FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (21 - 27 JUNE 1971)
This week's 20 stories include an urgent appeal from Providence Hospital, the dangerous condition of Prescot Church, a wave of vandalism closes a Lea Green boxing club, an anonymous donor gives a huge sum for social work in St Helens and the many teachers retiring from the town's schools.
We begin in the early hours of the 21st when thieves broke into Lloyds electrical shop in Eccleston Street in Prescot and got away with nine transistor radios worth £200. The intruders smashed the glass in the front door and grabbed Bush, Pye, Phillips, Fidelity and Pifco receivers.
Another raid took place in Duke Street in St Helens when the police seized hundreds of magazines and books from Ernest Buckley's newsagents. The 39-year-old would later face charges of possessing obscene books and magazines for sale.
Later that day the Liverpool Echo revealed that a man from Prescot had written the song that was presently at number 1 in the charts. It was 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep' by Middle of the Road and the composer Harold "Lally" Stott was now living in Rome – but his parents still lived in Shaw Lane.
The St Helens Council of Social Service of Claughton Street was funded mainly by the local authority and responsible for the provision of social services in the town. It also awarded grants to other bodies to carry out social work but for several years had been losing money. However the council announced on the 21st that they had received a surprise gift in the post – a cheque for £20,000 from a mystery donor. The individual wished to remain anonymous and had asked in an accompanying letter for them "not to probe".
A delighted Reg Kershaw, secretary of the Council, said they would be abiding by that condition, adding: "I can certainly say, however, that our balance sheet has never looked healthier." In today's money, £20,000 equates to around £300,000 and the generous gift was being invested in a St Helens Corporation mortgage bond.
With Knowsley Safari Park scheduled to open in less than a fortnight, the joint venture between Lord Derby and Jimmy Chipperfield began an advertising campaign this week. Not that much cash was needed to promote the park, as the media was giving the 360-acre reserve loads of free publicity. Their ad in the Echo went:
"THE NORTH WEST'S OWN AFRICAN BIG GAME RESERVE – Opening July 3rd – KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK – Drive among herds of wild animals roaming free in acres of parkland. See elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and baboons. It's the perfect day out for everyone. Admission to Reserves: £1 per car irrespective of the number of passengers. (No soft-top cars permitted). Entrance by vehicle only. Special terms for parties. Open every day of the year from 10a.m."
For six nights from the 21st the comic play 'The Tender Trap' was performed at the Theatre Royal, starring Derren Nesbitt (of Special Branch fame) and Maurice Kaufmann. That would be the theatre's final show for a while, as the Corporation Street venue would then go into what they called "summer recess".
It was reported on the 21st that 54-year-old Thomas Scully from Wigan had died 48 hours after a crane had fallen on him while working at Ruston Paxman of Newton-le-Willows. On the following day an inquest heard how a truck on an underground monorail at Parkside Colliery in Newton had run out of control because a tie bar had not been in position. As a result of the mistake, Leonard Partington of Atherton had been struck down and killed.
On the 23rd the Echo wrote: "Following a complaint by County Councillor Sarah Heyes, about the “shocking and dangerous state of the chairs in Rainford Village Hall,” the management and general purposes committee agreed to buy new furniture and to have [the] hall “generally spruced up”."
It was "Grand All Winners Night" at the Plaza Club's Thursday Stag Night on the 24th in which the best exotic dancers from the last few weeks' contests competed against each other.
Earlier this month nine miniature Elizabethan artworks belonging to Lord Derby were sold at Christie's for £166,000, as part of the 18th earl's drive to pay for his £1 million safari park. Another auction was held on the 25th when an American dealer paid 400,000 guineas for a Van Dyck painting that had previously been on long-term loan at the Walker Art Gallery. A further sale of books from Knowsley Hall would take place at Christie's in London next week.
On the 24th the Mayor of St Helens launched an appeal to help Providence Hospital (pictured above). The Tolver Street infirmary had been running at a loss for five years and was now £20,000 in the red – around £300,000 in today's money. Cllr. Charles Martin said: "This town cannot do without Providence Hospital. I am sure that when the people of St. Helens know what trouble the hospital is in they will be very willing to help." Founded in 1882, Providence was one of only four acute general hospitals in the country being run by Catholic religious orders.
Three years ago I described how a new boxing gymnasium had opened in Lea Green Colliery's former medical centre. Haulage contractor Alf Sutton had acquired the building after the mine's closure in 1964 but he had decided to give it away as he wanted boxing revived in the area. A number of celebrities from the boxing world attended the opening in August 1968 but this week the St Helens Reporter had bad news to impart.
Vandals had smashed every window and destroyed equipment to the extent that the clubhouse had been forced to close. So promising 17-year-old boxer Anthony Smart from Clock Face Road was being forced to travel to Halewood to train for a forthcoming fight in which he would be representing England. Anthony's father and trainer Tony Smart told the Reporter that he was searching for another venue:
"The latest incident was just too much. Although I'm heartbroken at the senseless vandalism and our two years' hard work being ruined, it would be a shame if youngsters like Anthony had nowhere to box. Boys of all ages keep knocking at the door, asking for training practice. The vandals who have deprived these kids of their simple enjoyment by smashing up our club must have sick minds. I can only hope for the sake of these young lads that I can find somewhere else to train."
The Reporter also described how Sutton Harriers had been forced to train on playing fields at The Holt in Rainhill because of a lack of suitable facilities in St Helens. "They have shunted around the town from one ramshackle track to another, starved of the facilities they needed to turn out international-class athletes," complained the paper.
The Reporter also described how five headteachers in the town were retiring from their jobs at the end of term after collectively devoting decades to educating children. And a sixth would stay on for just one month of the next term before departing. Carr Mill infants' was to lose the woman who had been in charge since the school opened in 1952 – and the deputy headmistress as well. Marjorie Tunstall and her deputy Mrs G. French had both worked in other St Helens schools before going to Carr Mill and would be stepping down together in July. Sister Agnes Julie, who had been in charge at Our Lady of Mount Carmel secondary girls school since 1963, was also retiring.
Mr H. Campbell was leaving Grange Park Secondary after 14 years and Joseph Woods was departing Robins Lane Secondary School after 19 years' service. Mr Woods (pictured above) is credited with having encouraged sporting activities at the Sutton school – leading to much success for individuals and teams. There was also Pebby Johnson, headmistress of Thatto Heath infants' school for 16 years and former Royal Marine, William Lilley, who was retiring from the head post that he'd held at Knowsley Road Junior School since 1954. Among the senior teachers departing were Miss A. M. Lowery who had been at St Cuthbert's in Berry's Lane since the school opened in 1957. And Gladys Tinsley was leaving Parr Secondary School after 38 years' service.
St Helens "Tech" lecturer David Appleton from Ormskirk Road in Rainford was pictured in the Reporter after becoming British Open Champion in the National Hairdressers' Federation contest.
It was reported on the 26th that an all-out effort was being launched to raise £25,000 (about £400,000 in today's money) for a major restoration of Prescot Church. The building dates principally from the early 17th century and it required its tower, chancel and sanctuary urgently restoring. Other necessary work included repairs to roof windows and its electrical wiring and a complete interior re-decoration. The bell tower was in a particularly dangerous condition, with some of the main columns that were supporting it reported as being cracked. The restoration fund currently stood at just £3,134, and so much more fundraising was needed.
And finally, there were two big news stories dominating the pages of the Echo this week – not counting the boy who rang the police to report that "something" had crawled over his bed! A constable even went to the trouble of going to the lad's house to tell him he'd had a nightmare. They wouldn't do that today, I don't think! The first big story was the Queen opening the second Mersey Tunnel. The city had been on tenterhooks as to what the tubular road under the Mersey to Wallasey would be called. As the first tunnel in the 1930s to Birkenhead had been given the name Queensway, it seems obvious that Kingsway would likely have been the moniker of the second – which it was.
But then I'm employing hindsight and it's interesting to do so too with the second story of the week – the deal to join the EEC, or Common Market as we called it then. Under the front-page headline "A New Dawn", the Echo's man in Luxembourg wrote: "The door to Europe is wide open at last. Ten years of waiting ended in a champagne dawn to-day as Britain and the Six [existing members] agreed final terms for our entry into the Common Market. The historic agreement, which will set the course for Britain and Europe for the next century or more, came after 14 hours of non-stop talks at the 24-storey European centre on the outskirts of a city gay with flags.
"Bands played in the streets, and a 101-gun salute boomed out as the news flashed round the world. The celebration was for Luxembourg's National Day, but it caught up perfectly the mood of the negotiators as they realised almost with disbelief, that they had finally done it. Mr. Geoffrey Rippon, Britain's “Mr. Europe” and the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Maurice Schumann, drank champagne from the same glass – a “loving cup” Mr. Rippon called it – as they sat down to announce that it was over.
"Mr. Rippon said: “We have done it. It is an historic day for Europe. This is not the end of the road. It is just the end of the beginning.” He went on: “In the negotiations we have discussed the difficulties, so public attention was focussed on those. Now we can turn to the immense opportunities which lie before us all.”" However amidst all the celebrations there was a nod to future discontent, with the Echo adding this very brief item: "Anti-Marketeer Lord Shinwell said the Common Market deal was a “sell-out.” Young people should leave Britain and emigrate to Australia or Canada."
Next week's stories will include the opening of Knowsley Safari Park, stampeding giraffes injure a park worker, a major accident takes place at UGB, the chaotic "super-brain" computer at Pilkingtons and Lennon's announce record profits.
We begin in the early hours of the 21st when thieves broke into Lloyds electrical shop in Eccleston Street in Prescot and got away with nine transistor radios worth £200. The intruders smashed the glass in the front door and grabbed Bush, Pye, Phillips, Fidelity and Pifco receivers.
Another raid took place in Duke Street in St Helens when the police seized hundreds of magazines and books from Ernest Buckley's newsagents. The 39-year-old would later face charges of possessing obscene books and magazines for sale.
Later that day the Liverpool Echo revealed that a man from Prescot had written the song that was presently at number 1 in the charts. It was 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep' by Middle of the Road and the composer Harold "Lally" Stott was now living in Rome – but his parents still lived in Shaw Lane.
The St Helens Council of Social Service of Claughton Street was funded mainly by the local authority and responsible for the provision of social services in the town. It also awarded grants to other bodies to carry out social work but for several years had been losing money. However the council announced on the 21st that they had received a surprise gift in the post – a cheque for £20,000 from a mystery donor. The individual wished to remain anonymous and had asked in an accompanying letter for them "not to probe".
A delighted Reg Kershaw, secretary of the Council, said they would be abiding by that condition, adding: "I can certainly say, however, that our balance sheet has never looked healthier." In today's money, £20,000 equates to around £300,000 and the generous gift was being invested in a St Helens Corporation mortgage bond.
With Knowsley Safari Park scheduled to open in less than a fortnight, the joint venture between Lord Derby and Jimmy Chipperfield began an advertising campaign this week. Not that much cash was needed to promote the park, as the media was giving the 360-acre reserve loads of free publicity. Their ad in the Echo went:
"THE NORTH WEST'S OWN AFRICAN BIG GAME RESERVE – Opening July 3rd – KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK – Drive among herds of wild animals roaming free in acres of parkland. See elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and baboons. It's the perfect day out for everyone. Admission to Reserves: £1 per car irrespective of the number of passengers. (No soft-top cars permitted). Entrance by vehicle only. Special terms for parties. Open every day of the year from 10a.m."
For six nights from the 21st the comic play 'The Tender Trap' was performed at the Theatre Royal, starring Derren Nesbitt (of Special Branch fame) and Maurice Kaufmann. That would be the theatre's final show for a while, as the Corporation Street venue would then go into what they called "summer recess".
It was reported on the 21st that 54-year-old Thomas Scully from Wigan had died 48 hours after a crane had fallen on him while working at Ruston Paxman of Newton-le-Willows. On the following day an inquest heard how a truck on an underground monorail at Parkside Colliery in Newton had run out of control because a tie bar had not been in position. As a result of the mistake, Leonard Partington of Atherton had been struck down and killed.
On the 23rd the Echo wrote: "Following a complaint by County Councillor Sarah Heyes, about the “shocking and dangerous state of the chairs in Rainford Village Hall,” the management and general purposes committee agreed to buy new furniture and to have [the] hall “generally spruced up”."
It was "Grand All Winners Night" at the Plaza Club's Thursday Stag Night on the 24th in which the best exotic dancers from the last few weeks' contests competed against each other.
Earlier this month nine miniature Elizabethan artworks belonging to Lord Derby were sold at Christie's for £166,000, as part of the 18th earl's drive to pay for his £1 million safari park. Another auction was held on the 25th when an American dealer paid 400,000 guineas for a Van Dyck painting that had previously been on long-term loan at the Walker Art Gallery. A further sale of books from Knowsley Hall would take place at Christie's in London next week.
Three years ago I described how a new boxing gymnasium had opened in Lea Green Colliery's former medical centre. Haulage contractor Alf Sutton had acquired the building after the mine's closure in 1964 but he had decided to give it away as he wanted boxing revived in the area. A number of celebrities from the boxing world attended the opening in August 1968 but this week the St Helens Reporter had bad news to impart.
Vandals had smashed every window and destroyed equipment to the extent that the clubhouse had been forced to close. So promising 17-year-old boxer Anthony Smart from Clock Face Road was being forced to travel to Halewood to train for a forthcoming fight in which he would be representing England. Anthony's father and trainer Tony Smart told the Reporter that he was searching for another venue:
"The latest incident was just too much. Although I'm heartbroken at the senseless vandalism and our two years' hard work being ruined, it would be a shame if youngsters like Anthony had nowhere to box. Boys of all ages keep knocking at the door, asking for training practice. The vandals who have deprived these kids of their simple enjoyment by smashing up our club must have sick minds. I can only hope for the sake of these young lads that I can find somewhere else to train."
The Reporter also described how Sutton Harriers had been forced to train on playing fields at The Holt in Rainhill because of a lack of suitable facilities in St Helens. "They have shunted around the town from one ramshackle track to another, starved of the facilities they needed to turn out international-class athletes," complained the paper.
The Reporter also described how five headteachers in the town were retiring from their jobs at the end of term after collectively devoting decades to educating children. And a sixth would stay on for just one month of the next term before departing. Carr Mill infants' was to lose the woman who had been in charge since the school opened in 1952 – and the deputy headmistress as well. Marjorie Tunstall and her deputy Mrs G. French had both worked in other St Helens schools before going to Carr Mill and would be stepping down together in July. Sister Agnes Julie, who had been in charge at Our Lady of Mount Carmel secondary girls school since 1963, was also retiring.
St Helens "Tech" lecturer David Appleton from Ormskirk Road in Rainford was pictured in the Reporter after becoming British Open Champion in the National Hairdressers' Federation contest.
It was reported on the 26th that an all-out effort was being launched to raise £25,000 (about £400,000 in today's money) for a major restoration of Prescot Church. The building dates principally from the early 17th century and it required its tower, chancel and sanctuary urgently restoring. Other necessary work included repairs to roof windows and its electrical wiring and a complete interior re-decoration. The bell tower was in a particularly dangerous condition, with some of the main columns that were supporting it reported as being cracked. The restoration fund currently stood at just £3,134, and so much more fundraising was needed.
And finally, there were two big news stories dominating the pages of the Echo this week – not counting the boy who rang the police to report that "something" had crawled over his bed! A constable even went to the trouble of going to the lad's house to tell him he'd had a nightmare. They wouldn't do that today, I don't think! The first big story was the Queen opening the second Mersey Tunnel. The city had been on tenterhooks as to what the tubular road under the Mersey to Wallasey would be called. As the first tunnel in the 1930s to Birkenhead had been given the name Queensway, it seems obvious that Kingsway would likely have been the moniker of the second – which it was.
But then I'm employing hindsight and it's interesting to do so too with the second story of the week – the deal to join the EEC, or Common Market as we called it then. Under the front-page headline "A New Dawn", the Echo's man in Luxembourg wrote: "The door to Europe is wide open at last. Ten years of waiting ended in a champagne dawn to-day as Britain and the Six [existing members] agreed final terms for our entry into the Common Market. The historic agreement, which will set the course for Britain and Europe for the next century or more, came after 14 hours of non-stop talks at the 24-storey European centre on the outskirts of a city gay with flags.
"Bands played in the streets, and a 101-gun salute boomed out as the news flashed round the world. The celebration was for Luxembourg's National Day, but it caught up perfectly the mood of the negotiators as they realised almost with disbelief, that they had finally done it. Mr. Geoffrey Rippon, Britain's “Mr. Europe” and the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Maurice Schumann, drank champagne from the same glass – a “loving cup” Mr. Rippon called it – as they sat down to announce that it was over.
"Mr. Rippon said: “We have done it. It is an historic day for Europe. This is not the end of the road. It is just the end of the beginning.” He went on: “In the negotiations we have discussed the difficulties, so public attention was focussed on those. Now we can turn to the immense opportunities which lie before us all.”" However amidst all the celebrations there was a nod to future discontent, with the Echo adding this very brief item: "Anti-Marketeer Lord Shinwell said the Common Market deal was a “sell-out.” Young people should leave Britain and emigrate to Australia or Canada."
Next week's stories will include the opening of Knowsley Safari Park, stampeding giraffes injure a park worker, a major accident takes place at UGB, the chaotic "super-brain" computer at Pilkingtons and Lennon's announce record profits.
This week's 20 stories include an urgent appeal from Providence Hospital, the dangerous condition of Prescot Church, a wave of vandalism closes a Lea Green boxing club, an anonymous donor gives a huge sum for social work in St Helens and the many teachers retiring from the town's schools.
We begin in the early hours of the 21st when thieves broke into Lloyds electrical shop in Eccleston Street in Prescot and got away with nine transistor radios worth £200.
The intruders smashed the glass in the front door and grabbed Bush, Pye, Phillips, Fidelity and Pifco receivers.
Another raid took place in Duke Street in St Helens when the police seized hundreds of magazines and books from Ernest Buckley's newsagents.
The 39-year-old would later face charges of possessing obscene books and magazines for sale.
Later that day the Liverpool Echo revealed that a man from Prescot had written the song that was presently at number 1 in the charts.
It was 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep' by Middle of the Road and the composer Harold "Lally" Stott was now living in Rome – but his parents still lived in Shaw Lane.
The St Helens Council of Social Service of Claughton Street was funded mainly by the local authority and responsible for the provision of social services in the town.
It also awarded grants to other bodies to carry out social work but for several years had been losing money.
However the council announced on the 21st that they had received a surprise gift in the post – a cheque for £20,000 from a mystery donor.
The individual wished to remain anonymous and had asked in an accompanying letter for them "not to probe".
A delighted Reg Kershaw, secretary of the Council, said they would be abiding by that condition, adding: "I can certainly say, however, that our balance sheet has never looked healthier."
In today's money, £20,000 equates to around £300,000 and the generous gift was being invested in a St Helens Corporation mortgage bond.
With Knowsley Safari Park scheduled to open in less than a fortnight, the joint venture between Lord Derby and Jimmy Chipperfield began an advertising campaign this week.
Not that much cash was needed to promote the park, as the media was giving the 360-acre reserve loads of free publicity. Their ad in the Echo went:
"THE NORTH WEST'S OWN AFRICAN BIG GAME RESERVE – Opening July 3rd – KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK – Drive among herds of wild animals roaming free in acres of parkland. See elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and baboons. It's the perfect day out for everyone.
"Admission to Reserves: £1 per car irrespective of the number of passengers. (No soft-top cars permitted). Entrance by vehicle only. Special terms for parties. Open every day of the year from 10a.m."
For six nights from the 21st the comic play 'The Tender Trap' was performed at the Theatre Royal, starring Derren Nesbitt (of Special Branch fame) and Maurice Kaufmann.
That would be the theatre's final show for a while, as the Corporation Street venue would then go into what they called "summer recess".
It was reported on the 21st that 54-year-old Thomas Scully from Wigan had died 48 hours after a crane had fallen on him while working at Ruston Paxman of Newton-le-Willows.
On the following day an inquest heard how a truck on an underground monorail at Parkside Colliery in Newton had run out of control because a tie bar had not been in position.
As a result of the mistake, Leonard Partington of Atherton had been struck down and killed.
On the 23rd the Echo wrote: "Following a complaint by County Councillor Sarah Heyes, about the “shocking and dangerous state of the chairs in Rainford Village Hall,” the management and general purposes committee agreed to buy new furniture and to have [the] hall “generally spruced up”."
It was "Grand All Winners Night" at the Plaza Club's Thursday Stag Night on the 24th in which the best exotic dancers from the last few weeks' contests competed against each other.
Earlier this month nine miniature Elizabethan artworks belonging to Lord Derby were sold at Christie's for £166,000, as part of the 18th earl's drive to pay for his £1 million safari park.
Another auction was held on the 25th when an American dealer paid 400,000 guineas for a Van Dyck painting that had previously been on long-term loan at the Walker Art Gallery.
A further sale of books from Knowsley Hall would take place at Christie's in London next week.
On the 24th the Mayor of St Helens launched an appeal to help Providence Hospital (pictured above).
The Tolver Street infirmary had been running at a loss for five years and was now £20,000 in the red – around £300,000 in today's money.
Cllr. Charles Martin said: "This town cannot do without Providence Hospital. I am sure that when the people of St. Helens know what trouble the hospital is in they will be very willing to help."
Founded in 1882, Providence was one of only four acute general hospitals in the country being run by Catholic religious orders.
Three years ago I described how a new boxing gymnasium had opened in Lea Green Colliery's former medical centre.
Haulage contractor Alf Sutton had acquired the building after the mine's closure in 1964 but he had decided to give it away as he wanted boxing revived in the area.
A number of celebrities from the boxing world attended the opening in August 1968 but this week the St Helens Reporter had bad news to impart.
Vandals had smashed every window and destroyed equipment to the extent that the clubhouse had been forced to close.
So promising 17-year-old boxer Anthony Smart from Clock Face Road was being forced to travel to Halewood to train for a forthcoming fight in which he would be representing England.
Anthony's father and trainer Tony Smart told the Reporter that he was searching for another venue:
"The latest incident was just too much. Although I'm heartbroken at the senseless vandalism and our two years' hard work being ruined, it would be a shame if youngsters like Anthony had nowhere to box.
"Boys of all ages keep knocking at the door, asking for training practice. The vandals who have deprived these kids of their simple enjoyment by smashing up our club must have sick minds.
"I can only hope for the sake of these young lads that I can find somewhere else to train."
The Reporter also described how Sutton Harriers had been forced to train on playing fields at The Holt in Rainhill because of a lack of suitable facilities in St Helens.
"They have shunted around the town from one ramshackle track to another, starved of the facilities they needed to turn out international-class athletes," complained the paper.
The Reporter also described how five headteachers in the town were retiring from their jobs at the end of term after collectively devoting decades to educating children.
And a sixth would stay on for just one month of the next term before departing.
Carr Mill infants' was to lose the woman who had been in charge since the school opened in 1952 – and the deputy headmistress as well.
Marjorie Tunstall and her deputy Mrs G. French had both worked in other St Helens schools before going to Carr Mill and would be stepping down together in July.
Sister Agnes Julie, who had been in charge at Our Lady of Mount Carmel secondary girls school since 1963, was also retiring.
Mr H. Campbell was leaving Grange Park Secondary after 14 years and Joseph Woods (pictured above) was departing Robins Lane Secondary School after 19 years' service. Mr Woods is credited with having encouraged sporting activities at the Sutton school - leading to much success for individuals and teams.
There was also Pebby Johnson, headmistress of Thatto Heath infants' school for 16 years and former Royal Marine, William Lilley, who was retiring from the head post that he'd held at Knowsley Road Junior School since 1954.
Among the senior teachers departing were Miss A. M. Lowery who had been at St Cuthbert's in Berry's Lane since the school opened in 1957. And Gladys Tinsley was leaving Parr Secondary School after 38 years' service.
St Helens "Tech" lecturer David Appleton from Ormskirk Road in Rainford was pictured in the Reporter after becoming British Open Champion in the National Hairdressers' Federation contest.
It was reported on the 26th that an all-out effort was being launched to raise £25,000 (about £400,000 in today's money) for a major restoration of Prescot Church.
The building dates principally from the early 17th century and it required its tower, chancel and sanctuary urgently restoring.
Other necessary work included repairs to roof windows and its electrical wiring and a complete interior re-decoration.
The bell tower was in a particularly dangerous condition, with some of the main columns that were supporting it reported as being cracked.
The restoration fund currently stood at just £3,134, and so much more fundraising was needed.
And finally, there were two big news stories dominating the pages of the Echo this week – not counting the boy who rang the police to report that "something" had crawled over his bed!
A constable even went to the trouble of going to the lad's house to tell him he'd had a nightmare. They wouldn't do that today, I don't think!
The first big story was the Queen opening the second Mersey Tunnel. The city had been on tenterhooks as to what the tubular road under the Mersey to Wallasey would be called.
As the first tunnel in the 1930s to Birkenhead had been given the name Queensway, it seems obvious that Kingsway would likely have been the moniker of the second – which it was.
But then I'm employing hindsight and it's interesting to do so too with the second story of the week – the deal to join the EEC, or Common Market as we called it then.
Under the front-page headline "A New Dawn", the Echo's man in Luxembourg wrote:
"The door to Europe is wide open at last. Ten years of waiting ended in a champagne dawn to-day as Britain and the Six [existing members] agreed final terms for our entry into the Common Market.
"The historic agreement, which will set the course for Britain and Europe for the next century or more, came after 14 hours of non-stop talks at the 24-storey European centre on the outskirts of a city gay with flags.
"Bands played in the streets, and a 101-gun salute boomed out as the news flashed round the world.
"The celebration was for Luxembourg's National Day, but it caught up perfectly the mood of the negotiators as they realised almost with disbelief, that they had finally done it.
"Mr. Geoffrey Rippon, Britain's “Mr. Europe” and the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Maurice Schumann, drank champagne from the same glass – a “loving cup” Mr. Rippon called it – as they sat down to announce that it was over.
"Mr. Rippon said: “We have done it. It is an historic day for Europe. This is not the end of the road. It is just the end of the beginning.”
"He went on “In the negotiations we have discussed the difficulties, so public attention was focussed on those. Now we can turn to the immense opportunities which lie before us all.”"
However amidst all the celebrations there was a nod to future discontent, with the Echo adding this very brief item:
"Anti-Marketeer Lord Shinwell said the Common Market deal was a “sell-out.” Young people should leave Britain and emigrate to Australia or Canada."
Next week's stories will include the opening of Knowsley Safari Park, stampeding giraffes injure a park worker, a major accident takes place at UGB, the chaotic "super-brain" computer at Pilkingtons and Lennon's announce record profits.
We begin in the early hours of the 21st when thieves broke into Lloyds electrical shop in Eccleston Street in Prescot and got away with nine transistor radios worth £200.
The intruders smashed the glass in the front door and grabbed Bush, Pye, Phillips, Fidelity and Pifco receivers.
Another raid took place in Duke Street in St Helens when the police seized hundreds of magazines and books from Ernest Buckley's newsagents.
The 39-year-old would later face charges of possessing obscene books and magazines for sale.
Later that day the Liverpool Echo revealed that a man from Prescot had written the song that was presently at number 1 in the charts.
It was 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep' by Middle of the Road and the composer Harold "Lally" Stott was now living in Rome – but his parents still lived in Shaw Lane.
The St Helens Council of Social Service of Claughton Street was funded mainly by the local authority and responsible for the provision of social services in the town.
It also awarded grants to other bodies to carry out social work but for several years had been losing money.
However the council announced on the 21st that they had received a surprise gift in the post – a cheque for £20,000 from a mystery donor.
The individual wished to remain anonymous and had asked in an accompanying letter for them "not to probe".
A delighted Reg Kershaw, secretary of the Council, said they would be abiding by that condition, adding: "I can certainly say, however, that our balance sheet has never looked healthier."
In today's money, £20,000 equates to around £300,000 and the generous gift was being invested in a St Helens Corporation mortgage bond.
With Knowsley Safari Park scheduled to open in less than a fortnight, the joint venture between Lord Derby and Jimmy Chipperfield began an advertising campaign this week.
Not that much cash was needed to promote the park, as the media was giving the 360-acre reserve loads of free publicity. Their ad in the Echo went:
"THE NORTH WEST'S OWN AFRICAN BIG GAME RESERVE – Opening July 3rd – KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK – Drive among herds of wild animals roaming free in acres of parkland. See elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and baboons. It's the perfect day out for everyone.
"Admission to Reserves: £1 per car irrespective of the number of passengers. (No soft-top cars permitted). Entrance by vehicle only. Special terms for parties. Open every day of the year from 10a.m."
For six nights from the 21st the comic play 'The Tender Trap' was performed at the Theatre Royal, starring Derren Nesbitt (of Special Branch fame) and Maurice Kaufmann.
That would be the theatre's final show for a while, as the Corporation Street venue would then go into what they called "summer recess".
It was reported on the 21st that 54-year-old Thomas Scully from Wigan had died 48 hours after a crane had fallen on him while working at Ruston Paxman of Newton-le-Willows.
On the following day an inquest heard how a truck on an underground monorail at Parkside Colliery in Newton had run out of control because a tie bar had not been in position.
As a result of the mistake, Leonard Partington of Atherton had been struck down and killed.
On the 23rd the Echo wrote: "Following a complaint by County Councillor Sarah Heyes, about the “shocking and dangerous state of the chairs in Rainford Village Hall,” the management and general purposes committee agreed to buy new furniture and to have [the] hall “generally spruced up”."
It was "Grand All Winners Night" at the Plaza Club's Thursday Stag Night on the 24th in which the best exotic dancers from the last few weeks' contests competed against each other.
Earlier this month nine miniature Elizabethan artworks belonging to Lord Derby were sold at Christie's for £166,000, as part of the 18th earl's drive to pay for his £1 million safari park.
Another auction was held on the 25th when an American dealer paid 400,000 guineas for a Van Dyck painting that had previously been on long-term loan at the Walker Art Gallery.
A further sale of books from Knowsley Hall would take place at Christie's in London next week.
The Tolver Street infirmary had been running at a loss for five years and was now £20,000 in the red – around £300,000 in today's money.
Cllr. Charles Martin said: "This town cannot do without Providence Hospital. I am sure that when the people of St. Helens know what trouble the hospital is in they will be very willing to help."
Founded in 1882, Providence was one of only four acute general hospitals in the country being run by Catholic religious orders.
Three years ago I described how a new boxing gymnasium had opened in Lea Green Colliery's former medical centre.
Haulage contractor Alf Sutton had acquired the building after the mine's closure in 1964 but he had decided to give it away as he wanted boxing revived in the area.
A number of celebrities from the boxing world attended the opening in August 1968 but this week the St Helens Reporter had bad news to impart.
Vandals had smashed every window and destroyed equipment to the extent that the clubhouse had been forced to close.
So promising 17-year-old boxer Anthony Smart from Clock Face Road was being forced to travel to Halewood to train for a forthcoming fight in which he would be representing England.
Anthony's father and trainer Tony Smart told the Reporter that he was searching for another venue:
"The latest incident was just too much. Although I'm heartbroken at the senseless vandalism and our two years' hard work being ruined, it would be a shame if youngsters like Anthony had nowhere to box.
"Boys of all ages keep knocking at the door, asking for training practice. The vandals who have deprived these kids of their simple enjoyment by smashing up our club must have sick minds.
"I can only hope for the sake of these young lads that I can find somewhere else to train."
The Reporter also described how Sutton Harriers had been forced to train on playing fields at The Holt in Rainhill because of a lack of suitable facilities in St Helens.
"They have shunted around the town from one ramshackle track to another, starved of the facilities they needed to turn out international-class athletes," complained the paper.
The Reporter also described how five headteachers in the town were retiring from their jobs at the end of term after collectively devoting decades to educating children.
And a sixth would stay on for just one month of the next term before departing.
Carr Mill infants' was to lose the woman who had been in charge since the school opened in 1952 – and the deputy headmistress as well.
Marjorie Tunstall and her deputy Mrs G. French had both worked in other St Helens schools before going to Carr Mill and would be stepping down together in July.
Sister Agnes Julie, who had been in charge at Our Lady of Mount Carmel secondary girls school since 1963, was also retiring.
There was also Pebby Johnson, headmistress of Thatto Heath infants' school for 16 years and former Royal Marine, William Lilley, who was retiring from the head post that he'd held at Knowsley Road Junior School since 1954.
Among the senior teachers departing were Miss A. M. Lowery who had been at St Cuthbert's in Berry's Lane since the school opened in 1957. And Gladys Tinsley was leaving Parr Secondary School after 38 years' service.
St Helens "Tech" lecturer David Appleton from Ormskirk Road in Rainford was pictured in the Reporter after becoming British Open Champion in the National Hairdressers' Federation contest.
It was reported on the 26th that an all-out effort was being launched to raise £25,000 (about £400,000 in today's money) for a major restoration of Prescot Church.
The building dates principally from the early 17th century and it required its tower, chancel and sanctuary urgently restoring.
Other necessary work included repairs to roof windows and its electrical wiring and a complete interior re-decoration.
The bell tower was in a particularly dangerous condition, with some of the main columns that were supporting it reported as being cracked.
The restoration fund currently stood at just £3,134, and so much more fundraising was needed.
And finally, there were two big news stories dominating the pages of the Echo this week – not counting the boy who rang the police to report that "something" had crawled over his bed!
A constable even went to the trouble of going to the lad's house to tell him he'd had a nightmare. They wouldn't do that today, I don't think!
The first big story was the Queen opening the second Mersey Tunnel. The city had been on tenterhooks as to what the tubular road under the Mersey to Wallasey would be called.
As the first tunnel in the 1930s to Birkenhead had been given the name Queensway, it seems obvious that Kingsway would likely have been the moniker of the second – which it was.
But then I'm employing hindsight and it's interesting to do so too with the second story of the week – the deal to join the EEC, or Common Market as we called it then.
Under the front-page headline "A New Dawn", the Echo's man in Luxembourg wrote:
"The door to Europe is wide open at last. Ten years of waiting ended in a champagne dawn to-day as Britain and the Six [existing members] agreed final terms for our entry into the Common Market.
"The historic agreement, which will set the course for Britain and Europe for the next century or more, came after 14 hours of non-stop talks at the 24-storey European centre on the outskirts of a city gay with flags.
"Bands played in the streets, and a 101-gun salute boomed out as the news flashed round the world.
"The celebration was for Luxembourg's National Day, but it caught up perfectly the mood of the negotiators as they realised almost with disbelief, that they had finally done it.
"Mr. Geoffrey Rippon, Britain's “Mr. Europe” and the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Maurice Schumann, drank champagne from the same glass – a “loving cup” Mr. Rippon called it – as they sat down to announce that it was over.
"Mr. Rippon said: “We have done it. It is an historic day for Europe. This is not the end of the road. It is just the end of the beginning.”
"He went on “In the negotiations we have discussed the difficulties, so public attention was focussed on those. Now we can turn to the immense opportunities which lie before us all.”"
However amidst all the celebrations there was a nod to future discontent, with the Echo adding this very brief item:
"Anti-Marketeer Lord Shinwell said the Common Market deal was a “sell-out.” Young people should leave Britain and emigrate to Australia or Canada."
Next week's stories will include the opening of Knowsley Safari Park, stampeding giraffes injure a park worker, a major accident takes place at UGB, the chaotic "super-brain" computer at Pilkingtons and Lennon's announce record profits.