Wigan Album

Nice photo Jennifer. I was brought up in St Paul's Ave in the 50s and 60s. I remember the old Post Office quite well. I used to pass it on my way up to Clapgate lane, when me and my mates used to go over to 'The Tips'. Two local bobbies used to live at the top of our street - Bobby Crogan, and Bobby Lee. The police sergeant in this pic looks familiar, but I'm not sure that either Crogan or Lee were ever sergeants. Thanks for the picture though, it brings back memories of my happy youth.

I remember cigaret and chewing gum machines outside shops, they wouldn'd last five minutes nowdays.

The policeman with the radio is Graham Smallshaw. He still lives in Mabel Street. The pic must have been taken in the 60s, because all that row of shops and houses were cleared when the dual carriageway was made. The old graveyard near Clapgate Lane was dug up at the same time and any human remains were re-interred. The other policeman is definitely Crogan

The sergeant is Jimmy Crogan. I am not sure who the other police officer is.It may be Enos Banks, but I am not certain,He lived next door to me. I iived in the police house, just passed Kay's butchers shop, Goose Green.

john. I lived in Holt St worsley mesnes and I remember the names bobby Crogan and Leekq6s3

The Sergeant looks ver ymuch like Jim Croghan, who lived just round the corner in St Paul's Avenue. He retired in 1977, and died a couple of years ago.
Both officers are wearing Wigan Borough police uniform, so this puts the photo before April 1969.

Frank actually was the postmaster at the post office for many years. I think this photo was taken in the late 1960s

The name Oliver Somers is to me as synonymous as Wigan itself - thanks for posting.

Thanks for posting this pic .... brings back so many happy memories ... happy childhood days when you knew that if you got into any trouble Bobby Crogan would always be there to sort you out ..... I remember the post office well used to go in every day with the post from Cotton Goods ... they where lovely people .... I don't think it was demolished at the same time as the duel carriageway was built I think it was later !!!!

Hi Sandra, you are right about the policemen of that time, they woulod help you without a second thought, no matter what. I can remember from being little, when my dad Stan had Oliver Somers in Market street and then Tom Hughes bike shop in Wigan, many a time I would go into the shop and there would be a policeman sat in the back with a cup of tea (community policing at its best and I am not joking) Dad used to make the leather arm protectors for the police dog training so some times there was even a very large hairy police dog with its handler!!

Hi Jennifer the other side of the coin was that the local bobbies knew everyone so you didn't dare get into trouble !!

Yes thats Graham Smallshaw on the left. He was the first Sargeant I had when i joined up and was posted to Pemberton in January 1977. Graham left the police at one point but then rejoined later. One of the best segeants I had the pleasure of working with and a great sense of humour.

Post office building still there and shop next door,now converted to living accommodation

I knew the four gents in the photo but not the lady,in fact I worked with the two policemen but the one who I remember and who sticks in my mind was Oliver Somers, what a gent. Together with my wife and some friends we started a footballteam for the youth of Poolstock and Worsley Mesnes. Oliver gave 100% encouragement and provided the kit and nets at knockdown prices and then let me pay so much a week until the bill was paid. A really true gent.

I used to live next door to Walter Somers, Spencer Road West. He had two sons Dudley and John. I can remember Stan and I think one other brother who lived nearby. I left in 1961 aged 18 to move to Carlisle. We enjoyed a couple of caravan holidays with them I think at Carnforth or Grange over Sands

thanks for the comment Lol t - I was unsure if the post office was the shop that has recently been converted. I watched with interest as the work was done. Now I know - Thanks

Oliver Somers sons were Walter, who ran the sea cadets, then Stan, and then Rod the yougest. The only one still alive I beleive is Rod.

I lived in Arthur St, Goose Green until 1963 when we moved to Pemberton. I can remember "bobby Crogan" very well he used to put the fear of God in us! The shop that has just been converted to flats was Speakman's sweet shop and Harrison's chippie and "Freddie Cloggers" was across the road.

hi jennifer i was looking over old wigan photo,s and relised, you are my cousin, my dad george, is your mums brother, i believe her name is mary,she married stan,he was a very lovely kind man , the best.

Hi to my cousin, I guess that you must be either Janette, joy, george or dianne, long time since we last met it would probably have been at aunty Joys in springfield. Hope you are all keeping well. take care Jennifer

I too am related to Oliver through Martha (somers) Reid who emigrated to Canada in the early 1900's. I visited with my Mom & Dad on a vacation in 1963 and stayed a week in Wigan. I have a photo of the family standing in front of the sporting goods store. It is a small world. I check this website about once a year, and look what I found! My mother is 93 and we were talking about what she remembers of the somers family just last week. Jennifer and Somers Family are still following this thread.

The policeman on the left is my oldest brothers Graham Smallshaw

ImHi Jennifer
I was at the grammar school with Dudley and John. Do you know what happened to Dudley? We were in the same year.

My grandad Fred Somers was Oliver's Cousin