FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 22 - 28 JULY 1974
This week's many stories include the record-breaking St Helens Show, concern over the number of betting shops in St Helens, a bounty is placed on the heads of taggers Jedder and Faz, the good-hearted Rivington Road school kids, the sugar shortage in St Helens and why there was anger over a Clock Face supermarket's closing down sale.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer's mini budget that was held on the 22nd put the cat amongst the pigeons in St Helens. Denis Healey's VAT reduction from 10% to 8% led to the St Helens Reporter later in the week publishing this disclaimer: "VAT CONFUSION – Due to the VAT changes in this week's mini-Budget, prices of goods in some advertisements contained in this edition may be incorrectly stated." But as the VAT had come down and not gone up, an expectation of retailers reducing their prices might be a bit optimistic!
Healey's announcement of a rate relief scheme also caused huge problems for the Borough Treasurer of St Helens Council. "We are faced with an enormous job of checking the rates of all 65,000 domestic ratepayers throughout the new district", declared Douglas Pennington. He called on local people to continue paying their rates as normal until they were informed what refund they would receive.
At the St Helens Planning Committee meeting on the 22nd, the Mayor, Cllr Paddy Gill, offered a £25 reward out of his own pocket for information leading to the arrest of two graffiti artists. Jedder and Faz had signed their names all over St Helens and according to Cllr Gill they had made the town a disgrace. Their tags had appeared in Shaw Street station, in the multi-storey car park, town centre subways and in lifts.
After the meeting Cllr Ted Maguire revealed that he had clues as to the identities of the two culprits: "The state of the town's walls is a disgrace. The trouble is no-one ever sees these people spraying their names on. I believe that I can track them down and bring them to justice. I have made extensive inquiries and believe that they both live in Dentons Green. It can only be a matter of time."
The Planning Committee also expressed concern over the number of betting shops within the St Helens district. That was after hearing a report that the council's appeal to the Department of the Environment against a betting shop application at the Horseshoe Hotel in Derbyshire Hill had been refused. There were already more than 70 betting shops in the St Helens area, and the council's legal staff were said to be depressed by their lack of success in stopping betting shop applications.
The Mayor, Paddy Gill, stated that he was "horrified" by what he saw. There were betting shops next to betting shops and alongside many pubs – but, he commented, there was a chronic lack of chemists in St Helens. "This is a disgrace", added the Mayor. "I am prepared to state that we have got more betting shops per head of population than any other borough in the country."
The council's Director of Technical Services, Ken Perks, said that opposition on planning grounds was often futile, adding: "We are on a hiding to nothing." And so it was decided to ask the council's Policy and Resources Committee to look at other ways of stopping new betting shops from opening up in St Helens.
The St Helens Show was held on Thursday 25th to Saturday 27th with the many attractions including the Red Devils freefall team; Royal Artillery motorcycle team; Royal Military Police tent pegging team (a form of jousting on horseback and motorbike); Army displays; a Royal Marines jungle rescue helicopter display; Royal Green Jackets platoon in attack; An inter-school 'It's a Knockout'; Motor show; Fashion shows; Ideal Home and Trade Exhibition and a Beat Night.
There was also All-in-wrestling; Children's concerts; horticultural displays; show jumping; fur and feather shows; canine show; Morris dancing competition and ending on the Saturday evening with a Grand Fireworks Display.
There had been criticism from some Labour councillors over what they perceived as a military takeover of the Show. But in the end they decided not to press for any changes to be made to this year's programme but they said they would be carefully monitoring next year's line-up. The crowds were estimated at 180,000 over the three days – 40,000 up on last year's record attendance.
On the 25th sugar was put on ration with many shops in St Helens only allowing two pounds per customer. However, supermarkets and shopkeepers in the town were appealing for people not to start hoarding sugar. They said stocks were still being received, although reduced by about half their usual supply. The sugar shortage was a national problem but it had only been on a small scale until publicised in the newspapers and that had led to much panic buying.
In its introduction to another grocery article, the Reporter wrote on the 26th: "Corner shop grocer Alan Houghton found he was handling a hot potato during his moment of triumph against an enemy he had fought for five losing years." Alan ran his small shop in Clock Face Road and in 1969 a supermarket had opened in his vicinity taking away much of his trade. Three other supermarkets had subsequently appeared on the scene and one of them called John Greig's was closing down.
It was selling off all its stock at half-price and Alan Houghton was filling his boots! The Reporter wrote: "Mr. Houghton gleefully made sure he was there at opening time to snap up the half price food. But waiting housewives blew their tops as they watched Mr. Houghton's non-stop shopping spree. As they queued outside for two hours the shopkeeper was trundling in and out with trolley loads of merchandise to resell at his shop." Eileen Pilkington of Red Acre in Clock Face said: "I think it's disgusting" and her neighbour Pauline Winstanley agreed, saying: "He's not giving anybody a chance."
Hugh Skinner, the supermarket manager, said Mr Houghton was not alone in buying lots of goods with one housewife paying £50 (around £750 in today's money) for her groceries and another had hired a car to bring her from Liverpool to load up. But Mr Houghton was now a bit regretful of his actions telling the Reporter: "Looking back I now think it was a bit unfair, but I will be selling all the goods at the same price I bought them for. And there were several other retailers buying stuff."
The Reporter also stated that the new hall being built by Rainford's United Reformed Church in Higher Lane was expected to be completed by the end of September. The paper described how opening the new building opposite the church would end their headache of constantly having to find money to repair their old Sunday school premises that were constantly under attack from vandals.
Pupils from Rivington Road Secondary School were pictured in the Reporter ready to make a special delivery of food parcels to local pensioners. The parcels were financed out of the school's community services fund, which was money that the pupils had raised themselves.
Teacher Geoff Speight said: "The idea is to give the children a social awareness, through helping others. They raise the money by holding dances, raffles, and concerts throughout the year, and the fund is used for the needy." In the Reporter's picture were Sandra Tinsley, Linda Corcoran, Sharon Smith, Jacqueline Devlin, Barry Shaw, Robert Taylor and George Burns.
Comedian Colin Crompton appeared at Rainhill Ex-Service Club on the 26th. Not long ago the comic would have been billed as a star of 'The Comedians' TV show but now Crompton was listed as appearing on the 'Wheeltappers and Shunters' programme.
And finally, from the 28th 'Herbie Rides Again' was screened at the ABC Savoy in St Helens. The Capitol had also been screening a Disney film in 'Sleeping Beauty' but on the 28th it changed its programme to Bruce Lee's 'Way of the Dragon'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include Pilkington's lay offs, the search for Jedder and Faz hots up, the creation of Age Concern, Haydock and Ashton Band are upset with St Helens Council and the fight back against Pilks' proposed Gorsey Lane factory.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer's mini budget that was held on the 22nd put the cat amongst the pigeons in St Helens. Denis Healey's VAT reduction from 10% to 8% led to the St Helens Reporter later in the week publishing this disclaimer: "VAT CONFUSION – Due to the VAT changes in this week's mini-Budget, prices of goods in some advertisements contained in this edition may be incorrectly stated." But as the VAT had come down and not gone up, an expectation of retailers reducing their prices might be a bit optimistic!
At the St Helens Planning Committee meeting on the 22nd, the Mayor, Cllr Paddy Gill, offered a £25 reward out of his own pocket for information leading to the arrest of two graffiti artists. Jedder and Faz had signed their names all over St Helens and according to Cllr Gill they had made the town a disgrace. Their tags had appeared in Shaw Street station, in the multi-storey car park, town centre subways and in lifts.
After the meeting Cllr Ted Maguire revealed that he had clues as to the identities of the two culprits: "The state of the town's walls is a disgrace. The trouble is no-one ever sees these people spraying their names on. I believe that I can track them down and bring them to justice. I have made extensive inquiries and believe that they both live in Dentons Green. It can only be a matter of time."
The Planning Committee also expressed concern over the number of betting shops within the St Helens district. That was after hearing a report that the council's appeal to the Department of the Environment against a betting shop application at the Horseshoe Hotel in Derbyshire Hill had been refused. There were already more than 70 betting shops in the St Helens area, and the council's legal staff were said to be depressed by their lack of success in stopping betting shop applications.
The Mayor, Paddy Gill, stated that he was "horrified" by what he saw. There were betting shops next to betting shops and alongside many pubs – but, he commented, there was a chronic lack of chemists in St Helens. "This is a disgrace", added the Mayor. "I am prepared to state that we have got more betting shops per head of population than any other borough in the country."
The council's Director of Technical Services, Ken Perks, said that opposition on planning grounds was often futile, adding: "We are on a hiding to nothing." And so it was decided to ask the council's Policy and Resources Committee to look at other ways of stopping new betting shops from opening up in St Helens.
The St Helens Show was held on Thursday 25th to Saturday 27th with the many attractions including the Red Devils freefall team; Royal Artillery motorcycle team; Royal Military Police tent pegging team (a form of jousting on horseback and motorbike); Army displays; a Royal Marines jungle rescue helicopter display; Royal Green Jackets platoon in attack; An inter-school 'It's a Knockout'; Motor show; Fashion shows; Ideal Home and Trade Exhibition and a Beat Night.
There was also All-in-wrestling; Children's concerts; horticultural displays; show jumping; fur and feather shows; canine show; Morris dancing competition and ending on the Saturday evening with a Grand Fireworks Display.
There had been criticism from some Labour councillors over what they perceived as a military takeover of the Show. But in the end they decided not to press for any changes to be made to this year's programme but they said they would be carefully monitoring next year's line-up. The crowds were estimated at 180,000 over the three days – 40,000 up on last year's record attendance.
On the 25th sugar was put on ration with many shops in St Helens only allowing two pounds per customer. However, supermarkets and shopkeepers in the town were appealing for people not to start hoarding sugar. They said stocks were still being received, although reduced by about half their usual supply. The sugar shortage was a national problem but it had only been on a small scale until publicised in the newspapers and that had led to much panic buying.
In its introduction to another grocery article, the Reporter wrote on the 26th: "Corner shop grocer Alan Houghton found he was handling a hot potato during his moment of triumph against an enemy he had fought for five losing years." Alan ran his small shop in Clock Face Road and in 1969 a supermarket had opened in his vicinity taking away much of his trade. Three other supermarkets had subsequently appeared on the scene and one of them called John Greig's was closing down.
It was selling off all its stock at half-price and Alan Houghton was filling his boots! The Reporter wrote: "Mr. Houghton gleefully made sure he was there at opening time to snap up the half price food. But waiting housewives blew their tops as they watched Mr. Houghton's non-stop shopping spree. As they queued outside for two hours the shopkeeper was trundling in and out with trolley loads of merchandise to resell at his shop." Eileen Pilkington of Red Acre in Clock Face said: "I think it's disgusting" and her neighbour Pauline Winstanley agreed, saying: "He's not giving anybody a chance."
Hugh Skinner, the supermarket manager, said Mr Houghton was not alone in buying lots of goods with one housewife paying £50 (around £750 in today's money) for her groceries and another had hired a car to bring her from Liverpool to load up. But Mr Houghton was now a bit regretful of his actions telling the Reporter: "Looking back I now think it was a bit unfair, but I will be selling all the goods at the same price I bought them for. And there were several other retailers buying stuff."
The Reporter also stated that the new hall being built by Rainford's United Reformed Church in Higher Lane was expected to be completed by the end of September. The paper described how opening the new building opposite the church would end their headache of constantly having to find money to repair their old Sunday school premises that were constantly under attack from vandals.
Pupils from Rivington Road Secondary School were pictured in the Reporter ready to make a special delivery of food parcels to local pensioners. The parcels were financed out of the school's community services fund, which was money that the pupils had raised themselves.
Teacher Geoff Speight said: "The idea is to give the children a social awareness, through helping others. They raise the money by holding dances, raffles, and concerts throughout the year, and the fund is used for the needy." In the Reporter's picture were Sandra Tinsley, Linda Corcoran, Sharon Smith, Jacqueline Devlin, Barry Shaw, Robert Taylor and George Burns.
Comedian Colin Crompton appeared at Rainhill Ex-Service Club on the 26th. Not long ago the comic would have been billed as a star of 'The Comedians' TV show but now Crompton was listed as appearing on the 'Wheeltappers and Shunters' programme.
And finally, from the 28th 'Herbie Rides Again' was screened at the ABC Savoy in St Helens. The Capitol had also been screening a Disney film in 'Sleeping Beauty' but on the 28th it changed its programme to Bruce Lee's 'Way of the Dragon'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include Pilkington's lay offs, the search for Jedder and Faz hots up, the creation of Age Concern, Haydock and Ashton Band are upset with St Helens Council and the fight back against Pilks' proposed Gorsey Lane factory.
This week's many stories include the record-breaking St Helens Show, concern over the number of betting shops in St Helens, a bounty is placed on the heads of taggers Jedder and Faz, the good-hearted Rivington Road school kids, the sugar shortage in St Helens and why there was anger over a Clock Face supermarket's closing down sale.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer's mini budget that was held on the 22nd put the cat amongst the pigeons in St Helens.
Denis Healey's VAT reduction from 10% to 8% led to the St Helens Reporter later in the week publishing this disclaimer:
"VAT CONFUSION – Due to the VAT changes in this week's mini-Budget, prices of goods in some advertisements contained in this edition may be incorrectly stated."
But as the VAT had come down and not gone up, an expectation of retailers reducing their prices might be a bit optimistic!
Healey's announcement of a rate relief scheme also caused huge problems for the Borough Treasurer of St Helens Council.
"We are faced with an enormous job of checking the rates of all 65,000 domestic ratepayers throughout the new district", declared Douglas Pennington.
He called on local people to continue paying their rates as normal until they were informed what refund they would receive.
At the St Helens Planning Committee meeting on the 22nd, the Mayor, Cllr Paddy Gill, offered a £25 reward out of his own pocket for information leading to the arrest of two graffiti artists.
Jedder and Faz had signed their names all over St Helens and according to Cllr Gill they had made the town a disgrace.
Their tags had appeared in Shaw Street station, in the multi-storey car park, town centre subways and in lifts.
After the meeting Cllr Ted Maguire revealed that he had clues as to the identities of the two culprits:
"The state of the town's walls is a disgrace. The trouble is no-one ever sees these people spraying their names on.
"I believe that I can track them down and bring them to justice. I have made extensive inquiries and believe that they both live in Dentons Green. It can only be a matter of time."
The Planning Committee also expressed concern over the number of betting shops within the St Helens district.
That was after hearing a report that the council's appeal to the Department of the Environment against a betting shop application at the Horseshoe Hotel in Derbyshire Hill had been refused.
There were already more than 70 betting shops in the St Helens area, and the council's legal staff were said to be depressed by their lack of success in stopping betting shop applications.
The Mayor, Paddy Gill, stated that he was "horrified" by what he saw. There were betting shops next to betting shops and alongside many pubs – but, he commented, there was a chronic lack of chemists in St Helens.
"This is a disgrace", added the Mayor. "I am prepared to state that we have got more betting shops per head of population than any other borough in the country."
The council's Director of Technical Services, Ken Perks, said that opposition on planning grounds was often futile, adding: "We are on a hiding to nothing."
And so it was decided to ask the council's Policy and Resources Committee to look at other ways of stopping new betting shops from opening up in St Helens.
The St Helens Show was held on Thursday 25th to Saturday 27th with the many attractions including:
The Red Devils freefall team; Royal Artillery motorcycle team; Royal Military Police tent pegging team (a form of jousting on horseback and motorbike); Army displays; a Royal Marines jungle rescue helicopter display; Royal Green Jackets platoon in attack; An inter-school 'It's a Knockout'; Motor show; Fashion shows; Ideal Home and Trade Exhibition and a Beat Night.
There was also All-in-wrestling; Children's concerts; horticultural displays; show jumping; fur and feather shows; canine show; Morris dancing competition and ending on the Saturday evening with a Grand Fireworks Display.
There had been criticism from some Labour councillors over what they perceived as a military takeover of the Show.
But in the end they decided not to press for any changes to be made to this year's programme but they said they would be carefully monitoring next year's line-up.
The crowds were estimated at 180,000 over the three days – 40,000 up on last year's record attendance.
On the 25th sugar was put on ration with many shops in St Helens only allowing two pounds per customer.
However, supermarkets and shopkeepers in the town were appealing for people not to start hoarding sugar.
They said stocks were still being received, although reduced by about half their usual supply.
The sugar shortage was a national problem but it had only been on a small scale until publicised in the newspapers and that had led to much panic buying.
In its introduction to another grocery article, the Reporter wrote on the 26th:
"Corner shop grocer Alan Houghton found he was handling a hot potato during his moment of triumph against an enemy he had fought for five losing years."
Alan ran his small shop in Clock Face Road and in 1969 a supermarket had opened in his vicinity taking away much of his trade.
Three other supermarkets had subsequently appeared on the scene and one of them called John Greig's was closing down.
It was selling off all its stock at half-price and Alan Houghton was filling his boots! The Reporter wrote:
"Mr. Houghton gleefully made sure he was there at opening time to snap up the half price food. But waiting housewives blew their tops as they watched Mr. Houghton's non-stop shopping spree.
"As they queued outside for two hours the shopkeeper was trundling in and out with trolley loads of merchandise to resell at his shop."
Eileen Pilkington of Red Acre in Clock Face said: "I think it's disgusting" and her neighbour Pauline Winstanley agreed, saying: "He's not giving anybody a chance."
Hugh Skinner, the supermarket manager, said Mr Houghton was not alone in buying lots of goods with one housewife paying £50 (around £750 in today's money) for her groceries and another had hired a car to bring her from Liverpool to load up.
But Mr Houghton was now a bit regretful of his actions telling the Reporter:
"Looking back I now think it was a bit unfair, but I will be selling all the goods at the same price I bought them for. And there were several other retailers buying stuff."
The Reporter also stated that the new hall being built by Rainford's United Reformed Church in Higher Lane was expected to be completed by the end of September.
The paper described how opening the new building opposite the church would end their headache of constantly having to find money to repair their old Sunday school premises that were constantly under attack from vandals.
Pupils from Rivington Road Secondary School were pictured in the Reporter ready to make a special delivery of food parcels to local pensioners.
The parcels were financed out of the school's community services fund, which was money that the pupils had raised themselves.
Teacher Geoff Speight said: "The idea is to give the children a social awareness, through helping others. They raise the money by holding dances, raffles, and concerts throughout the year, and the fund is used for the needy."
In the Reporter's picture were Sandra Tinsley, Linda Corcoran, Sharon Smith, Jacqueline Devlin, Barry Shaw, Robert Taylor and George Burns.
Comedian Colin Crompton appeared at Rainhill Ex-Service Club on the 26th.
Not long ago the comic would have been billed as a star of 'The Comedians' TV show but now Crompton was listed as appearing on the 'Wheeltappers and Shunters' programme.
And finally, from the 28th 'Herbie Rides Again' was screened at the ABC Savoy in St Helens.
The Capitol had also been screening a Disney film in 'Sleeping Beauty' but on the 28th it changed its programme to Bruce Lee's 'Way of the Dragon'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include Pilkington's lay offs, the search for Jedder and Faz hots up, the creation of Age Concern, Haydock and Ashton Band are upset with St Helens Council and the fight back against Pilks' proposed Gorsey Lane factory.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer's mini budget that was held on the 22nd put the cat amongst the pigeons in St Helens.
"VAT CONFUSION – Due to the VAT changes in this week's mini-Budget, prices of goods in some advertisements contained in this edition may be incorrectly stated."
But as the VAT had come down and not gone up, an expectation of retailers reducing their prices might be a bit optimistic!
Healey's announcement of a rate relief scheme also caused huge problems for the Borough Treasurer of St Helens Council.
"We are faced with an enormous job of checking the rates of all 65,000 domestic ratepayers throughout the new district", declared Douglas Pennington.
He called on local people to continue paying their rates as normal until they were informed what refund they would receive.
At the St Helens Planning Committee meeting on the 22nd, the Mayor, Cllr Paddy Gill, offered a £25 reward out of his own pocket for information leading to the arrest of two graffiti artists.
Jedder and Faz had signed their names all over St Helens and according to Cllr Gill they had made the town a disgrace.
Their tags had appeared in Shaw Street station, in the multi-storey car park, town centre subways and in lifts.
After the meeting Cllr Ted Maguire revealed that he had clues as to the identities of the two culprits:
"The state of the town's walls is a disgrace. The trouble is no-one ever sees these people spraying their names on.
"I believe that I can track them down and bring them to justice. I have made extensive inquiries and believe that they both live in Dentons Green. It can only be a matter of time."
The Planning Committee also expressed concern over the number of betting shops within the St Helens district.
That was after hearing a report that the council's appeal to the Department of the Environment against a betting shop application at the Horseshoe Hotel in Derbyshire Hill had been refused.
There were already more than 70 betting shops in the St Helens area, and the council's legal staff were said to be depressed by their lack of success in stopping betting shop applications.
The Mayor, Paddy Gill, stated that he was "horrified" by what he saw. There were betting shops next to betting shops and alongside many pubs – but, he commented, there was a chronic lack of chemists in St Helens.
"This is a disgrace", added the Mayor. "I am prepared to state that we have got more betting shops per head of population than any other borough in the country."
The council's Director of Technical Services, Ken Perks, said that opposition on planning grounds was often futile, adding: "We are on a hiding to nothing."
And so it was decided to ask the council's Policy and Resources Committee to look at other ways of stopping new betting shops from opening up in St Helens.
The St Helens Show was held on Thursday 25th to Saturday 27th with the many attractions including:
The Red Devils freefall team; Royal Artillery motorcycle team; Royal Military Police tent pegging team (a form of jousting on horseback and motorbike); Army displays; a Royal Marines jungle rescue helicopter display; Royal Green Jackets platoon in attack; An inter-school 'It's a Knockout'; Motor show; Fashion shows; Ideal Home and Trade Exhibition and a Beat Night.
There was also All-in-wrestling; Children's concerts; horticultural displays; show jumping; fur and feather shows; canine show; Morris dancing competition and ending on the Saturday evening with a Grand Fireworks Display.
There had been criticism from some Labour councillors over what they perceived as a military takeover of the Show.
But in the end they decided not to press for any changes to be made to this year's programme but they said they would be carefully monitoring next year's line-up.
The crowds were estimated at 180,000 over the three days – 40,000 up on last year's record attendance.
On the 25th sugar was put on ration with many shops in St Helens only allowing two pounds per customer.
However, supermarkets and shopkeepers in the town were appealing for people not to start hoarding sugar.
They said stocks were still being received, although reduced by about half their usual supply.
The sugar shortage was a national problem but it had only been on a small scale until publicised in the newspapers and that had led to much panic buying.
In its introduction to another grocery article, the Reporter wrote on the 26th:
"Corner shop grocer Alan Houghton found he was handling a hot potato during his moment of triumph against an enemy he had fought for five losing years."
Alan ran his small shop in Clock Face Road and in 1969 a supermarket had opened in his vicinity taking away much of his trade.
Three other supermarkets had subsequently appeared on the scene and one of them called John Greig's was closing down.
It was selling off all its stock at half-price and Alan Houghton was filling his boots! The Reporter wrote:
"Mr. Houghton gleefully made sure he was there at opening time to snap up the half price food. But waiting housewives blew their tops as they watched Mr. Houghton's non-stop shopping spree.
"As they queued outside for two hours the shopkeeper was trundling in and out with trolley loads of merchandise to resell at his shop."
Eileen Pilkington of Red Acre in Clock Face said: "I think it's disgusting" and her neighbour Pauline Winstanley agreed, saying: "He's not giving anybody a chance."
Hugh Skinner, the supermarket manager, said Mr Houghton was not alone in buying lots of goods with one housewife paying £50 (around £750 in today's money) for her groceries and another had hired a car to bring her from Liverpool to load up.
But Mr Houghton was now a bit regretful of his actions telling the Reporter:
"Looking back I now think it was a bit unfair, but I will be selling all the goods at the same price I bought them for. And there were several other retailers buying stuff."
The Reporter also stated that the new hall being built by Rainford's United Reformed Church in Higher Lane was expected to be completed by the end of September.
The paper described how opening the new building opposite the church would end their headache of constantly having to find money to repair their old Sunday school premises that were constantly under attack from vandals.
Pupils from Rivington Road Secondary School were pictured in the Reporter ready to make a special delivery of food parcels to local pensioners.
The parcels were financed out of the school's community services fund, which was money that the pupils had raised themselves.
Teacher Geoff Speight said: "The idea is to give the children a social awareness, through helping others. They raise the money by holding dances, raffles, and concerts throughout the year, and the fund is used for the needy."
In the Reporter's picture were Sandra Tinsley, Linda Corcoran, Sharon Smith, Jacqueline Devlin, Barry Shaw, Robert Taylor and George Burns.
Comedian Colin Crompton appeared at Rainhill Ex-Service Club on the 26th.
Not long ago the comic would have been billed as a star of 'The Comedians' TV show but now Crompton was listed as appearing on the 'Wheeltappers and Shunters' programme.
And finally, from the 28th 'Herbie Rides Again' was screened at the ABC Savoy in St Helens.
The Capitol had also been screening a Disney film in 'Sleeping Beauty' but on the 28th it changed its programme to Bruce Lee's 'Way of the Dragon'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include Pilkington's lay offs, the search for Jedder and Faz hots up, the creation of Age Concern, Haydock and Ashton Band are upset with St Helens Council and the fight back against Pilks' proposed Gorsey Lane factory.