FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (25th - 31st March 1969)
This week's stories include the long-gone Westfield Street shops, the state of the footpaths in Sutton, the electric Rainhill clothes line, Candy the poodle is back in Billinge, there's bad news for Saints fans, old Cowleians are in the Echo and it's the end of the road for St Helens Police.
We begin on the 25th when the St Helens Showband performed a charity gig at the Theatre Royal in aid of Save the Children. The Red River Jazzmen was in support. All the musicians in the 17-strong Showband were members of local dance bands and played for their own entertainment and to try and recreate some of the big band sounds of the forties.
The Ministry of Transport held a five-day road traffic signs exhibition in Barrow Street from the 25th to educate the public about the new signs that were being introduced.
In the Echo's regular column called 'Over The Mersey Wall' on the 25th, Cathy Habington wrote: "Old Cowleians never fade away in adult life, it seems – they're only too pleased to get together and talk about their days at Cowley School, St. Helens. As one who can't lend much support to the maxim that schooldays are the happiest, I'm impressed to learn that Cowley in addition to having a popular ex-pupils association on home-ground, even has a flourishing London branch for boys whose jobs have taken them southwards.
"The branch is holding its annual dinner on April 18 and secretary Mr. W. Stubbs of Rushdene, St. Leonard's, near Tring, in Hertfordshire, expects to receive around 50 replies accepting the invitations he's sending to its members."
Two little girls were reunited with their lost dog on the 26th after an appeal had been made in the St Helens Reporter. Three-year-old Deborah Hall and her five-year-old sister Beverley had been devastated after their miniature white poodle went walkies from their house in Billinge. Candy had been missing from Newton Road for three weeks, so the chances of finding him alive did not seem high.
However a man rang the girls' home to say the dog was running around Kings Moss and he was eventually returned home. The girls' mother told the Reporter: "It took us ages to catch him, but he has settled down again now. He really made a fuss of the children when he saw them and they are thrilled to bits."
The Echo on the 26th described how Wesley Coalter from Mooreway in Rainhill had an electrifying problem on his hands. Or more accurately it was his wife Ann's problem, as every time she hung washing on her back garden clothesline she received an electric shock.
The line had become electrified from a pylon carrying 400,000 volts at the rear of their home, which was conducting electricity to a clothes pole. As an electrical draughtsman with a Liverpool firm, Wesley knew all about electricity and so had fully earthed the clothes pole. However it had made no difference to the amount of electricity that was being passed along the clothesline.
The problem had baffled officials from Manweb and the Central Electricity Generating Board and Wesley was now planning to protest to the Minister of Fuel and Power, telling the Echo: "I am afraid for my wife Ann and young daughter, Jane. My daughter could pick up this clothes line accidentally and receive a terrible shock from it."
During the evening of the 26th a number of tiny tots took part in a fashion show at the Deaf Institute in Dentons Green Lane. The show was organised by the St Helens and District Branch of the Pre-School Play Groups Association.
The Unnamed Players presented a comedy thriller at the Theatre Royal for three evenings from the 27th. It was called 'Brush With a Body' and produced once again by Tony Hewitt. Tony, a schoolteacher, was a founder member of The Unnamed Players and had been their producer since 1947.
This week the chairman of the St Helens Industrial Co-operative Society announced that the past six months had been their most profitable in recent times and the dividend (or "divi") was being increased from 6d to 8d in the pound.
It's funny how things change. These days, of course, very few people use telephone kiosks with the advent of mobile phones. However back in the 1960s many residents of St Helens didn't have a telephone inside their home and so were reliant on the red boxes. Hence the main story on the front page of the Reporter on the 28th that began:
"After an eight-year struggle with the G.P.O., residents of the massive West Sutton ward are to get two extra telephone kiosks." It's curious that the Reporter felt that was the most important story of the week but it does underline the importance of phone boxes at that time.
However some things don't change much. Immediately below the phone story was a shorter article with the headline "Measles Vaccine: No Fears". The town's Medical Officer Dr Gerald O’Brien told parents not to be concerned about reports of side effects of the recently introduced vaccine.
There was a letter in the Reporter from 87-year-old Tom Brisco from Ilfracombe Road who was complaining about the state of the footpaths: "During the recent bad weather there was slush everywhere. Lorries used Chester Lane and Walkers Lane as lay-byes causing deep holes which filled with water. This has been going on for years. It is a disgrace.
"Looking back over many years when I was a schoolboy, the footpaths in Parr were cared for every year. There was no sludge to walk in and our clogs, which we cleaned before leaving home, were just the same when we arrived at the school. Elton Head Road is a narrow lane and very dangerous for children leaving Marshalls Cross school. A little has been done to remedy it, but not sufficient to keep them out of danger. Come on, councillors, show a little consideration to the ratepayers."
The Reporter had an advertising feature on Westfield Street (pictured above in 1974), with some long-gone shops featured. Do you remember Go Gay? The greeting card seller was at number 26 and they also sold jewellery and handbags.
"Fresh cream fancies our speciality", said Eversons advert. They were also offering hot cross buns, cakes, bread, pies and fresh cut sandwiches to take out or enjoy in their upstairs restaurant.
Butcher Brian Ball's ad said: "Only the meat receives better attention than the customer". The 23-year-old was also a biker and last summer had competed in the Senior TT race in the Isle of Man where he came second to the world champion Giacomo Agostini. I believe his longstanding family business is now in Higher Parr Street.
Then there was R. S. Slinn at nos. 96 /98 "where wallpaper costs less". Harold Stott was the service manager at Rothery Radio before starting his own business in 1963 at 18 Westfield Street. His ad was promoting "high fidelity sound equipment and top quality tape recorders".
"Now is the time to renew that worn carpet", said H. & A. E. Williams at number 20. Brothers Ernest and John Williams – who were also undertakers – ran the furnishing shop.
Clinkards had been selling shoes in Westfield Street since 1953 and now had three shops. Fosters Flowers was at number 37 and as well as blooms sold "garden requisites", including aquariums.
Also advertising in the feature were Haywards ("your specialist children's outfitters"), Lesley's children's outfitters, Courtman master tailors, Northern Decor and Ellisons Travel Service. The latter was advising customers to book their Easter weekend trip early and was suggesting Snowdonia, Windermere, Morecambe, Llandudno, Anglesey and a Valley tour as the places to visit.
There was bad news for Saints fans on the 28th with the announcement that international scrum half Tommy Bishop had broken his cheekbone. This happened during Saints 19 - 4 win over Oldham. Tommy's brother Alan came on as substitute and scored a try, as did Kel Coslett and South African winger Errol Van Niekerk.
Forward Cliff Watson was also out injured with a double fracture of the jaw, hampering his team's chances of challenging Leeds for the League Leaders' Trophy. Cliff lived opposite my grandmother in Walmsley Drive in Rainford, just off Rookery Lane.
Toll Bar Congregational Church held a folk night on the 28th. On the same evening down Duke Street, the Plaza Theatre Club offered a mix of wrestling and cabaret. The Tri-lites and Joey Holiday provided the latter and the grappling matches were Count Bartelli vs. Jack Martin, Micky Gould vs. Mick Duffy and Ian St John vs. Johnny Saint.
And finally the St Helens police paraded as a borough force for the last time on the 30th, when the Mayor and the Watch and Licensing Committee held an inspection at Cowley Girls School. Two days later the force would merge with twelve other borough forces to become part of the new Lancashire Constabulary.
This was something of a back to the future situation as up until 1875 when the borough force was created, St Helens police had been under Lancashire. Under the new regime the town lost the role of Chief Constable, which it had had for ninety-four years. Photographed above is the arched entrance to the old police station which still exists attached to the Town Hall.
Next week's 22 stories include the Eccleston rabbit "shotgun militia", the expensive mercury theft from Croppers Hill, the robbery of a bookie in Prescot Road, Easter and the St Helens' school holidays, the Norah Carter School of Dancing in North Road, muscle men are wanted in Ashton and there's an Easter exodus from the town to Majorca and Spain.
We begin on the 25th when the St Helens Showband performed a charity gig at the Theatre Royal in aid of Save the Children. The Red River Jazzmen was in support. All the musicians in the 17-strong Showband were members of local dance bands and played for their own entertainment and to try and recreate some of the big band sounds of the forties.
The Ministry of Transport held a five-day road traffic signs exhibition in Barrow Street from the 25th to educate the public about the new signs that were being introduced.
In the Echo's regular column called 'Over The Mersey Wall' on the 25th, Cathy Habington wrote: "Old Cowleians never fade away in adult life, it seems – they're only too pleased to get together and talk about their days at Cowley School, St. Helens. As one who can't lend much support to the maxim that schooldays are the happiest, I'm impressed to learn that Cowley in addition to having a popular ex-pupils association on home-ground, even has a flourishing London branch for boys whose jobs have taken them southwards.
"The branch is holding its annual dinner on April 18 and secretary Mr. W. Stubbs of Rushdene, St. Leonard's, near Tring, in Hertfordshire, expects to receive around 50 replies accepting the invitations he's sending to its members."
Two little girls were reunited with their lost dog on the 26th after an appeal had been made in the St Helens Reporter. Three-year-old Deborah Hall and her five-year-old sister Beverley had been devastated after their miniature white poodle went walkies from their house in Billinge. Candy had been missing from Newton Road for three weeks, so the chances of finding him alive did not seem high.
However a man rang the girls' home to say the dog was running around Kings Moss and he was eventually returned home. The girls' mother told the Reporter: "It took us ages to catch him, but he has settled down again now. He really made a fuss of the children when he saw them and they are thrilled to bits."
The Echo on the 26th described how Wesley Coalter from Mooreway in Rainhill had an electrifying problem on his hands. Or more accurately it was his wife Ann's problem, as every time she hung washing on her back garden clothesline she received an electric shock.
The line had become electrified from a pylon carrying 400,000 volts at the rear of their home, which was conducting electricity to a clothes pole. As an electrical draughtsman with a Liverpool firm, Wesley knew all about electricity and so had fully earthed the clothes pole. However it had made no difference to the amount of electricity that was being passed along the clothesline.
The problem had baffled officials from Manweb and the Central Electricity Generating Board and Wesley was now planning to protest to the Minister of Fuel and Power, telling the Echo: "I am afraid for my wife Ann and young daughter, Jane. My daughter could pick up this clothes line accidentally and receive a terrible shock from it."
During the evening of the 26th a number of tiny tots took part in a fashion show at the Deaf Institute in Dentons Green Lane. The show was organised by the St Helens and District Branch of the Pre-School Play Groups Association.
The Unnamed Players presented a comedy thriller at the Theatre Royal for three evenings from the 27th. It was called 'Brush With a Body' and produced once again by Tony Hewitt. Tony, a schoolteacher, was a founder member of The Unnamed Players and had been their producer since 1947.
This week the chairman of the St Helens Industrial Co-operative Society announced that the past six months had been their most profitable in recent times and the dividend (or "divi") was being increased from 6d to 8d in the pound.
It's funny how things change. These days, of course, very few people use telephone kiosks with the advent of mobile phones. However back in the 1960s many residents of St Helens didn't have a telephone inside their home and so were reliant on the red boxes. Hence the main story on the front page of the Reporter on the 28th that began:
"After an eight-year struggle with the G.P.O., residents of the massive West Sutton ward are to get two extra telephone kiosks." It's curious that the Reporter felt that was the most important story of the week but it does underline the importance of phone boxes at that time.
However some things don't change much. Immediately below the phone story was a shorter article with the headline "Measles Vaccine: No Fears". The town's Medical Officer Dr Gerald O’Brien told parents not to be concerned about reports of side effects of the recently introduced vaccine.
There was a letter in the Reporter from 87-year-old Tom Brisco from Ilfracombe Road who was complaining about the state of the footpaths: "During the recent bad weather there was slush everywhere. Lorries used Chester Lane and Walkers Lane as lay-byes causing deep holes which filled with water. This has been going on for years. It is a disgrace.
"Looking back over many years when I was a schoolboy, the footpaths in Parr were cared for every year. There was no sludge to walk in and our clogs, which we cleaned before leaving home, were just the same when we arrived at the school. Elton Head Road is a narrow lane and very dangerous for children leaving Marshalls Cross school. A little has been done to remedy it, but not sufficient to keep them out of danger. Come on, councillors, show a little consideration to the ratepayers."
"Fresh cream fancies our speciality", said Eversons advert. They were also offering hot cross buns, cakes, bread, pies and fresh cut sandwiches to take out or enjoy in their upstairs restaurant.
Butcher Brian Ball's ad said: "Only the meat receives better attention than the customer". The 23-year-old was also a biker and last summer had competed in the Senior TT race in the Isle of Man where he came second to the world champion Giacomo Agostini. I believe his longstanding family business is now in Higher Parr Street.
Then there was R. S. Slinn at nos. 96 /98 "where wallpaper costs less". Harold Stott was the service manager at Rothery Radio before starting his own business in 1963 at 18 Westfield Street. His ad was promoting "high fidelity sound equipment and top quality tape recorders".
"Now is the time to renew that worn carpet", said H. & A. E. Williams at number 20. Brothers Ernest and John Williams – who were also undertakers – ran the furnishing shop.
Clinkards had been selling shoes in Westfield Street since 1953 and now had three shops. Fosters Flowers was at number 37 and as well as blooms sold "garden requisites", including aquariums.
Also advertising in the feature were Haywards ("your specialist children's outfitters"), Lesley's children's outfitters, Courtman master tailors, Northern Decor and Ellisons Travel Service. The latter was advising customers to book their Easter weekend trip early and was suggesting Snowdonia, Windermere, Morecambe, Llandudno, Anglesey and a Valley tour as the places to visit.
There was bad news for Saints fans on the 28th with the announcement that international scrum half Tommy Bishop had broken his cheekbone. This happened during Saints 19 - 4 win over Oldham. Tommy's brother Alan came on as substitute and scored a try, as did Kel Coslett and South African winger Errol Van Niekerk.
Forward Cliff Watson was also out injured with a double fracture of the jaw, hampering his team's chances of challenging Leeds for the League Leaders' Trophy. Cliff lived opposite my grandmother in Walmsley Drive in Rainford, just off Rookery Lane.
Toll Bar Congregational Church held a folk night on the 28th. On the same evening down Duke Street, the Plaza Theatre Club offered a mix of wrestling and cabaret. The Tri-lites and Joey Holiday provided the latter and the grappling matches were Count Bartelli vs. Jack Martin, Micky Gould vs. Mick Duffy and Ian St John vs. Johnny Saint.
This was something of a back to the future situation as up until 1875 when the borough force was created, St Helens police had been under Lancashire. Under the new regime the town lost the role of Chief Constable, which it had had for ninety-four years. Photographed above is the arched entrance to the old police station which still exists attached to the Town Hall.
Next week's 22 stories include the Eccleston rabbit "shotgun militia", the expensive mercury theft from Croppers Hill, the robbery of a bookie in Prescot Road, Easter and the St Helens' school holidays, the Norah Carter School of Dancing in North Road, muscle men are wanted in Ashton and there's an Easter exodus from the town to Majorca and Spain.