FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (30 OCT - 5 NOV 1973)
This week's many stories include the completion of Phase 1 of the town centre redevelopment scheme, the children that robbed a bedridden Sutton pensioner, St Helens Tech's disastrous Rag Week, the official opening of St Helens' first purpose-built day nursery and another appeal for people to take in the Rainhill Hospital patients who had nowhere to go.
November 1st was considered a landmark day in the history of St Helens as it was the completion date for Phase 1 of the town centre redevelopment project. The first phase involved St Mary's Market, the Church Square Shopping Centre – including about 40 arcade shops – and a multi-storey car park accommodating 380 vehicles. However, trees, seating and a water feature were still to be installed.
Ald. Joe Hughes of the Central Redevelopment Committee unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion and said: "The shopping facilities are up-to-date, spacious and clean with plenty of space for car parking. This was the main exercise – shopping by car has become part and parcel of our lives."
The developers were the Oldham Estate Company (St. Helens) Ltd whose chairman was the controversial Harry Hyams. The property investor had attracted much criticism for keeping his Centre Point skyscraper in London empty for several years until he could find a single tenant prepared to pay his asking price. That was at a time of a housing crisis in the city.
Mr Hyams declared that the new shopping centre should prove to be a real benefit to the people of St Helens. Phase 2 was expected to be completed by 1975 and would include a new market hall (that would be named The Hardshaw Centre) and two shopping centres with extra parking for 277 vehicles. Nearby roads including Church Street would also be pedestrianised.
Bedridden pensioner Frank Boise had been pleased when a group of children popped into his Watery Lane home to chat with him. The five youngsters had let themselves in while his wife was out using a key that had been left in the door. Frank told the Reporter:
"There were four girls and a young lad. The oldest was a tall girl with sandy hair, who couldn't have been more than 13. The tall girl came right up to the bed, talking to me, and the others – they seemed to be about eight or nine-years-old – were over in the corner by the mantelpiece. I thought they were some of these youngsters who come to cheer people like me up – I never suspected them." But later Frank discovered that £2.30 (around £30 in today’s money) had been stolen.
The lead story in the Reporter described a bizarre dispute between branches of the same trade union that had the potential – as the paper put it – "[to] paralyse the Pilkington empire". The row concerned Triplex lorry driver John Kenny who had lost his job because he had completed a 165-mile journey fifteen minutes sooner than the specified time. That had been established after negotiations between the firm and the Transport and General Workers Union.
It was not in the interests of the union for its members to undertake tasks sooner than the time that they had agreed with the company. And so the Pilkington branch of the TGWU had fined John £2.50. The lorry driver had refused to pay up; his colleagues had consequently decided not to work with him and because John was in dispute with his union, Pilks had sacked him.
But the St Helens branch of the TGWU were outraged by the sacking and threatened to "black" Pilkington goods. The union's secretary Harry Hull said: "This man has been dismissed not for bad workmanship but because he wouldn't pay a £2.50 fine he should never have been given. It bloody stinks. There will be meetings all over the country now."
The Reporter regularly featured the sad cases of long stay patients in Rainhill Hospital (pictured above) who never received visits. Or were ready to be discharged but had nowhere to go. This week the paper had a quote from John Brady, the hospital’s secretary, who said: "Out of a total of 1,750 patients in Rainhill at the moment, I would estimate about 250 need not be there. I would like to see them leave and live as normal a life as possible but the accommodation is just not available."
The hospital was Britain's biggest psychiatric unit and John Wilson of its management committee explained how in 1970 local people had given one hundred ex-patients lodgings in their homes. Former patients had also tenanted two council houses as part of a rehabilitation pilot scheme. But he stressed that there was still much more that needed to be done:
"These people would benefit more by living outside, in either hostels, half-way houses or digs. In fact by having to stay in hospital their recovery is being delayed. The vast majority of them are people who can’t cope with life. Our job is to train them to do the things we take for granted. Members of the public need have no fear about dangerous patients being let out – there aren't any at Rainhill. What we need is for people to accept them into the community."
John Potter was the President of the St Helens College of Technology's Students Union. He was also the chief organiser for St Helens Tech's recent Rag Week. But the 19-year-old from Toll Bar admitted to the Reporter that it had not gone well. "It's a disaster," he bemoaned, after a catalogue of setbacks had hit the event.
These included only five students out of 6,000 being willing to help with its organisation and the college principal refusing to lend his support. That was because Dr T. E. A. K. Jackson felt the union was in – as he put it – a "perilous financial state" and in no position to launch a rag week.
The principal had made his position clear in an 88-page Rag magazine that had infuriated Ald. William Burrows. He had written an article wishing the students good luck; but when he saw the magazine he said he wished to disassociate himself from it. That was because it featured a nude pin-up and other material, which, he said, was against his principles.
The organisers had been hoping to donate the proceeds of their Rag Week to Whiston Hospital. But there was little chance of there being any. So far their expenses were £330 in excess of income. But they still had 2,000 Rag magazines left, which, if sold, might just put them into the black. Although the Rag Week's problems reinforced the principal's argument, his lack of support – including refusing to allow a dance to be held on the college premises – had contributed to its failure.
It was the annual speech day at St Cuthbert's RC School in Berry's Lane this week and there was criticism of parents that failed to contribute to their funds. Currently the parish was paying £5,000 a year to clear off debts on building work at the secondary school.
Fr Eugene Kennan of St Anne's Church in Sutton was chairman of the school's Board of Governors and said: "Parents who send their children to Catholic schools must realise that they have a grave obligation to support the Parish. Church-going parents have to subsidise those who don't help. And this is a scandal."
St Helens' first purpose-built day nursery was officially opened this week, although it had been in use since early September. The new building in College Street replaced the old centre in Hall Street and the chairman of the council's Social Services Committee, Cllr Tom Forshaw, unveiled a commemorative plaque.
Nine members of staff were supervising forty children – but the numbers would eventually rise to 70 children and 14 staff. Most of the kids were said to be from single parent families that were being looked after while their mother or father went to work – or took a few hours off to relax. Ten places in the nursery were allocated to youngsters that had some form of disability, or handicap, as the term was then.
And finally, with increasing concern over safety, more organised Guy Fawkes Night celebrations were taking place within the St Helens district. On the 4th (a Saturday night) around 6,000 attended Prescot and District Round Table's bonfire in the grounds of Rainhill Hospital. The event was described as a "safety-first bonfire display" and members of Prescot Ladles Circle made the figure of Guy Fawkes and Prescot Brass Band provided musical entertainment.
There were sideshows and stalls selling a wide array of food, ranging from hot-pot suppers to toffee apples. Other stalls were manned by local organisations, including Prescot Ladies' Circle and St Helens Round Table. Rainford Festival Committee also held their Bonfire Night on the 2nd in aid of the Parish Church.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the storm over a proposed betting shop at the Black Bull, a Rainhill eyesore that was set to disappear, the first St Helens Star is published and the Silcock's fair that had voyeurism as an added attraction.
November 1st was considered a landmark day in the history of St Helens as it was the completion date for Phase 1 of the town centre redevelopment project. The first phase involved St Mary's Market, the Church Square Shopping Centre – including about 40 arcade shops – and a multi-storey car park accommodating 380 vehicles. However, trees, seating and a water feature were still to be installed.
Ald. Joe Hughes of the Central Redevelopment Committee unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion and said: "The shopping facilities are up-to-date, spacious and clean with plenty of space for car parking. This was the main exercise – shopping by car has become part and parcel of our lives."
The developers were the Oldham Estate Company (St. Helens) Ltd whose chairman was the controversial Harry Hyams. The property investor had attracted much criticism for keeping his Centre Point skyscraper in London empty for several years until he could find a single tenant prepared to pay his asking price. That was at a time of a housing crisis in the city.
Mr Hyams declared that the new shopping centre should prove to be a real benefit to the people of St Helens. Phase 2 was expected to be completed by 1975 and would include a new market hall (that would be named The Hardshaw Centre) and two shopping centres with extra parking for 277 vehicles. Nearby roads including Church Street would also be pedestrianised.
Bedridden pensioner Frank Boise had been pleased when a group of children popped into his Watery Lane home to chat with him. The five youngsters had let themselves in while his wife was out using a key that had been left in the door. Frank told the Reporter:
"There were four girls and a young lad. The oldest was a tall girl with sandy hair, who couldn't have been more than 13. The tall girl came right up to the bed, talking to me, and the others – they seemed to be about eight or nine-years-old – were over in the corner by the mantelpiece. I thought they were some of these youngsters who come to cheer people like me up – I never suspected them." But later Frank discovered that £2.30 (around £30 in today’s money) had been stolen.
The lead story in the Reporter described a bizarre dispute between branches of the same trade union that had the potential – as the paper put it – "[to] paralyse the Pilkington empire". The row concerned Triplex lorry driver John Kenny who had lost his job because he had completed a 165-mile journey fifteen minutes sooner than the specified time. That had been established after negotiations between the firm and the Transport and General Workers Union.
It was not in the interests of the union for its members to undertake tasks sooner than the time that they had agreed with the company. And so the Pilkington branch of the TGWU had fined John £2.50. The lorry driver had refused to pay up; his colleagues had consequently decided not to work with him and because John was in dispute with his union, Pilks had sacked him.
But the St Helens branch of the TGWU were outraged by the sacking and threatened to "black" Pilkington goods. The union's secretary Harry Hull said: "This man has been dismissed not for bad workmanship but because he wouldn't pay a £2.50 fine he should never have been given. It bloody stinks. There will be meetings all over the country now."
The hospital was Britain's biggest psychiatric unit and John Wilson of its management committee explained how in 1970 local people had given one hundred ex-patients lodgings in their homes. Former patients had also tenanted two council houses as part of a rehabilitation pilot scheme. But he stressed that there was still much more that needed to be done:
"These people would benefit more by living outside, in either hostels, half-way houses or digs. In fact by having to stay in hospital their recovery is being delayed. The vast majority of them are people who can’t cope with life. Our job is to train them to do the things we take for granted. Members of the public need have no fear about dangerous patients being let out – there aren't any at Rainhill. What we need is for people to accept them into the community."
John Potter was the President of the St Helens College of Technology's Students Union. He was also the chief organiser for St Helens Tech's recent Rag Week. But the 19-year-old from Toll Bar admitted to the Reporter that it had not gone well. "It's a disaster," he bemoaned, after a catalogue of setbacks had hit the event.
These included only five students out of 6,000 being willing to help with its organisation and the college principal refusing to lend his support. That was because Dr T. E. A. K. Jackson felt the union was in – as he put it – a "perilous financial state" and in no position to launch a rag week.
The principal had made his position clear in an 88-page Rag magazine that had infuriated Ald. William Burrows. He had written an article wishing the students good luck; but when he saw the magazine he said he wished to disassociate himself from it. That was because it featured a nude pin-up and other material, which, he said, was against his principles.
The organisers had been hoping to donate the proceeds of their Rag Week to Whiston Hospital. But there was little chance of there being any. So far their expenses were £330 in excess of income. But they still had 2,000 Rag magazines left, which, if sold, might just put them into the black. Although the Rag Week's problems reinforced the principal's argument, his lack of support – including refusing to allow a dance to be held on the college premises – had contributed to its failure.
It was the annual speech day at St Cuthbert's RC School in Berry's Lane this week and there was criticism of parents that failed to contribute to their funds. Currently the parish was paying £5,000 a year to clear off debts on building work at the secondary school.
Fr Eugene Kennan of St Anne's Church in Sutton was chairman of the school's Board of Governors and said: "Parents who send their children to Catholic schools must realise that they have a grave obligation to support the Parish. Church-going parents have to subsidise those who don't help. And this is a scandal."
St Helens' first purpose-built day nursery was officially opened this week, although it had been in use since early September. The new building in College Street replaced the old centre in Hall Street and the chairman of the council's Social Services Committee, Cllr Tom Forshaw, unveiled a commemorative plaque.
Nine members of staff were supervising forty children – but the numbers would eventually rise to 70 children and 14 staff. Most of the kids were said to be from single parent families that were being looked after while their mother or father went to work – or took a few hours off to relax. Ten places in the nursery were allocated to youngsters that had some form of disability, or handicap, as the term was then.
And finally, with increasing concern over safety, more organised Guy Fawkes Night celebrations were taking place within the St Helens district. On the 4th (a Saturday night) around 6,000 attended Prescot and District Round Table's bonfire in the grounds of Rainhill Hospital. The event was described as a "safety-first bonfire display" and members of Prescot Ladles Circle made the figure of Guy Fawkes and Prescot Brass Band provided musical entertainment.
There were sideshows and stalls selling a wide array of food, ranging from hot-pot suppers to toffee apples. Other stalls were manned by local organisations, including Prescot Ladies' Circle and St Helens Round Table. Rainford Festival Committee also held their Bonfire Night on the 2nd in aid of the Parish Church.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the storm over a proposed betting shop at the Black Bull, a Rainhill eyesore that was set to disappear, the first St Helens Star is published and the Silcock's fair that had voyeurism as an added attraction.
This week's many stories include the completion of Phase 1 of the town centre redevelopment scheme, the children that robbed a bedridden Sutton pensioner, St Helens Tech's disastrous Rag Week, the official opening of St Helens' first purpose-built day nursery and another appeal for people to take in the Rainhill Hospital patients who had nowhere to go.
November 1st was considered a landmark day in the history of St Helens as it was the completion date for Phase 1 of the town centre redevelopment project.
The first phase involved St Mary's Market, the Church Square Shopping Centre – including about 40 arcade shops – and a multi-storey car park accommodating 380 vehicles. However, trees, seating and a water feature were still to be installed.
Ald. Joe Hughes of the Central Redevelopment Committee unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion and said:
"The shopping facilities are up-to-date, spacious and clean with plenty of space for car parking. This was the main exercise – shopping by car has become part and parcel of our lives."
The developers were the Oldham Estate Company (St. Helens) Ltd whose chairman was the controversial Harry Hyams.
The property investor had attracted much criticism for keeping his Centre Point skyscraper in London empty for several years until he could find a single tenant prepared to pay his asking price. That was at a time of a housing crisis in the city.
Mr Hyams declared that the new shopping centre should prove to be a real benefit to the people of St Helens.
Phase 2 was expected to be completed by 1975 and would include a new market hall (that would be named The Hardshaw Centre) and two shopping centres with extra parking for 277 vehicles. Nearby roads including Church Street would also be pedestrianised.
Bedridden pensioner Frank Boise had been pleased when a group of children popped into his Watery Lane home to chat with him.
The five youngsters had let themselves in while his wife was out using a key that had been left in the door. Frank told the Reporter:
"There were four girls and a young lad. The oldest was a tall girl with sandy hair, who couldn't have been more than 13.
"The tall girl came right up to the bed, talking to me, and the others – they seemed to be about eight or nine-years-old – were over in the corner by the mantelpiece.
"I thought they were some of these youngsters who come to cheer people like me up – I never suspected them."
But later Frank discovered that £2.30 (around £30 in today’s money) had been stolen.
The lead story in the Reporter described a bizarre dispute between branches of the same trade union that had the potential – as the paper put it – "[to] paralyse the Pilkington empire".
The row concerned Triplex lorry driver John Kenny who had lost his job because he had completed a 165-mile journey fifteen minutes sooner than the specified time.
That had been established after negotiations between the firm and the Transport and General Workers Union.
It was not in the interests of the union for its members to undertake tasks sooner than the time that they had agreed with the company. And so the Pilkington branch of the TGWU had fined John £2.50.
The lorry driver had refused to pay up; his colleagues had consequently decided not to work with him and because John was in dispute with his union, Pilks had sacked him.
But the St Helens branch of the TGWU were outraged by the sacking and threatened to "black" Pilkington goods.
The union's secretary Harry Hull said: "This man has been dismissed not for bad workmanship but because he wouldn't pay a £2.50 fine he should never have been given. It bloody stinks. There will be meetings all over the country now."
The Reporter regularly featured the sad cases of long stay patients in Rainhill Hospital (pictured above) who never received visits. Or were ready to be discharged but had nowhere to go.
This week the paper had a quote from John Brady, the hospital’s secretary, who said:
"Out of a total of 1,750 patients in Rainhill at the moment, I would estimate about 250 need not be there. I would like to see them leave and live as normal a life as possible but the accommodation is just not available."
The hospital was Britain's biggest psychiatric unit and John Wilson of its management committee explained how in 1970 local people had given one hundred ex-patients lodgings in their homes.
Former patients had also tenanted two council houses as part of a rehabilitation pilot scheme. But he stressed that there was still much more that needed to be done:
"These people would benefit more by living outside, in either hostels, half-way houses or digs.
"In fact by having to stay in hospital their recovery is being delayed. The vast majority of them are people who can’t cope with life. Our job is to train them to do the things we take for granted.
"Members of the public need have no fear about dangerous patients being let out – there aren't any at Rainhill. What we need is for people to accept them into the community."
John Potter was the President of the St Helens College of Technology's Students Union.
He was also the chief organiser for St Helens Tech's recent Rag Week. But the 19-year-old from Toll Bar admitted to the Reporter that it had not gone well.
"It's a disaster," he bemoaned, after a catalogue of setbacks had hit the event.
These included only five students out of 6,000 being willing to help with its organisation and the college principal refusing to lend his support.
That was because Dr T. E. A. K. Jackson felt the union was in – as he put it – a "perilous financial state" and in no position to launch a rag week.
The principal had made his position clear in an 88-page Rag magazine that had infuriated Ald. William Burrows.
He had written an article wishing the students good luck; but when he saw the magazine he said he wished to disassociate himself from it.
That was because it featured a nude pin-up and other material, which, he said, was against his principles.
The organisers had been hoping to donate the proceeds of their Rag Week to Whiston Hospital. But there was little chance of there being any.
So far their expenses were £330 in excess of income. But they still had 2,000 Rag magazines left, which, if sold, might just put them into the black.
Although the Rag Week's problems reinforced the principal's argument, his lack of support – including refusing to allow a dance to be held on the college premises – had contributed to its failure.
It was the annual speech day at St Cuthbert's RC School in Berry's Lane this week and there was criticism of parents that failed to contribute to their funds.
Currently the parish was paying £5,000 a year to clear off debts on building work at the secondary school.
Fr Eugene Kennan of St Anne's Church in Sutton was chairman of the school's Board of Governors and said:
"Parents who send their children to Catholic schools must realise that they have a grave obligation to support the Parish. Church-going parents have to subsidise those who don't help. And this is a scandal."
St Helens' first purpose-built day nursery was officially opened this week, although it had been in use since early September.
The new building in College Street replaced the old centre in Hall Street and the chairman of the council's Social Services Committee, Cllr Tom Forshaw, unveiled a commemorative plaque.
Nine members of staff were supervising forty children – but the numbers would eventually rise to 70 children and 14 staff.
Most of the kids were said to be from single parent families that were being looked after while their mother or father went to work – or took a few hours off to relax.
Ten places in the nursery were allocated to youngsters that had some form of disability, or handicap, as the term was then.
And finally, with increasing concern over safety, more organised Guy Fawkes Night celebrations were taking place within the St Helens district.
On the 4th (a Saturday night) around 6,000 attended Prescot and District Round Table's bonfire in the grounds of Rainhill Hospital.
The event was described as a "safety-first bonfire display" and members of Prescot Ladles Circle made the figure of Guy Fawkes and Prescot Brass Band provided musical entertainment.
There were sideshows and stalls selling a wide array of food, ranging from hot-pot suppers to toffee apples.
Other stalls were manned by local organisations, including Prescot Ladies' Circle and St Helens Round Table.
Rainford Festival Committee also held their Bonfire Night on the 2nd in aid of the Parish Church.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the storm over a proposed betting shop at the Black Bull, a Rainhill eyesore that was set to disappear, the first St Helens Star is published and the Silcock's fair that had voyeurism as an added attraction.
November 1st was considered a landmark day in the history of St Helens as it was the completion date for Phase 1 of the town centre redevelopment project.
The first phase involved St Mary's Market, the Church Square Shopping Centre – including about 40 arcade shops – and a multi-storey car park accommodating 380 vehicles. However, trees, seating and a water feature were still to be installed.
Ald. Joe Hughes of the Central Redevelopment Committee unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion and said:
"The shopping facilities are up-to-date, spacious and clean with plenty of space for car parking. This was the main exercise – shopping by car has become part and parcel of our lives."
The developers were the Oldham Estate Company (St. Helens) Ltd whose chairman was the controversial Harry Hyams.
The property investor had attracted much criticism for keeping his Centre Point skyscraper in London empty for several years until he could find a single tenant prepared to pay his asking price. That was at a time of a housing crisis in the city.
Mr Hyams declared that the new shopping centre should prove to be a real benefit to the people of St Helens.
Phase 2 was expected to be completed by 1975 and would include a new market hall (that would be named The Hardshaw Centre) and two shopping centres with extra parking for 277 vehicles. Nearby roads including Church Street would also be pedestrianised.
Bedridden pensioner Frank Boise had been pleased when a group of children popped into his Watery Lane home to chat with him.
The five youngsters had let themselves in while his wife was out using a key that had been left in the door. Frank told the Reporter:
"There were four girls and a young lad. The oldest was a tall girl with sandy hair, who couldn't have been more than 13.
"The tall girl came right up to the bed, talking to me, and the others – they seemed to be about eight or nine-years-old – were over in the corner by the mantelpiece.
"I thought they were some of these youngsters who come to cheer people like me up – I never suspected them."
But later Frank discovered that £2.30 (around £30 in today’s money) had been stolen.
The lead story in the Reporter described a bizarre dispute between branches of the same trade union that had the potential – as the paper put it – "[to] paralyse the Pilkington empire".
The row concerned Triplex lorry driver John Kenny who had lost his job because he had completed a 165-mile journey fifteen minutes sooner than the specified time.
That had been established after negotiations between the firm and the Transport and General Workers Union.
It was not in the interests of the union for its members to undertake tasks sooner than the time that they had agreed with the company. And so the Pilkington branch of the TGWU had fined John £2.50.
The lorry driver had refused to pay up; his colleagues had consequently decided not to work with him and because John was in dispute with his union, Pilks had sacked him.
But the St Helens branch of the TGWU were outraged by the sacking and threatened to "black" Pilkington goods.
The union's secretary Harry Hull said: "This man has been dismissed not for bad workmanship but because he wouldn't pay a £2.50 fine he should never have been given. It bloody stinks. There will be meetings all over the country now."
This week the paper had a quote from John Brady, the hospital’s secretary, who said:
"Out of a total of 1,750 patients in Rainhill at the moment, I would estimate about 250 need not be there. I would like to see them leave and live as normal a life as possible but the accommodation is just not available."
The hospital was Britain's biggest psychiatric unit and John Wilson of its management committee explained how in 1970 local people had given one hundred ex-patients lodgings in their homes.
Former patients had also tenanted two council houses as part of a rehabilitation pilot scheme. But he stressed that there was still much more that needed to be done:
"These people would benefit more by living outside, in either hostels, half-way houses or digs.
"In fact by having to stay in hospital their recovery is being delayed. The vast majority of them are people who can’t cope with life. Our job is to train them to do the things we take for granted.
"Members of the public need have no fear about dangerous patients being let out – there aren't any at Rainhill. What we need is for people to accept them into the community."
John Potter was the President of the St Helens College of Technology's Students Union.
He was also the chief organiser for St Helens Tech's recent Rag Week. But the 19-year-old from Toll Bar admitted to the Reporter that it had not gone well.
"It's a disaster," he bemoaned, after a catalogue of setbacks had hit the event.
These included only five students out of 6,000 being willing to help with its organisation and the college principal refusing to lend his support.
That was because Dr T. E. A. K. Jackson felt the union was in – as he put it – a "perilous financial state" and in no position to launch a rag week.
The principal had made his position clear in an 88-page Rag magazine that had infuriated Ald. William Burrows.
He had written an article wishing the students good luck; but when he saw the magazine he said he wished to disassociate himself from it.
That was because it featured a nude pin-up and other material, which, he said, was against his principles.
The organisers had been hoping to donate the proceeds of their Rag Week to Whiston Hospital. But there was little chance of there being any.
So far their expenses were £330 in excess of income. But they still had 2,000 Rag magazines left, which, if sold, might just put them into the black.
Although the Rag Week's problems reinforced the principal's argument, his lack of support – including refusing to allow a dance to be held on the college premises – had contributed to its failure.
It was the annual speech day at St Cuthbert's RC School in Berry's Lane this week and there was criticism of parents that failed to contribute to their funds.
Currently the parish was paying £5,000 a year to clear off debts on building work at the secondary school.
Fr Eugene Kennan of St Anne's Church in Sutton was chairman of the school's Board of Governors and said:
"Parents who send their children to Catholic schools must realise that they have a grave obligation to support the Parish. Church-going parents have to subsidise those who don't help. And this is a scandal."
St Helens' first purpose-built day nursery was officially opened this week, although it had been in use since early September.
The new building in College Street replaced the old centre in Hall Street and the chairman of the council's Social Services Committee, Cllr Tom Forshaw, unveiled a commemorative plaque.
Nine members of staff were supervising forty children – but the numbers would eventually rise to 70 children and 14 staff.
Most of the kids were said to be from single parent families that were being looked after while their mother or father went to work – or took a few hours off to relax.
Ten places in the nursery were allocated to youngsters that had some form of disability, or handicap, as the term was then.
And finally, with increasing concern over safety, more organised Guy Fawkes Night celebrations were taking place within the St Helens district.
On the 4th (a Saturday night) around 6,000 attended Prescot and District Round Table's bonfire in the grounds of Rainhill Hospital.
The event was described as a "safety-first bonfire display" and members of Prescot Ladles Circle made the figure of Guy Fawkes and Prescot Brass Band provided musical entertainment.
There were sideshows and stalls selling a wide array of food, ranging from hot-pot suppers to toffee apples.
Other stalls were manned by local organisations, including Prescot Ladies' Circle and St Helens Round Table.
Rainford Festival Committee also held their Bonfire Night on the 2nd in aid of the Parish Church.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the storm over a proposed betting shop at the Black Bull, a Rainhill eyesore that was set to disappear, the first St Helens Star is published and the Silcock's fair that had voyeurism as an added attraction.