FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (22nd - 28th AUGUST 1972)
This week's stories include the skinhead rugby league fans on the rampage in St Helens, the kids' street party in Dorothy Street held in lieu of a summer holiday, Rainford Carnival takes place, the builders with a heart at Billinge Hospital and the patients and visitors at Providence Hospital that puffed away on cigarettes.
We begin on the 22nd when an inquest was opened in Whiston on two men who had been killed in an underground explosion at Cronton Colliery two days earlier. The victims were 23-year-old Kevin Walsh of Coalville Road in Carr Mill and 51-year-old Ted Beesley from Huyton. Kevin had not been due to work on the day of his death but had switched shifts so he could spend a longer Bank Holiday weekend at his in-laws’ house.
The shocking wave of vandalism and violence in St Helens continued on several fronts this week. During the evening of the 22nd, at least thirteen shop, house and telephone kiosk windows were smashed as a group of skinheads raced along Albion Street, Westfield Street and Church Street after watching Saints first game of the new rugby league season.
The Reporter later wrote: "They swept through St. Helens like a tornado, leaving behind a trail of destruction", with some of them believed to have caught trains at Shaw Street station. The police later said that the rampage was all over before they learned of what had happened. A Saints spokesman said that there had been no problems at the match, adding: "This is the first skinhead trouble we've had. It's nothing more than hooliganism. Every effort will be made to stamp it out right from the start."
Building sites were also favourite places for vandals, with many windows at the new housing development at Park Road smashed. Robin Leavitt, site manager for Norwest Holst Ltd, said: "More than 30 windows have been broken this week. And I think it will get worse. When kids who are throwing stones find out the sites are deserted, they'll come back and throw more. We've had to increase our security."
In another incident, a bulldozer left overnight at Blackbrook was started up and driven into the canal. A 25-ton mobile crane was needed to haul the bulldozer out. Vandals also sent forty reinforced concrete pipes that had been stacked at Sutton, crashing to the ground. The pipes, many of them up to 20 feet long and over 3 feet across, were in two-tier rows at Rocla Pipes in Watery Lane. A spokesman for the firm said the hooligans must have been in danger as the tons of reinforced concrete rolled along the rows and on to the ground.
The St Helens Reporter described on the 25th how 35 builders at Billinge Hospital involved in the national construction workers strike had returned to work to "help give 120 old folk new hope." Their union had given the men permission to complete a £500,000 geriatric block at the hospital, which would be geared towards rehabilitation.
The facilities would include a hairdressing salon, a fully equipped kitchen and a coffee shop. The new block would replace the old geriatric accommodation, which was in a poor state, with some wards built of corrugated iron and wood. The main contractors on the site praised the decision by the men to return to work, saying: "The unions have adopted a humane and statesmanlike attitude."
This was the introduction to a home-buying advertising feature in the Reporter: "The present fantastic house price spiral is unprecedented. The prices paid by the man in the street for a home to live in have never been so high; the increases in value have never been so large." If only they knew that paying £5 - 7,000 for a newly built house would seem paltry in fifty years time! And mortgages of 95 - 100% of the property price were easily obtainable then. However, when I first started writing these articles four years ago, the newly built semi-detached bungalows and houses in the estate facing Sherdley Park were available to buy from £3,495, with detached homes priced from £4,750.
Compare those 1968 prices with 1972 ones stated in the Reporter feature in which dormer bungalows in the Leach Lane area were priced at £6,600. House-price inflation was causing agony for some with the term "gazumping" having been created when a developer increased the price of a newly built home.
These were still the days when most people rented their television set rather than bought one – giving them the peace of mind that they would not have to fork out for expensive repairs. The Munich Olympics were due to start on the 26th and so Helena House in Baldwin Street had this advert in the Reporter:
"Television Rentals for a Clear View of the Olympic Games in Colour or Black & White. Latest 20in. models (black & white) from only 53p per week. Colour Special! Defiant 19in. colour only £1.40 per week. All payments qualify for dividend. Prompt delivery of all sets in stock." The Munich Olympic Games of 1972 were, of course, those badly affected by a terrorist outrage in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed.
It seems bizarre these days to think of patients in a hospital bed being allowed to smoke. But an article in the Reporter revealed that this was permitted in surgical wards in Providence Hospital in St Helens (pictured above) – although banned in what were described as medical wards. The report was mainly a criticism of hospital visitors who ignored no smoking signs but mentioned, somewhat in passing, how some patients were permitted to light up.
My '100 Years Ago' articles often mention Ald. Henry Baker Bates, the former four-time mayor of St Helens. His son Eric Baker Bates became a hospital consultant and told the Reporter: "I have fought cigarette smoking for years. I tell patients suffering from lung trouble, that I believe cigarettes and atmospheric pollution are factors in their illness. I can't stop the pollution. But I can stop them smoking while in my care."
The ongoing builders' strike meant that new schools and extensions to existing schools in St Helens would not be ready in time for the new term. An Education Department spokesman gave an assurance to the Reporter that no child due to start school in September would be turned away but couldn't give the same guarantee for the January intake:
"If the strike goes on much longer, it could create problems. New premises are being built at Sherdley Park to take in new children from the beginning of January. It’s possible their starting date could be postponed." The individual was referring to Sherdley Primary School in Mill Lane, which had only opened in April 1971 but was already being expanded.
The Reporter listed five main projects affected by the strike and the measures that were being taken to address the problem. A new school for St Mary's and St Thomas of Lyon Street would not be completed in time for the new term – although children would move in anyway. "It needs a bit of internal painting and other minor work," said the spokesman. "But it is structurally complete."
Alterations at St Anne's Primary in Sutton and at St Cuthbert's Secondary in Berry's Lane had also been held up – but their schools would continue as normal, with additional accommodation temporarily provided at the old C of E junior school in Sutton. And Winstanley County Primary – which should have been ready for September – could not yet be used – and so classrooms at another school had been found.
The Reporter also described how a street party for 50 children had been held in Dorothy Street in Thatto Heath to give local children some summer fun in lieu of a seaside holiday. Organiser Eunice Ellison said: "I couldn't afford to take my five children on holiday and I knew lots of others were in the same position. None of us is poor. We can all get by. But for most of us the money doesn't cover a nice holiday for the family. Most of the families couldn't manage at all if the wives didn't work."
Neighbour Hilary Preston, a mother of four, added: "About 25 mothers paid 15p per child to finance the feast. There were games, races and a fancy dress competition. We feel it's much better to get the kids together for once."
And Rainford Carnival took place on the 26th with 7,000 in attendance. The day began with a lengthy procession of floats, bands and morris dancers. The parade moved off from Lathom Drive at 11:15am with participants headed to the jubilee recreation ground behind the church via Old Lane, Ormskirk Road, Cross Pit Lane, Higher Lane, Rookery Lane and Church Road.
The parade was led by the Clanna Gael Pipe Band with Linda Rimmer, the 1970 carnival queen, sat on a float directly behind. Then followed comedy floats, the morris dancers, Edge Hill Band, best-dressed children's cycles, cars with decorated roof racks and the Rainford Boys Brigade Band. At the rear of the colourful possession was the Carnival Queen ’72, who was 17-year-old Sandra Webster of Standish Drive.
The only hitch had been when the procession of floats, bands and Morris Dancers had to be halted for 10 minutes as police escorted an ambulance to a collapsed man in the crowd. However, it turned out to be an angina attack and after treatment at Ormskirk General, the man from Oldham was able to return to Rainford and re-join the festivities. The crowd of 7,000 watched the Black Knights sky diving team and enjoyed the many other attractions.
Next week's stories will include the blitz on Haydock's slum homes, the golf balls pilfered from Sherdley Park's driving range, the Rockware smoke emissions, the Victoria Square clean up and a GP slams the loss of the doctor-patient relationship.
We begin on the 22nd when an inquest was opened in Whiston on two men who had been killed in an underground explosion at Cronton Colliery two days earlier. The victims were 23-year-old Kevin Walsh of Coalville Road in Carr Mill and 51-year-old Ted Beesley from Huyton. Kevin had not been due to work on the day of his death but had switched shifts so he could spend a longer Bank Holiday weekend at his in-laws’ house.
The shocking wave of vandalism and violence in St Helens continued on several fronts this week. During the evening of the 22nd, at least thirteen shop, house and telephone kiosk windows were smashed as a group of skinheads raced along Albion Street, Westfield Street and Church Street after watching Saints first game of the new rugby league season.
The Reporter later wrote: "They swept through St. Helens like a tornado, leaving behind a trail of destruction", with some of them believed to have caught trains at Shaw Street station. The police later said that the rampage was all over before they learned of what had happened. A Saints spokesman said that there had been no problems at the match, adding: "This is the first skinhead trouble we've had. It's nothing more than hooliganism. Every effort will be made to stamp it out right from the start."
Building sites were also favourite places for vandals, with many windows at the new housing development at Park Road smashed. Robin Leavitt, site manager for Norwest Holst Ltd, said: "More than 30 windows have been broken this week. And I think it will get worse. When kids who are throwing stones find out the sites are deserted, they'll come back and throw more. We've had to increase our security."
In another incident, a bulldozer left overnight at Blackbrook was started up and driven into the canal. A 25-ton mobile crane was needed to haul the bulldozer out. Vandals also sent forty reinforced concrete pipes that had been stacked at Sutton, crashing to the ground. The pipes, many of them up to 20 feet long and over 3 feet across, were in two-tier rows at Rocla Pipes in Watery Lane. A spokesman for the firm said the hooligans must have been in danger as the tons of reinforced concrete rolled along the rows and on to the ground.
The St Helens Reporter described on the 25th how 35 builders at Billinge Hospital involved in the national construction workers strike had returned to work to "help give 120 old folk new hope." Their union had given the men permission to complete a £500,000 geriatric block at the hospital, which would be geared towards rehabilitation.
The facilities would include a hairdressing salon, a fully equipped kitchen and a coffee shop. The new block would replace the old geriatric accommodation, which was in a poor state, with some wards built of corrugated iron and wood. The main contractors on the site praised the decision by the men to return to work, saying: "The unions have adopted a humane and statesmanlike attitude."
This was the introduction to a home-buying advertising feature in the Reporter: "The present fantastic house price spiral is unprecedented. The prices paid by the man in the street for a home to live in have never been so high; the increases in value have never been so large." If only they knew that paying £5 - 7,000 for a newly built house would seem paltry in fifty years time! And mortgages of 95 - 100% of the property price were easily obtainable then. However, when I first started writing these articles four years ago, the newly built semi-detached bungalows and houses in the estate facing Sherdley Park were available to buy from £3,495, with detached homes priced from £4,750.
Compare those 1968 prices with 1972 ones stated in the Reporter feature in which dormer bungalows in the Leach Lane area were priced at £6,600. House-price inflation was causing agony for some with the term "gazumping" having been created when a developer increased the price of a newly built home.
These were still the days when most people rented their television set rather than bought one – giving them the peace of mind that they would not have to fork out for expensive repairs. The Munich Olympics were due to start on the 26th and so Helena House in Baldwin Street had this advert in the Reporter:
"Television Rentals for a Clear View of the Olympic Games in Colour or Black & White. Latest 20in. models (black & white) from only 53p per week. Colour Special! Defiant 19in. colour only £1.40 per week. All payments qualify for dividend. Prompt delivery of all sets in stock." The Munich Olympic Games of 1972 were, of course, those badly affected by a terrorist outrage in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed.
My '100 Years Ago' articles often mention Ald. Henry Baker Bates, the former four-time mayor of St Helens. His son Eric Baker Bates became a hospital consultant and told the Reporter: "I have fought cigarette smoking for years. I tell patients suffering from lung trouble, that I believe cigarettes and atmospheric pollution are factors in their illness. I can't stop the pollution. But I can stop them smoking while in my care."
The ongoing builders' strike meant that new schools and extensions to existing schools in St Helens would not be ready in time for the new term. An Education Department spokesman gave an assurance to the Reporter that no child due to start school in September would be turned away but couldn't give the same guarantee for the January intake:
"If the strike goes on much longer, it could create problems. New premises are being built at Sherdley Park to take in new children from the beginning of January. It’s possible their starting date could be postponed." The individual was referring to Sherdley Primary School in Mill Lane, which had only opened in April 1971 but was already being expanded.
The Reporter listed five main projects affected by the strike and the measures that were being taken to address the problem. A new school for St Mary's and St Thomas of Lyon Street would not be completed in time for the new term – although children would move in anyway. "It needs a bit of internal painting and other minor work," said the spokesman. "But it is structurally complete."
Alterations at St Anne's Primary in Sutton and at St Cuthbert's Secondary in Berry's Lane had also been held up – but their schools would continue as normal, with additional accommodation temporarily provided at the old C of E junior school in Sutton. And Winstanley County Primary – which should have been ready for September – could not yet be used – and so classrooms at another school had been found.
The Reporter also described how a street party for 50 children had been held in Dorothy Street in Thatto Heath to give local children some summer fun in lieu of a seaside holiday. Organiser Eunice Ellison said: "I couldn't afford to take my five children on holiday and I knew lots of others were in the same position. None of us is poor. We can all get by. But for most of us the money doesn't cover a nice holiday for the family. Most of the families couldn't manage at all if the wives didn't work."
Neighbour Hilary Preston, a mother of four, added: "About 25 mothers paid 15p per child to finance the feast. There were games, races and a fancy dress competition. We feel it's much better to get the kids together for once."
And Rainford Carnival took place on the 26th with 7,000 in attendance. The day began with a lengthy procession of floats, bands and morris dancers. The parade moved off from Lathom Drive at 11:15am with participants headed to the jubilee recreation ground behind the church via Old Lane, Ormskirk Road, Cross Pit Lane, Higher Lane, Rookery Lane and Church Road.
The parade was led by the Clanna Gael Pipe Band with Linda Rimmer, the 1970 carnival queen, sat on a float directly behind. Then followed comedy floats, the morris dancers, Edge Hill Band, best-dressed children's cycles, cars with decorated roof racks and the Rainford Boys Brigade Band. At the rear of the colourful possession was the Carnival Queen ’72, who was 17-year-old Sandra Webster of Standish Drive.
The only hitch had been when the procession of floats, bands and Morris Dancers had to be halted for 10 minutes as police escorted an ambulance to a collapsed man in the crowd. However, it turned out to be an angina attack and after treatment at Ormskirk General, the man from Oldham was able to return to Rainford and re-join the festivities. The crowd of 7,000 watched the Black Knights sky diving team and enjoyed the many other attractions.
Next week's stories will include the blitz on Haydock's slum homes, the golf balls pilfered from Sherdley Park's driving range, the Rockware smoke emissions, the Victoria Square clean up and a GP slams the loss of the doctor-patient relationship.
This week's stories include the skinhead rugby league fans on the rampage in St Helens, the kids' street party in Dorothy Street held in lieu of a summer holiday, Rainford Carnival takes place, the builders with a heart at Billinge Hospital and the patients and visitors at Providence Hospital that puffed away on cigarettes.
We begin on the 22nd when an inquest was opened in Whiston on two men who had been killed in an underground explosion at Cronton Colliery two days earlier.
The victims were 23-year-old Kevin Walsh of Coalville Road in Carr Mill and 51-year-old Ted Beesley from Huyton.
Kevin had not been due to work on the day of his death but had switched shifts so he could spend a longer Bank Holiday weekend at his in-laws’ house.
The shocking wave of vandalism and violence in St Helens continued on several fronts this week.
During the evening of the 22nd, at least thirteen shop, house and telephone kiosk windows were smashed as a group of skinheads raced along Albion Street, Westfield Street and Church Street after watching Saints first game of the new rugby league season.
The Reporter later wrote: "They swept through St. Helens like a tornado, leaving behind a trail of destruction", with some of them believed to have caught trains at Shaw Street station.
The police later said that the rampage was all over before they learned of what had happened.
A Saints spokesman said that there had been no problems at the match, adding:
"This is the first skinhead trouble we've had. It's nothing more than hooliganism. Every effort will be made to stamp it out right from the start."
Building sites were also favourite places for vandals, with many windows at the new housing development at Park Road smashed.
Robin Leavitt, site manager for Norwest Holst Ltd, said:
"More than 30 windows have been broken this week. And I think it will get worse. When kids who are throwing stones find out the sites are deserted, they'll come back and throw more. We've had to increase our security."
In another incident, a bulldozer left overnight at Blackbrook was started up and driven into the canal. A 25-ton mobile crane was needed to haul the bulldozer out.
Vandals also sent forty reinforced concrete pipes that had been stacked at Sutton, crashing to the ground.
The pipes, many of them up to 20 feet long and over 3 feet across, were in two-tier rows at Rocla Pipes in Watery Lane.
A spokesman for the firm said the hooligans must have been in danger as the tons of reinforced concrete rolled along the rows and on to the ground.
The St Helens Reporter described on the 25th how 35 builders at Billinge Hospital involved in the national construction workers strike had returned to work to "help give 120 old folk new hope."
Their union had given the men permission to complete a £500,000 geriatric block at the hospital, which would be geared towards rehabilitation.
The facilities would include a hairdressing salon, a fully equipped kitchen and a coffee shop.
The new block would replace the old geriatric accommodation, which was in a poor state, with some wards built of corrugated iron and wood.
The main contractors on the site praised the decision by the men to return to work, saying: "The unions have adopted a humane and statesmanlike attitude."
This was the introduction to a home-buying advertising feature in the Reporter:
"The present fantastic house price spiral is unprecedented. The prices paid by the man in the street for a home to live in have never been so high; the increases in value have never been so large."
If only they knew that paying £5 - 7,000 for a newly built house would seem paltry in fifty years time!
And mortgages of 95 - 100% of the property price were easily obtainable then.
However, when I first started writing these articles four years ago, the newly built semi-detached bungalows and houses in the estate facing Sherdley Park were available to buy from £3,495, with detached homes priced from £4,750.
Compare those 1968 prices with 1972 ones stated in the Reporter feature in which dormer bungalows in the Leach Lane area were priced at £6,600.
House-price inflation was causing agony for some with the term "gazumping" having been created when a developer increased the price of a newly built home.
These were still the days when most people rented their television set rather than bought one – giving them the peace of mind that they would not have to fork out for expensive repairs.
The Munich Olympics were due to start on the 26th and so Helena House in Baldwin Street had this advert in the Reporter:
"Television Rentals for a Clear View of the Olympic Games in Colour or Black & White. Latest 20in. models (black & white) from only 53p per week. Colour Special! Defiant 19in. colour only £1.40 per week. All payments qualify for dividend. Prompt delivery of all sets in stock."
The Munich Olympic Games of 1972 were, of course, those badly affected by a terrorist outrage in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed.
It seems bizarre these days to think of patients in a hospital bed being allowed to smoke.
But an article in the Reporter revealed that this was permitted in surgical wards in Providence Hospital in St Helens (pictured above) – although banned in what were described as medical wards.
The report was mainly a criticism of hospital visitors who ignored no smoking signs but mentioned, somewhat in passing, how some patients were permitted to light up.
My '100 Years Ago' articles often mention Ald. Henry Baker Bates, the former four-time mayor of St Helens.
His son Eric Baker Bates became a hospital consultant and told the Reporter:
"I have fought cigarette smoking for years. I tell patients suffering from lung trouble, that I believe cigarettes and atmospheric pollution are factors in their illness. I can't stop the pollution. But I can stop them smoking while in my care."
The ongoing builders' strike meant that new schools and extensions to existing schools in St Helens would not be ready in time for the new term.
An Education Department spokesman gave an assurance to the Reporter that no child due to start school in September would be turned away but couldn't give the same guarantee for the January intake:
"If the strike goes on much longer, it could create problems. New premises are being built at Sherdley Park to take in new children from the beginning of January. It’s possible their starting date could be postponed."
The individual was referring to Sherdley Primary School in Mill Lane, which had only opened in April 1971 but was already being expanded.
The Reporter listed five main projects affected by the strike and the measures that were being taken to address the problem.
A new school for St Mary's and St Thomas of Lyon Street would not be completed in time for the new term – although children would move in anyway.
"It needs a bit of internal painting and other minor work," said the spokesman. "But it is structurally complete."
Alterations at St Anne's Primary in Sutton and at St Cuthbert's Secondary in Berry's Lane had also been held up – but their schools would continue as normal, with additional accommodation temporarily provided at the old C of E junior school in Sutton.
And Winstanley County Primary – which should have been ready for September – could not yet be used – and so classrooms at another school had been found.
The Reporter also described how a street party for 50 children had been held in Dorothy Street in Thatto Heath to give local children some summer fun in lieu of a seaside holiday. Organiser Eunice Ellison said:
"I couldn't afford to take my five children on holiday and I knew lots of others were in the same position. None of us is poor. We can all get by. But for most of us the money doesn't cover a nice holiday for the family. Most of the families couldn't manage at all if the wives didn't work."
Neighbour Hilary Preston, a mother of four, added: "About 25 mothers paid 15p per child to finance the feast. There were games, races and a fancy dress competition. We feel it's much better to get the kids together for once."
And Rainford Carnival took place on the 26th with 7,000 in attendance. The day began with a lengthy procession of floats, bands and morris dancers.
The parade moved off from Lathom Drive at 11:15am with participants headed to the jubilee recreation ground behind the church via Old Lane, Ormskirk Road, Cross Pit Lane, Higher Lane, Rookery Lane and Church Road.
The parade was led by the Clanna Gael Pipe Band with Linda Rimmer, the 1970 carnival queen, sat on a float directly behind.
Then followed comedy floats, the morris dancers, Edge Hill Band, best-dressed children's cycles, cars with decorated roof racks and the Rainford Boys Brigade Band.
At the rear of the colourful possession was the Carnival Queen ’72, who was 17-year-old Sandra Webster of Standish Drive.
The only hitch had been when the procession of floats, bands and Morris Dancers had to be halted for 10 minutes as police escorted an ambulance to a collapsed man in the crowd.
However, it turned out to be an angina attack and after treatment at Ormskirk General, the man from Oldham was able to return to Rainford and re-join the festivities.
The crowd of 7,000 watched the Black Knights sky diving team and enjoyed the many other attractions.
Next week's stories will include the blitz on Haydock's slum homes, the golf balls pilfered from Sherdley Park's driving range, the Rockware smoke emissions, the Victoria Square clean up and a GP slams the loss of the doctor-patient relationship.
We begin on the 22nd when an inquest was opened in Whiston on two men who had been killed in an underground explosion at Cronton Colliery two days earlier.
The victims were 23-year-old Kevin Walsh of Coalville Road in Carr Mill and 51-year-old Ted Beesley from Huyton.
Kevin had not been due to work on the day of his death but had switched shifts so he could spend a longer Bank Holiday weekend at his in-laws’ house.
The shocking wave of vandalism and violence in St Helens continued on several fronts this week.
During the evening of the 22nd, at least thirteen shop, house and telephone kiosk windows were smashed as a group of skinheads raced along Albion Street, Westfield Street and Church Street after watching Saints first game of the new rugby league season.
The Reporter later wrote: "They swept through St. Helens like a tornado, leaving behind a trail of destruction", with some of them believed to have caught trains at Shaw Street station.
The police later said that the rampage was all over before they learned of what had happened.
A Saints spokesman said that there had been no problems at the match, adding:
"This is the first skinhead trouble we've had. It's nothing more than hooliganism. Every effort will be made to stamp it out right from the start."
Building sites were also favourite places for vandals, with many windows at the new housing development at Park Road smashed.
Robin Leavitt, site manager for Norwest Holst Ltd, said:
"More than 30 windows have been broken this week. And I think it will get worse. When kids who are throwing stones find out the sites are deserted, they'll come back and throw more. We've had to increase our security."
In another incident, a bulldozer left overnight at Blackbrook was started up and driven into the canal. A 25-ton mobile crane was needed to haul the bulldozer out.
Vandals also sent forty reinforced concrete pipes that had been stacked at Sutton, crashing to the ground.
The pipes, many of them up to 20 feet long and over 3 feet across, were in two-tier rows at Rocla Pipes in Watery Lane.
A spokesman for the firm said the hooligans must have been in danger as the tons of reinforced concrete rolled along the rows and on to the ground.
The St Helens Reporter described on the 25th how 35 builders at Billinge Hospital involved in the national construction workers strike had returned to work to "help give 120 old folk new hope."
Their union had given the men permission to complete a £500,000 geriatric block at the hospital, which would be geared towards rehabilitation.
The facilities would include a hairdressing salon, a fully equipped kitchen and a coffee shop.
The new block would replace the old geriatric accommodation, which was in a poor state, with some wards built of corrugated iron and wood.
The main contractors on the site praised the decision by the men to return to work, saying: "The unions have adopted a humane and statesmanlike attitude."
This was the introduction to a home-buying advertising feature in the Reporter:
"The present fantastic house price spiral is unprecedented. The prices paid by the man in the street for a home to live in have never been so high; the increases in value have never been so large."
If only they knew that paying £5 - 7,000 for a newly built house would seem paltry in fifty years time!
And mortgages of 95 - 100% of the property price were easily obtainable then.
However, when I first started writing these articles four years ago, the newly built semi-detached bungalows and houses in the estate facing Sherdley Park were available to buy from £3,495, with detached homes priced from £4,750.
Compare those 1968 prices with 1972 ones stated in the Reporter feature in which dormer bungalows in the Leach Lane area were priced at £6,600.
House-price inflation was causing agony for some with the term "gazumping" having been created when a developer increased the price of a newly built home.
These were still the days when most people rented their television set rather than bought one – giving them the peace of mind that they would not have to fork out for expensive repairs.
The Munich Olympics were due to start on the 26th and so Helena House in Baldwin Street had this advert in the Reporter:
"Television Rentals for a Clear View of the Olympic Games in Colour or Black & White. Latest 20in. models (black & white) from only 53p per week. Colour Special! Defiant 19in. colour only £1.40 per week. All payments qualify for dividend. Prompt delivery of all sets in stock."
The Munich Olympic Games of 1972 were, of course, those badly affected by a terrorist outrage in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed.
But an article in the Reporter revealed that this was permitted in surgical wards in Providence Hospital in St Helens (pictured above) – although banned in what were described as medical wards.
The report was mainly a criticism of hospital visitors who ignored no smoking signs but mentioned, somewhat in passing, how some patients were permitted to light up.
My '100 Years Ago' articles often mention Ald. Henry Baker Bates, the former four-time mayor of St Helens.
His son Eric Baker Bates became a hospital consultant and told the Reporter:
"I have fought cigarette smoking for years. I tell patients suffering from lung trouble, that I believe cigarettes and atmospheric pollution are factors in their illness. I can't stop the pollution. But I can stop them smoking while in my care."
The ongoing builders' strike meant that new schools and extensions to existing schools in St Helens would not be ready in time for the new term.
An Education Department spokesman gave an assurance to the Reporter that no child due to start school in September would be turned away but couldn't give the same guarantee for the January intake:
"If the strike goes on much longer, it could create problems. New premises are being built at Sherdley Park to take in new children from the beginning of January. It’s possible their starting date could be postponed."
The individual was referring to Sherdley Primary School in Mill Lane, which had only opened in April 1971 but was already being expanded.
The Reporter listed five main projects affected by the strike and the measures that were being taken to address the problem.
A new school for St Mary's and St Thomas of Lyon Street would not be completed in time for the new term – although children would move in anyway.
"It needs a bit of internal painting and other minor work," said the spokesman. "But it is structurally complete."
Alterations at St Anne's Primary in Sutton and at St Cuthbert's Secondary in Berry's Lane had also been held up – but their schools would continue as normal, with additional accommodation temporarily provided at the old C of E junior school in Sutton.
And Winstanley County Primary – which should have been ready for September – could not yet be used – and so classrooms at another school had been found.
The Reporter also described how a street party for 50 children had been held in Dorothy Street in Thatto Heath to give local children some summer fun in lieu of a seaside holiday. Organiser Eunice Ellison said:
"I couldn't afford to take my five children on holiday and I knew lots of others were in the same position. None of us is poor. We can all get by. But for most of us the money doesn't cover a nice holiday for the family. Most of the families couldn't manage at all if the wives didn't work."
Neighbour Hilary Preston, a mother of four, added: "About 25 mothers paid 15p per child to finance the feast. There were games, races and a fancy dress competition. We feel it's much better to get the kids together for once."
And Rainford Carnival took place on the 26th with 7,000 in attendance. The day began with a lengthy procession of floats, bands and morris dancers.
The parade moved off from Lathom Drive at 11:15am with participants headed to the jubilee recreation ground behind the church via Old Lane, Ormskirk Road, Cross Pit Lane, Higher Lane, Rookery Lane and Church Road.
The parade was led by the Clanna Gael Pipe Band with Linda Rimmer, the 1970 carnival queen, sat on a float directly behind.
Then followed comedy floats, the morris dancers, Edge Hill Band, best-dressed children's cycles, cars with decorated roof racks and the Rainford Boys Brigade Band.
At the rear of the colourful possession was the Carnival Queen ’72, who was 17-year-old Sandra Webster of Standish Drive.
The only hitch had been when the procession of floats, bands and Morris Dancers had to be halted for 10 minutes as police escorted an ambulance to a collapsed man in the crowd.
However, it turned out to be an angina attack and after treatment at Ormskirk General, the man from Oldham was able to return to Rainford and re-join the festivities.
The crowd of 7,000 watched the Black Knights sky diving team and enjoyed the many other attractions.
Next week's stories will include the blitz on Haydock's slum homes, the golf balls pilfered from Sherdley Park's driving range, the Rockware smoke emissions, the Victoria Square clean up and a GP slams the loss of the doctor-patient relationship.