FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 26 AUGUST - 1 SEPT 1974
This week's many stories include the pushback against Pilks' plans for a float glass factory in Gorsey Lane, the fun and chaos at the Rainford and Burtonwood carnivals, the 24-hour hot-line for Sutton residents to report atmospheric pollution, more schools are affected by the Alumina cement scandal, the Derby Arms in Rainford wins a floral award and the bingo backlash after a councillor suggests that players did not make the best mothers.
In July Pilkingtons had submitted an application for outline planning permission to build a float glass factory on 100 acres of farmland in Gorsey Lane. The plant was expected to cost about £20 million, which in today's money would equate to around £300m. The St Helens Reporter said at the time that Pilks were hoping that any objections to their scheme would be "muted by the danger that the town would lose 800 jobs". That was because if their application was rejected, the firm might choose to build their new factory away from St Helens.
On the 30th of this week the Reporter described how a petition against the new factory that contained 1,340 names had been handed in at St Helens Town Hall. The Clock Face and Sutton Leach Community Action Group were fighting against Pilks' proposals but insisted that the petition was only one part of their battle plan. They had already written to local MPs, County and District planning bosses, Bold Parish Council and the local Trades Council.
The group were now trying to get as many residents as possible to join them in a demonstration on the Town Hall steps before next Tuesday's planning committee meeting. That would be when councillors had their first opportunity to debate Pilkington's application. The action group's chairman, Malcolm Hughes, had told its members at a meeting earlier in the week: "Pilkingtons aren't used to having people stand up to them – nor have the council officials been used to the people of this town having a mind of their own."
Roy and Margery Rigby were celebrating in the Reporter after winning a £250 cash prize from Greenall Whitley. The landlord and landlady of the Derby Arms in Rainford had come joint first in a competition among over 900 pubs in the North West. That had been designed to encourage licensees to improve the attractiveness of their premises using flowers and plants.
There were three categories in the contest and the Derby Arms had triumphed in the first impressions section with the judges impressed by the tubs and hanging baskets outside their Church Road pub. Locals had helped beautify the Derby with one regular creating the hanging baskets and a farmer had ploughed the ground at its rear.
The Reporter also described how a 24-hour hot-line had been set up for Sutton residents so they could inform St Helens Council of atmospheric pollution incidents as they occurred. The new scheme had been established by the Environmental Health Department so that public health inspectors could speedily make checks.
Answering the calls would be one of the night watchmen that were on duty at the Hardshaw Brook depot who were the only council employees available to take calls at all hours. They would then relay messages to a public health expert. It was emphasised that the service was only for atmospheric pollution complaints in the Sutton area.
Although Leathers Chemicals (pictured above) were not mentioned in the report, they were the main suspects in causing such pollution. However, the sulphuric acid factory in Lancots Lane often denied responsibility for incidents and with delays before investigations by inspectors could begin, there was little chance of gathering any evidence.
The Reporter also related how councillors had accused Pilkingtons of going back on their word for a second time over their own anti-pollution measures. The first instance was after the glass giant had failed to close Fibreglass's number 9 tank as had been promised. It was supposed to have been shut down in January but Pilkingtons had instead kept it going. They had also stated that their no. 11 furnace would be fitted with sophisticated anti-pollution measures – but that had not happened either.
Both Rainford and Burtonwood Carnivals had taken place last weekend and the Reporter described how both had been a "mixture of chaos and fun". The attendance at Rainford had slumped dramatically from their last carnival in 1972 and angry organisers at Burtonwood claimed that a rival fair had enticed their customers away.
The paper said a cricket match that was being played on part of the recreation field that the Rainford Carnival was using had caused difficulties for both the carnival organisers and the cricket club. People had strayed over the boundaries and interfered with the sightscreens.
A few weeks ago the team's captain Robert Rose had attempted to placate the carnival organisers by offering to appoint stewards and make collections from spectators. The intention was that the cash raised would go towards the carnival's proceeds. But in the end the collection plan fell through, as there weren't enough people to collect money from. A mid-afternoon downpour also led to the top of the table cricket clash being drawn and the re-scheduling of some carnival events.
Meanwhile at Burtonwood, about 2,500 people attended the second carnival in the village's history. A model aeroplane club staged an aerobatic display and a local pipe band played traditional melodies. And a contingent from the Territorial Army entertained the crowds with a display of field artillery.
But the organisers at Burtonwood also had an issue with a rival event as it was claimed that many people had left the carnival to attend Silcock's Fair. That had been set up on a nearby field and had no connection with the carnival, much to the annoyance of the organisers.
Bingo players were up in arms this week after a council committee had decided that places like the Hippodrome in St Helens were not the best venues to recruit prospective foster mothers. John Boyle, the Deputy Director of Social Services, had told councillors that the authority intended to start a fostering campaign so that children in care would have a chance of a normal family life.
The Social Services Committee were told that posters promoting the initiative would be placed in shops, churches, hospitals, libraries, buses, offices, waiting rooms and bingo halls. But Councillor Dorothy Fogg asked for bingo halls to be removed from the list, explaining: "I am not saying that you can't find good mothers in bingo halls, but it is not the most likely place to look." Cllr Nellie Holley agreed, saying doctors' surgeries and church halls were more suitable.
Later Cllr Fogg claimed: "When people go to bingo, they are not interested in looking at notices on walls – their eyes are down, they are looking in. I do not mind mothers with their own children playing bingo, but I don't think it is quite right if you are acting as mother to somebody else's children."
But there was a furious reaction to the comments at the Hippodrome bingo hall in Corporation Street, with manageress Maureen Bibby saying: "I think these councillors are talking round their hats. There are a lot of people here who would be suitable as foster parents. We never get children left outside here like you see at some pubs, and I know that mothers leave the afternoon bingo sessions to pick their children up from school."
Grandmother Bella Lawrenson of Frodsham Drive in Blackbrook, said: "I am fuming, and I'm shocked that intelligent people can go round saying things like that. In fact, my grandchildren like me to go to bingo." And Jim Atherton who described himself as a casual bingo player said: "You can't put all bingo players in the one category. I don't see why these notices can't be put up."
At the end of the week there were further developments in the Alumina cement scandal. Concerns had first been raised some weeks ago after a beam in the roof of a London school that had used the rapid hardening concrete had collapsed. The Department of the Environment subsequently asked all local authorities to investigate any buildings where Alumina cement may have been used.
There were many similarities to the recent RAAC concrete issues in this country and 20 schools in the St Helens district that were known to have used Alumina underwent safety checks. A week or so ago it was revealed that initial results had led to parts of Campion Boys and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Girls schools having to be closed for up to 12 months while repairs were carried out.
But letters were now in the post to parents of Carr Mill Junior pupils informing them that the whole school had been closed and building experts were also planning to shut classrooms in seven others. The children who were due to start term at the Kentmere Avenue school in Carr Mill would instead be told to report to the infant school in Ullswater Avenue where they would be squeezed in.
Other schools that were partly closed included St Anselm's Roman Catholic Secondary where seven classrooms, changing rooms, the dining hall and the combined gymnasium/assembly hall were out of commission. A small area of St Cuthbert's was also affected, as was the assembly hall at Hamblett School, two classrooms at Grange Park Secondary and a small area of Rainford High. Part of the workshop block of St Helens College was also being shut.
And finally, on September 1st 'The Great Gatsby' began a week's screening at the ABC Savoy in Bridge Street with a film called 'Kung Fu Headcrusher' beginning a run at the Capitol Cinema.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the vote to close down Leathers Chemicals, the first step is taken to create a bus station for St Helens, the Rainford gun club making too much noise and more protests against Pilks' proposed Gorsey Lane float glass plant.
In July Pilkingtons had submitted an application for outline planning permission to build a float glass factory on 100 acres of farmland in Gorsey Lane. The plant was expected to cost about £20 million, which in today's money would equate to around £300m. The St Helens Reporter said at the time that Pilks were hoping that any objections to their scheme would be "muted by the danger that the town would lose 800 jobs". That was because if their application was rejected, the firm might choose to build their new factory away from St Helens.
On the 30th of this week the Reporter described how a petition against the new factory that contained 1,340 names had been handed in at St Helens Town Hall. The Clock Face and Sutton Leach Community Action Group were fighting against Pilks' proposals but insisted that the petition was only one part of their battle plan. They had already written to local MPs, County and District planning bosses, Bold Parish Council and the local Trades Council.
The group were now trying to get as many residents as possible to join them in a demonstration on the Town Hall steps before next Tuesday's planning committee meeting. That would be when councillors had their first opportunity to debate Pilkington's application. The action group's chairman, Malcolm Hughes, had told its members at a meeting earlier in the week: "Pilkingtons aren't used to having people stand up to them – nor have the council officials been used to the people of this town having a mind of their own."
Roy and Margery Rigby were celebrating in the Reporter after winning a £250 cash prize from Greenall Whitley. The landlord and landlady of the Derby Arms in Rainford had come joint first in a competition among over 900 pubs in the North West. That had been designed to encourage licensees to improve the attractiveness of their premises using flowers and plants.
There were three categories in the contest and the Derby Arms had triumphed in the first impressions section with the judges impressed by the tubs and hanging baskets outside their Church Road pub. Locals had helped beautify the Derby with one regular creating the hanging baskets and a farmer had ploughed the ground at its rear.
The Reporter also described how a 24-hour hot-line had been set up for Sutton residents so they could inform St Helens Council of atmospheric pollution incidents as they occurred. The new scheme had been established by the Environmental Health Department so that public health inspectors could speedily make checks.
Answering the calls would be one of the night watchmen that were on duty at the Hardshaw Brook depot who were the only council employees available to take calls at all hours. They would then relay messages to a public health expert. It was emphasised that the service was only for atmospheric pollution complaints in the Sutton area.
The Reporter also related how councillors had accused Pilkingtons of going back on their word for a second time over their own anti-pollution measures. The first instance was after the glass giant had failed to close Fibreglass's number 9 tank as had been promised. It was supposed to have been shut down in January but Pilkingtons had instead kept it going. They had also stated that their no. 11 furnace would be fitted with sophisticated anti-pollution measures – but that had not happened either.
Both Rainford and Burtonwood Carnivals had taken place last weekend and the Reporter described how both had been a "mixture of chaos and fun". The attendance at Rainford had slumped dramatically from their last carnival in 1972 and angry organisers at Burtonwood claimed that a rival fair had enticed their customers away.
The paper said a cricket match that was being played on part of the recreation field that the Rainford Carnival was using had caused difficulties for both the carnival organisers and the cricket club. People had strayed over the boundaries and interfered with the sightscreens.
A few weeks ago the team's captain Robert Rose had attempted to placate the carnival organisers by offering to appoint stewards and make collections from spectators. The intention was that the cash raised would go towards the carnival's proceeds. But in the end the collection plan fell through, as there weren't enough people to collect money from. A mid-afternoon downpour also led to the top of the table cricket clash being drawn and the re-scheduling of some carnival events.
Meanwhile at Burtonwood, about 2,500 people attended the second carnival in the village's history. A model aeroplane club staged an aerobatic display and a local pipe band played traditional melodies. And a contingent from the Territorial Army entertained the crowds with a display of field artillery.
But the organisers at Burtonwood also had an issue with a rival event as it was claimed that many people had left the carnival to attend Silcock's Fair. That had been set up on a nearby field and had no connection with the carnival, much to the annoyance of the organisers.
Bingo players were up in arms this week after a council committee had decided that places like the Hippodrome in St Helens were not the best venues to recruit prospective foster mothers. John Boyle, the Deputy Director of Social Services, had told councillors that the authority intended to start a fostering campaign so that children in care would have a chance of a normal family life.
The Social Services Committee were told that posters promoting the initiative would be placed in shops, churches, hospitals, libraries, buses, offices, waiting rooms and bingo halls. But Councillor Dorothy Fogg asked for bingo halls to be removed from the list, explaining: "I am not saying that you can't find good mothers in bingo halls, but it is not the most likely place to look." Cllr Nellie Holley agreed, saying doctors' surgeries and church halls were more suitable.
Later Cllr Fogg claimed: "When people go to bingo, they are not interested in looking at notices on walls – their eyes are down, they are looking in. I do not mind mothers with their own children playing bingo, but I don't think it is quite right if you are acting as mother to somebody else's children."
But there was a furious reaction to the comments at the Hippodrome bingo hall in Corporation Street, with manageress Maureen Bibby saying: "I think these councillors are talking round their hats. There are a lot of people here who would be suitable as foster parents. We never get children left outside here like you see at some pubs, and I know that mothers leave the afternoon bingo sessions to pick their children up from school."
Grandmother Bella Lawrenson of Frodsham Drive in Blackbrook, said: "I am fuming, and I'm shocked that intelligent people can go round saying things like that. In fact, my grandchildren like me to go to bingo." And Jim Atherton who described himself as a casual bingo player said: "You can't put all bingo players in the one category. I don't see why these notices can't be put up."
At the end of the week there were further developments in the Alumina cement scandal. Concerns had first been raised some weeks ago after a beam in the roof of a London school that had used the rapid hardening concrete had collapsed. The Department of the Environment subsequently asked all local authorities to investigate any buildings where Alumina cement may have been used.
There were many similarities to the recent RAAC concrete issues in this country and 20 schools in the St Helens district that were known to have used Alumina underwent safety checks. A week or so ago it was revealed that initial results had led to parts of Campion Boys and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Girls schools having to be closed for up to 12 months while repairs were carried out.
But letters were now in the post to parents of Carr Mill Junior pupils informing them that the whole school had been closed and building experts were also planning to shut classrooms in seven others. The children who were due to start term at the Kentmere Avenue school in Carr Mill would instead be told to report to the infant school in Ullswater Avenue where they would be squeezed in.
Other schools that were partly closed included St Anselm's Roman Catholic Secondary where seven classrooms, changing rooms, the dining hall and the combined gymnasium/assembly hall were out of commission. A small area of St Cuthbert's was also affected, as was the assembly hall at Hamblett School, two classrooms at Grange Park Secondary and a small area of Rainford High. Part of the workshop block of St Helens College was also being shut.
And finally, on September 1st 'The Great Gatsby' began a week's screening at the ABC Savoy in Bridge Street with a film called 'Kung Fu Headcrusher' beginning a run at the Capitol Cinema.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the vote to close down Leathers Chemicals, the first step is taken to create a bus station for St Helens, the Rainford gun club making too much noise and more protests against Pilks' proposed Gorsey Lane float glass plant.
This week's many stories include the pushback against Pilks' plans for a float glass factory in Gorsey Lane, the fun and chaos at the Rainford and Burtonwood carnivals, the 24-hour hot-line for Sutton residents to report atmospheric pollution, more schools are affected by the Alumina cement scandal, the Derby Arms in Rainford wins a floral award and the bingo backlash after a councillor suggests that players did not make the best mothers.
In July Pilkingtons had submitted an application for outline planning permission to build a float glass factory on 100 acres of farmland in Gorsey Lane.
The plant was expected to cost about £20 million, which in today's money would equate to around £300m.
The St Helens Reporter said at the time that Pilks were hoping that any objections to their scheme would be "muted by the danger that the town would lose 800 jobs".
That was because if their application was rejected, the firm might choose to build their new factory away from St Helens.
On the 30th of this week the Reporter described how a petition against the new factory that contained 1,340 names had been handed in at St Helens Town Hall.
The Clock Face and Sutton Leach Community Action Group were fighting against Pilks' proposals but insisted that the petition was only one part of their battle plan.
They had already written to local MPs, County and District planning bosses, Bold Parish Council and the local Trades Council.
The group were now trying to get as many residents as possible to join them in a demonstration on the Town Hall steps before next Tuesday's planning committee meeting.
That would be when councillors had their first opportunity to debate Pilkington's application.
The action group's chairman, Malcolm Hughes, had told its members at a meeting earlier in the week:
"Pilkingtons aren't used to having people stand up to them – nor have the council officials been used to the people of this town having a mind of their own."
Roy and Margery Rigby were celebrating in the Reporter after winning a £250 cash prize from Greenall Whitley.
The landlord and landlady of the Derby Arms in Rainford had come joint first in a competition among over 900 pubs in the North West.
That had been designed to encourage licensees to improve the attractiveness of their premises using flowers and plants.
There were three categories in the contest and the Derby Arms had triumphed in the first impressions section with the judges impressed by the tubs and hanging baskets outside their Church Road pub.
Locals had helped beautify the Derby with one regular creating the hanging baskets and a farmer had ploughed the ground at its rear.
The Reporter also described how a 24-hour hot-line had been set up for Sutton residents so they could inform St Helens Council of atmospheric pollution incidents as they occurred.
The new scheme had been established by the Environmental Health Department so that public health inspectors could speedily make checks.
Answering the calls would be one of the night watchmen that were on duty at the Hardshaw Brook depot who were the only council employees available to take calls at all hours. They would then relay messages to a public health expert.
It was emphasised that the service was only for atmospheric pollution complaints in the Sutton area.
Although Leathers Chemicals (pictured above) were not mentioned in the report, they were the main suspects in causing such pollution.
However, the sulphuric acid factory in Lancots Lane often denied responsibility for incidents and with delays before investigations by inspectors could begin, there was little chance of gathering any evidence.
The Reporter also related how councillors had accused Pilkingtons of going back on their word for a second time over their own anti-pollution measures.
The first instance was after the glass giant had failed to close Fibreglass's number 9 tank as had been promised.
It was supposed to have been shut down in January but Pilkingtons had instead kept it going.
They had also stated that their no. 11 furnace would be fitted with sophisticated anti-pollution measures – but that had not happened either.
Both Rainford and Burtonwood Carnivals had taken place last weekend and the Reporter described how both had been a "mixture of chaos and fun".
The attendance at Rainford had slumped dramatically from their last carnival in 1972 and angry organisers at Burtonwood claimed that a rival fair had enticed their customers away.
The paper said a cricket match that was being played on part of the recreation field that the Rainford Carnival was using had caused difficulties for both the carnival organisers and the cricket club.
People had strayed over the boundaries and interfered with the sightscreens.
A few weeks ago the team's captain Robert Rose had attempted to placate the carnival organisers by offering to appoint stewards and make collections from spectators. The intention was that the cash raised would go towards the carnival's proceeds.
But in the end the collection plan fell through, as there weren't enough people to collect money from.
A mid-afternoon downpour also led to the top of the table cricket clash being drawn and the re-scheduling of some carnival events.
Meanwhile at Burtonwood, about 2,500 people attended the second carnival in the village's history.
A model aeroplane club staged an aerobatic display and a local pipe band played traditional melodies.
And a contingent from the Territorial Army entertained the crowds with a display of field artillery.
But the organisers at Burtonwood also had an issue with a rival event as it was claimed that many people had left the carnival to attend Silcock's Fair.
That had been set up on a nearby field and had no connection with the carnival, much to the annoyance of the organisers.
Bingo players were up in arms this week after a council committee had decided that places like the Hippodrome in St Helens were not the best venues to recruit prospective foster mothers.
John Boyle, the Deputy Director of Social Services, had told councillors that the authority intended to start a fostering campaign so that children in care would have a chance of a normal family life.
The Social Services Committee were told that posters promoting the initiative would be placed in shops, churches, hospitals, libraries, buses, offices, waiting rooms and bingo halls.
But Councillor Dorothy Fogg asked for bingo halls to be removed from the list, explaining:
"I am not saying that you can't find good mothers in bingo halls, but it is not the most likely place to look."
Cllr Nellie Holley agreed, saying doctors' surgeries and church halls were more suitable.
Later Cllr Fogg claimed: "When people go to bingo, they are not interested in looking at notices on walls – their eyes are down, they are looking in.
"I do not mind mothers with their own children playing bingo, but I don't think it is quite right if you are acting as mother to somebody else's children."
But there was a furious reaction to the comments at the Hippodrome bingo hall in Corporation Street, with manageress Maureen Bibby saying:
"I think these councillors are talking round their hats. There are a lot of people here who would be suitable as foster parents.
"We never get children left outside here like you see at some pubs, and I know that mothers leave the afternoon bingo sessions to pick their children up from school."
Grandmother Bella Lawrenson of Frodsham Drive in Blackbrook, said: "I am fuming, and I'm shocked that intelligent people can go round saying things like that. In fact, my grandchildren like me to go to bingo."
And Jim Atherton who described himself as a casual bingo player said: "You can't put all bingo players in the one category. I don't see why these notices can't be put up."
At the end of the week there were further developments in the Alumina cement scandal.
Concerns had first been raised some weeks ago after a beam in the roof of a London school that had used the rapid hardening concrete had collapsed.
The Department of the Environment subsequently asked all local authorities to investigate any buildings where Alumina cement may have been used.
There were many similarities to the recent RAAC concrete issues in this country and 20 schools in the St Helens district that were known to have used Alumina underwent safety checks.
A week or so ago it was revealed that initial results had led to parts of Campion Boys and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Girls schools having to be closed for up to 12 months while repairs were carried out.
But letters were now in the post to parents of Carr Mill Junior pupils informing them that the whole school had been closed and building experts were also planning to shut classrooms in seven others.
The children who were due to start term at the Kentmere Avenue school in Carr Mill would instead be told to report to the infant school in Ullswater Avenue where they would be squeezed in.
Other schools that were partly closed included St Anselm's Roman Catholic Secondary where seven classrooms, changing rooms, the dining hall and the combined gymnasium/assembly hall were out of commission.
A small area of St Cuthbert's was also affected, as was the assembly hall at Hamblett School, two classrooms at Grange Park Secondary and a small area of Rainford High. Part of the workshop block of St Helens College was also being shut.
And finally, on September 1st 'The Great Gatsby' began a week's screening at the ABC Savoy in Bridge Street with a film called 'Kung Fu Headcrusher' beginning a run at the Capitol Cinema.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the vote to close down Leathers Chemicals, the first step is taken to create a bus station for St Helens, the Rainford gun club making too much noise and more protests against Pilks' proposed Gorsey Lane float glass plant.
In July Pilkingtons had submitted an application for outline planning permission to build a float glass factory on 100 acres of farmland in Gorsey Lane.
The plant was expected to cost about £20 million, which in today's money would equate to around £300m.
The St Helens Reporter said at the time that Pilks were hoping that any objections to their scheme would be "muted by the danger that the town would lose 800 jobs".
That was because if their application was rejected, the firm might choose to build their new factory away from St Helens.
On the 30th of this week the Reporter described how a petition against the new factory that contained 1,340 names had been handed in at St Helens Town Hall.
The Clock Face and Sutton Leach Community Action Group were fighting against Pilks' proposals but insisted that the petition was only one part of their battle plan.
They had already written to local MPs, County and District planning bosses, Bold Parish Council and the local Trades Council.
The group were now trying to get as many residents as possible to join them in a demonstration on the Town Hall steps before next Tuesday's planning committee meeting.
That would be when councillors had their first opportunity to debate Pilkington's application.
The action group's chairman, Malcolm Hughes, had told its members at a meeting earlier in the week:
"Pilkingtons aren't used to having people stand up to them – nor have the council officials been used to the people of this town having a mind of their own."
Roy and Margery Rigby were celebrating in the Reporter after winning a £250 cash prize from Greenall Whitley.
The landlord and landlady of the Derby Arms in Rainford had come joint first in a competition among over 900 pubs in the North West.
That had been designed to encourage licensees to improve the attractiveness of their premises using flowers and plants.
There were three categories in the contest and the Derby Arms had triumphed in the first impressions section with the judges impressed by the tubs and hanging baskets outside their Church Road pub.
Locals had helped beautify the Derby with one regular creating the hanging baskets and a farmer had ploughed the ground at its rear.
The Reporter also described how a 24-hour hot-line had been set up for Sutton residents so they could inform St Helens Council of atmospheric pollution incidents as they occurred.
The new scheme had been established by the Environmental Health Department so that public health inspectors could speedily make checks.
Answering the calls would be one of the night watchmen that were on duty at the Hardshaw Brook depot who were the only council employees available to take calls at all hours. They would then relay messages to a public health expert.
It was emphasised that the service was only for atmospheric pollution complaints in the Sutton area.
However, the sulphuric acid factory in Lancots Lane often denied responsibility for incidents and with delays before investigations by inspectors could begin, there was little chance of gathering any evidence.
The Reporter also related how councillors had accused Pilkingtons of going back on their word for a second time over their own anti-pollution measures.
The first instance was after the glass giant had failed to close Fibreglass's number 9 tank as had been promised.
It was supposed to have been shut down in January but Pilkingtons had instead kept it going.
They had also stated that their no. 11 furnace would be fitted with sophisticated anti-pollution measures – but that had not happened either.
Both Rainford and Burtonwood Carnivals had taken place last weekend and the Reporter described how both had been a "mixture of chaos and fun".
The attendance at Rainford had slumped dramatically from their last carnival in 1972 and angry organisers at Burtonwood claimed that a rival fair had enticed their customers away.
The paper said a cricket match that was being played on part of the recreation field that the Rainford Carnival was using had caused difficulties for both the carnival organisers and the cricket club.
People had strayed over the boundaries and interfered with the sightscreens.
A few weeks ago the team's captain Robert Rose had attempted to placate the carnival organisers by offering to appoint stewards and make collections from spectators. The intention was that the cash raised would go towards the carnival's proceeds.
But in the end the collection plan fell through, as there weren't enough people to collect money from.
A mid-afternoon downpour also led to the top of the table cricket clash being drawn and the re-scheduling of some carnival events.
Meanwhile at Burtonwood, about 2,500 people attended the second carnival in the village's history.
A model aeroplane club staged an aerobatic display and a local pipe band played traditional melodies.
And a contingent from the Territorial Army entertained the crowds with a display of field artillery.
But the organisers at Burtonwood also had an issue with a rival event as it was claimed that many people had left the carnival to attend Silcock's Fair.
That had been set up on a nearby field and had no connection with the carnival, much to the annoyance of the organisers.
Bingo players were up in arms this week after a council committee had decided that places like the Hippodrome in St Helens were not the best venues to recruit prospective foster mothers.
John Boyle, the Deputy Director of Social Services, had told councillors that the authority intended to start a fostering campaign so that children in care would have a chance of a normal family life.
The Social Services Committee were told that posters promoting the initiative would be placed in shops, churches, hospitals, libraries, buses, offices, waiting rooms and bingo halls.
But Councillor Dorothy Fogg asked for bingo halls to be removed from the list, explaining:
"I am not saying that you can't find good mothers in bingo halls, but it is not the most likely place to look."
Cllr Nellie Holley agreed, saying doctors' surgeries and church halls were more suitable.
Later Cllr Fogg claimed: "When people go to bingo, they are not interested in looking at notices on walls – their eyes are down, they are looking in.
"I do not mind mothers with their own children playing bingo, but I don't think it is quite right if you are acting as mother to somebody else's children."
But there was a furious reaction to the comments at the Hippodrome bingo hall in Corporation Street, with manageress Maureen Bibby saying:
"I think these councillors are talking round their hats. There are a lot of people here who would be suitable as foster parents.
"We never get children left outside here like you see at some pubs, and I know that mothers leave the afternoon bingo sessions to pick their children up from school."
Grandmother Bella Lawrenson of Frodsham Drive in Blackbrook, said: "I am fuming, and I'm shocked that intelligent people can go round saying things like that. In fact, my grandchildren like me to go to bingo."
And Jim Atherton who described himself as a casual bingo player said: "You can't put all bingo players in the one category. I don't see why these notices can't be put up."
At the end of the week there were further developments in the Alumina cement scandal.
Concerns had first been raised some weeks ago after a beam in the roof of a London school that had used the rapid hardening concrete had collapsed.
The Department of the Environment subsequently asked all local authorities to investigate any buildings where Alumina cement may have been used.
There were many similarities to the recent RAAC concrete issues in this country and 20 schools in the St Helens district that were known to have used Alumina underwent safety checks.
A week or so ago it was revealed that initial results had led to parts of Campion Boys and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Girls schools having to be closed for up to 12 months while repairs were carried out.
But letters were now in the post to parents of Carr Mill Junior pupils informing them that the whole school had been closed and building experts were also planning to shut classrooms in seven others.
The children who were due to start term at the Kentmere Avenue school in Carr Mill would instead be told to report to the infant school in Ullswater Avenue where they would be squeezed in.
Other schools that were partly closed included St Anselm's Roman Catholic Secondary where seven classrooms, changing rooms, the dining hall and the combined gymnasium/assembly hall were out of commission.
A small area of St Cuthbert's was also affected, as was the assembly hall at Hamblett School, two classrooms at Grange Park Secondary and a small area of Rainford High. Part of the workshop block of St Helens College was also being shut.
And finally, on September 1st 'The Great Gatsby' began a week's screening at the ABC Savoy in Bridge Street with a film called 'Kung Fu Headcrusher' beginning a run at the Capitol Cinema.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the vote to close down Leathers Chemicals, the first step is taken to create a bus station for St Helens, the Rainford gun club making too much noise and more protests against Pilks' proposed Gorsey Lane float glass plant.