FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (20 - 26 NOVEMBER 1973)
This week's many stories include the Warrington Road gasworks that was being sent to Brazil, why a radio transmitter and 175-ft high aerial was to be sited in Rainford, St Helens Council reveal their new coat of arms, a Parr abuser of boys and his blackmailer are both jailed, an update on the ambulance strike, a new church is opened in Sutton and why in spite of the power crisis cinemagoers in St Helens were not shivering in their seats.
We begin on the 20th when there was a special dinner held at the Fleece Hotel in St Helens to honour the contributions of a number of sportsmen. They were cricketer Freddie Trueman, former footballer Stan Mortensen, ex-rugby league star Duggie Greenall and boxers Alan Rudkin and Peter Kane. There was a virtual sell-out and the dinner was a prelude to a sporting event featuring four professional boxing bouts.
Rainford's Chief Public Health Inspector, John Wilde, revealed this week that he intended carrying out noise tests to evaluate the impact of heavy lorries on the village's streets. These had been a particular problem since the opening of the Holiday Moss tip.
On the 21st a man from Parr was sent to prison for six years for indecency with several boys aged between 10 and 12. The man’s defence counsel told the court that "people" had sent boys to his client because "it was known he would give the boys money in payment for their relationships". Another man from Parr was jailed for three years for blackmailing the child molester.
These days brand design is big business and marketing companies charge thousands of pounds for logos and the like to be created. However, when St Helens Council needed a new coat of arms in 1973 they got one of their own councillors to knock it up. Just how much Gerald Parr of Dilloway Street charged for his services – if anything – was not stated in the St Helens Reporter's account on the 23rd. But the company director said he'd been given the job because he'd trained in graphic design and was interested in heraldry.
The new coat of arms was needed because the local government reorganisation planned for 1974 meant the borough was expanding. The crest was essentially the same as that of the existing St Helens County Borough with added features. These included a ram at its top signifying Newton-le-Willows; a cross on the shield representing Haydock and Eccleston and motifs on the shield representing Ashton-in-Makerfield, Bold, Windle and Billinge. A new Latin motto meaning "flourishing well" had also been chosen. Councillor Parr said he had picked a design "to please most and offend the fewest".
The worsening power crisis that had been triggered by another Middle Eastern war and exacerbated by coal miners banning overtime had led to petrol and electricity rationing. And, according to the manager of the Capitol, people were staying away from cinemas in droves. Alan Peel told the Reporter:
"Takings are down in cinemas all over the country. Patrons imagine that the power crisis means that they'll be shivering in their seats watching the films. It's not true here in St. Helens though. Both the Capitol and the Savoy have cosy, warm oil central heating. The power crisis isn't affecting us at all."
The Reporter explained how property tycoon William Davies was splashing out £85,000 on an investment in Rainhill. The new owner of Aintree racecourse was purchasing the Oaklands Hotel in Rainhill and 1½ acres of grounds in St James Road. The private hotel with sixteen bedrooms was about 100 years old and during World War I it had been used as a military hospital. It was thought that Mr Davies intended to sell or let Oaklands and to develop the land for luxury flats.
The Reporter described how a 24-hour café on the East Lancs Road had decided to close its doors at 7 pm because of the actions of what the paper described as "gangs of young thugs". Leonard Lee of Redbeck Services said:
"Things just haven't gone to plan. Since the café opened five months ago, we have been troubled by gangs who come in late at night. They start fighting outside, then try and pick fights inside – they're just terrorising other customers. We've had windows broken and the police have been called several times. Now we've decided to close at 7 p.m. each night to prevent further trouble. But trade at night has been very good and the closure will only be temporary. I've got five similar cafés across the country, and there's never been any trouble like this before."
The strangest story in the Reporter this week described how the gasworks in Warrington Road was being sent to Brazil. It had only opened in 1967 but closed five years later when St Helens switched to North Sea gas. The plant had been capable of producing about six million cubic feet of gas every day and had been bought by a firm in Sao Paulo. They were already dismantling the 200-ton plant which when it arrived in Brazil would be re-erected to produce town gas for the South Americans. Three other Lancashire gasworks were to make the 7,000-mile trip to form a new gas complex in Sao Paulo.
A report in the paper criticised businesses that hired Rainford Village Hall to sell their goods. They only had to pay £1.25 per hour and unlike retailers in Rainford that had premises, they did not pay any rates. Cllr Dennis Collins told a Rainford Council meeting that some businesses were using charities as fronts for their activities. That comment infuriated Cllr Ron Jones, who accused Cllr Collins of casting serious doubts upon their integrity.
Later Dennis Collins told the Reporter: "People are making profits on the rates and it's all wrong – the public are paying for the upkeep of that hall. Firms are coming along to charities all the time, and asking to put on a sale. The charities agree – and the firm gives them a percentage of the money they pick up."
Rainford Council also considered an unusual planning application. It came from the Independent Broadcasting Authority and it was to site a 175-ft aerial and transmitter in Dairy Farm Road in Rainford. That would transmit programmes for the new Liverpool commercial radio station. That was still nearly a year away from launching and the IBA was currently considering four bids for the franchise. The station currently had no name but would be called Radio City and launch six months after Piccadilly Radio in Manchester had taken to the air in April 1974.
The two St Helens' hospitals described in the Reporter how they had been coping fairly well with the ambulance workers strike that had begun at the start of the week. Sister Rose Gertrude, matron at Providence Hospital, said: "We've had no trouble with discharges. Relatives are helping." And a spokesman for St Helens Hospital said:
"We have sent a letter to affected patients asking them to make alternative arrangements or to wait until the dispute is over. Patients are asking relatives to take them home either by car or by hiring mini-buses."
'Moira Anderson Sings' was the title of a concert at the Theatre Royal on the 24th. The Scottish singer's guests were Ivor Emmanuel and Walter Landauer.
On the 25th Archbishop Beck of Liverpool opened and blessed a new Roman Catholic church in Sutton. The new 540-seat building was dedicated to St Anne and the Blessed Dominic (pictured above) and replaced the original St Anne's Church that had become seriously damaged by mining subsidence.
Attached to the church was the shrine of the Blessed Dominic Barberi. The founder of the Passionist Order had been beatified ten years before and the chapel also contained the remains of Mother Mary Joseph and Fr Ignatius Spencer. The Church Rector Fr Eugene Kennan had predicted that in the future Sutton could have a unique church with three saints buried there.
Also on the 25th the film version of the musical stage play 'Jesus Christ Superstar' began screenings for a week at the ABC Savoy while the Capitol began showing 'The Erotic Adventures of Zorro'. And finally for a week from the 26th, the renowned tenor and actor John Hanson performed in the 'Desert Song' at the Theatre Royal.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the issuing of petrol rationing coupons, the muck spreading in Burtonhead Road, Dave Lee Travis opens a new store in St Helens and a warning that modern technology was turning people into cabbages.
Rainford's Chief Public Health Inspector, John Wilde, revealed this week that he intended carrying out noise tests to evaluate the impact of heavy lorries on the village's streets. These had been a particular problem since the opening of the Holiday Moss tip.
On the 21st a man from Parr was sent to prison for six years for indecency with several boys aged between 10 and 12. The man’s defence counsel told the court that "people" had sent boys to his client because "it was known he would give the boys money in payment for their relationships". Another man from Parr was jailed for three years for blackmailing the child molester.
These days brand design is big business and marketing companies charge thousands of pounds for logos and the like to be created. However, when St Helens Council needed a new coat of arms in 1973 they got one of their own councillors to knock it up. Just how much Gerald Parr of Dilloway Street charged for his services – if anything – was not stated in the St Helens Reporter's account on the 23rd. But the company director said he'd been given the job because he'd trained in graphic design and was interested in heraldry.
The new coat of arms was needed because the local government reorganisation planned for 1974 meant the borough was expanding. The crest was essentially the same as that of the existing St Helens County Borough with added features. These included a ram at its top signifying Newton-le-Willows; a cross on the shield representing Haydock and Eccleston and motifs on the shield representing Ashton-in-Makerfield, Bold, Windle and Billinge. A new Latin motto meaning "flourishing well" had also been chosen. Councillor Parr said he had picked a design "to please most and offend the fewest".
The worsening power crisis that had been triggered by another Middle Eastern war and exacerbated by coal miners banning overtime had led to petrol and electricity rationing. And, according to the manager of the Capitol, people were staying away from cinemas in droves. Alan Peel told the Reporter:
"Takings are down in cinemas all over the country. Patrons imagine that the power crisis means that they'll be shivering in their seats watching the films. It's not true here in St. Helens though. Both the Capitol and the Savoy have cosy, warm oil central heating. The power crisis isn't affecting us at all."
The Reporter explained how property tycoon William Davies was splashing out £85,000 on an investment in Rainhill. The new owner of Aintree racecourse was purchasing the Oaklands Hotel in Rainhill and 1½ acres of grounds in St James Road. The private hotel with sixteen bedrooms was about 100 years old and during World War I it had been used as a military hospital. It was thought that Mr Davies intended to sell or let Oaklands and to develop the land for luxury flats.
The Reporter described how a 24-hour café on the East Lancs Road had decided to close its doors at 7 pm because of the actions of what the paper described as "gangs of young thugs". Leonard Lee of Redbeck Services said:
"Things just haven't gone to plan. Since the café opened five months ago, we have been troubled by gangs who come in late at night. They start fighting outside, then try and pick fights inside – they're just terrorising other customers. We've had windows broken and the police have been called several times. Now we've decided to close at 7 p.m. each night to prevent further trouble. But trade at night has been very good and the closure will only be temporary. I've got five similar cafés across the country, and there's never been any trouble like this before."
The strangest story in the Reporter this week described how the gasworks in Warrington Road was being sent to Brazil. It had only opened in 1967 but closed five years later when St Helens switched to North Sea gas. The plant had been capable of producing about six million cubic feet of gas every day and had been bought by a firm in Sao Paulo. They were already dismantling the 200-ton plant which when it arrived in Brazil would be re-erected to produce town gas for the South Americans. Three other Lancashire gasworks were to make the 7,000-mile trip to form a new gas complex in Sao Paulo.
A report in the paper criticised businesses that hired Rainford Village Hall to sell their goods. They only had to pay £1.25 per hour and unlike retailers in Rainford that had premises, they did not pay any rates. Cllr Dennis Collins told a Rainford Council meeting that some businesses were using charities as fronts for their activities. That comment infuriated Cllr Ron Jones, who accused Cllr Collins of casting serious doubts upon their integrity.
Later Dennis Collins told the Reporter: "People are making profits on the rates and it's all wrong – the public are paying for the upkeep of that hall. Firms are coming along to charities all the time, and asking to put on a sale. The charities agree – and the firm gives them a percentage of the money they pick up."
Rainford Council also considered an unusual planning application. It came from the Independent Broadcasting Authority and it was to site a 175-ft aerial and transmitter in Dairy Farm Road in Rainford. That would transmit programmes for the new Liverpool commercial radio station. That was still nearly a year away from launching and the IBA was currently considering four bids for the franchise. The station currently had no name but would be called Radio City and launch six months after Piccadilly Radio in Manchester had taken to the air in April 1974.
The two St Helens' hospitals described in the Reporter how they had been coping fairly well with the ambulance workers strike that had begun at the start of the week. Sister Rose Gertrude, matron at Providence Hospital, said: "We've had no trouble with discharges. Relatives are helping." And a spokesman for St Helens Hospital said:
"We have sent a letter to affected patients asking them to make alternative arrangements or to wait until the dispute is over. Patients are asking relatives to take them home either by car or by hiring mini-buses."
'Moira Anderson Sings' was the title of a concert at the Theatre Royal on the 24th. The Scottish singer's guests were Ivor Emmanuel and Walter Landauer.
Attached to the church was the shrine of the Blessed Dominic Barberi. The founder of the Passionist Order had been beatified ten years before and the chapel also contained the remains of Mother Mary Joseph and Fr Ignatius Spencer. The Church Rector Fr Eugene Kennan had predicted that in the future Sutton could have a unique church with three saints buried there.
Also on the 25th the film version of the musical stage play 'Jesus Christ Superstar' began screenings for a week at the ABC Savoy while the Capitol began showing 'The Erotic Adventures of Zorro'. And finally for a week from the 26th, the renowned tenor and actor John Hanson performed in the 'Desert Song' at the Theatre Royal.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the issuing of petrol rationing coupons, the muck spreading in Burtonhead Road, Dave Lee Travis opens a new store in St Helens and a warning that modern technology was turning people into cabbages.
This week's many stories include the Warrington Road gasworks that was being sent to Brazil, why a radio transmitter and 175-ft high aerial was to be sited in Rainford, St Helens Council reveal their new coat of arms, a Parr abuser of boys and his blackmailer are both jailed, an update on the ambulance strike, a new church is opened in Sutton and why in spite of the power crisis cinemagoers in St Helens were not shivering in their seats.
We begin on the 20th when there was a special dinner held at the Fleece Hotel in St Helens (pictured above) to honour the contributions of a number of sportsmen.
They were cricketer Freddie Trueman, former footballer Stan Mortensen, ex-rugby league star Duggie Greenall and boxers Alan Rudkin and Peter Kane.
There was a virtual sell-out and the dinner was a prelude to a sporting event featuring four professional boxing bouts.
Rainford's Chief Public Health Inspector, John Wilde, revealed this week that he intended carrying out noise tests to evaluate the impact of heavy lorries on the village's streets.
These had been a particular problem since the opening of the Holiday Moss tip.
On the 21st a man from Parr was sent to prison for six years for indecency with several boys aged between 10 and 12.
The man’s defence counsel told the court that "people" had sent boys to his client because "it was known he would give the boys money in payment for their relationships".
Another man from Parr was jailed for three years for blackmailing the child molester.
These days brand design is big business and marketing companies charge thousands of pounds for logos and the like to be created.
However, when St Helens Council needed a new coat of arms in 1973 they got one of their own councillors to knock it up.
Just how much Gerald Parr of Dilloway Street charged for his services – if anything – was not stated in the St Helens Reporter's account on the 23rd.
But the company director said he'd been given the job because he'd trained in graphic design and was interested in heraldry.
The new coat of arms was needed because the local government reorganisation planned for 1974 meant the borough was expanding.
The crest was essentially the same as that of the existing St Helens County Borough with added features.
These included a ram at its top signifying Newton-le-Willows; a cross on the shield representing Haydock and Eccleston and motifs on the shield representing Ashton-in-Makerfield, Bold, Windle and Billinge.
A new Latin motto meaning "flourishing well" had also been chosen. Councillor Parr said he had picked a design "to please most and offend the fewest".
The worsening power crisis that had been triggered by another Middle Eastern war and exacerbated by coal miners banning overtime had led to petrol and electricity rationing.
And, according to the manager of the Capitol, people were staying away from cinemas in droves. Alan Peel told the Reporter:
"Takings are down in cinemas all over the country. Patrons imagine that the power crisis means that they'll be shivering in their seats watching the films.
"It's not true here in St. Helens though. Both the Capitol and the Savoy have cosy, warm oil central heating. The power crisis isn't affecting us at all."
The Reporter explained how property tycoon William Davies was splashing out £85,000 on an investment in Rainhill.
The new owner of Aintree racecourse was purchasing the Oaklands Hotel in Rainhill and 1½ acres of grounds in St James Road.
The private hotel with sixteen bedrooms was about 100 years old and during World War I it had been used as a military hospital.
It was thought that Mr Davies intended to sell or let Oaklands and to develop the land for luxury flats.
The Reporter described how a 24-hour café on the East Lancs Road had decided to close its doors at 7 pm because of the actions of what the paper described as "gangs of young thugs". Leonard Lee of Redbeck Services said:
"Things just haven't gone to plan. Since the café opened five months ago, we have been troubled by gangs who come in late at night. They start fighting outside, then try and pick fights inside – they're just terrorising other customers.
"We've had windows broken and the police have been called several times. Now we've decided to close at 7 p.m. each night to prevent further trouble.
"But trade at night has been very good and the closure will only be temporary. I've got five similar cafés across the country, and there's never been any trouble like this before."
The strangest story in the Reporter this week described how the gasworks in Warrington Road was being sent to Brazil.
It had only opened in 1967 but closed five years later when St Helens switched to North Sea gas.
The plant had been capable of producing about six million cubic feet of gas every day and had been bought by a firm in Sao Paulo.
They were already dismantling the 200-ton plant which when it arrived in Brazil would be re-erected to produce town gas for the South Americans.
Three other Lancashire gasworks were to make the 7,000-mile trip to form a new gas complex in Sao Paulo.
A report in the paper criticised businesses that hired Rainford Village Hall to sell their goods.
They only had to pay £1.25 per hour and unlike retailers in Rainford that had premises, they did not pay any rates.
Cllr Dennis Collins told a Rainford Council meeting that some businesses were using charities as fronts for their activities.
That comment infuriated Cllr Ron Jones, who accused Cllr Collins of casting serious doubts upon their integrity. Later Dennis Collins told the Reporter:
"People are making profits on the rates and it's all wrong – the public are paying for the upkeep of that hall.
"Firms are coming along to charities all the time, and asking to put on a sale. The charities agree – and the firm gives them a percentage of the money they pick up."
Rainford Council also considered an unusual planning application. It came from the Independent Broadcasting Authority and it was to site a 175-ft aerial and transmitter in Dairy Farm Road in Rainford.
That would transmit programmes for the new Liverpool commercial radio station. That was still nearly a year away from launching and the IBA was currently considering four bids for the franchise.
The station currently had no name but would be called Radio City and launch six months after Piccadilly Radio in Manchester had taken to the air in April 1974.
The two St Helens' hospitals described in the Reporter how they had been coping fairly well with the ambulance workers strike that had begun at the start of the week.
Sister Rose Gertrude, matron at Providence Hospital, said: "We've had no trouble with discharges. Relatives are helping." And a spokesman for St Helens Hospital said:
"We have sent a letter to affected patients asking them to make alternative arrangements or to wait until the dispute is over. Patients are asking relatives to take them home either by car or by hiring mini-buses."
'Moira Anderson Sings' was the title of a concert at the Theatre Royal on the 24th. The Scottish singer's guests were Ivor Emmanuel and Walter Landauer.
On the 25th Archbishop Beck of Liverpool opened and blessed a new Roman Catholic church in Sutton (pictured above).
The new 540-seat building was dedicated to St Anne and the Blessed Dominic and replaced the original St Anne's Church that had become seriously damaged by mining subsidence.
Attached to the church was the shrine of the Blessed Dominic Barberi. The founder of the Passionist Order had been beatified ten years before and the chapel also contained the remains of Mother Mary Joseph and Fr Ignatius Spencer.
The Church Rector Fr Eugene Kennan had predicted that in the future Sutton could have a unique church with three saints buried there.
Also on the 25th the film version of the musical stage play 'Jesus Christ Superstar' began screenings for a week at the ABC Savoy while the Capitol began showing 'The Erotic Adventures of Zorro'.
And finally for a week from the 26th, the renowned tenor and actor John Hanson performed in the 'Desert Song' at the Theatre Royal.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the issuing of petrol rationing coupons, the muck spreading in Burtonhead Road, Dave Lee Travis opens a new store in St Helens and a warning that modern technology was turning people into cabbages.
They were cricketer Freddie Trueman, former footballer Stan Mortensen, ex-rugby league star Duggie Greenall and boxers Alan Rudkin and Peter Kane.
There was a virtual sell-out and the dinner was a prelude to a sporting event featuring four professional boxing bouts.
Rainford's Chief Public Health Inspector, John Wilde, revealed this week that he intended carrying out noise tests to evaluate the impact of heavy lorries on the village's streets.
These had been a particular problem since the opening of the Holiday Moss tip.
On the 21st a man from Parr was sent to prison for six years for indecency with several boys aged between 10 and 12.
The man’s defence counsel told the court that "people" had sent boys to his client because "it was known he would give the boys money in payment for their relationships".
Another man from Parr was jailed for three years for blackmailing the child molester.
These days brand design is big business and marketing companies charge thousands of pounds for logos and the like to be created.
However, when St Helens Council needed a new coat of arms in 1973 they got one of their own councillors to knock it up.
Just how much Gerald Parr of Dilloway Street charged for his services – if anything – was not stated in the St Helens Reporter's account on the 23rd.
But the company director said he'd been given the job because he'd trained in graphic design and was interested in heraldry.
The new coat of arms was needed because the local government reorganisation planned for 1974 meant the borough was expanding.
The crest was essentially the same as that of the existing St Helens County Borough with added features.
These included a ram at its top signifying Newton-le-Willows; a cross on the shield representing Haydock and Eccleston and motifs on the shield representing Ashton-in-Makerfield, Bold, Windle and Billinge.
A new Latin motto meaning "flourishing well" had also been chosen. Councillor Parr said he had picked a design "to please most and offend the fewest".
The worsening power crisis that had been triggered by another Middle Eastern war and exacerbated by coal miners banning overtime had led to petrol and electricity rationing.
And, according to the manager of the Capitol, people were staying away from cinemas in droves. Alan Peel told the Reporter:
"Takings are down in cinemas all over the country. Patrons imagine that the power crisis means that they'll be shivering in their seats watching the films.
"It's not true here in St. Helens though. Both the Capitol and the Savoy have cosy, warm oil central heating. The power crisis isn't affecting us at all."
The Reporter explained how property tycoon William Davies was splashing out £85,000 on an investment in Rainhill.
The new owner of Aintree racecourse was purchasing the Oaklands Hotel in Rainhill and 1½ acres of grounds in St James Road.
The private hotel with sixteen bedrooms was about 100 years old and during World War I it had been used as a military hospital.
It was thought that Mr Davies intended to sell or let Oaklands and to develop the land for luxury flats.
The Reporter described how a 24-hour café on the East Lancs Road had decided to close its doors at 7 pm because of the actions of what the paper described as "gangs of young thugs". Leonard Lee of Redbeck Services said:
"Things just haven't gone to plan. Since the café opened five months ago, we have been troubled by gangs who come in late at night. They start fighting outside, then try and pick fights inside – they're just terrorising other customers.
"We've had windows broken and the police have been called several times. Now we've decided to close at 7 p.m. each night to prevent further trouble.
"But trade at night has been very good and the closure will only be temporary. I've got five similar cafés across the country, and there's never been any trouble like this before."
The strangest story in the Reporter this week described how the gasworks in Warrington Road was being sent to Brazil.
It had only opened in 1967 but closed five years later when St Helens switched to North Sea gas.
The plant had been capable of producing about six million cubic feet of gas every day and had been bought by a firm in Sao Paulo.
They were already dismantling the 200-ton plant which when it arrived in Brazil would be re-erected to produce town gas for the South Americans.
Three other Lancashire gasworks were to make the 7,000-mile trip to form a new gas complex in Sao Paulo.
A report in the paper criticised businesses that hired Rainford Village Hall to sell their goods.
They only had to pay £1.25 per hour and unlike retailers in Rainford that had premises, they did not pay any rates.
Cllr Dennis Collins told a Rainford Council meeting that some businesses were using charities as fronts for their activities.
That comment infuriated Cllr Ron Jones, who accused Cllr Collins of casting serious doubts upon their integrity. Later Dennis Collins told the Reporter:
"People are making profits on the rates and it's all wrong – the public are paying for the upkeep of that hall.
"Firms are coming along to charities all the time, and asking to put on a sale. The charities agree – and the firm gives them a percentage of the money they pick up."
Rainford Council also considered an unusual planning application. It came from the Independent Broadcasting Authority and it was to site a 175-ft aerial and transmitter in Dairy Farm Road in Rainford.
That would transmit programmes for the new Liverpool commercial radio station. That was still nearly a year away from launching and the IBA was currently considering four bids for the franchise.
The station currently had no name but would be called Radio City and launch six months after Piccadilly Radio in Manchester had taken to the air in April 1974.
The two St Helens' hospitals described in the Reporter how they had been coping fairly well with the ambulance workers strike that had begun at the start of the week.
Sister Rose Gertrude, matron at Providence Hospital, said: "We've had no trouble with discharges. Relatives are helping." And a spokesman for St Helens Hospital said:
"We have sent a letter to affected patients asking them to make alternative arrangements or to wait until the dispute is over. Patients are asking relatives to take them home either by car or by hiring mini-buses."
'Moira Anderson Sings' was the title of a concert at the Theatre Royal on the 24th. The Scottish singer's guests were Ivor Emmanuel and Walter Landauer.
The new 540-seat building was dedicated to St Anne and the Blessed Dominic and replaced the original St Anne's Church that had become seriously damaged by mining subsidence.
Attached to the church was the shrine of the Blessed Dominic Barberi. The founder of the Passionist Order had been beatified ten years before and the chapel also contained the remains of Mother Mary Joseph and Fr Ignatius Spencer.
The Church Rector Fr Eugene Kennan had predicted that in the future Sutton could have a unique church with three saints buried there.
Also on the 25th the film version of the musical stage play 'Jesus Christ Superstar' began screenings for a week at the ABC Savoy while the Capitol began showing 'The Erotic Adventures of Zorro'.
And finally for a week from the 26th, the renowned tenor and actor John Hanson performed in the 'Desert Song' at the Theatre Royal.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the issuing of petrol rationing coupons, the muck spreading in Burtonhead Road, Dave Lee Travis opens a new store in St Helens and a warning that modern technology was turning people into cabbages.