Wigan Album

Canteen building in the background is still in use but is now a privately run business. For more info on the Risley apprentice scheme which employed many Wiganers (including myself) see http://www.enuii.org/risley/

The photo was indeed taken in front of the canteen which also had a shop, a barbers shop and a lecture theatre as well as a waitress served restaraunt on the first floor. We were about to embark on our first trip to AEA Winfrith Heath in Dorset for practical training in electrical, mechanical and instrumentation engineering. In those days Risley did not have it's own apprentice training workshops. These were to be provided during our tenure as apprentices and we assisted in the design and conversion of the old admiralty buildings into engineering workshops specifically for apprentices. During our two spells at Winfith in winter 1965 and spring/summer 1966 we lodged at the YMCA Hostel on the outskirts of Weymouth (what a great time we had) consequently we faced a 14 mile bus journey each day to and from Winfith Heath. The warden at the hostel in Lynch Lane was Eddie Hapgood the ex Arsenal and England full back.

Just thought Alan Greenhalgh, third from right also lived in Poolstock at the time, although born in the Manchester area Alan's family moved to Wigan and he and his father were involved in the Boy Scout movement for many years in the Billinge area. Alan is now living in Chorley and we keep in touch.

I worked at the UKAEA - but at the Culcheth Reactor Materials Laboratories (RML)next to the Wigan-Irlam-Manchester railway! Had a good 5 years there and was sponsored through day-release to attend Wigan Mining and Technical College - 1 full day and either 2 or 3 nights as well. It was the alternative to University but a lower level!!