Wigan Album

I bet that journey in those days was a nightmare, especially in that coach

They probably thought they were travelling in luxury then.

The man under the coach's windscreen wipers is Bob Milligan of Buckley Houses Swinley. His wife, known as 'Tiny' is centre front row with my grandma 'Polly' Cain to her right. My grandad Jimmy Cain is on Bob's left.I pointed out, when I submitted the photo to Past Forward originally, that these clever Wiganers have found a location where it doesn't matter whether you go right or left you will end up at the bar (note the signs).

Neil's grandad Jimmy Cain was the owner of Cain's cake-shop at 10, Belle Green Lane, Higher Ince, which many Incers will recall, although younger ones may remember it as Ashurst's, which it became after Mr. Cain retired. Their pies and cakes were renowned!

Thanks for the endorsement of the pies Irene

I know it was only 10 yrs after the end of WWII, but to think that people wre still undertaking long road journeys as late as 1955 in relics like that!

The happy smiling faces don't show any signs of a weary journey or a dread of getting back on to come home. I think people were't as quick to moan in those days, or to expect perfection. A hold-up due to a problem with the coach would have been met with good humour and a willingness to help from the male passengers.

Many in the photo had seen two World Wars, lost family and endured rationing
. Don't think a coach trip with afew stops en-route would bother this lot.