FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (26th August - 1st Sept. 1969)
This week's stories include a strange washing machine theft in Haydock, criticisms of St Helens' doctors, an historic wedding in Crank, condemnation of the St Helens Show's beer prices, a donkey is wanted at the Theatre Royal and why a Marks and Spencer Evening at a church hall in Billinge led to a visit from a weights and measures inspector.
We begin on the 26th when an explosion took place in the viscose department of the British Sidac plant in Sutton Oak. However there were no injuries and damage at the cellulose wrappings manufacturer's works was slight.
Sidac had been in Sutton since 1934 and was now employing around 1,500 people. As they employed volatile chemicals, the risk of fire was never far away. Despite Sidac's severe pollution of Sutton Brook, the firm was far less controversial than the sulphuric acid works of Leathers (Hays) Chemicals that had just starting operating on a neighbouring site in Lancots Lane.
It was announced on the 26th that Ribble Motor Services planned to apply to the North-West Traffic Commissioners for permission to increase many of their bus fares. The service from Ormskirk to St Helens would rise by threepence to 2s 5d (single) and by sixpence to 4s 7d (return). That would mean that you only saved threepence on a return ticket, which is not much of an incentive – especially if you lost your ticket!
The invitation that children received to Sutton Parish Church's Holiday Club ‘69 said: "Come and make a boat, build an ark, be ship-wrecked or swallowed by a whale". It was a week-long series of morning activities at the parish hall in New Street that attracted 100 children aged between six and ten to each session. The boys and girls could paint, play games, make models and participate in plays. The materials used included egg cartons, cereal packets, washing-up liquid, containers, newspapers, clay and 26lb of paint. I think somebody had been watching Blue Peter!
The Rev. Derek Bailey said: "There was very little noise or mess. We hope the club was a means of getting into contact with children who have previously not been connected with us. Also, we hope it increases the children's understanding of the Christian faith. The plays they enacted were a means of putting the message across. That was really the idea. It was not just a child-minding service." The parents were invited to an open evening in the parish hall to view the models and work done by their children.
The Town Council's Year Book was published this week and revealed that the Corporation was £25.5 million in the red. The estimated population of St Helens in June 1968 was 102,470, down slightly on the previous year, with 69,196 electors. Such places as Haydock, Rainford and Newton were then outside the borough boundaries and so excluded from these stats.
Ambulancemen in St Helens and Liverpool went on strike on the 27th because of a dispute over union recognition – although emergency cases were still dealt with. On the first day of the industrial action, St Helens's twenty-two ambulance staff responded to fifteen urgent calls. On the 28th wage packets containing £931 (about £15,000 in today's money) were stolen from the boot of a Vauxhall Cresta parked outside Bold Colliery. Just who the pay had been for was not stated in the reports.
Also on that day the first wedding took place at the Alder Lane Mission in Crank. The tiny church had opened in 1857 as a Methodist Mission and in 1952 it became non-denominational. It was David Fishwick's great-great-great grandfather who had founded the church and so it was an appropriate venue for his wedding to Margaret Drake. The small seating capacity for the forty guests was a problem, however, with some forced to stand at the back.
So-called "Marks and Spencer Evenings" were very popular events during the late 1960s, as the Reporter described: "All over South West Lancashire, Marks and Spencer parties have become almost daily affairs in homes and church halls. But the guests have found the goods unbranded and not what they were led to believe."
M&S was also unhappy about the parties as the goods had nothing to do with them and all they got out of the evenings was what a spokesman called a "fistful of complaints". Also displeased was the Rev. Derrick Harris of St Aidan's Church in Billinge after he'd held such an evening in his church hall. The vicar had subsequently received a visit from a weights and measures inspector who told him that the organisers of such events faced prosecution. "I was hopping mad", he said, "to think that these people had led us along and knowingly taken part in a deception."
In the Reporter's letters page was a missive from Mr A. Bamber who said he was a visitor to the town and "appalled" at the state of the roads between Westfield Street and Duke Street. Mr Bamber wrote that New Cross Street, Hamer Street, Rigby Street, Lowe Street, King Street and North John Street did not appear to have been cleaned for months.
Throughout the lifetime of the St Helens Show (and St Helens Festival that succeeded it) complaints were made about the inflated prices charged for the "free" event. It appears that Terry Mercer was the first complainant demanding to know in his letter to the paper why a pint of beer at last week's inaugural show had cost 3s 3d? Not only was it threepence more than at last year's Centenary Show but Terry said the same brew of beer could be got from a pub for just 1s 10d to 2 shillings.
This week's subject in the Reporter's public opinion poll – as they called their street canvassing – was the NHS, with many parallels with the criticisms of today. Newsagent John Seddon from Harris Street thought the service provided by GPs had worsened, saying: "All they are interested in is writing out your prescription slip. They have not the same interest in their patients."
Ex-miner Horace Bourne from Brookway Lane recalled with some fondness the pre-NHS days: "When doctors presented you with a bill, you used to get a much better service. I remember the time when we used to pay 6d a week to the doctor." Mr Bourne also felt that the 2s 6d prescription charge was too high. Harold Hyde from Dunriding Lane was also of the view that medical attention was better when patients had to pay and that there weren't enough doctors.
Hilda Hargreaves was in agreement saying: "I don't think doctors are the same as they were years ago. They used to take a personal interest – visit you for a chat, for instance." Mrs Hargreaves also felt that nurses were underpaid for the hours that they worked.
The St Helens Amateur Operatic Society put out an unusual appeal in the Reporter. They were seeking a donkey for their Autumn production of 'The Desert Song' at the Theatre Royal. On the following day Ormskirk Rotary Club's annual Donkey Derby took place in front of nearly 5,000 spectators. So perhaps the Operatic Society should have gone to the Green Lane playing fields in Ormskirk instead of writing to the Reporter?
Washing machines are one of the few electrical appliances that haven't got any lighter (or cheaper) over the years. They have always been heavy items and so it was puzzling when thieves chose to raid a showhouse on the new Avondale Road estate in Haydock and only steal a washing machine. All the expensive fittings and furniture were left untouched and ex-policemen Derek Rogers – who worked at the showhouse – told the Reporter that the raiders must have been disturbed. Or perhaps they had a lot of dirty washing....
September 1st was rather oddly August Bank Holiday Monday. I can't figure out why but 1968's summer holiday was also held in September – although they reverted back to the last Monday in August in 1970. Beecham's second annual Family Day was held at their Social Club in Bentinck Street on the 1st with over 150 employees and their families in attendance. The attractions included donkey rides, children's races, swings and sideshows – including a spin-the-arrow stall.
Garswood's second annual Pram Race Championship and Gala was held on the 1st on the recreation field in Garswood Road. As well as pram racing there was a tug-of-war and a 5-a-side football competition.
There was a long-standing tradition for large works in St Helens to have their own fire brigades capable of extinguishing small fires before the town's fire service was able to attend. Nipping a small fire in the bud could, of course, prevent it from becoming a large fire, with all the consequences for production, property and life.
Pilkingtons had three fires that needed putting out on the Bank Holiday. The first was at Cowley Hill where the works brigade dealt with a smouldering rag in a machine. The others were a rubbish fire at the Grove Street Sheet Works and a blazing cupboard in a derelict shed. The town firemen extinguished these with the Reporter writing that Pilks' own fire-fighters were now focussing on prevention work and asking the St Helens' brigade to put out more of their fires.
And finally a film guide. 'The Italian Job' starring Michael Caine and Noel Coward began a six-day run at the ABC Savoy from the 1st. Meanwhile at the Capitol Ursula Andress was in the adventure comedy 'The Southern Star'.
Next week's stories will include the Haydock crime wave, the hapless Taylor Park aviary thieves, the dumping of rubbish at Rainford Junction, Pilks make armour-plated glass for King Tut, an Open Day is held at Mill Street Barracks and the pageantry and glamour as the Band of the Irish Guards come to town.
We begin on the 26th when an explosion took place in the viscose department of the British Sidac plant in Sutton Oak. However there were no injuries and damage at the cellulose wrappings manufacturer's works was slight.
It was announced on the 26th that Ribble Motor Services planned to apply to the North-West Traffic Commissioners for permission to increase many of their bus fares. The service from Ormskirk to St Helens would rise by threepence to 2s 5d (single) and by sixpence to 4s 7d (return). That would mean that you only saved threepence on a return ticket, which is not much of an incentive – especially if you lost your ticket!
The invitation that children received to Sutton Parish Church's Holiday Club ‘69 said: "Come and make a boat, build an ark, be ship-wrecked or swallowed by a whale". It was a week-long series of morning activities at the parish hall in New Street that attracted 100 children aged between six and ten to each session. The boys and girls could paint, play games, make models and participate in plays. The materials used included egg cartons, cereal packets, washing-up liquid, containers, newspapers, clay and 26lb of paint. I think somebody had been watching Blue Peter!
The Rev. Derek Bailey said: "There was very little noise or mess. We hope the club was a means of getting into contact with children who have previously not been connected with us. Also, we hope it increases the children's understanding of the Christian faith. The plays they enacted were a means of putting the message across. That was really the idea. It was not just a child-minding service." The parents were invited to an open evening in the parish hall to view the models and work done by their children.
The Town Council's Year Book was published this week and revealed that the Corporation was £25.5 million in the red. The estimated population of St Helens in June 1968 was 102,470, down slightly on the previous year, with 69,196 electors. Such places as Haydock, Rainford and Newton were then outside the borough boundaries and so excluded from these stats.
Ambulancemen in St Helens and Liverpool went on strike on the 27th because of a dispute over union recognition – although emergency cases were still dealt with. On the first day of the industrial action, St Helens's twenty-two ambulance staff responded to fifteen urgent calls. On the 28th wage packets containing £931 (about £15,000 in today's money) were stolen from the boot of a Vauxhall Cresta parked outside Bold Colliery. Just who the pay had been for was not stated in the reports.
Also on that day the first wedding took place at the Alder Lane Mission in Crank. The tiny church had opened in 1857 as a Methodist Mission and in 1952 it became non-denominational. It was David Fishwick's great-great-great grandfather who had founded the church and so it was an appropriate venue for his wedding to Margaret Drake. The small seating capacity for the forty guests was a problem, however, with some forced to stand at the back.
So-called "Marks and Spencer Evenings" were very popular events during the late 1960s, as the Reporter described: "All over South West Lancashire, Marks and Spencer parties have become almost daily affairs in homes and church halls. But the guests have found the goods unbranded and not what they were led to believe."
M&S was also unhappy about the parties as the goods had nothing to do with them and all they got out of the evenings was what a spokesman called a "fistful of complaints". Also displeased was the Rev. Derrick Harris of St Aidan's Church in Billinge after he'd held such an evening in his church hall. The vicar had subsequently received a visit from a weights and measures inspector who told him that the organisers of such events faced prosecution. "I was hopping mad", he said, "to think that these people had led us along and knowingly taken part in a deception."
In the Reporter's letters page was a missive from Mr A. Bamber who said he was a visitor to the town and "appalled" at the state of the roads between Westfield Street and Duke Street. Mr Bamber wrote that New Cross Street, Hamer Street, Rigby Street, Lowe Street, King Street and North John Street did not appear to have been cleaned for months.
Throughout the lifetime of the St Helens Show (and St Helens Festival that succeeded it) complaints were made about the inflated prices charged for the "free" event. It appears that Terry Mercer was the first complainant demanding to know in his letter to the paper why a pint of beer at last week's inaugural show had cost 3s 3d? Not only was it threepence more than at last year's Centenary Show but Terry said the same brew of beer could be got from a pub for just 1s 10d to 2 shillings.
This week's subject in the Reporter's public opinion poll – as they called their street canvassing – was the NHS, with many parallels with the criticisms of today. Newsagent John Seddon from Harris Street thought the service provided by GPs had worsened, saying: "All they are interested in is writing out your prescription slip. They have not the same interest in their patients."
Ex-miner Horace Bourne from Brookway Lane recalled with some fondness the pre-NHS days: "When doctors presented you with a bill, you used to get a much better service. I remember the time when we used to pay 6d a week to the doctor." Mr Bourne also felt that the 2s 6d prescription charge was too high. Harold Hyde from Dunriding Lane was also of the view that medical attention was better when patients had to pay and that there weren't enough doctors.
Hilda Hargreaves was in agreement saying: "I don't think doctors are the same as they were years ago. They used to take a personal interest – visit you for a chat, for instance." Mrs Hargreaves also felt that nurses were underpaid for the hours that they worked.
The St Helens Amateur Operatic Society put out an unusual appeal in the Reporter. They were seeking a donkey for their Autumn production of 'The Desert Song' at the Theatre Royal. On the following day Ormskirk Rotary Club's annual Donkey Derby took place in front of nearly 5,000 spectators. So perhaps the Operatic Society should have gone to the Green Lane playing fields in Ormskirk instead of writing to the Reporter?
Washing machines are one of the few electrical appliances that haven't got any lighter (or cheaper) over the years. They have always been heavy items and so it was puzzling when thieves chose to raid a showhouse on the new Avondale Road estate in Haydock and only steal a washing machine. All the expensive fittings and furniture were left untouched and ex-policemen Derek Rogers – who worked at the showhouse – told the Reporter that the raiders must have been disturbed. Or perhaps they had a lot of dirty washing....
September 1st was rather oddly August Bank Holiday Monday. I can't figure out why but 1968's summer holiday was also held in September – although they reverted back to the last Monday in August in 1970. Beecham's second annual Family Day was held at their Social Club in Bentinck Street on the 1st with over 150 employees and their families in attendance. The attractions included donkey rides, children's races, swings and sideshows – including a spin-the-arrow stall.
Garswood's second annual Pram Race Championship and Gala was held on the 1st on the recreation field in Garswood Road. As well as pram racing there was a tug-of-war and a 5-a-side football competition.
There was a long-standing tradition for large works in St Helens to have their own fire brigades capable of extinguishing small fires before the town's fire service was able to attend. Nipping a small fire in the bud could, of course, prevent it from becoming a large fire, with all the consequences for production, property and life.
Pilkingtons had three fires that needed putting out on the Bank Holiday. The first was at Cowley Hill where the works brigade dealt with a smouldering rag in a machine. The others were a rubbish fire at the Grove Street Sheet Works and a blazing cupboard in a derelict shed. The town firemen extinguished these with the Reporter writing that Pilks' own fire-fighters were now focussing on prevention work and asking the St Helens' brigade to put out more of their fires.
Next week's stories will include the Haydock crime wave, the hapless Taylor Park aviary thieves, the dumping of rubbish at Rainford Junction, Pilks make armour-plated glass for King Tut, an Open Day is held at Mill Street Barracks and the pageantry and glamour as the Band of the Irish Guards come to town.