FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 21 - 27 SEPTEMBER 1976
This week's many stories include the campaign to save Providence Hospital, the Morris dancing row in Rainford, the possibility of a referendum on adding fluoride to the water supply, the emergency drought order, the likely end of half-day closing, the Boundary Road ban on women entering a snooker room and the St Helens Civic Society aim to shame owners of eyesore sites.
Last week the St Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority had made the controversial decision to add fluoride to the water supply. Local dentists had been calling for fluoridation for years to reduce tooth decay but there were concerns over possible health risks, including fluoride causing cancer.
There were also objections to making everyone who drank tap water consume fluoride – what the St Helens council leader called "enforced medication". The St Helens Reporter had condemned the decision calling it "ludicrous" but in this week's paper that was published on the 24th, it revealed how an attempt was going to be made to overturn it.
The local Community Health Council, who acted as a public watchdog, were against fluoridation and the Reporter said at their next meeting they would decide whether to organise a referendum on the issue. Their chairman was Councillor Bob Foulkes who said they would fight the decision: "I don't think that because the Area Health Authority have agreed in favour of fluoride it means the Community Health Council should just sit down and let it happen."
The Reporter described another more definite referendum that would be taking place. This was going to be conducted by St Helens Council, who planned to consult town centre stores to see if they were in favour of six-day trading. In other words, the mandatory Thursday half-day shop closures would be removed and it would become optional for them to shut during the afternoon. In general, smaller shops wanted to keep the status quo – but the larger stores liked to be able to trade for six full days a week.
In 1971 a campaign began to save Providence Hospital (pictured above), which was £20,000 in the red – that's around £300,000 in today's money. The Mayor Cllr Charles Martin launched what was described as a fighting fund, saying: "It is a magnificent hospital doing a magnificent job for St. Helens. It is our responsibility to help."
By 1972 the fundraising had led to Providence Hospital's debts being wiped out, with the mayor declaring: "I think it's been a wonderful effort. The public response has been beyond belief. When the appeal was launched, I never imagined we would reach the target so quickly. Everyone rallied round – children, teenagers, parents and industrialists. Perhaps St. Helens will not allow the hospital to get into debt again."
But that was a forlorn hope. In this week's Reporter it was stated that not only was the Tolver Street hospital again £20,000+ in the red – but it was set to lose up to £100,000 in government aid. And the paper warned that the looming cash crisis could cause Providence to close. As a result next week an emergency "Save Our Hospital" meeting would be taking place at the Town Hall.
The Area Health Authority had triggered the crisis by announcing that they were considering shutting Providence's 16-bed children's ward with young patients instead being treated at Whiston. That would result in the authority withdrawing up to £100,000 of the £600,000 funding that they annually gave to Providence.
Last week the St Helens Civic Society had announced that they were on a mission to clean up the town. A series of litter picking events had begun and this week the Reporter said they were planning to shame owners of local eyesores into cleaning them up. Their campaign would begin by writing to offenders and then they would put continuous pressure on them to take the necessary remedial action.
The Reporter said the Civic Society's first litter pick had attracted a force of 45 volunteers, including 30 schoolchildren, and as they made their way down Gamble Avenue and Cowley Hill Lane they had filled 30 bags with rubbish. Society members had also conducted an inspection of parts of St Helens and found a striking contrast between different areas.
They described the town centre as "remarkably clean" but said other parts of St Helens were "disgraceful" and "disgusting". The worst of the blackspots were Peasley Cross Lane, Sherdley Road, Dunriding Lane and the area at the rear of Hardshaw Brook.
This week an emergency drought order came into operation but it had also caused some confusion. Philip Scott had continued to run the automatic car wash at his Caldo service station in Worsley Brow to the annoyance of some people who were unhappy about him seemingly breaking the law.
Philip explained how he had rung the North West Water Authority every day to see if he was allowed to continue operating his car wash and every day they had said that he could. He said: "When it started to rain, we called the water board and they said we could keep the car wash going." And so he did but some of his customers complained. "They thought we were breaking the law. It has caused ill-feeling, and we have been called all sorts of names."
"Lunch Meals That You Can Afford!" was the headline to an advert from the Nelson Hotel in which they claimed to be offering the cheapest meals in town. However, the Bridge Street hotel failed to stipulate any prices, unlike the Sefton Arms in Baldwin Street in December 1974. They were then advertising a traditional Christmas dinner for £1.50!
The Reporter revealed that St Helens had one of the worst shortages of health visitors in the country. The St Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority only employed one health visitor to every 11,000 people instead of the recommended ratio of one to every 4,600.
The Reporter also disclosed that the United Services Club, known as Sprayhurst, in Boundary Road was, as it was put, "one of the few surviving bastions of male chauvinism" in St Helens. That was because they banned women from entering their snooker room. Sprayhurst were not the only social club in St Helens that had such a rule but they were believed to be the only one that actively enforced it.
The Reporter described how the appearance of a large group of female Morris dancers on a field in Rainford last Sunday afternoon had led to police being called. Some of the residents of Croxteth Drive were furious that their tranquillity was being destroyed, with David Burgess saying: "It had to be seen to be believed. One minute we were eating Sunday lunch and the next looking at about 150 people on the field."
The Morris dancers, who were holding a competition between various troupes, said they had been granted permission by St Helens Council to use the public field. However, the residents claimed that they had not been informed about the event and it seems that being taken by surprise through so many people suddenly arriving on their doorsteps was their main bugbear.
A spokesman for the organisers said: "These dancers are all young girls and they create no nuisance. They give a great deal of pleasure to the general public. Some of these residents are behind the times. Perhaps they would rather have a lot of vandalism or a pop festival in Rainford. I wish they'd grow up."
From the 26th, the ABC Savoy cinema in Bridge Street began a double-bill of 'Freebie And The Bean' starring James Caan, along with Bruce Lee's 'Enter The Dragon'. The Capitol was screening a sex film called 'Confessions Of A Male Escort' but was advertising that it would no longer open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. No explanation was offered but the cinema would close for good in 1978 and so, probably, was trying to stave off the threat of closure by cutting down on its costs.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the public meeting to save Providence Hospital, Argos comes to St Helens, the campaign against car theft, the staggering cost of vandalism in St Helens and the new car park that was planned for the town.
Last week the St Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority had made the controversial decision to add fluoride to the water supply. Local dentists had been calling for fluoridation for years to reduce tooth decay but there were concerns over possible health risks, including fluoride causing cancer.
There were also objections to making everyone who drank tap water consume fluoride – what the St Helens council leader called "enforced medication". The St Helens Reporter had condemned the decision calling it "ludicrous" but in this week's paper that was published on the 24th, it revealed how an attempt was going to be made to overturn it.
The local Community Health Council, who acted as a public watchdog, were against fluoridation and the Reporter said at their next meeting they would decide whether to organise a referendum on the issue. Their chairman was Councillor Bob Foulkes who said they would fight the decision: "I don't think that because the Area Health Authority have agreed in favour of fluoride it means the Community Health Council should just sit down and let it happen."
The Reporter described another more definite referendum that would be taking place. This was going to be conducted by St Helens Council, who planned to consult town centre stores to see if they were in favour of six-day trading. In other words, the mandatory Thursday half-day shop closures would be removed and it would become optional for them to shut during the afternoon. In general, smaller shops wanted to keep the status quo – but the larger stores liked to be able to trade for six full days a week.
By 1972 the fundraising had led to Providence Hospital's debts being wiped out, with the mayor declaring: "I think it's been a wonderful effort. The public response has been beyond belief. When the appeal was launched, I never imagined we would reach the target so quickly. Everyone rallied round – children, teenagers, parents and industrialists. Perhaps St. Helens will not allow the hospital to get into debt again."
But that was a forlorn hope. In this week's Reporter it was stated that not only was the Tolver Street hospital again £20,000+ in the red – but it was set to lose up to £100,000 in government aid. And the paper warned that the looming cash crisis could cause Providence to close. As a result next week an emergency "Save Our Hospital" meeting would be taking place at the Town Hall.
The Area Health Authority had triggered the crisis by announcing that they were considering shutting Providence's 16-bed children's ward with young patients instead being treated at Whiston. That would result in the authority withdrawing up to £100,000 of the £600,000 funding that they annually gave to Providence.
Last week the St Helens Civic Society had announced that they were on a mission to clean up the town. A series of litter picking events had begun and this week the Reporter said they were planning to shame owners of local eyesores into cleaning them up. Their campaign would begin by writing to offenders and then they would put continuous pressure on them to take the necessary remedial action.
The Reporter said the Civic Society's first litter pick had attracted a force of 45 volunteers, including 30 schoolchildren, and as they made their way down Gamble Avenue and Cowley Hill Lane they had filled 30 bags with rubbish. Society members had also conducted an inspection of parts of St Helens and found a striking contrast between different areas.
They described the town centre as "remarkably clean" but said other parts of St Helens were "disgraceful" and "disgusting". The worst of the blackspots were Peasley Cross Lane, Sherdley Road, Dunriding Lane and the area at the rear of Hardshaw Brook.
This week an emergency drought order came into operation but it had also caused some confusion. Philip Scott had continued to run the automatic car wash at his Caldo service station in Worsley Brow to the annoyance of some people who were unhappy about him seemingly breaking the law.
Philip explained how he had rung the North West Water Authority every day to see if he was allowed to continue operating his car wash and every day they had said that he could. He said: "When it started to rain, we called the water board and they said we could keep the car wash going." And so he did but some of his customers complained. "They thought we were breaking the law. It has caused ill-feeling, and we have been called all sorts of names."
"Lunch Meals That You Can Afford!" was the headline to an advert from the Nelson Hotel in which they claimed to be offering the cheapest meals in town. However, the Bridge Street hotel failed to stipulate any prices, unlike the Sefton Arms in Baldwin Street in December 1974. They were then advertising a traditional Christmas dinner for £1.50!
The Reporter revealed that St Helens had one of the worst shortages of health visitors in the country. The St Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority only employed one health visitor to every 11,000 people instead of the recommended ratio of one to every 4,600.
The Reporter also disclosed that the United Services Club, known as Sprayhurst, in Boundary Road was, as it was put, "one of the few surviving bastions of male chauvinism" in St Helens. That was because they banned women from entering their snooker room. Sprayhurst were not the only social club in St Helens that had such a rule but they were believed to be the only one that actively enforced it.
The Reporter described how the appearance of a large group of female Morris dancers on a field in Rainford last Sunday afternoon had led to police being called. Some of the residents of Croxteth Drive were furious that their tranquillity was being destroyed, with David Burgess saying: "It had to be seen to be believed. One minute we were eating Sunday lunch and the next looking at about 150 people on the field."
The Morris dancers, who were holding a competition between various troupes, said they had been granted permission by St Helens Council to use the public field. However, the residents claimed that they had not been informed about the event and it seems that being taken by surprise through so many people suddenly arriving on their doorsteps was their main bugbear.
A spokesman for the organisers said: "These dancers are all young girls and they create no nuisance. They give a great deal of pleasure to the general public. Some of these residents are behind the times. Perhaps they would rather have a lot of vandalism or a pop festival in Rainford. I wish they'd grow up."
From the 26th, the ABC Savoy cinema in Bridge Street began a double-bill of 'Freebie And The Bean' starring James Caan, along with Bruce Lee's 'Enter The Dragon'. The Capitol was screening a sex film called 'Confessions Of A Male Escort' but was advertising that it would no longer open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. No explanation was offered but the cinema would close for good in 1978 and so, probably, was trying to stave off the threat of closure by cutting down on its costs.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the public meeting to save Providence Hospital, Argos comes to St Helens, the campaign against car theft, the staggering cost of vandalism in St Helens and the new car park that was planned for the town.
This week's many stories include the campaign to save Providence Hospital, the Morris dancing row in Rainford, the possibility of a referendum on adding fluoride to the water supply, the emergency drought order, the likely end of half-day closing, the Boundary Road ban on women entering a snooker room and the St Helens Civic Society aim to shame owners of eyesore sites.
Last week the St Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority had made the controversial decision to add fluoride to the water supply.
Local dentists had been calling for fluoridation for years to reduce tooth decay but there were concerns over possible health risks, including fluoride causing cancer.
There were also objections to making everyone who drank tap water consume fluoride – what the St Helens council leader called "enforced medication".
The St Helens Reporter had condemned the decision calling it "ludicrous" but in this week's paper that was published on the 24th, it revealed how an attempt was going to be made to overturn it.
The local Community Health Council, who acted as a public watchdog, were against fluoridation and the Reporter said at their next meeting they would decide whether to organise a referendum on the issue.
Their chairman was Councillor Bob Foulkes who said they would fight the decision:
"I don't think that because the Area Health Authority have agreed in favour of fluoride it means the Community Health Council should just sit down and let it happen."
The Reporter described another more definite referendum that would be taking place. This was going to be conducted by St Helens Council, who planned to consult town centre stores to see if they were in favour of six-day trading.
In other words, the mandatory Thursday half-day shop closures would be removed and it would become optional for them to shut during the afternoon.
In general, smaller shops wanted to keep the status quo – but the larger stores liked to be able to trade for six full days a week.
In 1971 a campaign began to save Providence Hospital (pictured above), which was £20,000 in the red – that's around £300,000 in today's money.
The Mayor Cllr Charles Martin launched what was described as a fighting fund, saying: "It is a magnificent hospital doing a magnificent job for St. Helens. It is our responsibility to help."
By 1972 the fundraising had led to Providence Hospital's debts being wiped out, with the mayor declaring:
"I think it's been a wonderful effort. The public response has been beyond belief. When the appeal was launched, I never imagined we would reach the target so quickly.
"Everyone rallied round – children, teenagers, parents and industrialists. Perhaps St. Helens will not allow the hospital to get into debt again."
But that was a forlorn hope. In this week's Reporter it was stated that not only was the Tolver Street hospital again £20,000+ in the red – but it was set to lose up to £100,000 in government aid.
And the paper warned that the looming cash crisis could cause Providence to close.
As a result next week an emergency "Save Our Hospital" meeting would be taking place at the Town Hall.
The Area Health Authority had triggered the crisis by announcing that they were considering shutting Providence's 16-bed children's ward with young patients instead being treated at Whiston.
That would result in the authority withdrawing up to £100,000 of the £600,000 funding that they annually gave to Providence.
Last week the St Helens Civic Society had announced that they were on a mission to clean up the town.
A series of litter picking events had begun and this week the Reporter said they were planning to shame owners of local eyesores into cleaning them up.
Their campaign would begin by writing to offenders and then they would put continuous pressure on them to take the necessary remedial action.
The Reporter said the Civic Society's first litter pick had attracted a force of 45 volunteers, including 30 schoolchildren, and as they made their way down Gamble Avenue and Cowley Hill Lane they had filled 30 bags with rubbish.
Society members had also conducted an inspection of parts of St Helens and found a striking contrast between different areas.
They described the town centre as "remarkably clean" but said other parts of St Helens were "disgraceful" and "disgusting".
The worst of the blackspots were Peasley Cross Lane, Sherdley Road, Dunriding Lane and the area at the rear of Hardshaw Brook.
This week an emergency drought order came into operation but it had also caused some confusion.
Philip Scott had continued to run the automatic car wash at his Caldo service station in Worsley Brow to the annoyance of some people who were unhappy about him seemingly breaking the law.
Philip explained how he had rung the North West Water Authority every day to see if he was allowed to continue operating his car wash and every day they had said that he could.
He said: "When it started to rain, we called the water board and they said we could keep the car wash going."
And so he did but some of his customers complained. "They thought we were breaking the law. It has caused ill-feeling, and we have been called all sorts of names."
"Lunch Meals That You Can Afford!" was the headline to an advert from the Nelson Hotel in which they claimed to be offering the cheapest meals in town.
However, the Bridge Street hotel failed to stipulate any prices, unlike the Sefton Arms in Baldwin Street in December 1974.
They were then advertising a traditional Christmas dinner for £1.50!
The Reporter revealed that St Helens had one of the worst shortages of health visitors in the country.
The St Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority only employed one health visitor to every 11,000 people instead of the recommended ratio of one to every 4,600.
The Reporter also disclosed that the United Services Club, known as Sprayhurst, in Boundary Road was, as it was put, "one of the few surviving bastions of male chauvinism" in St Helens.
That was because they banned women from entering their snooker room.
Sprayhurst were not the only social club in St Helens that had such a rule but they were believed to be the only one that actively enforced it.
The Reporter described how the appearance of a large group of female Morris dancers on a field in Rainford last Sunday afternoon had led to police being called.
Some of the residents of Croxteth Drive were furious that their tranquillity was being destroyed, with David Burgess saying:
"It had to be seen to be believed. One minute we were eating Sunday lunch and the next looking at about 150 people on the field."
The Morris dancers, who were holding a competition between various troupes, said they had been granted permission by St Helens Council to use the public field.
However, the residents claimed that they had not been informed about the event and it seems that being taken by surprise through so many people suddenly arriving on their doorsteps was their main bugbear.
A spokesman for the organisers said: "These dancers are all young girls and they create no nuisance. They give a great deal of pleasure to the general public.
"Some of these residents are behind the times. Perhaps they would rather have a lot of vandalism or a pop festival in Rainford. I wish they'd grow up."
From the 26th, the ABC Savoy cinema in Bridge Street began a double-bill of 'Freebie And The Bean' starring James Caan, along with Bruce Lee's 'Enter The Dragon'.
The Capitol was screening a sex film called 'Confessions Of A Male Escort' but was advertising that it would no longer open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
No explanation was offered but the cinema would close for good in 1978 and so, probably, was trying to stave off the threat of closure by cutting down on its costs.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the public meeting to save Providence Hospital, Argos comes to St Helens, the campaign against car theft, the staggering cost of vandalism in St Helens and the new car park that was planned for the town.
Last week the St Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority had made the controversial decision to add fluoride to the water supply.
Local dentists had been calling for fluoridation for years to reduce tooth decay but there were concerns over possible health risks, including fluoride causing cancer.
There were also objections to making everyone who drank tap water consume fluoride – what the St Helens council leader called "enforced medication".
The St Helens Reporter had condemned the decision calling it "ludicrous" but in this week's paper that was published on the 24th, it revealed how an attempt was going to be made to overturn it.
The local Community Health Council, who acted as a public watchdog, were against fluoridation and the Reporter said at their next meeting they would decide whether to organise a referendum on the issue.
Their chairman was Councillor Bob Foulkes who said they would fight the decision:
"I don't think that because the Area Health Authority have agreed in favour of fluoride it means the Community Health Council should just sit down and let it happen."
The Reporter described another more definite referendum that would be taking place. This was going to be conducted by St Helens Council, who planned to consult town centre stores to see if they were in favour of six-day trading.
In other words, the mandatory Thursday half-day shop closures would be removed and it would become optional for them to shut during the afternoon.
In general, smaller shops wanted to keep the status quo – but the larger stores liked to be able to trade for six full days a week.
The Mayor Cllr Charles Martin launched what was described as a fighting fund, saying: "It is a magnificent hospital doing a magnificent job for St. Helens. It is our responsibility to help."
By 1972 the fundraising had led to Providence Hospital's debts being wiped out, with the mayor declaring:
"I think it's been a wonderful effort. The public response has been beyond belief. When the appeal was launched, I never imagined we would reach the target so quickly.
"Everyone rallied round – children, teenagers, parents and industrialists. Perhaps St. Helens will not allow the hospital to get into debt again."
But that was a forlorn hope. In this week's Reporter it was stated that not only was the Tolver Street hospital again £20,000+ in the red – but it was set to lose up to £100,000 in government aid.
And the paper warned that the looming cash crisis could cause Providence to close.
As a result next week an emergency "Save Our Hospital" meeting would be taking place at the Town Hall.
The Area Health Authority had triggered the crisis by announcing that they were considering shutting Providence's 16-bed children's ward with young patients instead being treated at Whiston.
That would result in the authority withdrawing up to £100,000 of the £600,000 funding that they annually gave to Providence.
Last week the St Helens Civic Society had announced that they were on a mission to clean up the town.
A series of litter picking events had begun and this week the Reporter said they were planning to shame owners of local eyesores into cleaning them up.
Their campaign would begin by writing to offenders and then they would put continuous pressure on them to take the necessary remedial action.
The Reporter said the Civic Society's first litter pick had attracted a force of 45 volunteers, including 30 schoolchildren, and as they made their way down Gamble Avenue and Cowley Hill Lane they had filled 30 bags with rubbish.
Society members had also conducted an inspection of parts of St Helens and found a striking contrast between different areas.
They described the town centre as "remarkably clean" but said other parts of St Helens were "disgraceful" and "disgusting".
The worst of the blackspots were Peasley Cross Lane, Sherdley Road, Dunriding Lane and the area at the rear of Hardshaw Brook.
This week an emergency drought order came into operation but it had also caused some confusion.
Philip Scott had continued to run the automatic car wash at his Caldo service station in Worsley Brow to the annoyance of some people who were unhappy about him seemingly breaking the law.
Philip explained how he had rung the North West Water Authority every day to see if he was allowed to continue operating his car wash and every day they had said that he could.
He said: "When it started to rain, we called the water board and they said we could keep the car wash going."
And so he did but some of his customers complained. "They thought we were breaking the law. It has caused ill-feeling, and we have been called all sorts of names."
"Lunch Meals That You Can Afford!" was the headline to an advert from the Nelson Hotel in which they claimed to be offering the cheapest meals in town.
However, the Bridge Street hotel failed to stipulate any prices, unlike the Sefton Arms in Baldwin Street in December 1974.
They were then advertising a traditional Christmas dinner for £1.50!
The Reporter revealed that St Helens had one of the worst shortages of health visitors in the country.
The St Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority only employed one health visitor to every 11,000 people instead of the recommended ratio of one to every 4,600.
The Reporter also disclosed that the United Services Club, known as Sprayhurst, in Boundary Road was, as it was put, "one of the few surviving bastions of male chauvinism" in St Helens.
That was because they banned women from entering their snooker room.
Sprayhurst were not the only social club in St Helens that had such a rule but they were believed to be the only one that actively enforced it.
The Reporter described how the appearance of a large group of female Morris dancers on a field in Rainford last Sunday afternoon had led to police being called.
Some of the residents of Croxteth Drive were furious that their tranquillity was being destroyed, with David Burgess saying:
"It had to be seen to be believed. One minute we were eating Sunday lunch and the next looking at about 150 people on the field."
The Morris dancers, who were holding a competition between various troupes, said they had been granted permission by St Helens Council to use the public field.
However, the residents claimed that they had not been informed about the event and it seems that being taken by surprise through so many people suddenly arriving on their doorsteps was their main bugbear.
A spokesman for the organisers said: "These dancers are all young girls and they create no nuisance. They give a great deal of pleasure to the general public.
"Some of these residents are behind the times. Perhaps they would rather have a lot of vandalism or a pop festival in Rainford. I wish they'd grow up."
From the 26th, the ABC Savoy cinema in Bridge Street began a double-bill of 'Freebie And The Bean' starring James Caan, along with Bruce Lee's 'Enter The Dragon'.
The Capitol was screening a sex film called 'Confessions Of A Male Escort' but was advertising that it would no longer open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
No explanation was offered but the cinema would close for good in 1978 and so, probably, was trying to stave off the threat of closure by cutting down on its costs.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the public meeting to save Providence Hospital, Argos comes to St Helens, the campaign against car theft, the staggering cost of vandalism in St Helens and the new car park that was planned for the town.