FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (21st - 27th DECEMBER 1970)
This week's many stories include the coping stone "death avalanche" in Hardshaw Street, the Christmas B-Test blitz, rioting children smash up a brass band's club house in Park Road, a Christmas what's on guide and the Reporter's New Year's Day baby contest.
We begin on the 21st with the opening of the new British Legion in Ashcroft Street in Parr, which had been completed two months ahead of schedule. It was the end of an eight-year struggle to find a suitable site after their proposed club in Pocket Nook Street had led to angry residents petitioning the council.
Also on the 21st two people died after a dreadful accident in Hardshaw Street. On the following day the Daily Mirror published this account: "A man and a woman were killed yesterday when half-ton coping stones fell 25ft. into a street. Dozens of other Christmas shoppers in busy Hardshaw Street, St. Helens, Lancs, had narrow escapes from the slabs. Two people were treated for minor cuts and shock.
"“It is a miracle only two were killed,” said a police officer. “This is a busy thoroughfare linking the main shopping street with the Town Hall square.” The coping stones toppled from a block of shops which are being converted into a hotel extension. The dead woman was 65-year old Elsie Robinson, of Pollitt Crescent, St. Helens. Her husband Hugh, 67, who was walking beside her, was treated for shock. The dead man was Mr. John Griffiths, 38, of Doulton Street, St. Helens.
"Thirteen-year-old Lynne Hamlett, of Austin Avenue, St. Helens, had a lucky escape. She was walking behind her mother, Mrs. Ada Hamlett, as the stones plunged from the building. After being treated for shock, Lynne said: “I heard screams. The stones came crashing down. One big piece hit my legs after smashing into the pavement. I was pinned by my legs against a parked car. I didn't know what was happening. It was very frightening.”"
Later in the week the St Helens Reporter provided more details of the "death avalanche" – as they dubbed the accident. The coping stones had fallen from shops that had previously been occupied by Rothery Radio, Barons and a wine shop and the height of the drop was now stated as 40 feet. The Reporter described how a "top-level inquiry" was taking place into why the site had not been barricaded or fenced off. One Town Hall official told the paper that there was going to be "one hell of a row".
Ten days earlier three buildings had toppled into Church Street, fortunately without causing any casualties. As a result the Corporation had promised that a "tighter grip" would be kept on demolition work. In an editorial on the disaster the Reporter asked searching questions in the light of the prior Church Street crash:
"Were men actually pulling down an old building without so much as roping off a pavement crowded with Christmas shoppers – without so much as a warning notice? The Corporation have a massive slum clearance in hand. We must make sure that every safeguard is taken to ensure that there is no recurrence of such a tragedy."
The Cliff Richard film 'The Young Ones' was screened all this week at the Capitol cinema with the offering at the ABC Savoy being 'Master of the Islands', an historical adventure about Hawaii starring Charlton Heston.
"Police Swoop On Town In A Christmas B-Test Blitz" was the headline to a prominent article in the Reporter on the 24th. St Helens then had one of the worst accident rates in the country with a police spokesman making the astonishing claim that almost 100 near-accidents a week took place in Victoria Square alone. Extra squad cars were being drafted in from Widnes to tackle drink driving over Christmas and pedestrians "staggering into the road" were also warned of prosecution.
In a separate article, Chief Superintendent Jack Watson cautioned parents over the dangers of gatecrashers turning up at their home if their children were allowed to hold unsupervised Christmas parties.
The Reporter also described the heartbreak of Redgate Boys Silver Band. Last Saturday the award-winning ensemble had been playing carols in St Helens market place but upon returning to their HQ in Park Road found a disaster awaiting them – as the paper described: "Rioting gipsy children were caught red-handed looting and wrecking a brass band's headquarters at the weekend. Priceless trophies and mementoes were stolen when they went berserk, smashing windows and hurling broken chairs into a canal."
Band director Leo Murphy said: "The place was full of kids and dogs. There is no question of our victimising the gipsies. We caught them red-handed, locked them in the headquarters and sent for the police. They were abusive to us and the police. When their parents saw the police they came to claim their children. But the police are virtually helpless because as soon as the gipsies get into trouble they flit. Everything we have achieved over the years has been ruined."
A dozen windows were smashed, locks were ripped from doors and picture frames containing diplomas were smashed and the certificates stolen. "The boys are heartbroken", added Mr Murphy. "It is a good job we were out playing or our equipment would have gone as well."
The Reporter was once again running their New Year baby contest, with the first twelve born in St Helens after midnight on December 31st set to receive a 30-shilling gift from the paper. Just whether the prospect of thirty bob would induce prospective Mums to somehow have their babies a bit quicker, I rather doubt! However there were other prizes too.
Cholerton's of 166 Duke Street would present the mother of the first baby with a framed 14” x 10” photo of her child and Practical Credit Services of College Street would give a £5 voucher. And all mothers of New Year's Day babies who bought their prams from Prestts of Duke Street would get a pram canopy free – although I expect the pram would have cost a lot more than the canopy! Nevins said the mothers of the first five New Year babies would be presented with a voucher worth £1: "Which, as everybody knows, is worth 30/- at Nevins Superstores". I wonder if the food chain would be able to make such a claim under today's advertising rules?
And P & H Jolley, the "coat and gown specialists" opposite Beechams in Westfield Street were giving £1 to the mothers of the first three New Year babies. Other advertisers in the feature included Lesley's of Westfield Street, "babies and children's outfitters"; P. A. White, 56 - 58 North Road, "for baby foods"; Pimblett's, "make the Christening complete with party foods" and Haywards, 33 Westfield Street, "the best buys for baby".
The Reporter journalist Val Belshaw wrote about those who would not be having such a merry Christmas in 1970, such as 68-year-old Alfred Turner who lived in an old terraced house in Central Street:
"Christmas dinner for pensioner Alf Turner will be a lonely meal of beans on toast or fried egg and bacon. His only companions will be his two mongrel dogs, Lady and Betty. And they, if anything, will be dining better than their master. Until I called at his terraced home on the fringe of a clearance area, bespectacled Alf hadn't had a visitor for about six years. But this strictly independent bachelor was keeping his chin up and managed a smile. We talked about Christmas. “When you're old and have no money, Christmas means nothing,” he said."
Val also talked to John and Barbara Friar of Mount Pleasant in Parr – although their financial hardship would, it seems, be only temporary. John had had a major operation and hoped to return to work soon. However in the meantime their children were getting very little for Christmas, as Val explained: "Little brothers Stephen and Andrew Friar won't be seeing Santa this Christmas. They were told that there aren't “enough pennies” in the house for them to visit him in his department store grotto."
However the boys could have gone to the Capitol during the afternoon of the 24th, as the Duke Street cinema was holding a free Christmas Eve minors' matinee. Then during the evening a 'Grand Xmas Eve Dance' was held at the Geraldo Club in Lord Street with cabaret and spot prizes.
The Baccardi Restaurant Club in Ormskirk Street had The Ivy League booked for Christmas Eve, supported by John and the Starliners. The club was licensed until 2am and tickets cost 27/6. The Ivy League had a record out in 1966 called 'Running Round In Circles' and they probably did some running that night as they also performed in Ashton. The trio was separately booked to play for the Manhattan Cabaret & Dining Club in Gerard Street, which was offering a "Roman Style Banquet Buffet" – which included boars heads, would you believe!
The Plaza in Duke Street (pictured above) held their own Christmas party on that night in which admission was ten shillings. However the rugby club at Moss Lane wanted only 5 bob for their Christmas Eve "do", which featured a group called Happy Apple. And finally the annual Boxing Day games between Saints and Wigan resulted in a 5 – 12 defeat for the home side at Knowsley Road in front of a 15,000 crowd. Les Jones scored a consolation try in the second half.
Next week's stories will include the son of an Italian prince who chose to spend Christmas in Sutton, a Windle garden centre is ordered to close and the preparations being made in St Helens for "D" for Decimalisation Day.
We begin on the 21st with the opening of the new British Legion in Ashcroft Street in Parr, which had been completed two months ahead of schedule. It was the end of an eight-year struggle to find a suitable site after their proposed club in Pocket Nook Street had led to angry residents petitioning the council.
"“It is a miracle only two were killed,” said a police officer. “This is a busy thoroughfare linking the main shopping street with the Town Hall square.” The coping stones toppled from a block of shops which are being converted into a hotel extension. The dead woman was 65-year old Elsie Robinson, of Pollitt Crescent, St. Helens. Her husband Hugh, 67, who was walking beside her, was treated for shock. The dead man was Mr. John Griffiths, 38, of Doulton Street, St. Helens.
"Thirteen-year-old Lynne Hamlett, of Austin Avenue, St. Helens, had a lucky escape. She was walking behind her mother, Mrs. Ada Hamlett, as the stones plunged from the building. After being treated for shock, Lynne said: “I heard screams. The stones came crashing down. One big piece hit my legs after smashing into the pavement. I was pinned by my legs against a parked car. I didn't know what was happening. It was very frightening.”"
Later in the week the St Helens Reporter provided more details of the "death avalanche" – as they dubbed the accident. The coping stones had fallen from shops that had previously been occupied by Rothery Radio, Barons and a wine shop and the height of the drop was now stated as 40 feet. The Reporter described how a "top-level inquiry" was taking place into why the site had not been barricaded or fenced off. One Town Hall official told the paper that there was going to be "one hell of a row".
Ten days earlier three buildings had toppled into Church Street, fortunately without causing any casualties. As a result the Corporation had promised that a "tighter grip" would be kept on demolition work. In an editorial on the disaster the Reporter asked searching questions in the light of the prior Church Street crash:
"Were men actually pulling down an old building without so much as roping off a pavement crowded with Christmas shoppers – without so much as a warning notice? The Corporation have a massive slum clearance in hand. We must make sure that every safeguard is taken to ensure that there is no recurrence of such a tragedy."
"Police Swoop On Town In A Christmas B-Test Blitz" was the headline to a prominent article in the Reporter on the 24th. St Helens then had one of the worst accident rates in the country with a police spokesman making the astonishing claim that almost 100 near-accidents a week took place in Victoria Square alone. Extra squad cars were being drafted in from Widnes to tackle drink driving over Christmas and pedestrians "staggering into the road" were also warned of prosecution.
In a separate article, Chief Superintendent Jack Watson cautioned parents over the dangers of gatecrashers turning up at their home if their children were allowed to hold unsupervised Christmas parties.
The Reporter also described the heartbreak of Redgate Boys Silver Band. Last Saturday the award-winning ensemble had been playing carols in St Helens market place but upon returning to their HQ in Park Road found a disaster awaiting them – as the paper described: "Rioting gipsy children were caught red-handed looting and wrecking a brass band's headquarters at the weekend. Priceless trophies and mementoes were stolen when they went berserk, smashing windows and hurling broken chairs into a canal."
Band director Leo Murphy said: "The place was full of kids and dogs. There is no question of our victimising the gipsies. We caught them red-handed, locked them in the headquarters and sent for the police. They were abusive to us and the police. When their parents saw the police they came to claim their children. But the police are virtually helpless because as soon as the gipsies get into trouble they flit. Everything we have achieved over the years has been ruined."
A dozen windows were smashed, locks were ripped from doors and picture frames containing diplomas were smashed and the certificates stolen. "The boys are heartbroken", added Mr Murphy. "It is a good job we were out playing or our equipment would have gone as well."
The Reporter was once again running their New Year baby contest, with the first twelve born in St Helens after midnight on December 31st set to receive a 30-shilling gift from the paper. Just whether the prospect of thirty bob would induce prospective Mums to somehow have their babies a bit quicker, I rather doubt! However there were other prizes too.
Cholerton's of 166 Duke Street would present the mother of the first baby with a framed 14” x 10” photo of her child and Practical Credit Services of College Street would give a £5 voucher. And all mothers of New Year's Day babies who bought their prams from Prestts of Duke Street would get a pram canopy free – although I expect the pram would have cost a lot more than the canopy! Nevins said the mothers of the first five New Year babies would be presented with a voucher worth £1: "Which, as everybody knows, is worth 30/- at Nevins Superstores". I wonder if the food chain would be able to make such a claim under today's advertising rules?
And P & H Jolley, the "coat and gown specialists" opposite Beechams in Westfield Street were giving £1 to the mothers of the first three New Year babies. Other advertisers in the feature included Lesley's of Westfield Street, "babies and children's outfitters"; P. A. White, 56 - 58 North Road, "for baby foods"; Pimblett's, "make the Christening complete with party foods" and Haywards, 33 Westfield Street, "the best buys for baby".
The Reporter journalist Val Belshaw wrote about those who would not be having such a merry Christmas in 1970, such as 68-year-old Alfred Turner who lived in an old terraced house in Central Street:
"Christmas dinner for pensioner Alf Turner will be a lonely meal of beans on toast or fried egg and bacon. His only companions will be his two mongrel dogs, Lady and Betty. And they, if anything, will be dining better than their master. Until I called at his terraced home on the fringe of a clearance area, bespectacled Alf hadn't had a visitor for about six years. But this strictly independent bachelor was keeping his chin up and managed a smile. We talked about Christmas. “When you're old and have no money, Christmas means nothing,” he said."
Val also talked to John and Barbara Friar of Mount Pleasant in Parr – although their financial hardship would, it seems, be only temporary. John had had a major operation and hoped to return to work soon. However in the meantime their children were getting very little for Christmas, as Val explained: "Little brothers Stephen and Andrew Friar won't be seeing Santa this Christmas. They were told that there aren't “enough pennies” in the house for them to visit him in his department store grotto."
However the boys could have gone to the Capitol during the afternoon of the 24th, as the Duke Street cinema was holding a free Christmas Eve minors' matinee. Then during the evening a 'Grand Xmas Eve Dance' was held at the Geraldo Club in Lord Street with cabaret and spot prizes.
The Baccardi Restaurant Club in Ormskirk Street had The Ivy League booked for Christmas Eve, supported by John and the Starliners. The club was licensed until 2am and tickets cost 27/6. The Ivy League had a record out in 1966 called 'Running Round In Circles' and they probably did some running that night as they also performed in Ashton. The trio was separately booked to play for the Manhattan Cabaret & Dining Club in Gerard Street, which was offering a "Roman Style Banquet Buffet" – which included boars heads, would you believe!
Next week's stories will include the son of an Italian prince who chose to spend Christmas in Sutton, a Windle garden centre is ordered to close and the preparations being made in St Helens for "D" for Decimalisation Day.
This week's many stories include the coping stone "death avalanche" in Hardshaw Street, the Christmas B-Test blitz, rioting children smash up a brass band's club house in Park Road, a Christmas "what's on" guide and the Reporter's New Year's Day baby contest.
We begin on the 21st with the opening of the new British Legion in Ashcroft Street in Parr, which had been completed two months ahead of schedule.
It was the end of an eight-year struggle to find a suitable site after their proposed club in Pocket Nook Street had led to angry residents petitioning the council.
Also on the 21st two people died after a dreadful accident in Hardshaw Street. On the following day the Daily Mirror published this account:
"A man and a woman were killed yesterday when half-ton coping stones fell 25ft. into a street. Dozens of other Christmas shoppers in busy Hardshaw Street, St. Helens, Lancs, had narrow escapes from the slabs.
"Two people were treated for minor cuts and shock. “It is a miracle only two were killed,” said a police officer. “This is a busy thoroughfare linking the main shopping street with the Town Hall square.”
"The coping stones toppled from a block of shops which are being converted into a hotel extension. The dead woman was 65-year old Elsie Robinson, of Pollitt Crescent, St. Helens.
"Her husband Hugh, 67, who was walking beside her, was treated for shock. The dead man was Mr. John Griffiths, 38, of Doulton Street, St. Helens.
"Thirteen-year-old Lynne Hamlett, of Austin Avenue, St. Helens, had a lucky escape. She was walking behind her mother, Mrs. Ada Hamlett, as the stones plunged from the building.
"After being treated for shock, Lynne said: “I heard screams. The stones came crashing down. One big piece hit my legs after smashing into the pavement. I was pinned by my legs against a parked car. I didn't know what was happening. It was very frightening.”"
Later in the week the St Helens Reporter provided more details of the "death avalanche" – as they dubbed the accident.
The coping stones had fallen from shops that had previously been occupied by Rothery Radio, Barons and a wine shop and the height of the drop was now stated as 40 feet.
The Reporter described how a "top-level inquiry" was taking place into why the site had not been barricaded or fenced off.
One Town Hall official told the paper that there was going to be "one hell of a row".
Ten days earlier three buildings had toppled into Church Street, fortunately without causing any casualties.
As a result the Corporation had promised that a "tighter grip" would be kept on demolition work. In an editorial on the disaster the Reporter asked searching questions in the light of the prior Church Street crash:
"Were men actually pulling down an old building without so much as roping off a pavement crowded with Christmas shoppers – without so much as a warning notice?
"The Corporation have a massive slum clearance in hand. We must make sure that every safeguard is taken to ensure that there is no recurrence of such a tragedy."
The Cliff Richard film 'The Young Ones' was screened all this week at the Capitol cinema with the offering at the ABC Savoy being 'Master of the Islands', an historical adventure about Hawaii starring Charlton Heston.
"Police Swoop On Town In A Christmas B-Test Blitz" was the headline to a prominent article in the Reporter on the 24th.
St Helens then had one of the worst accident rates in the country with a police spokesman making the astonishing claim that almost 100 near-accidents a week took place in Victoria Square alone.
Extra squad cars were being drafted in from Widnes to tackle drink driving over Christmas and pedestrians "staggering into the road" were also warned of prosecution.
In a separate article, Chief Superintendent Jack Watson cautioned parents over the dangers of gatecrashers turning up at their home if their children were allowed to hold unsupervised Christmas parties.
The Reporter also described the heartbreak of Redgate Boys Silver Band.
Last Saturday the award-winning ensemble had been playing carols in St Helens market place but upon returning to their HQ in Park Road found a disaster awaiting them – as the paper described:
"Rioting gipsy children were caught red-handed looting and wrecking a brass band's headquarters at the weekend. Priceless trophies and mementoes were stolen when they went berserk, smashing windows and hurling broken chairs into a canal."
Band director Leo Murphy said: "The place was full of kids and dogs. There is no question of our victimising the gipsies. We caught them red-handed, locked them in the headquarters and sent for the police. They were abusive to us and the police.
"When their parents saw the police they came to claim their children. But the police are virtually helpless because as soon as the gipsies get into trouble they flit. Everything we have achieved over the years has been ruined."
A dozen windows were smashed, locks were ripped from doors and picture frames containing diplomas were smashed and the certificates stolen.
"The boys are heartbroken", added Mr Murphy. "It is a good job we were out playing or our equipment would have gone as well."
The Reporter was once again running their New Year baby contest, with the first twelve born in St Helens after midnight on December 31st set to receive a 30-shilling gift from the paper.
Just whether the prospect of thirty bob would induce prospective Mums to somehow have their babies a bit quicker, I rather doubt! However there were other prizes too.
Cholerton's of 166 Duke Street would present the mother of the first baby with a framed 14” x 10” photo of her child and Practical Credit Services of College Street would give a £5 voucher.
And all mothers of New Year's Day babies who bought their prams from Prestts of Duke Street would get a pram canopy free – although I expect the pram would have cost a lot more than the canopy!
Nevins said the mothers of the first five New Year babies would be presented with a voucher worth £1: "Which, as everybody knows, is worth 30/- at Nevins Superstores".
I wonder if the food chain would be able to make such a claim under today's advertising rules?
And P & H Jolley, the "coat and gown specialists" opposite Beechams in Westfield Street were giving £1 to the mothers of the first three New Year babies.
Other advertisers in the feature included Lesley's of Westfield Street, "babies and children's outfitters"; P. A. White, 56 - 58 North Road, "for baby foods"; Pimblett's, "make the Christening complete with party foods" and Haywards, 33 Westfield Street, "the best buys for baby".
The Reporter journalist Val Belshaw wrote about those who would not be having such a merry Christmas in 1970, such as 68-year-old Alfred Turner who lived in an old terraced house in Central Street:
"Christmas dinner for pensioner Alf Turner will be a lonely meal of beans on toast or fried egg and bacon. His only companions will be his two mongrel dogs, Lady and Betty. And they, if anything, will be dining better than their master.
"Until I called at his terraced home on the fringe of a clearance area, bespectacled Alf hadn't had a visitor for about six years. But this strictly independent bachelor was keeping his chin up and managed a smile.
"We talked about Christmas. “When you're old and have no money, Christmas means nothing,” he said."
Val also talked to John and Barbara Friar of Mount Pleasant in Parr – although their financial hardship would, it seems, be only temporary.
John had had a major operation and hoped to return to work soon. However in the meantime their children were getting very little for Christmas, as Val explained:
"Little brothers Stephen and Andrew Friar won't be seeing Santa this Christmas. They were told that there aren't “enough pennies” in the house for them to visit him in his department store grotto."
However the boys could have gone to the Capitol during the afternoon of the 24th, as the Duke Street cinema was holding a free Christmas Eve minors' matinee.
Then during the evening a 'Grand Xmas Eve Dance' was held at the Geraldo Club in Lord Street with cabaret and spot prizes.
The Baccardi Restaurant Club in Ormskirk Street had The Ivy League booked for Christmas Eve, supported by John and the Starliners.
The club was licensed until 2am and tickets cost 27/6.
The Ivy League had a record out in 1966 called 'Running Round In Circles' and they probably did some running that night as they also performed in Ashton.
The trio was separately booked to play for the Manhattan Cabaret & Dining Club in Gerard Street, which was offering a "Roman Style Banquet Buffet" – which included boars heads, would you believe!
The Plaza in Duke Street (pictured above) held their own Christmas party on that night in which admission was ten shillings.
However the rugby club at Moss Lane wanted only 5 bob for their Christmas Eve "do", which featured a group called Happy Apple.
And finally the annual Boxing Day games between Saints and Wigan resulted in a 5 – 12 defeat for the home side at Knowsley Road in front of a 15,000 crowd.
Les Jones scored a consolation try in the second half.
Next week's stories will include the son of an Italian prince who chose to spend Christmas in Sutton, a Windle garden centre is ordered to close and the preparations being made in St Helens for "D" for Decimalisation Day.
We begin on the 21st with the opening of the new British Legion in Ashcroft Street in Parr, which had been completed two months ahead of schedule.
It was the end of an eight-year struggle to find a suitable site after their proposed club in Pocket Nook Street had led to angry residents petitioning the council.
"A man and a woman were killed yesterday when half-ton coping stones fell 25ft. into a street. Dozens of other Christmas shoppers in busy Hardshaw Street, St. Helens, Lancs, had narrow escapes from the slabs.
"Two people were treated for minor cuts and shock. “It is a miracle only two were killed,” said a police officer. “This is a busy thoroughfare linking the main shopping street with the Town Hall square.”
"The coping stones toppled from a block of shops which are being converted into a hotel extension. The dead woman was 65-year old Elsie Robinson, of Pollitt Crescent, St. Helens.
"Her husband Hugh, 67, who was walking beside her, was treated for shock. The dead man was Mr. John Griffiths, 38, of Doulton Street, St. Helens.
"Thirteen-year-old Lynne Hamlett, of Austin Avenue, St. Helens, had a lucky escape. She was walking behind her mother, Mrs. Ada Hamlett, as the stones plunged from the building.
"After being treated for shock, Lynne said: “I heard screams. The stones came crashing down. One big piece hit my legs after smashing into the pavement. I was pinned by my legs against a parked car. I didn't know what was happening. It was very frightening.”"
Later in the week the St Helens Reporter provided more details of the "death avalanche" – as they dubbed the accident.
The coping stones had fallen from shops that had previously been occupied by Rothery Radio, Barons and a wine shop and the height of the drop was now stated as 40 feet.
The Reporter described how a "top-level inquiry" was taking place into why the site had not been barricaded or fenced off.
One Town Hall official told the paper that there was going to be "one hell of a row".
Ten days earlier three buildings had toppled into Church Street, fortunately without causing any casualties.
As a result the Corporation had promised that a "tighter grip" would be kept on demolition work. In an editorial on the disaster the Reporter asked searching questions in the light of the prior Church Street crash:
"Were men actually pulling down an old building without so much as roping off a pavement crowded with Christmas shoppers – without so much as a warning notice?
"The Corporation have a massive slum clearance in hand. We must make sure that every safeguard is taken to ensure that there is no recurrence of such a tragedy."
"Police Swoop On Town In A Christmas B-Test Blitz" was the headline to a prominent article in the Reporter on the 24th.
St Helens then had one of the worst accident rates in the country with a police spokesman making the astonishing claim that almost 100 near-accidents a week took place in Victoria Square alone.
Extra squad cars were being drafted in from Widnes to tackle drink driving over Christmas and pedestrians "staggering into the road" were also warned of prosecution.
In a separate article, Chief Superintendent Jack Watson cautioned parents over the dangers of gatecrashers turning up at their home if their children were allowed to hold unsupervised Christmas parties.
The Reporter also described the heartbreak of Redgate Boys Silver Band.
Last Saturday the award-winning ensemble had been playing carols in St Helens market place but upon returning to their HQ in Park Road found a disaster awaiting them – as the paper described:
"Rioting gipsy children were caught red-handed looting and wrecking a brass band's headquarters at the weekend. Priceless trophies and mementoes were stolen when they went berserk, smashing windows and hurling broken chairs into a canal."
Band director Leo Murphy said: "The place was full of kids and dogs. There is no question of our victimising the gipsies. We caught them red-handed, locked them in the headquarters and sent for the police. They were abusive to us and the police.
"When their parents saw the police they came to claim their children. But the police are virtually helpless because as soon as the gipsies get into trouble they flit. Everything we have achieved over the years has been ruined."
A dozen windows were smashed, locks were ripped from doors and picture frames containing diplomas were smashed and the certificates stolen.
"The boys are heartbroken", added Mr Murphy. "It is a good job we were out playing or our equipment would have gone as well."
The Reporter was once again running their New Year baby contest, with the first twelve born in St Helens after midnight on December 31st set to receive a 30-shilling gift from the paper.
Just whether the prospect of thirty bob would induce prospective Mums to somehow have their babies a bit quicker, I rather doubt! However there were other prizes too.
Cholerton's of 166 Duke Street would present the mother of the first baby with a framed 14” x 10” photo of her child and Practical Credit Services of College Street would give a £5 voucher.
And all mothers of New Year's Day babies who bought their prams from Prestts of Duke Street would get a pram canopy free – although I expect the pram would have cost a lot more than the canopy!
Nevins said the mothers of the first five New Year babies would be presented with a voucher worth £1: "Which, as everybody knows, is worth 30/- at Nevins Superstores".
I wonder if the food chain would be able to make such a claim under today's advertising rules?
And P & H Jolley, the "coat and gown specialists" opposite Beechams in Westfield Street were giving £1 to the mothers of the first three New Year babies.
Other advertisers in the feature included Lesley's of Westfield Street, "babies and children's outfitters"; P. A. White, 56 - 58 North Road, "for baby foods"; Pimblett's, "make the Christening complete with party foods" and Haywards, 33 Westfield Street, "the best buys for baby".
The Reporter journalist Val Belshaw wrote about those who would not be having such a merry Christmas in 1970, such as 68-year-old Alfred Turner who lived in an old terraced house in Central Street:
"Christmas dinner for pensioner Alf Turner will be a lonely meal of beans on toast or fried egg and bacon. His only companions will be his two mongrel dogs, Lady and Betty. And they, if anything, will be dining better than their master.
"Until I called at his terraced home on the fringe of a clearance area, bespectacled Alf hadn't had a visitor for about six years. But this strictly independent bachelor was keeping his chin up and managed a smile.
"We talked about Christmas. “When you're old and have no money, Christmas means nothing,” he said."
Val also talked to John and Barbara Friar of Mount Pleasant in Parr – although their financial hardship would, it seems, be only temporary.
John had had a major operation and hoped to return to work soon. However in the meantime their children were getting very little for Christmas, as Val explained:
"Little brothers Stephen and Andrew Friar won't be seeing Santa this Christmas. They were told that there aren't “enough pennies” in the house for them to visit him in his department store grotto."
However the boys could have gone to the Capitol during the afternoon of the 24th, as the Duke Street cinema was holding a free Christmas Eve minors' matinee.
Then during the evening a 'Grand Xmas Eve Dance' was held at the Geraldo Club in Lord Street with cabaret and spot prizes.
The Baccardi Restaurant Club in Ormskirk Street had The Ivy League booked for Christmas Eve, supported by John and the Starliners.
The club was licensed until 2am and tickets cost 27/6.
The Ivy League had a record out in 1966 called 'Running Round In Circles' and they probably did some running that night as they also performed in Ashton.
The trio was separately booked to play for the Manhattan Cabaret & Dining Club in Gerard Street, which was offering a "Roman Style Banquet Buffet" – which included boars heads, would you believe!
However the rugby club at Moss Lane wanted only 5 bob for their Christmas Eve "do", which featured a group called Happy Apple.
And finally the annual Boxing Day games between Saints and Wigan resulted in a 5 – 12 defeat for the home side at Knowsley Road in front of a 15,000 crowd.
Les Jones scored a consolation try in the second half.
Next week's stories will include the son of an Italian prince who chose to spend Christmas in Sutton, a Windle garden centre is ordered to close and the preparations being made in St Helens for "D" for Decimalisation Day.