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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Gormley.

24 Comments

Billinge Hill, c1952.
Billinge Hill, c1952.
Photo: Philip Gormley.
Views: 2,707
Item #: 29698
My older brother Stephane and I, 'perched' on the 'Hill's' trig' beacon.
I remember the photo having been taken, and the packets of Kali that we had refused to let-go of - it came in transparent packets with black print.
A gracious hand for the delectation of Julie, perhaps ... photogenically speaking, of course.

Comment by: Veronica on 3rd September 2017 at 19:03

Mum's making sure the sun's behind her with her 'box brownie' Philip?

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 3rd September 2017 at 19:29

She was indeed, Veronica. Thanks.

Comment by: irene roberts on 3rd September 2017 at 19:31

As I wasn't born until next month, (October 1952), it's lovely that someone is actually older than me! Lovely pic, Philip, and how we all liked Kali and a Spanish! Happy Days! x.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 3rd September 2017 at 20:09

Yes Irene, Kali! My brother insists that it was Sherbet, and not Kali that we took atop the Trig'. He says 'Sherbet', I say 'Kali' - you know the script. I hope Dorothy is going well for you both - light blue and cream will please her. Thanks.

Comment by: irene roberts on 4th September 2017 at 08:41

Philip, I once asked for Kali in a shop in Tunbridge Wels and the assistants thought I was foreign! Dorothy is going well, thankyou.

Comment by: Jonno on 4th September 2017 at 10:56

Sorry Irene, i'm 76 and if you had asked for it in my shop in Standish i also would have thought you were foreign, always sherbet in my book, maybe kali was a district thing !!

Comment by: Lyndon on 4th September 2017 at 11:52

I was brought up in Downall Green (North Ashton) and we knew what Kali was. Sherbet was a proprietary sweet, it came in a small tube with a spanish sticking out or in a small packet with a lolly (Sherbet Dab) and I think they were made by Trebor. Kali on the other hand was bought loose,generally with a separate ha'penny spanish.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 4th September 2017 at 14:15

Jonno: Lyndon and yourself, could very well be on the right track. It seems as though 'Kali' is of Northern England origin, and is presented in crystal form; sherbet as a powder. Records show that 'Sharba' was enjoyed by our Arabic friends from as far back as the 12th century.
Billinge's very own Molly Peach would have, presumably, broke no denial of Kali's status. Thanks to both of you for your posts.

Comment by: Veronica on 4th September 2017 at 14:44

Irene it was Kali in Scholes and that wasn't very from Ince ....in fact I think Scholes and Ince were twinned together if truth were known!

Comment by: whups on 4th September 2017 at 15:50

nice pic phil . remember me to your stef when you see him.

Comment by: . Ozymandias . on 4th September 2017 at 16:34

Hiya Lyn, how's it going mate? I see the potential for misunderstanding here, so purely for the benefit of the uninitiated, it may prove beneficial to clarify the pronunciation of the word Kali. Which ( as anyone who ever lived in the 50's already knows ) is Kay-lye, as opposed to car-lee, or whatever other pronunciation one is able to concoct from four letters...Maybe see you in November Lyn..... if we're spared.

Regards. Ozy.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 4th September 2017 at 16:44

Will do, Whups.

Comment by: GW. on 4th September 2017 at 18:43

An enchanting image of the 3 of you Philip.
Your mum was an artist.

Comment by: irene roberts on 4th September 2017 at 19:44

Jonno, whereabouts was your shop in Standish? I worked in Standish 1970-1973 at Richardson's Chemists, 81, High Street. I was between 18 and 21 years old.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 4th September 2017 at 20:23

Apparently so GW, and specialising in light and shade. Take care.

Comment by: Lyndon on 5th September 2017 at 13:48

Hiya Oz
Hope and trust I do see you in November
Regards Lyn

Comment by: Jonno on 5th September 2017 at 14:42

I know you did Irene you have mentioned it before on WW. I didn't have a shop Irene, it was just another way of saying, HAD i had a shop !!!

Comment by: Irene on 5th September 2017 at 15:58

Sorry, jonno. Misunderstood you. X.

Comment by: . Ozymandias . on 5th September 2017 at 16:34

See Jonno, had you worded your original comment, " Had I had a shop in Standish, and had you entered the shop which I didn't have, and had asked had I any Kali in my shop, ( the one in Standish which I
never had ), I would have had to have said that I hadn't, as I had never heard of the stuff." Had you said this, I'm sure it would have avoided a great deal of confusion.

Regards. Ozy.

Comment by: Jonno on 5th September 2017 at 16:52

Correct Ozy.

Comment by: Barrie. on 5th September 2017 at 19:55

If you Google "Kali"or "sherbet" see what it brings up, brought up in Standish it was sherbet dabs from Annie Parks shop if I remember also " Flying Saucers" which had sherbet inside them. Thanks to you all for the laugh you have given me over the discussion, the Lancashire/Wigan humour is always there.

Comment by: . Ozymandias . on 6th September 2017 at 00:32

I remember those flying saucers as well Barrie. My abiding memory of those things is that they were bloody awful. Moving on a few years, I had the opportunity to sample something in a similar vein called Moon Dust, or Space Dust, or something along those lines. It didn't taste of much, it just exploded in your gob. It was more of a tactile experience than a taste sensation. Just to recap, this thread started with a photo of a couple of lads on Billinge hill.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 6th September 2017 at 07:44

Many thanks Ozy. And the thread also starting at the dizzy height of 179 metres above sea-level. Take care.

Comment by: irene roberts on 6th September 2017 at 09:11

You're right, Ozy, but Philip HAD mentioned Kali in the caption accompanying the photo. I think the nice thing about Wigan World Album is the fact that a photo of ONE thing triggers off so many memories of OTHER things that we can all share.

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