Places   (Help with places, streets and buildings in Wigan.)

kenny,

Its a heavy burden for douglas, so I'll tell ya.

One sunny summer Sunday afternoon in 1965 or 6 Douglas and his mate were playin' three-gows-in with a World Cup Willie ball in their back yard. Douglas can't remember who was winnin' when a massive grey plume of smoke polluted the otherwise clear blue sky above.

It looked to be coming from the back of Gallaghers-- their regular venue for three -gows- in -- but from where theye'd been ousted by Silcocks Travelling Fair.

They abandoned the game and scurried down Earl St. Loads of excited kids were oggling at the rusty red hulk of a generator-bearing lorry, madly ablaze, being tackled by the Fire Brigade.

Speculation was mounting about the culprit. Just who could the arsonist be? Borstal loomed for him, surely.

douglas's mate heard his name being mumbled across the gathered throng, then Danny A.. came up on his bike and accused him outright. Before thay could mount a spirited defence, he shot off to do a scene of crime report to a constable about fifty yards away;. The accused could see him gesticulating proudly in his new found sleuth role, the cad. Evidence insignificant

Douglas' mate had though, and still has, a cast iron alibi and a fearless mam who hurtled down to County Police St to show him just how good she was at rail-roading stupid bobbies.

When he saw Danny A.. in a pub recently - first time since the 70's, -- he let sleeping dogs lie.