FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (24 - 30 JULY 1973)
This week's many stories include the vandalism at the start of the St Helens Show, the allowing of organised Sunday sport on council-run pitches, a plan to thwart an extension of quarrying on Billinge Hill, a blind Blackbrook typist has her appeal answered on the Jimmy Young Show and anger in Rainford after Lancashire County Council rejects its plans for a new youth centre.
We begin with the controversial Leathers Chemicals who were discussed in the House of Commons this week when a minister from the Department of the Environment answered a question from St Helens's MP. In a written response Eldon Griffiths told Leslie Spriggs that St Helens Council had failed to consult his department's Alkali Inspectorate when planning permission for Leathers was being considered.
Mr Griffiths blamed the location of the works close to houses in Sutton as part of the reason why residents were being affected by discharges of toxic chemicals. It was separately revealed this week that Leathers Chemicals were appealing against St Helens Council's enforcement notice, which they had served on the Lancots Lane plant some weeks ago.
St Helens Corporation had allowed the playing of Sunday sport within their public parks back in 1961. But organised football and rugby matches were excluded for religious reasons. Campaigners argued that people might not attend church services if they were able to watch or participate in sport on the Sabbath. There was also the argument that council playing fields were overworked and playing extra games could cause damage.
But at St Helens Town Council's monthly meeting on the 25th the question of whether the 100-year-old ban should be continued was considered. The council's Amenities Committee had recently voted to permit a busmen's amateur rugby league team to play on a council pitch in Sutton Manor on Sundays. The town council was being asked to approve the committee’s decision – but Alderman William Burrows was staunchly against the move, saying:
"We must prevent Sunday becoming like any other day. This is a step in the wrong direction, and it could have far reaching effects on the way of life on Sunday we have enjoyed in this town for over a century." Ald. Arthur Luther agreed, saying: "I feel this is a retrograde step in a so-called Christian country. I may be old-fashioned, but Sunday to me is a day of rest."
Councillor Pat Ashton called it an "antiquated Christian belief" that there should be no work done on Sundays, pointing out that already shift workers, hospital staff and busmen amongst others worked on the Sabbath. His view prevailed and the council overwhelmingly supported the committee's decision to allow competitive Sunday sport.
And although their vote only concerned one specific application, it was expected there would now be a flood of other requests to play Sunday sport that could not be refused now a precedent had been set. The council's Works Committee also decided this week to exempt disabled drivers from no-waiting restrictions on St Helens roads.
This week was the St Helens Show. The main attractions of the 3-day event were the Red Devils free fall team, the Royal Marines motor cycle display team, a sheep dog demonstration, jungle rescue display, the Band of the Royal Marines, the White Helmets motor cycle display team and the Derrico Alzanas high wire act. There was also Punch and Judy, an 'It's A Knock-Out' inter-school contest, a motor show, a fashion show presented by Oxleys, 5-a-side rugby league sevens, talent competitions, the Show Queen ’73 contest and all-in wrestling, with the event ending on the Saturday night with a fireworks display.
However, the "Sherdley Show" got off to a difficult start as vandals had damaged two tents overnight. A 20 ft. piece of canvas was ripped from the roof of the dog show marquee and some supports were pushed out of place. The fashion show tent was also torn.
The Reporter's lead story on the 27th concerned an expected hike in bus fares caused by "soaring" running costs and a "severe" shortage of staff. At the present rates of fare it was expected that the St Helens Transport Department would end up £115,000 in the red, compared to a £46,000 loss in the 1972-3 financial year.
Linda Scott was also featured in the paper after her appeal on the Jimmy Young Show had been answered. Mrs Scott from Longridge Avenue in Blackbrook was blind and needed a typewriter – but could not afford one. A few minutes after her appeal was read out on Radio 2, a lady rang the programme to offer Mrs Scott her unwanted machine. "A typewriter would be a great help", remarked Linda. "I could write letters a lot easier. It's like a dream come true."
Pictured in the Reporter were some of the cast of 'The Sound of Music', which had been performed at Robins Lane Secondary School. The show had been produced by teacher Joseph McGrath and enjoyed over three evenings by a combined audience of over a thousand. The girls had made their own costumes under the supervision of needlework mistress Ruth Green. It had been the biggest production that the school had undertaken, with a main cast of 15 and a chorus of 78 juniors and seniors. Sixteen-year-old Silvia Porter was cast as Maria and William Redcliffe played Captain Von Trapp.
An indication of the accelerating levels of inflation that would reach a peak in the mid-1970s came in a story about the new Liberal Club that was to be built in Thatto Heath. It had finally been given the green light by St Helens Planning Committee after over a year of delays due to various concerns over the proposed building. But in the meantime the projected cost of constructing the new club had increased from £40,000 to £55,000 due to hikes in the price of building materials and the cost of labour.
There was an advert in the Reporter for an exhibition that was currently taking place in the Central Library Art Gallery in the Gamble Institute. The subject was 'Falcons & Owls' and the display was intended to illustrate the birds' lives and habitats. Visitors would be able to view specimens of the birds along with their eggs and nests, which I don't think would go down too well today.
The longstanding dispute between Billinge Council and a St Helens quarrying firm did appear to have been resolved three months ago. Joseph Pickavance's lorries had been accused of depositing mud onto Beacon Road and their loud explosions were said to have rattled residents' windows and caused cracks in walls. But in April Pickavances gave a court undertaking that vibrations from their blasting would not exceed a certain level. The firm also agreed to wash the wheels of their lorries to prevent mud and dirt being carried onto roads. Additionally, the firm paid Billinge Council's legal costs of £3,500.
But the firm had now written to the council indicating that they planned to extend their quarrying activities on the side of Billinge Hill. Billinge Council's response was that they would make a compulsory purchase of the 20-acre site in order to thwart Pickavance's expansion plans – but the Reporter predicted that a lengthy process of appeals and inquiries would likely result.
During the evening of the 27th a driver was killed and a man and wife injured in a two-car collision at the junction of Moss Bank Road and Martindale Road in St Helens. William Cunningham from Andrew Avenue in Billinge was taken to hospital but found to be dead.
There was anger in Rainford after Lancashire County Council had rejected its plans for a new youth centre. Rainford had first been promised a centre for its young people in 1964 but the needs of other areas had always pushed it off building programmes. Then in February 1973 the County Council allocated £8,000 to the scheme in its planned expenditure for 1973 to ’74, with a further £23,000 assigned in its budget for 1974 to ‘75.
But shortly afterwards Lancashire County Council announced that as a consequence of cuts in its government grant the Rainford project was having to be dropped. A deputation from Rainford Council had recently travelled to County Hall in Preston to discuss the matter but had not been able to change their minds. Rainford Council's clerk Ken Isherwood said they had been told that a list of 16 intended projects had needed to be reduced to 6, and theirs had been one that had been cut. Mr Isherwood added:
"We feel we've been led up the garden path on this and we aren't finished yet. If the centre is held over another year the responsibility for it will shift to the new St. Helens District Council and we've no idea how it will figure in their priorities. The centre is a much-needed facility here and we think we have been waiting long enough." The council now planned to contact their MP Harold Soref to see if he could help.
And finally on the 29th for 7 days, Clint Eastwood's 'High Plains Drifter' replaced 'Steptoe & Son Ride Again' at the ABC Savoy. And at the Capitol Cinema, 'The Wild Bunch' with Ernest Borgnine and William Holden replaced the Disney film 'Snowball Express'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the East Lancs underpass, the St Helens victims of the Summerland disaster, the 91-year-old Rainhill woman forced to quit her home and the customers that refused to evacuate a North Road chippy that was on fire.
We begin with the controversial Leathers Chemicals who were discussed in the House of Commons this week when a minister from the Department of the Environment answered a question from St Helens's MP. In a written response Eldon Griffiths told Leslie Spriggs that St Helens Council had failed to consult his department's Alkali Inspectorate when planning permission for Leathers was being considered.
Mr Griffiths blamed the location of the works close to houses in Sutton as part of the reason why residents were being affected by discharges of toxic chemicals. It was separately revealed this week that Leathers Chemicals were appealing against St Helens Council's enforcement notice, which they had served on the Lancots Lane plant some weeks ago.
St Helens Corporation had allowed the playing of Sunday sport within their public parks back in 1961. But organised football and rugby matches were excluded for religious reasons. Campaigners argued that people might not attend church services if they were able to watch or participate in sport on the Sabbath. There was also the argument that council playing fields were overworked and playing extra games could cause damage.
But at St Helens Town Council's monthly meeting on the 25th the question of whether the 100-year-old ban should be continued was considered. The council's Amenities Committee had recently voted to permit a busmen's amateur rugby league team to play on a council pitch in Sutton Manor on Sundays. The town council was being asked to approve the committee’s decision – but Alderman William Burrows was staunchly against the move, saying:
"We must prevent Sunday becoming like any other day. This is a step in the wrong direction, and it could have far reaching effects on the way of life on Sunday we have enjoyed in this town for over a century." Ald. Arthur Luther agreed, saying: "I feel this is a retrograde step in a so-called Christian country. I may be old-fashioned, but Sunday to me is a day of rest."
Councillor Pat Ashton called it an "antiquated Christian belief" that there should be no work done on Sundays, pointing out that already shift workers, hospital staff and busmen amongst others worked on the Sabbath. His view prevailed and the council overwhelmingly supported the committee's decision to allow competitive Sunday sport.
And although their vote only concerned one specific application, it was expected there would now be a flood of other requests to play Sunday sport that could not be refused now a precedent had been set. The council's Works Committee also decided this week to exempt disabled drivers from no-waiting restrictions on St Helens roads.
This week was the St Helens Show. The main attractions of the 3-day event were the Red Devils free fall team, the Royal Marines motor cycle display team, a sheep dog demonstration, jungle rescue display, the Band of the Royal Marines, the White Helmets motor cycle display team and the Derrico Alzanas high wire act. There was also Punch and Judy, an 'It's A Knock-Out' inter-school contest, a motor show, a fashion show presented by Oxleys, 5-a-side rugby league sevens, talent competitions, the Show Queen ’73 contest and all-in wrestling, with the event ending on the Saturday night with a fireworks display.
However, the "Sherdley Show" got off to a difficult start as vandals had damaged two tents overnight. A 20 ft. piece of canvas was ripped from the roof of the dog show marquee and some supports were pushed out of place. The fashion show tent was also torn.
The Reporter's lead story on the 27th concerned an expected hike in bus fares caused by "soaring" running costs and a "severe" shortage of staff. At the present rates of fare it was expected that the St Helens Transport Department would end up £115,000 in the red, compared to a £46,000 loss in the 1972-3 financial year.
Linda Scott was also featured in the paper after her appeal on the Jimmy Young Show had been answered. Mrs Scott from Longridge Avenue in Blackbrook was blind and needed a typewriter – but could not afford one. A few minutes after her appeal was read out on Radio 2, a lady rang the programme to offer Mrs Scott her unwanted machine. "A typewriter would be a great help", remarked Linda. "I could write letters a lot easier. It's like a dream come true."
An indication of the accelerating levels of inflation that would reach a peak in the mid-1970s came in a story about the new Liberal Club that was to be built in Thatto Heath. It had finally been given the green light by St Helens Planning Committee after over a year of delays due to various concerns over the proposed building. But in the meantime the projected cost of constructing the new club had increased from £40,000 to £55,000 due to hikes in the price of building materials and the cost of labour.
There was an advert in the Reporter for an exhibition that was currently taking place in the Central Library Art Gallery in the Gamble Institute. The subject was 'Falcons & Owls' and the display was intended to illustrate the birds' lives and habitats. Visitors would be able to view specimens of the birds along with their eggs and nests, which I don't think would go down too well today.
The longstanding dispute between Billinge Council and a St Helens quarrying firm did appear to have been resolved three months ago. Joseph Pickavance's lorries had been accused of depositing mud onto Beacon Road and their loud explosions were said to have rattled residents' windows and caused cracks in walls. But in April Pickavances gave a court undertaking that vibrations from their blasting would not exceed a certain level. The firm also agreed to wash the wheels of their lorries to prevent mud and dirt being carried onto roads. Additionally, the firm paid Billinge Council's legal costs of £3,500.
But the firm had now written to the council indicating that they planned to extend their quarrying activities on the side of Billinge Hill. Billinge Council's response was that they would make a compulsory purchase of the 20-acre site in order to thwart Pickavance's expansion plans – but the Reporter predicted that a lengthy process of appeals and inquiries would likely result.
During the evening of the 27th a driver was killed and a man and wife injured in a two-car collision at the junction of Moss Bank Road and Martindale Road in St Helens. William Cunningham from Andrew Avenue in Billinge was taken to hospital but found to be dead.
There was anger in Rainford after Lancashire County Council had rejected its plans for a new youth centre. Rainford had first been promised a centre for its young people in 1964 but the needs of other areas had always pushed it off building programmes. Then in February 1973 the County Council allocated £8,000 to the scheme in its planned expenditure for 1973 to ’74, with a further £23,000 assigned in its budget for 1974 to ‘75.
But shortly afterwards Lancashire County Council announced that as a consequence of cuts in its government grant the Rainford project was having to be dropped. A deputation from Rainford Council had recently travelled to County Hall in Preston to discuss the matter but had not been able to change their minds. Rainford Council's clerk Ken Isherwood said they had been told that a list of 16 intended projects had needed to be reduced to 6, and theirs had been one that had been cut. Mr Isherwood added:
"We feel we've been led up the garden path on this and we aren't finished yet. If the centre is held over another year the responsibility for it will shift to the new St. Helens District Council and we've no idea how it will figure in their priorities. The centre is a much-needed facility here and we think we have been waiting long enough." The council now planned to contact their MP Harold Soref to see if he could help.
And finally on the 29th for 7 days, Clint Eastwood's 'High Plains Drifter' replaced 'Steptoe & Son Ride Again' at the ABC Savoy. And at the Capitol Cinema, 'The Wild Bunch' with Ernest Borgnine and William Holden replaced the Disney film 'Snowball Express'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the East Lancs underpass, the St Helens victims of the Summerland disaster, the 91-year-old Rainhill woman forced to quit her home and the customers that refused to evacuate a North Road chippy that was on fire.
This week's 14 stories include the vandalism at the start of the St Helens Show, the allowing of organised Sunday sport on council-run pitches, a plan to thwart an extension of quarrying on Billinge Hill, a blind Blackbrook typist has her appeal answered on the Jimmy Young Show and anger in Rainford after Lancashire County Council rejects its plans for a new youth centre.
We begin with the controversial Leathers Chemicals who were discussed in the House of Commons this week when a minister from the Department of the Environment answered a question from St Helens's MP.
In a written response Eldon Griffiths told Leslie Spriggs that St Helens Council had failed to consult his department's Alkali Inspectorate when planning permission for Leathers was being considered.
Mr Griffiths blamed the location of the works close to houses in Sutton as part of the reason why residents were being affected by discharges of toxic chemicals.
It was separately revealed this week that Leathers Chemicals were appealing against St Helens Council's enforcement notice, which they had served on the Lancots Lane plant some weeks ago.
St Helens Corporation had allowed the playing of Sunday sport within their public parks back in 1961.
But organised football and rugby matches were excluded for religious reasons. Campaigners argued that people might not attend church services if they were able to watch or participate in sport on the Sabbath.
There was also the argument that council playing fields were overworked and playing extra games could cause damage.
But at St Helens Town Council's monthly meeting on the 25th the question of whether the 100-year-old ban should be continued was considered.
The council's Amenities Committee had recently voted to permit a busmen's amateur rugby league team to play on a council pitch in Sutton Manor on Sundays.
The town council was being asked to approve the committee's decision – but Alderman William Burrows was staunchly against the move, saying:
"We must prevent Sunday becoming like any other day. This is a step in the wrong direction, and it could have far reaching effects on the way of life on Sunday we have enjoyed in this town for over a century."
Ald. Arthur Luther agreed, saying: "I feel this is a retrograde step in a so-called Christian country. I may be old-fashioned, but Sunday to me is a day of rest."
Councillor Pat Ashton called it an "antiquated Christian belief" that there should be no work done on Sundays, pointing out that already shift workers, hospital staff and busmen amongst others worked on the Sabbath.
His view prevailed and the council overwhelmingly supported the committee's decision to allow competitive Sunday sport.
And although their vote only concerned one specific application, it was expected there would now be a flood of other requests to play Sunday sport that could not be refused now a precedent had been set.
The council's Works Committee also decided this week to exempt disabled drivers from no-waiting restrictions on St Helens roads.
This week was the St Helens Show. The main attractions of the 3-day event were the Red Devils free fall team, the Royal Marines motor cycle display team, a sheep dog demonstration, jungle rescue display, the Band of the Royal Marines, the White Helmets motor cycle display team and the Derrico Alzanas high wire act.
There was also Punch and Judy, an 'It's A Knock-Out' inter-school contest, a motor show, a fashion show presented by Oxleys, 5-a-side rugby league sevens, talent competitions, the Show Queen ’73 contest and all-in wrestling, with the event ending on the Saturday night with a fireworks display.
However, the "Sherdley Show" got off to a difficult start as vandals had damaged two tents overnight.
A 20 ft. piece of canvas was ripped from the roof of the dog show marquee and some supports were pushed out of place. The fashion show tent was also torn.
The Reporter's lead story on the 27th concerned an expected hike in bus fares caused by "soaring" running costs and a "severe" shortage of staff.
At the present rates of fare it was expected that the St Helens Transport Department would end up £115,000 in the red, compared to a £46,000 loss in the 1972-3 financial year.
Linda Scott was also featured in the paper after her appeal on the Jimmy Young Show had been answered.
Mrs Scott from Longridge Avenue in Blackbrook was blind and needed a typewriter – but could not afford one.
A few minutes after her appeal was read out on Radio 2, a lady rang the programme to offer Mrs Scott her unwanted machine.
"A typewriter would be a great help", remarked Linda. "I could write letters a lot easier. It's like a dream come true."
Pictured in the Reporter were some of the cast of 'The Sound of Music', which had been performed at Robins Lane Secondary School.
The show had been produced by teacher Joseph McGrath and enjoyed over three evenings by a combined audience of over a thousand.
The girls had made their own costumes under the supervision of needlework mistress Ruth Green.
It had been the biggest production that the school had undertaken, with a main cast of 15 and a chorus of 78 juniors and seniors.
Sixteen-year-old Silvia Porter was cast as Maria and William Redcliffe played Captain Von Trapp.
An indication of the accelerating levels of inflation that would reach a peak in the mid-1970s came in a story about the new Liberal Club that was to be built in Thatto Heath.
It had finally been given the green light by St Helens Planning Committee after over a year of delays due to various concerns over the proposed building.
But in the meantime the projected cost of constructing the new club had increased from £40,000 to £55,000 due to hikes in the price of building materials and the cost of labour.
There was an advert in the Reporter for an exhibition that was currently taking place in the Central Library Art Gallery in the Gamble Institute.
The subject was 'Falcons & Owls' and the display was intended to illustrate the birds' lives and habitats.
Visitors would be able to view specimens of the birds along with their eggs and nests, which I don't think would go down too well today.
The longstanding dispute between Billinge Council and a St Helens quarrying firm did appear to have been resolved three months ago.
Joseph Pickavance's lorries had been accused of depositing mud onto Beacon Road and their loud explosions were said to have rattled residents' windows and caused cracks in walls.
But in April Pickavances gave a court undertaking that vibrations from their blasting would not exceed a certain level.
The firm also agreed to wash the wheels of their lorries to prevent mud and dirt being carried onto roads. Additionally, the firm paid Billinge Council's legal costs of £3,500.
But the firm had now written to the council indicating that they planned to extend their quarrying activities on the side of Billinge Hill.
Billinge Council's response was that they would make a compulsory purchase of the 20-acre site in order to thwart Pickavance's expansion plans – but the Reporter predicted that a lengthy process of appeals and inquiries would likely result.
During the evening of the 27th a driver was killed and a man and wife injured in a two-car collision at the junction of Moss Bank Road and Martindale Road in St Helens.
William Cunningham from Andrew Avenue in Billinge was taken to hospital but found to be dead.
There was anger in Rainford after Lancashire County Council had rejected its plans for a new youth centre.
Rainford had first been promised a centre for its young people in 1964 but the needs of other areas had always pushed it off building programmes.
Then in February 1973 the County Council allocated £8,000 to the scheme in its planned expenditure for 1973 to ’74, with a further £23,000 assigned in its budget for 1974 to ‘75.
But shortly afterwards Lancashire County Council announced that as a consequence of cuts in its government grant the Rainford project was having to be dropped.
A deputation from Rainford Council had recently travelled to County Hall in Preston to discuss the matter but had not been able to change their minds.
Rainford Council's clerk Ken Isherwood said they had been told that a list of 16 intended projects had needed to be reduced to 6, and theirs had been one that had been cut. Mr Isherwood added:
"We feel we've been led up the garden path on this and we aren't finished yet. If the centre is held over another year the responsibility for it will shift to the new St. Helens District Council and we've no idea how it will figure in their priorities.
"The centre is a much-needed facility here and we think we have been waiting long enough."
The council now planned to contact their MP Harold Soref to see if he could help.
And finally on the 29th for 7 days, Clint Eastwood's 'High Plains Drifter' replaced 'Steptoe & Son Ride Again' at the ABC Savoy.
And at the Capitol Cinema, 'The Wild Bunch' with Ernest Borgnine and William Holden replaced the Disney film 'Snowball Express'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the East Lancs underpass, the St Helens victims of the Summerland disaster, the 91-year-old Rainhill woman forced to quit her home and the customers that refused to evacuate a North Road chippy that was on fire.
We begin with the controversial Leathers Chemicals who were discussed in the House of Commons this week when a minister from the Department of the Environment answered a question from St Helens's MP.
In a written response Eldon Griffiths told Leslie Spriggs that St Helens Council had failed to consult his department's Alkali Inspectorate when planning permission for Leathers was being considered.
Mr Griffiths blamed the location of the works close to houses in Sutton as part of the reason why residents were being affected by discharges of toxic chemicals.
It was separately revealed this week that Leathers Chemicals were appealing against St Helens Council's enforcement notice, which they had served on the Lancots Lane plant some weeks ago.
St Helens Corporation had allowed the playing of Sunday sport within their public parks back in 1961.
But organised football and rugby matches were excluded for religious reasons. Campaigners argued that people might not attend church services if they were able to watch or participate in sport on the Sabbath.
There was also the argument that council playing fields were overworked and playing extra games could cause damage.
But at St Helens Town Council's monthly meeting on the 25th the question of whether the 100-year-old ban should be continued was considered.
The council's Amenities Committee had recently voted to permit a busmen's amateur rugby league team to play on a council pitch in Sutton Manor on Sundays.
The town council was being asked to approve the committee's decision – but Alderman William Burrows was staunchly against the move, saying:
"We must prevent Sunday becoming like any other day. This is a step in the wrong direction, and it could have far reaching effects on the way of life on Sunday we have enjoyed in this town for over a century."
Ald. Arthur Luther agreed, saying: "I feel this is a retrograde step in a so-called Christian country. I may be old-fashioned, but Sunday to me is a day of rest."
Councillor Pat Ashton called it an "antiquated Christian belief" that there should be no work done on Sundays, pointing out that already shift workers, hospital staff and busmen amongst others worked on the Sabbath.
His view prevailed and the council overwhelmingly supported the committee's decision to allow competitive Sunday sport.
And although their vote only concerned one specific application, it was expected there would now be a flood of other requests to play Sunday sport that could not be refused now a precedent had been set.
The council's Works Committee also decided this week to exempt disabled drivers from no-waiting restrictions on St Helens roads.
This week was the St Helens Show. The main attractions of the 3-day event were the Red Devils free fall team, the Royal Marines motor cycle display team, a sheep dog demonstration, jungle rescue display, the Band of the Royal Marines, the White Helmets motor cycle display team and the Derrico Alzanas high wire act.
There was also Punch and Judy, an 'It's A Knock-Out' inter-school contest, a motor show, a fashion show presented by Oxleys, 5-a-side rugby league sevens, talent competitions, the Show Queen ’73 contest and all-in wrestling, with the event ending on the Saturday night with a fireworks display.
However, the "Sherdley Show" got off to a difficult start as vandals had damaged two tents overnight.
A 20 ft. piece of canvas was ripped from the roof of the dog show marquee and some supports were pushed out of place. The fashion show tent was also torn.
The Reporter's lead story on the 27th concerned an expected hike in bus fares caused by "soaring" running costs and a "severe" shortage of staff.
At the present rates of fare it was expected that the St Helens Transport Department would end up £115,000 in the red, compared to a £46,000 loss in the 1972-3 financial year.
Linda Scott was also featured in the paper after her appeal on the Jimmy Young Show had been answered.
Mrs Scott from Longridge Avenue in Blackbrook was blind and needed a typewriter – but could not afford one.
A few minutes after her appeal was read out on Radio 2, a lady rang the programme to offer Mrs Scott her unwanted machine.
"A typewriter would be a great help", remarked Linda. "I could write letters a lot easier. It's like a dream come true."
The show had been produced by teacher Joseph McGrath and enjoyed over three evenings by a combined audience of over a thousand.
The girls had made their own costumes under the supervision of needlework mistress Ruth Green.
It had been the biggest production that the school had undertaken, with a main cast of 15 and a chorus of 78 juniors and seniors.
Sixteen-year-old Silvia Porter was cast as Maria and William Redcliffe played Captain Von Trapp.
An indication of the accelerating levels of inflation that would reach a peak in the mid-1970s came in a story about the new Liberal Club that was to be built in Thatto Heath.
It had finally been given the green light by St Helens Planning Committee after over a year of delays due to various concerns over the proposed building.
But in the meantime the projected cost of constructing the new club had increased from £40,000 to £55,000 due to hikes in the price of building materials and the cost of labour.
There was an advert in the Reporter for an exhibition that was currently taking place in the Central Library Art Gallery in the Gamble Institute.
The subject was 'Falcons & Owls' and the display was intended to illustrate the birds' lives and habitats.
Visitors would be able to view specimens of the birds along with their eggs and nests, which I don't think would go down too well today.
The longstanding dispute between Billinge Council and a St Helens quarrying firm did appear to have been resolved three months ago.
Joseph Pickavance's lorries had been accused of depositing mud onto Beacon Road and their loud explosions were said to have rattled residents' windows and caused cracks in walls.
But in April Pickavances gave a court undertaking that vibrations from their blasting would not exceed a certain level.
The firm also agreed to wash the wheels of their lorries to prevent mud and dirt being carried onto roads. Additionally, the firm paid Billinge Council's legal costs of £3,500.
But the firm had now written to the council indicating that they planned to extend their quarrying activities on the side of Billinge Hill.
Billinge Council's response was that they would make a compulsory purchase of the 20-acre site in order to thwart Pickavance's expansion plans – but the Reporter predicted that a lengthy process of appeals and inquiries would likely result.
During the evening of the 27th a driver was killed and a man and wife injured in a two-car collision at the junction of Moss Bank Road and Martindale Road in St Helens.
William Cunningham from Andrew Avenue in Billinge was taken to hospital but found to be dead.
There was anger in Rainford after Lancashire County Council had rejected its plans for a new youth centre.
Rainford had first been promised a centre for its young people in 1964 but the needs of other areas had always pushed it off building programmes.
Then in February 1973 the County Council allocated £8,000 to the scheme in its planned expenditure for 1973 to ’74, with a further £23,000 assigned in its budget for 1974 to ‘75.
But shortly afterwards Lancashire County Council announced that as a consequence of cuts in its government grant the Rainford project was having to be dropped.
A deputation from Rainford Council had recently travelled to County Hall in Preston to discuss the matter but had not been able to change their minds.
Rainford Council's clerk Ken Isherwood said they had been told that a list of 16 intended projects had needed to be reduced to 6, and theirs had been one that had been cut. Mr Isherwood added:
"We feel we've been led up the garden path on this and we aren't finished yet. If the centre is held over another year the responsibility for it will shift to the new St. Helens District Council and we've no idea how it will figure in their priorities.
"The centre is a much-needed facility here and we think we have been waiting long enough."
The council now planned to contact their MP Harold Soref to see if he could help.
And finally on the 29th for 7 days, Clint Eastwood's 'High Plains Drifter' replaced 'Steptoe & Son Ride Again' at the ABC Savoy.
And at the Capitol Cinema, 'The Wild Bunch' with Ernest Borgnine and William Holden replaced the Disney film 'Snowball Express'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the East Lancs underpass, the St Helens victims of the Summerland disaster, the 91-year-old Rainhill woman forced to quit her home and the customers that refused to evacuate a North Road chippy that was on fire.