ex-downall greeners
ex-downall greeners2
ex-Downall Greeners 3

Here we go ex-downall greeners 4.

Ok babmbam.

Kevin's Garden Centre at Downall Green
Click Photo, ( Thanks for making the video )

If you go tell him that you've seen it on Wigan World he'll love to hear that

I like the man Kevin Duffy so I've added more links to Kevin's video's click here will done Bennie thanks

Kevin 1

Kevin 2

Kevin 3

Some of the things you may find if you look back over the other threads

Click photo for a Slideshow

Dougie, Downall Green is NOT in Wigan council area, it's in St.Helens. It is represented on the St.Helens council 'coat of arms' by two crosses taken from that of the Gerard family.

Get used to it!

ask anyone from Downall Green if their Wiganers, or St-Heleners, I bet I win hands down

Tonker lives in Ashton most folk relate to him has a Yicker but he comes from Warrington

I don't know if its Haydock,St-Helens,or Warrington,but I know he only climbed over the wall to get out or in which ever

I was born in Haydock, in Warrington, and lived there for 26 years before moving to Ashton, where I live now.

And, Dougie, people from Downall Green are neither Wiganers or St.Helensers. They're Downall Greeners, from Ashton in Makerfield. Council, postcode or telephone dialling code means nowt!

When I was younger and living in Downall Green... before post codes and telephone dialling codes, the address always was.....

North Ashton, Nr Wigan...

Never a mention anywhere, any time, of St Helens....... apart from my Mam who was born in Black Brook, St Helens....

My cousin lives in Spindle Hillock and the adress is Noth Ashton nr Wigan even though it comes under ST. Helens.

Downall Green or North Ashton has been and always will be near Wigan. You can't change that.

Tonker,born in haydock in warrington....explain please
i was born in warrington in lancashire.
downall green as a wigan post code.

Indeed, the distance between the Downall Green part of Ashton, and Wigan, has always been the same and cannot be changed.

Much like the distance between Chester and Wales has always been the same, as has the distance between Carlisle and Scotland. These also cannot be changed.

But, Chester is in England, not Wales, and Carlisle is in England, not Scotland, regardless of how 'close' they are.

It's a bit like that with Downall Green. It's part of Ashton and, although it's only about 3 miles from Wigan, it's actually in St.Helens.

But it wasn't always in St Helens, for those of us that were born and brought up in Downall Green, Nr Wigan, that's the way it will always be.....I'd left before it became St Helens, so I've never lived in St Helens

I've lived in the States, longer now than I lived in England, when asked where I'm from, I say Downall Green, Nr Wigan.........

One half of Ashton has been in St.Helens for exactly as long as the other half has been in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan. Before then, Ashton wasn't in either.

Also, for the same length of time, Haydock has also been in St.Helens, whereas before, it wasn't.
It wasn't in St.Helens when I was born there. But that doesn't alter the fact that it is now.

And, and you can check this, you'll find that Downall Green was closer to St.Helens, before it became part of it, than it was to Wigan.

Jouell, you said your 'mam' was born in Haydock?

Yes, my Mam was born in Black Brook....

Yes I know that ( well, I've never measured it ), DG is closer to St H, than W... but wigan was always part of the address and where we went shopping, never St H... just the way it was...

Your 'mam' was born in either Haydock, Parr or Ashton. Black Brook is just that, a brook. If she was born in either Haydock or Ashton she wasn't born in St.Helens.

Yes. Some parts of Ashton are in the Wigan postal area (WN), some parts are in Warrington postal area (WA).

If you like going shopping in Liverpool, does it make you a Scouser?

Gavin...when was haydock in warrington

If 'anywhere with a WN postcode is in Wigan', Haydock must be in Warrington. Because that's where it's post is delivered from. Daft ideas abound on here Brian!

Was Phyllis Simpkin who married Ronnie any relations to ADAMSON family in Ashton?
Also Jimmy ORMSHAW---does anyone if he is related to ADAMSON's.Thanks

I was just saying that's the way it was .....I'm not saying you're right, or I'm right, right now I don't give a monkeys you know what... that's just the way it was.....


Dear God, what a person has to go through on here for saying they DON'T come from St Helens....... for you tonker

I'm sayin nowt!!!!!

What did I say a few weeks ago trixie... I'd been off for a while and you asked why, I said I didn't get in bother if I said nowt...
Well I spoke up yesterday and look what happened.......Fact is, I've NEVER lived in St Helens, I'd left DG before it became part of St Helens..... Bet the buggers sat there laughing at how he winds people up..

Look. Get this into your head.

I'm not trying to 'wind anyone up'. I'm simply pointing out, to Dougie, who posted the Wigan Council coat of arms onto a thread which it doesn't belong, that Downall Green is NOWADAYS, in St.Helens and not in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.

I'm saying that Downall Green has NEVER been in Wigan Council area and has NEVER been any closer, or further away, from Wigan than it is today.
That is regardless of when you moved out, or moved in, or where you went shopping, or which football / rugby team you support, where your milkman lives, what bus goes past your house or which boy's brigade troop you went camping with when you was little!

Anyone living in the St.Helens part of Ashton, who's in love with Wigan MBC, should move into the Wigan MBC area and pay more council tax for a poorer service.

I'm with you jouell,I know exactly what you mean. Take no notice of the ignorant pillock.

Well i did live in Downall Green till 23 years ago even though i lived in Booths Brow road when i left.i still say it's is Downall Green and i will not change my mind about that.Tonker and i have had a "discusion" before and when he's losing he just stops posting.But it gave everybody some entertainment.
At least i knew where the boundery was split.
don't worry about it jouell.
But we miss him when he's not here.

[:w

Not defending Tonker here but this actually happend to me after getting off the I-O-M ferry at Llandudno in the 70s,I was picked out and escorted to a shed to be checked as a IRA suspect the first question they asked was my name and where do you come from my reply was WIGAN, after more questions one of them being the name of the street I lived in latter my house number,they told me the address I had given wasn't in Wigan, then the penny dropped no I live in Ashton-in- Makerfield but we always say Wigan as everyone knows Wigan

I'm stickin to Downall Green.

We all have our own oppinions so best not to worry about.Life's too short.

You say you live where you don't, you refuse to accept who your local authority is, yet you know very little about the actual place you worship so much. Unbelievable!

Still, the insane always understand each other. To an educated outsider, it's all bunkum!

Where would we be without him.Aw Bless.

I'm not worried trixie or upset.... and it is as dougie said, when asked where you are from, Ashton-in-Makerfield means nothing, but say Wigan and everybody knows.... well almost everybody.....

Hang on a minute, Jouell! I didn't see where Trixie asked if you were 'worried or upset'. Come to think of it, I never said anything about you living in St.Helens! What is there to get all flustered about?

And Trixie, I've heard people say they're from Downall Green simply because they live on Downall Green Road. That's opposite Our Ladies church, even further away from Downall Green than Booths Brow Road!

Eeeeeeeeeh, what y'all laaaaaike, you lot!

Eeeeeeeeeeeh, what y'all laaaaike.... You've no need talk tonker...

Tonker, at 10.44 you said... DG is not in Wigan council area it is in St Helens...

Trixie at 19.16 said.... don't worry about it jouell..

At 20.46 I said...I'm not worried, then I threw in the 'upset' for good measure...

At 23.37 I said.....I've had enough of this, and I'm saying
no more on this subject... I'm done I tell ya.. done...

Can we please get back to the original reason for the DG thread...all about Downall Greeners.....

Eeeeeeeeeh, what ya like tonker...

It shows how popular Downall Green is tonker.

Jouell- you once asked me about Jack Slaters Pen, these are just for you if ever you would like to see other places just ask,(will delete photo's as others may not be interested)

Awwww Thanks Dougie, that was really nice of you to do that for me... Now I'm crying as I'm really homesick and wish I could go back in time...I miss DG as it used to be, with all the people that lived there when we were all young, we know that can never happen, but......

Thanks again Dougie... if it's not too much of a bother... Bluebell woods when the bluebells are out.... Not to worry if it can't be done.. I'm made up with what you've sent today...

It was no trouble as I was at the churchyard you maybe alongway away but your still a Downer Greener so it just shows someone was thinking about you you'll knot know the wood as it's all over grown but will see what I can do

See dougie, it's the part....'someone was thinking of you' that means SO much to me... Thanks again

Don't trouble yourself about the woods, if I would have thought about it, the woods must be vastly dofferent than when I was young... back then it was such a lovely place with all the bluebells....

Good photos again Dougie.

I got tears in my eyes too.
Soft beggars we are.
Bluebells would be good to Dougie.

was at bluebell wood last week trixie, can't believe how much it's changed there is no path through wood now had to turn back half way through, such a shame i loved that place.

On second thoughts Dougie it's best not to bother we may be in tears again!!!
Perhaps we could get a gang and walk up there and tread it down and make a path again bambam?
With wellies and clippers.

Dougie, maybe trixie is right and best not to bother with Bluebell woods, if it's as bad as Bambam said....

It was such a lovely place when we were all young and in my minds eye I can still see it...when the bluebells were out it was a sea of bluebells, just gorgeous !!!!

has kids we would start off on booths brow rd and walk through the dell then under the bridge at the dam go through the bluebell wood under the railway bridge walk down the brook to the skitters ,play for the day then walk back again nobody got hurt or caused damage and felt safe

That part on the right hand side over the brook as you entered the wood is now part of the gardens to the houses thats been built on the meadow at the top,my friend lives in one that backs onto the wood thats how I know they've a very nice back garden going down to the brook

done the same walk ppnwafter you had walked under the railway and came out at the other side their was the remains of another wood what was that called

dougie two of my mum and dads freinds live in one of those houses . i will just put the first letter of ther name are they the same freinds R and K

No not the same rbilly, everytime you bring your Mums name up it takes me back to the 40/50s when we was growing up together playing in the street as you do, I didn't know your Dad as he didn't come from DG and your Mum moved away from the area when she married

yes dougi moved to sharp street in wigan. and then to norley hall. and then back to downhall green where she lived up untill we lost her 11 years ago miss her so much and my dad it is 27 years for my dad .he was from south wales moved hear when he was 17 to live with his sister .wish i could turn back the clock still remember playing in the grove popping tar bubbles with lolly sticks and going in full of the stuff and getting told of be cause it was over my dresswhen did they cut down the tree that was in the middle of the grove i loved that tree when i was little they were all over the estate from what i can remember dont think there is any left now is there and we used to love coming up to my mothers and fathers for jelly sunday carried on all through to me bringing my chilldren . but like every thing else things change and not always for the better..

Hi rbilly, all trees that were on estate have now been cut down, the last ones to come down was on island crossing elm ave and poplar ave.

That's why the Avenues were named the way they were, after the trees planted on them.. Lilac, Hawthorne, etc etc... It was a beautiful estate before vandalism started.. in the late 60s or so.......then it started to go downhill... Such a shame, some people didn't realize ( or care ) how good they had it and sent the place to rack and ruin and spoiled it for everybody...

Jouell, It was 1974 when St Helens took over, they sent all the crap family's from Parr & other parts of St Helens, You could go out & leave your door unlocked before that happened, now you have to leave lights on at night if the house is empty,

I stand corrected bentlegs... o wise one

I left DG in 1975 and a lot of the verges between the footpath and the road by this time were already tarmaced and most of the trees had been removed by the council.People even before were parking cars/vans etc on the grass verges and turning them into mudbaths and knocking walls down and putting wrecks in their front gardens.DG was a nice village to live when you were young and knew nothing better but like any other village it had its grot spots and rough families.Also even then houses were being broken into(ours inc).Dg to some people now is a nice place but a think its a one horse town ,one pub one club one school one shop one chippy would not go back to live there for a gold pig

Until the time I left DG (1969) it was a good place to live. I certainly dont remember much crime, apart from that carried out by one individual. Even that ceased when he was sent to reform school. Crime did increase from the early 70's, but that was due to new people moving in, as the original residents either passed or moved away.

Then, it was different, and far from being a "one horse town." On Rectory Road alone, there were at least 14 businesses! In amongst those were one pub and two clubs. Who needs more anyway? One can only drink in one place at a time!

Uncle joe- I had replied to PPNW post almost in the same way as you and just before I finished the computer shut down to do some updating so it was no use putting it back on

would just like to add the bigger lads that moved on the estate came from all over the Ashton area but soon made DG their home and they didn't half look after their own when we went to the big school

Dougie, was your sister married to Kenny Sutton?

Dougie, from some of the stories I've heard, my brother was involved in the "looking after their own" bit...

Hi dougie, was alan yates who worked at reeds any relation to you.

Or Mark Yates, who rides a bike, or their Stan even?

Tonker- they are no relation to me in anyway but I do know them, their Dad Stan was always a good friend as we lived next door but one to each other from birth in 1939/40 and went through school together

Bambam-Alan was no relation but have know him before he got married thats over 50 years

Sorry was thinking they was all from the same family but the girl that Ken married came from the Wigan area as I worked at Reeds with her brother and sister

Hi tonks, if you mean mark and stan that lived on poplar ave, i know them both well.

Yes, I should imagine you do Dave. I know their sister as well. I couldn't think of her name earlier, but it's Pat. She was married to Billy H.

Dougie, I know Kenny Sutton's (step) daughter very well. She told me she had 'Yates' relatives in the Downall Green / Bryn area, that's why I asked. I think Kenny was from Spindle Hillock?

Yes he did, Kenny past away about two years ago

Hi dougie, did kenny have a brother named jimmy lived on old rd at one time.

I remember Jimmy from a terraced house just past S+S in spindle hillock.He had a brother Kenny and a Sister too.

That is same jimmy trixie, i remember he left his first wife and shacked up with another lady on old road next to shop at side of cansfield.

Think Jimmy died as well;

oh thats bad news bentlegs, my father learned him to drive on coaches back in early 80s.

Getting mixed up here was their two Jim Sutton's that lived at downall green then, one moved to Downall Green Road when he got married think it was next door to Mr Waterhouse a big lad would be about 67 now, think he also came from Spindle Hillock would be younger than Kenny or is it the same one

Their most be people out there thats been shouting the answers to the questions thats been asked on here over the last three years, that look and read these threads but can't answer because their not registered ,so get registered and join in we would like your input

You're right dougie, it's the same few that get on here all the time, there has to be others out there.... What about greener....he/she was asking us all if we knew this or that... maybe he/she would know some of the answers we're looking for.... Come on all D Greeners, stop just looking and join in...

Tumtingle, I think that both the Jimmy Suttons are couins,Big Jimmy lives round the corner from me,Kenny's brother Jimmy, i think he died,

the Jimmy i remember was younger than his Brother Kenny,and i thought would be about 64-65?

kenny suttons brother jimmy was younger than ken he will be 64 or maybe 65 now and he did live in downall green rd but not seen him in along time.dont knowwhere he is now.he was in the school year above me.

Hi bert, bentlegs tells us he may have passed away i remember in early 80s my father was driver training, his learners was all lads from bryn including me, there was joe wilde, jim sutton, raymond cottom,roy parkinson, bob smith and another young lad can't remember his name, also lad from cedar grove bob parry who is no longer with us, you problably remember them all.

There were 2 Jim Suttons in Spindle Hillock, living across the road from each other, they were cousins.
The first Jim had an older brother Ken and an older sister Maureen, who used to live in Platt Bridge. Their parents were Arthur and Agnes.
Across the road at 67, was Harry Sutton and his wife Lucy. Their children were David, Jim and John. David died last year, while Jim lives on Downall Green Road with his wife, Janet. Youngest brother John now lives in America.

Thanks erwick,i could not think of Jimmy's sisters name Maureen,

It was mitherin me.

"It was mitherin me" ?????? Now that's a true St.Helens word, 'mither'.

A true Wiganer would say it correctly, moider!

Well YOU would know!!!!

Hi erwick,i remember a john sutton from spindle hillock who i went school with, he would be approx 50 yrs old now could it be same one.

Bambam, He lives in North Carolina, He was at our house 12 months ago,

Thanks for that bentlegs, it must be same lad.

Hi Bambam,
The John Sutton I know will be about 63 years old, he lived at 67 Spindle Hillock and as bentlegs says he lives in North Carolina.
There is another Sutton family in Spindle Hillock, Hughie and Elsie. They have a son Hugh John, brother to Enid, whether he is nearer the 50 mark and is the one you're thinking of, I'm not sure.

Thanks erwick, that sounds like the one i remember his name was hugh john.

The Sutton I know, said her gran lived in the first terraced house on the left as you head towards Low Bank Road. That's number 76. It must have been where Kenny lived as a lad?

It was the second house Tonker, Clank lives in the first,

Right, bentlegs. I thought she'd said the end one. I wasn't really listening. My mind was on other things at the time!

That's another name i remember, brian clarence.

That name does'nt ring any bells with me bambam.

He must be a lot younger than me.

Hi trixie, brian lived at 32 birch grove before moving to spindle hillock, he must be well in 60s now his wife is doreen, children andrew, simon, lee, and joanne.

Iv'e won one with Tonker, do i geta prize?

The prize was a packet of Maltesers. But I've eaten 'em myself, for spite!

What happened on the bowling green Tonker,Not heard the proper story?.

Bentlegs.

Hi trixie, don't hear much from lanky hope she is ok.

Yes she's okay bambam, she's playing games on facebook. she should be in the lead on there on some games.maybe get a trophy.

Saw Gwilym in Wigan today, Dressed as smart as ever like he always was, had a chat but i couldn't stop long,

Do you mean big Gwilym Hughes bentlegs?

Was he with our John?

Old Gwilym Trixie,he was by his self having a rest on the roadside rail in Wallgate

I was under the impression he was'nt well enough to go out on his own.

Glad to hear he was okay.thanks bentlegs.

Gwylam goes wigan on a regular basis, he likes a pint in anvil.

Oh good news i thought he used to go to Tom+Jerries in Ashton.

I know our John takes him out sometimes.

Duggie, Thanks for the chocolate,not bad, might buy some next week.

He's not sent ME any chocolate, the owd fraud!

It was O.K. then Tumtingle don't till how much I paid are he'll be thinking I'm reet tight he's bad enough with my Travelodge rooms,

Trixie/bentlegs i was back home about 3 years ago and went in the Tom &gerry ,while the wife went to the hairdressers just up the road ,i sat at a table when a guy came and sat down and introduced himself as Gwylam Hughes,(sounded like willhelm) small guy with a walking stick,had a good chat for a couple of hours,would this be the same guy,if it is next time you see him ask him if he remembers the guy from NZ in the T&G

Yes thats Gwilym.

I think Brian is likely to see him as he lives across the road from him.

Hi trixie, if i see him in wigan this week i will mention it to him.

ok bambam.thanks.

As must come from Downall green on this thread I think its right that Kevin takes his place, Thanks for making the video
Click Photo

Thanks for posting that, Dougie.

The thing that I'm trying to do now is place him. I'm assuming that I should know him, but cant place him for some reason.

You will know Kevin Duffy UJoe, the Duffy family lived second house in Hawthorn Ave (Lilac Ave end)he had brothers Dennis,Tony,Francis,Craig and sisters Sheila,Bernadette & Tracey. Mum & Dad were Bill&Annie. Bet you remember them now.

I uploaded this photo on WW and found out it had been lost for years some how it turned up in Kevins
Click Photo

I don't think Joe will know Kevin as they all went to Our Ladies..

Any d/dreeners know where Terry Turton from Popular ave got to? If you have any information frances on People would like to contact him ,

gery remind me again about the person called terry turton as i will ask a freind of mine he may know

Trixie: I remember the family, but as you say, didnt know them much.

Bentlegs: Would they be any relation to the Turtons that lived on Rectory Road?

apart from Kevin how many of the Duffy clan still live at DG

last time i saw terry turton was in old road labour club with his parents a long time ago i think he lived in ashton .remember him well good friend of my brothers when they were kids.

Hi bert, hope you ok pal not heard from ya in a while.

Uncle Joe. trying to think where theRectory Rd Turtons lived, top or bottom, have you got the names?

hi bentlegs i cant remember the fathers name but i know carl he was only toung then. there was a few kids .they lived next to the bell carpark before kev had his nursery.

Bentlegs, the only name that I can remember was the daughter, Vivian, as she was in the same class as me at Rectory. Rbillys Aunty Ann will know better where the lived than me, but my memory says it was one or two doors up from Pies. I do stand to be corrected, its a long time since I've been in DG now.

There was a Vivienne Turton, born about 1953 in Rectory Road, 49 I think, whose parents were Norman Clifford and Annie. I think he was a Post Office Engineer.

erwick, i dont remember clifford or Annie from Rectory Rd.

That will probably be the one that I was referring to. At which end would 49 be?

Uncle Joe, It would be after Alf Balls shop i think,

We were chatting about when Cromptons was opposite the S&S club and Millingfords was behind the houses on Rectory Rd and got on about the industrial pollutants(lathe coolants etc)that were spilled over the time that both operated.Millingfords used to have a tank at the back of the yard full of waste coolant which(allegedly)was run into the brook at the back,they would not get away with this now.Wondered if the land was totaly decontaminated or did they just remove the top layer of soil/dirt has there are houses on both sites now

ppnw38817, That wasn't a waste cooling tank you saw but a chroming plant, there were two tanks for chroming pump parts, & the waste did go into the brook, i dont know how they got away with it,

I for one never remember anything being run in the brook and we played all along the brook in the 40/50s so it must have been after that, the only thing I remember running into the brook was the blood out of the graveyard anyone remember saying that

as for the houses thats built on the old dam who can say what was tipped there in the 40/50s should only have been household waste, they never built houses on the old Tile Sheds they left as a green area why

Tumtingle, It was in the 60s when the chrome plant was built, i worked on it,I left in 71 ,

June Hilton (nee Heywood) sister to Jonny & Harry died yesterday after a long illness, I remember her living in Birch Grove, a lovley girl.

Sorry to hear that Tumtingle thanks for letting us know, I was in the same class at school as June in the 40s she also worked at Reeds at one time

hi bentlegs sorry to hear about june lovely couple her and brian.lived across from my wifes family on landgate for a long time .remember her from downall green.rest in peace june.

tommy simm sr died yesterday.

Brian I was told about Tommy earlier. Such sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with Thelma and all the family.

Brian if you find out time of funeral txt me.

sad news, my thoughts go to all the family, tommy was my fathers cousin, please let me know funeral arrangements bri.

funerall is at holy trinity on friday may 13 th at 2.00pm

Thanks rbilly, i will b there.

i shall tell mi uncle kev hes on ere dougie..he'll be chuffed as a butty & ppnw38817 theirs 4 duffys left livin on down all green

Anyone remember Brenda Fayle from Hawthorne Ave, & did she go to OZ?

I went to school with Margaret but sorry i don't know if Brenda went to oz.

Just spoke to my Mum and she said that Brenda Fayle did emigrate to OZ over 35 yrs ago

hi bentlegs i remember brenda and margaret didnt they live next to tickles on hawthorn ave.i heard brenda went to oz years ago .you keep turning up with names ive not heard of for years.

She was one of the gang Bert,Nice girl.

Is this the first time the DG thread fell off the first page?

Yes Jouell, we must keep it at the top,

where are u bambam.gone into hiding

I think he's gone for a rest!!!!

We need some new blood on here, give us all something new to talk about.....I think all us older ones ( as in been talking on here for a while ) have run out of things to talk about....At least I can't think of anything right now....

Who went swimming the resser?

Brenda and Margaret Fayle are my cousins. Brenda emigrated over 40 years ago and our Margaret lives at Bryn. I think they did live in Hawthorn avenue with their mum Phyllis and Dad Bert. I seem to remember our Brenda living in the terraced houses on Leyland green road near Slaters pen before she went to Oz and Auntie Phyllis moved to Brocstedes.

I remember Brenda and Margaret living on Hawthorne, they lived all but back to back with my house on Leyland Green Rd... I also remember Brenda living in the next to end terrace house on L G rd... was that after she got married? Don't remember much about them after that....


No trixie, I never did, was never allowed to and I've been scared of water all my life...

Haha.neither did i.I was to young i just watched the older ones.

I swim now but don't like being out of my depth
Thats why i paid for all my grandchildren to have swimming lessons.the youngest is just on her's now then i've finished....

Yes jouell Brenda moved there after she married Bill Stewart

does any one remamber my father [grandfather ]john turner he drove the coach that took the workers to the RO F FACTORY AT HORWICH he used to park at the bottom of cedar grove and i think for a time near to the s &s club ..and i vaguley remember my mum saying he had some thing to do with the starting of the club when it was just an old shed ..i could be wrong you no the old grey matter ...

I'm like you trixie... I'm alright in a pool, but never go past waist deep in the ocean... I'm a nervous wreck out on a boat and could never do a cruise...


I don't know anything about your Grandfather rose.... that would be something bentlegs and dougie might know... them being the " older" ones... All I do remember is that it was the old British Legion that was there before the S and S.. I don't remember when the B L was demolished... and the S and S built...

rbilly: I certainly remember your granfather parking his coach in Cedar Grove, it was usually outside our kitchen window! later on, he used to park it near the garages that were at the bottom of Poplar Ave.

When the Legion was started, it was in a big white house that was later demolished. The "shed" that your mum referred to was possibly the Village Club. I'm sure that Dougie or Bentlegs will be able to chime in on this.

There is a picture of the British Legion on page 5 in the Album / North Ashton.......It was demolished in the 60s... Why, I don't know, it was a lovely building..

The White house was across the rd, facing the green, where the bus stop used to be....

There was a picture somewhere, I'll look for it later of the old Village club, it was originally a house, I remember it was an old house even back when I was little.... As I said in an earlier post, dougie and bentlegs will know better than any of us, cos they're 'older'...

I've just looked through the old DG threads and can't find the pic... Maybe dougie was the one who put it on, then removed it...

I think the woman's name was Margaret that lived in it with her family.one of her children went to school with my Daughter.It's mitherin me what her last name was...

Which house are you talking about trixie? The only people I knew in the White house..the name was Hill.... Barbara was a year or so older than me and she had a younger sister , think her name was Wendy....

Hi jouell, You're right it was Barbara, Kathleen and Wendy Hill who lived at the White House. The old British Legion was as you say a lovely building, I remember going to a good few wedding receptions there, also when I joined Trinity Girls band we used to have band practice in the front room upstairs......

White House

Old Legion

Funny how memories change after a while. I dont remember the fence around the old Legion, and until I saw the photo remebered it as being white. I do remember one of the girls from the Trinity band though! Any idea which one, suesa?

There must have been the majority of the band living on the estate UncleJoe, I remember 3 at least living your part of Poplar. We had great fun times and have such fantastic memories.....................brilliant

I don't remember Kathleen at all... isn't it funny how your memory works....or in my case, half the time it doesn't, especially as I get older...

Was the reson for the Hills moving out, due to the house being demolished? In my opinion, that part of Rectory rd looked a lot better back then than it does now....

I think the house i'm thinking of must have been ordinary brickwork at the very end.

I didn't know anyone in any of the other houses... I used to love the old cottages... As poor as so many were in DG back then....I still think it was a much nicer place then, than it is now.....

I couldn't agree more with that comment!

Is my memory that the Trinity Girls Band once appeared on TV correct? Something to do with tha fact that at one time, it was the only all girl band in the UK?

Correct joe, We were on Junior Showtime for Yorkshire tv (went to Leeds to record that) then we were on the Kenny Everett Show (filmed with him at Belle Vue along with Germaine Greer & Jonathon Routh) seems ages ago -well it was - but is still fresh in my mind

What happened to the band? Does it still exist?

Yes it's still going ...... last year was the 50th Anniversary of it starting up.

I remember Nurse Stokes starting the band when i was 15.

Suesa, Trinity Girls were not the only all girls band, Cory's from Lancaster were formed years before Trinity,

Who is this Jouell calling me and Dougie owd, they will get there legs smacked, I think the new Village Club was built in 51 or 52, ready for the Coronation, it was the first day that women were allowed in the club , before coronation day it was men only. Regarding the cottages , Tommy Winstanley lived there up to them being knocked down along with Jimmy & Laura Hill,

Bentlegs I was only saying 'correct' to Uncle Joe to the fact we were on tv. Didn't know about the band you mentioned - Cory's. Were they a female brass band too? I know there was the Ivy Benson Band but that was a big band not brass.

suesa, The Cory band were inthe first section Daily Herald , It was the only female band that i knew of, It was a Brass Band belonging to the Cory Mill,

Ahhh the only Cory band I knew/know of is the one from Wales, male & female

I didn't say you 'are' old...I said you 'are' older than I am and most of the other DGs and you are..... Because you 'are' older, you would know more of the old DG than the rest of us.....eeehhhhh.......

So the old house that was the Village club, was that a residence before becoming the Village club and do you mean it only actually became a club in 51/52, or that's when women were allowed in.....

uncle joe was it kath roberts ?..she and her family are old family freinds lovely family my freinds.. freind audrey plays for trinity also .. my cuz deb orah phillips also played for them as did my daughter when she was about 10 over 20 years ago

rbilly: I do remember Kath Roberts, she was in the same class as me at Rectory, and then later on at AGS. The one I remember was suesa. I was trying to joke a little with her but she missed it!

I tried to find some info about the Cory Lancaster band, but couldn't. Presumably, being connected to a mill, it was a Womens Brass Band. The Trinity band was a Girls Silver Band, was it not? So on a technicality, it could still have been the only one! Whichever way it goes, we should be proud of the fact that a small community such as DG could have got the band together, and kept it going for all these years.

Jouell your right about Bentlegs being an oldman but please don't don't class me as being the same age as him, he is on about the new club and I think the first day they let women in the club was on Trinity Sunday 1951 the next was coronation day,I do remember the coronation day in the new club they give us all a teacup with the queen on and a goody bag but Tumtingle will not remember that he was to old for one,from what I remember of the old club it was big house but only had two big bedrooms that was used by the band, can still see it in my mind how to have had a digital camera in them days to show the old Downall Green as it was

suesa, I may have got some of the information wrong about the Cory Band,Now i am not sure of the name, Will look it up,

suesa, Looks like your right about the Cory Band, Just looked it up on Wikipedia & it does say Wales, I must have mistaken the name, Sorry,

Jouell, The old house was the Village club up to the building of the new one in 51,& if Tumtell calls me owd again i will stop his dole,

Cheers Bentlegs though I was quite happy to accept your wisdom on these matters from the olden days
Uncle Joe I got the nod on the one you knew Thinking about it my sister Elaine and I, during one of our many chats about those days, recalled all the girls in the band in the 60s - early 70s and the fact that almost every avenue on the estate had a least one of them living on them, some like hawthorn had 8 of us in the band, quite amazing really

Sorry Dougie, I didn't say you were as old as bentlegs, I just said you two were the older ones...

I remember the Coronation Day celebrations....it was so much fun, yes the cup ( wish I still had it) and goody bag,races for prizes, am I right in remembering the weather was lovely... I know all in all it was a Lovely day.....

You're right about the camera, it would be fantastic to see DG as it was... the younger ones have no idea what it was like back then... I remember Rectory road having Coaches ( Saloons, as they were sometimes called) all along the road ready to take all us children on the big ( for us in those days)Village club trip....Great times

Anybody remember the coaches to blackpool lights from DG?

Weren't they booked through Pies shop.......They used to do Mystery tours as well, usually on a Sunday afternoon / evening....

I was thinking more of the coaches that private individuals "got up" but why not include all, club, school, whatever trips.

Yes uncle joe, the oldest on them trips would've been about 22 leave about 6.00pm first stop would be the Bowling Green at Charnock Richards no M6 in them days,a few hours in Blackpool through the lights stopping for chips on the way home and in for 12.00pm no stopping out late in the 50s,it may have changed for you but if you went on some of them trips you know what they was like

suesa, I think i have just cracked it who you are, Did you play soprano cornet ? You were very good , pity you didn't keep it up,We lived almost back to back but you were only a little girl then, I workrd withyour dad Joe at Parkside,a grand chap,

Close Bentlegs but wrong Susan though I do know who you mean. I played euphonium and lived nearer to the Poplar turning on the opposite side from Susan L..............

suesa, i cant get nowt right , can i?Give us a clue,

Jouell-I've been round my sisters to-night and was telling her about this thread, she said my Mam gave her one as a keep sake of her marriage in 1953 as we had three one for each of child,this is a photo of the cup I said was give at the club on coronation day yes I know it's a glass but thats what comes with old age do you remember it

Awwww Bentlegs don't be so hard on yourself
Clue ....... I have 1 sister & 2 brothers (both in Boys Brigade & also played a lot of football)
Have another guess

Is one of them in OZ

Yes Dougie, has lived there for about 37yrs now but loves his visits home

No dougie, I didn't remember what it looked like, but do remember we all had one......My Dad was a begger for throwing things out and years ago most people...( Your Mam fortunately not one of them) didn't think of keepsakes.... It's in very good condition for being so old..... Is that your sister ( is it Yvonne?) who has the glass? I always thought she was so pretty.....I don't remember your older sisters, just your Ralph, you, Yvonne and your Kenneth.....

Suesa-the only reason I ask that way was we met in the Bowling Club and had a few drinks and a chat could have been last time he was over, you must know I know your family from photo's I,ve uploaded except you

No yvonne is no relation Jouell you may have the name wrong, but as you say my younger sister was and still is very pritty as you put it, it's my oldest siter Nora that as the glass she's 82 I am just one of seven children

Yes dougie, I did have the wrong name... it's Lily isn't it, for some reason I thought both of your older sisters lived away....Anyway, I stand by what I said about Lily.....

I know over the last 3 i/2 years I've uploaded quite a few photo's for people to look at then deleted them,looking back over the threads I wish that they had been left on so any new comers looking would see what we was talking about in the photo's, will be leaving them on in future so just ask if you wish any deleted this is one of the oldman and his mates about 1954 dosn't look like that now but he's weathered will over the years (could tell a few tales)

Yes Dougie, I know you know Still trying to convince my brother to get online, once he does he'll never be off
WW It was his last visit that he was at the bowling club

Jouell, Come on , help me out, a Susan that lived near your friend Pam Wilde,Think it could be Susan Atherton?

Tumtell, 1952, Blackpool,

I never said Pam Wilde was a friend of mine... I still have the scar on my leg from when she threw a stone at me and it stuck in my leg

Try checking suesas' profile ... that should tell you

hi rbilly i remember your grandfather.he was a friend of my father who was one of those who started the old legion .with bert rosbottom and arthur winstanley and a lot more people.we used to go out delivering tickets for the saturday draw when i was a kid.

hi dougie my wife and her brother still have one of those glasses.good memories we had a full set at our house and hessions next door

Yes and go to watch childrens hour on telly 5 till 6 in the front room 1952 remember

Jouell, thanks for that, never thought of looking there,Only kidding about Pam Wilde being a friend,

I might get me legs smacked for telling you.

What do you mean Trixie?

Well i said something i should'nt.

If you did'nt see it hardlines.

Cant find owt wrong with your post Trixie,asta been on't pop?

I put on here who suesa was but you may have missed it.
I had to delete it.Sorry.....
i don't drink so it must have bin somethin i ate..

I got her name from her blog,

It's ok Trixie, don't get yourself in a lather about it

Ok thanks.suesa.

Trixie, Do you remember a family that lived just past your grandads & they had a daughter named Pat, i think she was an only child, both the parents were nurses i think, I think they lived in the houses where you had to go up a few steps,The dad was one of the few to have a car in the 50s. we are racking our brains trying to think of thier name,

I can't place her,but you've started me of now!!!
Did they live next to Cartwrights?
Somebody across the road had a bubble car.

Would that be the Lowes'? I remember the Dad was a nurse and they had a car and was always keeping it clean. They lived across from us and next door to Margaret Beesleys. I think they moved to Cleveleys or somewhere near there when they retired. They moved to live near their daughter and her family. I'm sure this is who you mean.

I was going to say that suesa would probably know.

I can't remember who lived there only the Smouts while there house in simms road was refurbished.Molly had a fancy for Dickie and used to chase him.

suesa, Tha'r queen , thats um Lowes, Ta, con go to sleep toneet,

hi bentlegs i remember them he had a little renault daulphin.his daughter was a very pretty woman she looked like cilla black but nicer .your pee will remember her .we all fancied her when we were kids.

Hi Bert, yes I remember her looking like Cilla Black. Although they had a car Mr.Lowe used to go to work at Billinge Hospital on his pushbike complete with cycle-clip round his ankles, I always remember that

If he had a Renault dauphine, I can understand him cycling to work. They didn't used to be called "Roll-over Renaults" without good reason! Anyway, it was french, so probably wouldn't make it to Billinge without breaking down!

If you look on the Album at North Ashton Carnival, Pat Lowe is the one stood up on the left in the nurses uniform. If I'm not mistaken.

Somebody on the People thread is looking for a Rosemary Morley ...age about 50... used to live on Brocstedes Ave.... Any of you younger ones remember her? if you do you could be a gem and give the person looking for her any info you have....

Bentlegs
There name was Littler and the girls name was Pat a blond girl
Ashpad

i have been in touch with my freind jouell and the girl used to live in the house my freind lives in know..she as a couple of freinds who were freinds of her's and she is going to ring them to see if they have an adress for her..

I stand corrected Ashpad ..... as soon as I saw the name Littler I realised that that was their name

Shows how you can get it wrong, i was convinced it was Lowe but now Littler has come up it makes sence.

Wasn't there a Pat Lowe that used to live on Poplar Ave.?

Thanks rose..I knew someone would be able to help

Just been looking through old photo's, I think these two should have a place on the Downall Green thread as some my not have seen them,the girls will be 40 years older today

And don't I feel it .... older I mean

B&W photo was taken in 1967, and the colour one was taken about 1983

I stand corrected, it is Pat Littler on the North Ashton carnival photo [not Pat Lowe].

Anyone remember Cromptons Medal competition in the 50s? Didn't the North Ashton team win it? not sure

No I don't remember it What was the competition?

Hi Bentlegs I remember Crompton's sports day on Warrington Rd because I came second in the 100 yds open and won a cruet.That would be about 1952-3

This was a football competition,local areas formed teams, most of the men i knew whoplayed have gone, sure some one will come up with the answer,

on the coloured photo the front row third from the left is my cousin Deborah Philips her mum is Ann Turner out of cedar grove married Ray Phillips from Billinge and the girl who you can just see her head at the back left looks like Kathryn Roberts from Birch Grove ..could be wrong ..

rbilly,i think the girl on back left is tracy duffy from hawthorn ave.

hi bambam nice to have you back not seen or heard from you .have asked dave when i see him not seen mike for ages.

Hi bert, been busy helping my daughter run the pub on frog lane, mike is doing alright i will see him tonight at st helens buffs.

Is there anybody out there.

Think evertbody has flit Trixie.

I think your right bentlegs..
Or they have gone on holiday.

Is it wakes week?