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Hi,
I worked at Maidwells for a short period in the 1950's, they made overalls, and very nice ones too. Under the factory was a music shop where I bought my very first Elvis record 'Dont be cruel' I worked with Shiela Smith and the Manager's name was Jack. I remember that in 1962 I was in Billinge Hospital as a patient on B2 ward and the lady in the next bed was Jack's sister. She lived in a bungalow in Winstanley, sadly I lostr touch with her. |
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celia fairhurst, upholland, england 11th Aug 2010 |
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Are you the famous Bernard Dowdall by any chance. If so I understand that you are quite an accomplished artist. Do you exhibit your work anywhere? I am a collector of the works of local artists. |
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Ruby Renacre, Billinge, UK 22nd Jul 2010 |
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I have quite a few recollections of jim Isherwood the famous Wigan artist.
One vivid one when I was a young boy.I used to go to St Mary's school in Standishgate Wigan and went to my grandmothers for my dinner each day in Scholes.
One day I was returning to school walking down Greenough St where his mother had a shop. As I was walking by, Jim asked me to stop and admire a portrait of Tommy Steele (with two heads) ,and the next day the picture appeared in the Daily Mirror with the caption "Artist unveils portrait of pop sensation Tommy Steele ,young admirer amazed"
Years later I was working for a local Bookmaker Joe Kennedy in The Wiend,and Jim Isherwood was a regular visitor to the office,which in those days before betting shops was a credit office. He liked a bet on the horses and more often than not when it came time to settle up he invariably paid his debts by way of a painting . I dread to think of how many of his works ended up being a nice comfy resting place for Joe's two Siamese cats.
A couple of years ago I came across a signed copy of Sir Gerald Nabarro's autobiography dedicated to Jim and his lady Lily ,and guess what was inside....a couple of sketches and a photograph of one of his paintings in Venice I think.
Hope this is of interest Bernard Dowdall |
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Bernard Dowdall, Wigan, England 21st Jul 2010 |
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At least that was your story Carol. I saw you in that entry in Oxford St scoffing that ice cream! |
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Bloo, Wigan, England 19th Jul 2010 |
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My name is Carol Round and I lived in Oxford St, off Greenough Street. Used to be sent with a pint pot to Lewis's icecream bar and I ran home so fast the piece of 'paper' covering the ice cream had fallen off and so had all the ice cream!! I Remember Hilda and wish I had bought a painting from Isherwoods cobblers! |
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Carol McLeod, Wigan, Lancashire 16th Jul 2010 |
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He may well have passed on Bert.
He was no chicken.
Not seen him around lately. |
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J. Barker, Wigan, GB 16th Jul 2010 |
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What hapened to that chap called himself Bloo. he never writes any more. he was the main man in the past. or has he past on? |
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Bert Baines, Wigan, England 15th Jul 2010 |
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Hi John, hows your husband John. Must get quite confusing in your house, Best wishes - Walter :>). |
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Formerly Fat Walter, Wigan, GB 10th Jul 2010 |
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My Husband's John grandparent's owned a shop at 49 Greenough St. John's father was the youngest of their 5 children. William Bernard Ashurst born 1911 was awarded the MBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 1953. We would like to know the maiden name of John's grandmother if anyone knows we would love know. |
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John Ashurst, vilafranca del penedse, spain 14th Jun 2010 |
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Brian Unsworths mother had Florries shop on the corner of Kay Street I think. A green grocers shop. |
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T. Fairhurst, Wigan, UK 28th May 2010 |
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Brian Unsworth will be getting on a bit now. Between 73 and 75 I'd guess. Think he was a St Georges lad but not sure. Think is parents had a shop in Greenough Street. He wnt to Whelley school later on. |
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D. Varey, Wigan, GB 26th May 2010 |
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Wonder what hapened to that chap who used to dominate this page. Think his name was Brian Unsworth. Used to boast a lot about his prowess at football and about a boat he had in Windermere. Yeah he boasted a lot about living in the lake district.
He hated grammar school boys and had a habit of falling out with all the other contributors.
Then he began to post his poetry on the site. I think that was the last the straw for most folk, think they gave up posting comments in case they encouraged him.
Then I think an ex-grammar school boy posted a dodgy limerick on the site and everyone blamed Brian for it.
He started signing himself B.U. from Sandside. I think thats a place in the Lake District. Anyway he eventually began to relate to himself as Bu or Boo Sandside.
He suddendly stopped posting comments. Its funny he must have been the main initiator or should I say "agent provocateur" to the site because not many have contributed since he stopped.
Its a pity, you could argue that every pantomine needs a villain. |
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Jon Summers, Wigan, UK 18th May 2010 |
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Hi Babs. Can confirm Cliff is still around. I saw him a couple of Saturdays ago sat outside the Cherry Gardens pub. |
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Rita, Wigan, Great Britain 6th May 2010 |
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He's still around Babs. I drove past him walking up Mesnes Road a few days ago. |
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Joe Hill, Wigan, England 4th May 2010 |
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Does any one know if Cliffy Higham is still around? |
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Babs A., Bedford, UK 1st May 2010 |
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Hello Betty, thanks for asking but thankfully BU is doing ok. Hes out of hospital now and slowly but surely getting better. |
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sandra johnstone, wigan, england 27th Mar 2010 |
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Hello Mrs Johnstone. Sorry to hear Brian isnt well. How is he doing now. Hope he's up and about. |
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Betty Powell, Wigan, UK 14th Feb 2010 |
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Yeah I remember Tucker. What you up to these days. |
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Yatesy, Wigan, UK 3rd Feb 2010 |
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My dad bought my first tranny from Lenningans. It ran on this big block of a battery. I used to take it into Lewises Ice Scream bar and play radio luxemburg. I remember getting Hilda up and bopping to Dont Be Cruel. Fantastic days. |
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Tucker McKnight, wigan, england 2nd Feb 2010 |
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Same here Tez. We always whupped St Catherines good at St Georges. Later at the Grammar School we stuffed the same numpties when they went to Whelley School. |
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Chris Higham, Wigan, GB 24th Jan 2010 |
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I went to St Georges School and do you know we won the Smith Cup more times than any other school. The headmaster, Billy Spencer, kicked soccer into touch during the 50s so none of the kids could play footy for the school after that.
Fortunately I managed to play. I used to like playing against St Catherines who we always used to trounce, because I knew a lot of the lads. |
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Tez Jones, Wigan, UK 22nd Jan 2010 |
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As a newcomer to this site, I have been reading over some past comments to bring me up to date and give me an insight into what topics are discussed. I was surprised that people seem to be using this site to be critical of other adults . . . Namely B.U. I know B.U. and his lovely family, and think you might not know that B.U. has been in hospital since March of last year, so when someone posted a message and everyone thought it was him, they were all very mistaken because he was still very poorly in hospital, and actually is still too poorly be commenting on this or any other site. Well, I hope that I will find further messages of more use and am able to chat to people who have something of interest to say, instead of their useless, childish comments. Especially Mr Yates, who still has some kind of interest in continuing with childish talk. |
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sandra johnstone, wigan, lancs 19th Jan 2010 |
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Remember that geezer wh used to boast that he had a barge of some sort on Lake Windermere. Well a watched a programme Michael Portillo in the Lake District. He was on a smashing looking, well preserved owd boat. The owner was complaining about the tatty vessels cluttering the lake now days. I thought yeah that bragging geezer on Wigan World is probably polluting an otherwise picturesque lake with his owd wreck. Something should be done about it. |
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Yatesy, Wigan, UK 14th Jan 2010 |
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Oh oh Mona..tell you Mona what I’m gonna do…build a house next door to you.. Happy New Year Mona ... and everone else. Get with it man! |
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Beatnik Fly, Aspull, Wigan, UK 7th Jan 2010 |
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appy noo yeer clif an too everibody. |
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stan arkwright,, wigin, inglund 3rd Jan 2010 |
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HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL |
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cliff higham, Wigan, uk 31st Dec 2009 |
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Happy xmas Cliffy luv. Hope to see you at next St Georges reunion. Much luv XXX. |
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Babs, Wigan, UK 23rd Dec 2009 |
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Ah! The sweet fragrance of Mona Spring. Glad to hear from you again Mona. Hope you are well. Wonder how the Beatnik Fly from Aspull and the rest are getting on. |
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Yatesy, Wigan, GB 22nd Dec 2009 |
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Hi Guys. Have a wonderful Xmas and dont break the New Year resolutions. |
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Mona, Wigan, GB 17th Dec 2009 |
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Hi Fats. Merry Christmas and to one and all. |
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Yatesy, Wigan, UK 14th Dec 2009 |
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Here's wishing everyone who contributes to the page a merry Christmas. Tez Dainty, the Dowdalls, Mona, Stan .... everybody, the Highams and Eggsy.. one and all and even Bu Bu Sandside. Peace and good will to all. |
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Fotmery Fat Walter, Wigan (x-Windsor), GB 13th Dec 2009 |
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Right on fats. Filled in for Blue Diamonds a couple of times. Remember them,,there were thousands of em. |
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Eggs, Eureka, US 9th Dec 2009 |
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Eggsy - did you ever play at the Paradise Club? |
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Formerly Fat Walter, (Ex-Windsor) Wigan, UK 8th Dec 2009 |
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Chris. As you know your cuz Clint Higham was rhythm guitar and vocals, Tommy Rimmer on drums, Jesse James on bass and me on lead and vocals. catcha son. |
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Eggs, Eureka, USA 1st Dec 2009 |
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Hi Eggsi, how you doing. Remember seeing you play at the Wellfield and that pub in Norley that Keith Holden ran.
Great version of Memphis Tennessee.
Remind me of the other lads in the group. |
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Chris Higham, Wigan, UK 1st Dec 2009 |
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I used to play in a group called the Beech Hillbillies. |
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Eggs, Eureka, USA 30th Nov 2009 |
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I used to sell the Lancashire Evening Post and Manchester Evening Chronicle in the streets around Greenough Street. |
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Eric (Eggs) Marshall, Eureka, Montana, USA 29th Nov 2009 |
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Hi Becci, I'm not Cliff Highams brother - honest. In fact I dont know him and he probably doesnt know me. There are loads of Highams in Wigan. Cliffs probably younger than me. I knew Bu Bu though, a little brat. We'd clip his luggs and he run off scrikeing for his mam.
You're dead reet though - its time we forgave and forgot. So here's to Mr. B.U. and lets hope he behaves himself in future. Like you say Becci - theres a place for his poems and if thats not good enough Im sure the Council have a place.
Seriously though, I can not speak for the other Higham but as far as I am concerned Bu is forgiven. |
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Chris Higham, Wigan, UK 29th Nov 2009 |
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I think that it is awfully sad when grown men participate in this silly baiting. Having had grandparents who lived in the Greenough Street area I have read the comments above extensively.
It seems the nub of the issue is that a former resident of Greenough St who wishes to be known as B.U. from Sandside (Cumbria) was chastised by a number of contributors for his bad “poetry” and being mistakenly responsible for posting a filthy limerick.
The limerick had actually been posted by a regular contributor, Cliff Higham. Although it is true that B.U. had a tendency to boast on various subjects including owning some sort of canal craft, a subject of derision by his detractors. He also seemed to have an unhealthy obsessive dislike of Grammar School boys.
This site is meant for pleasantries so lets all try to make life a better place for each other.
I suggest that the brothers Higham cease to abuse B.U. and keep their comments pertinent to the Greenough Street area and keep them pleasant.
I suggest that B.U. ceases to boast about what he perceives to be personal achievements and comes to terms with his phobia about Grammar School boys.
With regard to – lets call it his “prose” rather than poetry is kept to the page on this site which makes provision for literary “wanna be’s”.
Mr Higham should apologise to B.U. for posting the filthy limerick although I do appreciate that B.U. did nothing to protest his own innocence. It would be a nice conciliatory gesture on the part of Mr Higham. Hope you can all be friends. Rebecca.
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Rebecca Parker-Jones, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, GB 28th Nov 2009 |
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Are you a brother, brother as in "monk" or another brother of say Bu Bu. Or are you a brother as in "soul brother". Oh brother! So many brothers. Why bother. P.S. message for Bu Bu. Hello sailor. Sale, shocking pink sailor suits in your local Debenhams. Free sailors cap with every suit purchase before December 10th. Hurry. Hurry whilst stocks last. |
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Chris Higham, Wigan, UK 25th Nov 2009 |
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Bu Bu is a better man than either chris or cliff higham (probably related) will ever be. dont bother replying with your childish comments |
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brother, wigan, england 25th Nov 2009 |
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remember dicky plums barbers, hildas ice cream parlour, harry fairhursts cloggers, unsworths grocers and that brat of kid brian who lived there. broughs cleaners, church o christ church, lennigans, stans radio shop. derek halsall, marie higham, laurence nevin, barabara and grham culshaw, loads o tarbucks, brian appleton, margret smith, jennifer gardner, derek holcroft. I could go on and on... |
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Chris Higham, Wigan, UK 17th Nov 2009 |
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WAWaw! thats strange, my guess he,s stayin out out your way. |
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annabel, montreal, canada 12th Nov 2009 |
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Degs I went to Canada last month but I didnt see you. |
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B. Tarbuck, Ince, UK 11th Nov 2009 |
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Yea thanks Cliff it's good to keep in touch.Hi Liz , yes I remember you very well how are you ?(after 40 years or so)When i talk to Jean I'll mention you .And Hi to you too Norman (45 years or so later) we sure got up to a lot of stuff didn't we it's a wonder we survived.Good to hear from you .Bye for now. |
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degs, fernie, canada 10th Nov 2009 |
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Degs, no probs, I know I just been sendin funnies but I,ll let you know whats goin down, here.
regards to your gang.
rock on
catchya C |
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cliff higham, wigan, WIGAN 8th Nov 2009 |
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Degs n' Cliff. Remember when we dressed up as Guy Fawks and sat on corner of Turner Street to get a few coppers. Penny for the guy and all that. Dennis Smith used to sit on our heads and we couldnt say owt cos the punters would realise it wasnt a proper guy but me or Cliff or Degs. |
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N. Ashurst, Gateshead, UK 6th Nov 2009 |
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Jean was my best friend from the first day at st.George,s then all saints,then after leaving school,we use to go out drinking.I remember you,I once went with Jean baby sitting at your house,that was just past the boars head.And the home brew you once did.I remember your mum and dad,they were very nice people.Not seen Jean for a few years now. |
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liz, wigan, uk 6th Nov 2009 |
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liz, yes that's me, lived right at the bottom of the street .Good days great memories .Liz let me know who you are.Hi Cliff keep the e-mails coming. |
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degs, fernie, canada 6th Nov 2009 |
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Where have all the guys gone?
Penny for the guy an things.
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cliff higham, wigan, uk 5th Nov 2009 |
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Greenough Street. (Changed beyond recognition)