warrington Road in Prescot. On the following day a story that was both bizarre and appalling was published in the Echo. It was an article about a black and white sheep dog called Whisky that had been castrated by an unknown assailant near to his owner's home in North Road. Joseph Billington told the paper:
"I found Whisky three years ago when he was a stray pup. He is a very gentle dog and children love him. They often call at the house wanting to take him out for walks. I let him out of the house some time after 3.30pm yesterday. A woman neighbour knocked on the door at 4.30pm and told me that Whisky had been hurt about 60 yards away from my house. I wrapped a cloth round him and ran a quarter of a mile to the vets. It was only then that I learned that Whisky had been castrated. The vet said it had been done by someone who was skilled at using the instruments." The vet John Tandy described the incident as the "worst case of calculated cruelty" that he had ever seen.
Also on the 23rd, Cllr. Charles Martin, the Mayor of St Helens, opened the town's posh new Post Office in Bridge Street (pictured above). Describing the £80,000 building (around £1.3m in today’s money) as one of the most modern and best equipped in the country, Cllr. Martin added: "This magnificent building contains every modern convenience for the staff and every comfort for the customer." With eleven serving positions, three more than the old Church Street office, the counter boasted an "anti-bandit" screen. Behind the counter was a glass mural showing an envelope containing the borough's coat of arms, the Pilkington logo and a 3p stamp.
School was now three weeks into the new term and the Reporter described on the 24th how many local heads had already banned the new clackers craze. Suspended by string, the pair of plastic spheres made a loud "clacking" sound when swung up and down and banged against each other. Although there was a safety concern that would eventually lead to clackers being banned – they also made a racket that was driving teachers up the wall!
One headmaster said the noise was like a "burst of machine gun fire". Another said clackers were a "plague". Albert Pearson of Nutgrove Primary banned the noisy toys after the first week, telling the Reporter: "There was the danger of children bruising their wrists as they played with them. And then there was the noise factor, which was a nuisance. They were a menace."
Football hooliganism was a big story at the moment in the newspapers. So much so that William Dulcamara from, I think, Peter Street in St Helens wrote to the Echo this week after attending a match at Goodison Park. The Blues fan was delighted not only with Everton's team spirit but also with the supporters' behaviour. "The crowd was great with no obscene language. – Keep it up, Blues", Mr Dulcamara wrote.
Manchester United supporters then had a particularly bad reputation for hooliganism. On the 24th a fan from Hawes Avenue in Carr Mill appeared in a London court charged with threatening behaviour and damaging a pane of glass. The 17-year-old had been among 500 to 600 supporters who had arrived at Euston by special train and then jogged along Euston Road causing pedestrians to dive into doorways. The mob then vaulted barriers into a tube station, causing the staff to run away and lock themselves in offices.
The lad had been in custody on remand for almost two weeks and clearly regretted his actions. Surprisingly, the St Helens MP, Leslie Spriggs, gave evidence on his behalf saying that youngsters of today "…did not seem to realise what was pure playfulness on their part could put older people in fear. The youth was a non-violent lad and a keen young sportsman of excellent family and background. His period in custody had shocked him and given him a lesson he would probably remember for the rest of his life." The magistrate gave the youth a three months' sentence, suspended for two years, for the threatening behaviour, and fined him £50 for the damage.
Boys playing with matches were responsible for starting many fires – either deliberately or inadvertently. Often these caused relatively minor damage but on the 24th an 11-year-old boy appeared in Prescot Juvenile Court accused of setting fire to St Luke's School in Shaw Lane in Prescot. The incident in May had caused £1,000 worth of damage and the boy's case was adjourned to October 7th.
And finally on the 25th, clergy and members of St Helens' churches held a torchlight march to Sherdley Park in support of "purity, love and family life". In the park a fire was lit and at the same time a beacon was ignited on Billinge Hill. The event was in support of the Festival of Light in London.
Next week's stories will include the sanctuary setback for Eccleston's Dr Dolittle, the soccer-mad Sutton Manor schoolboys, the deserved Pocket Nook pools win, the Billinge cut-throat razor attack and the nocturnal pile-drivers preventing residents from sleeping.
Monday was the day when St Helens Police gave the Press the list of shop break-ins in the town over the previous weekend. It was often the case that relatively little was taken during these burglaries – probably because the robbers tended to be amateurs targeting small businesses. These were more likely to offer little protection against break-ins but may also have not much worth stealing.
In a raid on Myatt's barber's shop in George Street, just 50p and razor blades worth £20 were taken. Perhaps it was the same thieves that broke into a hairdresser's in Market Street and stole a cash box containing documents and £33. They also took razor blades worth £3. Penketh's butcher's shop in Cambridge Road was also broken into at the weekend and thieves stole five oven-ready turkeys, fifteen oven-ready chickens, chicken portions and beefburgers worth a total of £18. Ross Foods of Lowfield Lane in Lea Green also had unwanted weekend visitors who took away a quantity of cigarettes. Also on the 20th it was announced that Joseph Davies, of Elm Grove in Eccleston Park, had been made a County Court judge.
These invariably were in favour of the Corporation, as was the case this week. After holding an inquiry last June, an inspector from the Department of Environment ruled that the council could take over and demolish old property in Peter Street, Lowe Street, Kirkland Street, Raglan Street and Lyon Street. These formed a seven-acre area and would be replaced by new houses and flats and a major roadworks scheme.
Throughout this week a new comedy called 'Cat In The Bag' was presented at the Theatre Royal. Although many people in St Helens might have been drawn to the show to see the former Coronation Street actors Doreen Keogh (Concepta Riley) and Alan Rothwell (David Barlow), I would liked to have seen Bill Maynard on stage. He was a few years away from becoming a TV star in 'Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt' and then later 'Heartbeat'.
On the 22nd David Peters of Weyman Avenue in Whiston and Alistair Davies of Sandhurst Road in Rainhill were presented with bravery awards on behalf of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society. Both men had plunged into the fast-flowing River Dulas at Corris in Montgomery to save the life of 15-year-old John Connell of Fazakerley who had slipped into the water. Councillor Jack Bohanna, chairman of Whiston Rural District Council, also presented a framed certificate and a cheque for £5 to James Tither of Green End Lane in St Helens. The angler had rescued Graham Simpson of Eccleston last year after the five-year-old had got into trouble in Eccleston Mere. Cllr. Bohanna congratulated the three men on their splendid efforts and as well as the certificates, he also presented them with premium bonds on behalf of the council.
Do you remember that 'Dad's Army' episode when Godfrey's beautiful cottage was scheduled for demolition in order to build an aerodrome? Reading this next story brought that to mind. Liverpool Corporation was deciding on the course for the new M62 motorway as it entered the city. The preferred route across Bowring park golf course would involved the demolition of 130 houses, two pubs and a church. On the 22nd the Echo interviewed some of the people who would be affected, including the Barton siblings who came from St Helens to live closer to the Royal Hospital:
"For 30 years Miss Martha Barton has lived with her brother Wilfred at an ivy-covered cottage in Bowring Park Road. But she accepts the fact that it is now likely to be bulldozed out of the way for a motorway, with remarkable calm. “I never thought it would happen” she says. “But they've told us they will find us alternative accommodation.” One thing she will miss is her large garden at the back of the cottage. “It's a very nice one” she says, “A shame it's got to go. And the cottage.”
"Miss Barton, who is now in her seventies, first came to the cottage at the outbreak of the 2nd world war. “Our family lived in St. Helens”, she says, “But my sister had arthritis and she had to have treatment at the Royal Infirmary. So we all moved here. We've been very happy too.” Some of the houses around Miss Barton's little cottage are already boarded up at the windows. Their owners have gone early. “I suppose” says Miss Barton, “It will be our turn soon.”"
During the afternoon of the 22nd, a safe containing cash and securities worth over £11,000 was stolen from the house of Albert Barlow in Warrington Road in Prescot. On the following day a story that was both bizarre and appalling was published in the Echo. It was an article about a black and white sheep dog called Whisky that had been castrated by an unknown assailant near to his owner's home in North Road. Joseph Billington told the paper:
"I found Whisky three years ago when he was a stray pup. He is a very gentle dog and children love him. They often call at the house wanting to take him out for walks. I let him out of the house some time after 3.30pm yesterday. A woman neighbour knocked on the door at 4.30pm and told me that Whisky had been hurt about 60 yards away from my house. I wrapped a cloth round him and ran a quarter of a mile to the vets. It was only then that I learned that Whisky had been castrated. The vet said it had been done by someone who was skilled at using the instruments." The vet John Tandy described the incident as the "worst case of calculated cruelty" that he had ever seen.
School was now three weeks into the new term and the Reporter described on the 24th how many local heads had already banned the new clackers craze. Suspended by string, the pair of plastic spheres made a loud "clacking" sound when swung up and down and banged against each other. Although there was a safety concern that would eventually lead to clackers being banned – they also made a racket that was driving teachers up the wall!
One headmaster said the noise was like a "burst of machine gun fire". Another said clackers were a "plague". Albert Pearson of Nutgrove Primary banned the noisy toys after the first week, telling the Reporter: "There was the danger of children bruising their wrists as they played with them. And then there was the noise factor, which was a nuisance. They were a menace."
Football hooliganism was a big story at the moment in the newspapers. So much so that William Dulcamara from, I think, Peter Street in St Helens wrote to the Echo this week after attending a match at Goodison Park. The Blues fan was delighted not only with Everton's team spirit but also with the supporters' behaviour. "The crowd was great with no obscene language. – Keep it up, Blues", Mr Dulcamara wrote.
Manchester United supporters then had a particularly bad reputation for hooliganism. On the 24th a fan from Hawes Avenue in Carr Mill appeared in a London court charged with threatening behaviour and damaging a pane of glass. The 17-year-old had been among 500 to 600 supporters who had arrived at Euston by special train and then jogged along Euston Road causing pedestrians to dive into doorways. The mob then vaulted barriers into a tube station, causing the staff to run away and lock themselves in offices.
The lad had been in custody on remand for almost two weeks and clearly regretted his actions. Surprisingly, the St Helens MP, Leslie Spriggs, gave evidence on his behalf saying that youngsters of today "…did not seem to realise what was pure playfulness on their part could put older people in fear. The youth was a non-violent lad and a keen young sportsman of excellent family and background. His period in custody had shocked him and given him a lesson he would probably remember for the rest of his life." The magistrate gave the youth a three months' sentence, suspended for two years, for the threatening behaviour, and fined him £50 for the damage.
Boys playing with matches were responsible for starting many fires – either deliberately or inadvertently. Often these caused relatively minor damage but on the 24th an 11-year-old boy appeared in Prescot Juvenile Court accused of setting fire to St Luke's School in Shaw Lane in Prescot. The incident in May had caused £1,000 worth of damage and the boy's case was adjourned to October 7th.
And finally on the 25th, clergy and members of St Helens' churches held a torchlight march to Sherdley Park in support of "purity, love and family life". In the park a fire was lit and at the same time a beacon was ignited on Billinge Hill. The event was in support of the Festival of Light in London.
Next week's stories will include the sanctuary setback for Eccleston's Dr Dolittle, the soccer-mad Sutton Manor schoolboys, the deserved Pocket Nook pools win, the Billinge cut-throat razor attack and the nocturnal pile-drivers preventing residents from sleeping.
This week's 16 stories include the shocking dog castration in North Road, St Helens schools ban the clackers craze, the opening of the new Bridge Street post office, the Carr Mill football hooligan, the local men honoured for bravery and the planned re-development of the Westfield Street area receives the green light.
Monday was the day when St Helens Police gave the Press the list of shop break-ins in the town over the previous weekend.
It was often the case that relatively little was taken during these burglaries – probably because the robbers tended to be amateurs targeting small businesses.
These were more likely to offer little protection against break-ins but may also have not much worth stealing.
In a raid on Myatt's barber's shop in George Street, just 50p and razor blades worth £20 were taken.
Perhaps it was the same thieves that broke into a hairdresser's in Market Street and stole a cash box containing documents and £33. They also took razor blades worth £3.
Penketh's butcher's shop in Cambridge Road was also broken into at the weekend and thieves stole five oven-ready turkeys, fifteen oven-ready chickens, chicken portions and beefburgers worth a total of £18.
Ross Foods of Lowfield Lane in Lea Green also had unwanted weekend visitors who took away a quantity of cigarettes.
Also on the 20th it was announced that Joseph Davies, of Elm Grove in Eccleston Park, had been made a County Court judge.
St Helens Town Council was given the go-ahead this week to bulldoze 247 homes and shops situated within the Westfield Street area of the town (pictured above).
Every few months for the past few years, the Corporation would issue compulsory purchase orders on houses that were deemed unfit to live in.
However, some of the residents with a long attachment to their homes would disagree and appeal against the orders to the Government.
A public inquiry was then held at St Helens Town Hall and an inspector would hear the evidence, inspect some houses himself and then later report back with his decision.
These invariably were in favour of the Corporation, as was the case this week.
After holding an inquiry last June, an inspector from the Department of Environment ruled that the council could take over and demolish old property in Peter Street, Lowe Street, Kirkland Street, Raglan Street and Lyon Street.
These formed a seven-acre area and would be replaced by new houses and flats and a major roadworks scheme.
Throughout this week a new comedy called 'Cat In The Bag' was presented at the Theatre Royal.
Although many people in St Helens might have been drawn to the show to see the former Coronation Street actors Doreen Keogh (Concepta Riley) and Alan Rothwell (David Barlow), I would liked to have seen Bill Maynard on stage.
He was a few years away from becoming a TV star in 'Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt' and then later 'Heartbeat'.
On the 22nd David Peters of Weyman Avenue in Whiston and Alistair Davies of Sandhurst Road in Rainhill were presented with bravery awards on behalf of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society.
Both men had plunged into the fast-flowing River Dulas at Corris in Montgomery to save the life of 15-year-old John Connell of Fazakerley who had slipped into the water.
Councillor Jack Bohanna, chairman of Whiston Rural District Council, also presented a framed certificate and a cheque for £5 to James Tither of Green End Lane in St Helens.
The angler had rescued Graham Simpson of Eccleston last year after the five-year-old had got into trouble in Eccleston Mere.
Cllr. Bohanna congratulated the three men on their splendid efforts and as well as the certificates, he also presented them with premium bonds on behalf of the council.
Do you remember that 'Dad's Army' episode when Godfrey's beautiful cottage was scheduled for demolition in order to build an aerodrome? Reading this next story brought that to mind…
Liverpool Corporation was deciding on the course for the new M62 motorway as it entered the city.
The preferred route across Bowring park golf course would involved the demolition of 130 houses, two pubs and a church.
On the 22nd the Echo interviewed some of the people who would be affected, including the Barton siblings who came from St Helens to live closer to the Royal Hospital:
"For 30 years Miss Martha Barton has lived with her brother Wilfred at an ivy-covered cottage in Bowring Park Road.
"But she accepts the fact that it is now likely to be bulldozed out of the way for a motorway, with remarkable calm.
"“I never thought it would happen” she says. “But they've told us they will find us alternative accommodation.”
"One thing she will miss is her large garden at the back of the cottage. “It's a very nice one” she says, “A shame it's got to go. And the cottage.”
"Miss Barton, who is now in her seventies, first came to the cottage at the outbreak of the 2nd world war.
"“Our family lived in St. Helens”, she says, “But my sister had arthritis and she had to have treatment at the Royal Infirmary. So we all moved here. We've been very happy too.”
"Some of the houses around Miss Barton's little cottage are already boarded up at the windows. Their owners have gone early. “I suppose” says Miss Barton, “It will be our turn soon.”"
During the afternoon of the 22nd, a safe containing cash and securities worth over £11,000 was stolen from the house of Albert Barlow in Warrington Road in Prescot.
On the following day a story that was both bizarre and appalling was published in the Echo.
It was an article about a black and white sheep dog called Whisky that had been castrated by an unknown assailant near to his owner's home in North Road.
Joseph Billington told the paper: "I found Whisky three years ago when he was a stray pup. He is a very gentle dog and children love him. They often call at the house wanting to take him out for walks.
"I let him out of the house some time after 3.30pm yesterday. A woman neighbour knocked on the door at 4.30pm and told me that Whisky had been hurt about 60 yards away from my house.
"I wrapped a cloth round him and ran a quarter of a mile to the vets. It was only then that I learned that Whisky had been castrated. The vet said it had been done by someone who was skilled at using the instruments."
The vet John Tandy described the incident as the "worst case of calculated cruelty" that he had ever seen.
Also on the 23rd, Cllr. Charles Martin, the Mayor of St Helens, opened the town's posh new Post Office in Bridge Street (pictured above).
Describing the £80,000 building (around £1.3m in today’s money) as one of the most modern and best equipped in the country, Cllr. Martin added:
"This magnificent building contains every modern convenience for the staff and every comfort for the customer."
With eleven serving positions, three more than the old Church Street office, the counter boasted an "anti-bandit" screen.
Behind the counter was a glass mural showing an envelope containing the borough's coat of arms, the Pilkington logo and a 3p stamp.
School was now three weeks into the new term and the Reporter described on the 24th how many local heads had already banned the new clackers craze.
Suspended by string, the pair of plastic spheres made a loud "clacking" sound when swung up and down and banged against each other.
Although there was a safety concern that would eventually lead to clackers being banned – they also made a racket that was driving teachers up the wall!
One headmaster said the noise was like a "burst of machine gun fire". Another said clackers were a "plague".
Albert Pearson of Nutgrove Primary banned the noisy toys after the first week, telling the Reporter:
"There was the danger of children bruising their wrists as they played with them. And then there was the noise factor, which was a nuisance. They were a menace."
Football hooliganism was a big story at the moment in the newspapers. So much so that William Dulcamara from, I think, Peter Street in St Helens wrote to the Echo this week after attending a match at Goodison Park.
The Blues fan was delighted not only with Everton's team spirit but also with the supporters' behaviour. "The crowd was great with no obscene language. – Keep it up, Blues", Mr Dulcamara wrote.
Manchester United supporters then had a particularly bad reputation for hooliganism.
On the 24th a fan from Hawes Avenue in Carr Mill appeared in a London court charged with threatening behaviour and damaging a pane of glass.
The 17-year-old had been among 500 to 600 supporters who had arrived at Euston by special train and then jogged along Euston Road causing pedestrians to dive into doorways.
The mob then vaulted barriers into a tube station, causing the staff to run away and lock themselves in offices.
The lad had been in custody on remand for almost two weeks and clearly regretted his actions.
Surprisingly, the St Helens MP, Leslie Spriggs, gave evidence on his behalf saying that youngsters of today "…did not seem to realise what was pure playfulness on their part could put older people in fear.
"The youth was a non-violent lad and a keen young sportsman of excellent family and background.
"His period in custody had shocked him and given him a lesson he would probably remember for the rest of his life."
The magistrate gave the youth a three months' sentence, suspended for two years, for the threatening behaviour, and fined him £50 for the damage.
Boys playing with matches were responsible for starting many fires – either deliberately or inadvertently.
Often these caused relatively minor damage but on the 24th an 11-year-old boy appeared in Prescot Juvenile Court accused of setting fire to St Luke's School in Shaw Lane in Prescot.
The incident in May had caused £1,000 worth of damage and the boy's case was adjourned to October 7th.
And finally on the 25th, clergy and members of St Helens' churches held a torchlight march to Sherdley Park in support of "purity, love and family life".
In the park a fire was lit and at the same time a beacon was ignited on Billinge Hill. The event was in support of the Festival of Light in London.
Next week's stories will include the sanctuary setback for Eccleston's Dr Dolittle, the soccer-mad Sutton Manor schoolboys, the deserved Pocket Nook pools win, the Billinge cut-throat razor attack and the nocturnal pile-drivers preventing residents from sleeping.
Monday was the day when St Helens Police gave the Press the list of shop break-ins in the town over the previous weekend.
It was often the case that relatively little was taken during these burglaries – probably because the robbers tended to be amateurs targeting small businesses.
These were more likely to offer little protection against break-ins but may also have not much worth stealing.
In a raid on Myatt's barber's shop in George Street, just 50p and razor blades worth £20 were taken.
Perhaps it was the same thieves that broke into a hairdresser's in Market Street and stole a cash box containing documents and £33. They also took razor blades worth £3.
Penketh's butcher's shop in Cambridge Road was also broken into at the weekend and thieves stole five oven-ready turkeys, fifteen oven-ready chickens, chicken portions and beefburgers worth a total of £18.
Ross Foods of Lowfield Lane in Lea Green also had unwanted weekend visitors who took away a quantity of cigarettes.
Also on the 20th it was announced that Joseph Davies, of Elm Grove in Eccleston Park, had been made a County Court judge.
Every few months for the past few years, the Corporation would issue compulsory purchase orders on houses that were deemed unfit to live in.
However, some of the residents with a long attachment to their homes would disagree and appeal against the orders to the Government.
A public inquiry was then held at St Helens Town Hall and an inspector would hear the evidence, inspect some houses himself and then later report back with his decision.
These invariably were in favour of the Corporation, as was the case this week.
After holding an inquiry last June, an inspector from the Department of Environment ruled that the council could take over and demolish old property in Peter Street, Lowe Street, Kirkland Street, Raglan Street and Lyon Street.
These formed a seven-acre area and would be replaced by new houses and flats and a major roadworks scheme.
Throughout this week a new comedy called 'Cat In The Bag' was presented at the Theatre Royal.
Although many people in St Helens might have been drawn to the show to see the former Coronation Street actors Doreen Keogh (Concepta Riley) and Alan Rothwell (David Barlow), I would liked to have seen Bill Maynard on stage.
He was a few years away from becoming a TV star in 'Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt' and then later 'Heartbeat'.
On the 22nd David Peters of Weyman Avenue in Whiston and Alistair Davies of Sandhurst Road in Rainhill were presented with bravery awards on behalf of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society.
Both men had plunged into the fast-flowing River Dulas at Corris in Montgomery to save the life of 15-year-old John Connell of Fazakerley who had slipped into the water.
Councillor Jack Bohanna, chairman of Whiston Rural District Council, also presented a framed certificate and a cheque for £5 to James Tither of Green End Lane in St Helens.
The angler had rescued Graham Simpson of Eccleston last year after the five-year-old had got into trouble in Eccleston Mere.
Cllr. Bohanna congratulated the three men on their splendid efforts and as well as the certificates, he also presented them with premium bonds on behalf of the council.
Do you remember that 'Dad's Army' episode when Godfrey's beautiful cottage was scheduled for demolition in order to build an aerodrome? Reading this next story brought that to mind…
Liverpool Corporation was deciding on the course for the new M62 motorway as it entered the city.
The preferred route across Bowring park golf course would involved the demolition of 130 houses, two pubs and a church.
On the 22nd the Echo interviewed some of the people who would be affected, including the Barton siblings who came from St Helens to live closer to the Royal Hospital:
"For 30 years Miss Martha Barton has lived with her brother Wilfred at an ivy-covered cottage in Bowring Park Road.
"But she accepts the fact that it is now likely to be bulldozed out of the way for a motorway, with remarkable calm.
"“I never thought it would happen” she says. “But they've told us they will find us alternative accommodation.”
"One thing she will miss is her large garden at the back of the cottage. “It's a very nice one” she says, “A shame it's got to go. And the cottage.”
"Miss Barton, who is now in her seventies, first came to the cottage at the outbreak of the 2nd world war.
"“Our family lived in St. Helens”, she says, “But my sister had arthritis and she had to have treatment at the Royal Infirmary. So we all moved here. We've been very happy too.”
"Some of the houses around Miss Barton's little cottage are already boarded up at the windows. Their owners have gone early. “I suppose” says Miss Barton, “It will be our turn soon.”"
During the afternoon of the 22nd, a safe containing cash and securities worth over £11,000 was stolen from the house of Albert Barlow in Warrington Road in Prescot.
On the following day a story that was both bizarre and appalling was published in the Echo.
It was an article about a black and white sheep dog called Whisky that had been castrated by an unknown assailant near to his owner's home in North Road.
Joseph Billington told the paper: "I found Whisky three years ago when he was a stray pup. He is a very gentle dog and children love him. They often call at the house wanting to take him out for walks.
"I let him out of the house some time after 3.30pm yesterday. A woman neighbour knocked on the door at 4.30pm and told me that Whisky had been hurt about 60 yards away from my house.
"I wrapped a cloth round him and ran a quarter of a mile to the vets. It was only then that I learned that Whisky had been castrated. The vet said it had been done by someone who was skilled at using the instruments."
The vet John Tandy described the incident as the "worst case of calculated cruelty" that he had ever seen.
Describing the £80,000 building (around £1.3m in today’s money) as one of the most modern and best equipped in the country, Cllr. Martin added:
"This magnificent building contains every modern convenience for the staff and every comfort for the customer."
With eleven serving positions, three more than the old Church Street office, the counter boasted an "anti-bandit" screen.
Behind the counter was a glass mural showing an envelope containing the borough's coat of arms, the Pilkington logo and a 3p stamp.
School was now three weeks into the new term and the Reporter described on the 24th how many local heads had already banned the new clackers craze.
Suspended by string, the pair of plastic spheres made a loud "clacking" sound when swung up and down and banged against each other.
Although there was a safety concern that would eventually lead to clackers being banned – they also made a racket that was driving teachers up the wall!
One headmaster said the noise was like a "burst of machine gun fire". Another said clackers were a "plague".
Albert Pearson of Nutgrove Primary banned the noisy toys after the first week, telling the Reporter:
"There was the danger of children bruising their wrists as they played with them. And then there was the noise factor, which was a nuisance. They were a menace."
Football hooliganism was a big story at the moment in the newspapers. So much so that William Dulcamara from, I think, Peter Street in St Helens wrote to the Echo this week after attending a match at Goodison Park.
The Blues fan was delighted not only with Everton's team spirit but also with the supporters' behaviour. "The crowd was great with no obscene language. – Keep it up, Blues", Mr Dulcamara wrote.
Manchester United supporters then had a particularly bad reputation for hooliganism.
On the 24th a fan from Hawes Avenue in Carr Mill appeared in a London court charged with threatening behaviour and damaging a pane of glass.
The 17-year-old had been among 500 to 600 supporters who had arrived at Euston by special train and then jogged along Euston Road causing pedestrians to dive into doorways.
The mob then vaulted barriers into a tube station, causing the staff to run away and lock themselves in offices.
The lad had been in custody on remand for almost two weeks and clearly regretted his actions.
Surprisingly, the St Helens MP, Leslie Spriggs, gave evidence on his behalf saying that youngsters of today "…did not seem to realise what was pure playfulness on their part could put older people in fear.
"The youth was a non-violent lad and a keen young sportsman of excellent family and background.
"His period in custody had shocked him and given him a lesson he would probably remember for the rest of his life."
The magistrate gave the youth a three months' sentence, suspended for two years, for the threatening behaviour, and fined him £50 for the damage.
Boys playing with matches were responsible for starting many fires – either deliberately or inadvertently.
Often these caused relatively minor damage but on the 24th an 11-year-old boy appeared in Prescot Juvenile Court accused of setting fire to St Luke's School in Shaw Lane in Prescot.
The incident in May had caused £1,000 worth of damage and the boy's case was adjourned to October 7th.
And finally on the 25th, clergy and members of St Helens' churches held a torchlight march to Sherdley Park in support of "purity, love and family life".
In the park a fire was lit and at the same time a beacon was ignited on Billinge Hill. The event was in support of the Festival of Light in London.
Next week's stories will include the sanctuary setback for Eccleston's Dr Dolittle, the soccer-mad Sutton Manor schoolboys, the deserved Pocket Nook pools win, the Billinge cut-throat razor attack and the nocturnal pile-drivers preventing residents from sleeping.