Wigan Album

hi maureen
joan unsworth,pauline cox,irene mcgovern,magadlaine.......
i will keep looking,cant reakonise you

Hya Vince,here we go.Back row from left to right,Pauline Cox,Doreen Darbyshire,Kathleen Chatterly,me,Molly Hill,Irene Mcgovern,Magdalen,next row down,Francis Simm,Helen kelly,?-Kathleen Gerrard,Winnie Close,?Margaret Woolley,?next row down?-?-?- Joan cherrington,?-? Eileen Brown,Anne hardman,Carol Gore,? Pat Wright,Imelda O'laughlin, Sheila Lundy,Pat Mcmahon,-?-?-? Winnie Eckersley,bottom row Janey Perry,Agnes Ward Irene corcoran and Lily unsworth---phew,hope you can remember them all Vince.

hi maureen
i do remember quite alot of the class.yourself,molly,pauline and irene were great friends.i cant remember the boys having there photo taken,althogh it was a long time ago.i have often wondered what the old mates are doing now.iam having a look to see whether i have any photos,i doubt it
regards vince

Vince,I don't know if you know or not,if you click on communicate at the top of this page,then click on people on the left hand side of the page,scroll down until you find Wallgate streets and families,if you've not already seen it you're in for a treat.

hi maureen
thank you for the info,i cant believe what iam reading,
i would like to know who zack is.i take it we are related.
i know you lived in gt george st,the top end,i used to visit my sister maggie who lived opposate you,just to see you,but never did.
i will carry on reading later all abot wallgate.
we must chat on skype if you have it.

No Vince we haven't got skpe,but will keep up to date on here.Getting back to the Wallgate thread,I thought you'd enjoy it,why don't you ask on there who Zack is,you don't always get an answer right away,someone was recently asking about the Keely's I replied but they haven't got back yet,but that's not to say they won't sometime,just pick a name for yourself and away you go,you'll soon fathom it out how to get on I'm sure.

thanks for the advice maureen

hi maureen.
i have just replied to a comment on peoples.also i have just read about magdalen mitchinson the ne in your photo,she went to austrlia,but she died young,so sad.
vince

Hi Maureen I am older than you but I remember your Grandad and Grandmother, I also remember your Father He was at one time Projectionist at the Old Canada Picture House in Scholes,Yes that is my Youngest Sister Winnie Eckersley Unfortunatly she lost Her Husband Frank A couple of weeks ago. She is living still in Hindley and Her Friend Imelda O/Loughlin was at the Funeral they still keep in touch,Winnie is 11 years younger than I. I see that Vince Lannon is also on this website I remember all the Lannons from St Josephs Days,I am now in St Judes Parish,It was nice to see those Photographs of our old School,Of course in my days 1932 to 41 We did have Mr McGuire as head in Standard one was Miss Mcguire[no relation] two was Miss Hurley three was Miss Duffy Four was Mr Fishwick, Five B was Mr McGoldrick 5a was Mr Garrick Six was Mr Parks and Seven was Mr Lavin.THe Head Teacher in the Girls School was Sister Marie and the juniors was Sister Francis both Notre Dame Nuns, The Caretaker was a Mr Cunningham,The teacher in the first class of the infants was a Miss Moore[Who married Mr Fishwick] the next class was where Sister Francis had her Desk the next class had two teachers Miss Slevin and Miss Gill,The funny thing was that I could not start School at Five because it was full So I was taken back after the Summer Holidays and was put in Miss Moores Class then skipped the next one to go into Miss Slevins and Miss Gill Class. Then Standard One in the Big Boys School Skipped two into Three then Four ,Five A Six them Seven and left at Christmas 1941,Although I passed eleven Plus my Parents could not afford to send me to Grammar School So I had to get a job,Happy days for me to remember,But I do not know if any of my Classmates are still living, I am now 82,But still get out and about thank God.

Hello Albert,it's so nice to hear from you,and you've also got a good memory to remember my Dad working as a projectionist,that's how he originally met my mam when she was sent on an errand there.I'm so sorry about your Winnie's husband,she was at the reunion we had a couple of years ago and she was a scream,please send her my condolences will you?.Talking of School days,we went down Hodges Street a couple of months ago just to stand there and remember things,memories eh....Albert do you recall a Bert and Netta Barnes living very near to you,Netta is my mams half sister and about your age,they now live in Leyland,well it's been nice to have a chat with you Albert and will you send my regards to your Winnie.

Maureen, Of course I remember Netta and Husband Before Marriage Netta lived at the First House past the Foundry in Clayton Street Next door to Cunliffes,I can still tell you the majority of the families who lived in Clayton Street, If you go on to the Clayton Street web site and look at the Buck ith Vine[Whitewash] you will also see some memories ,Also the Slaughter house in Clayton Street,I still have many memories of living down there,Would you remember [Maybe not]Jack Gregory and Polly Sharkey Walking up Clayton Street Big Polly in a white Frock and pumps on going to get married?I will remember you to Winnie,

Hello Albert,so sorry I don't remember Jack or Polly from Clayton street,but I'm going to have a look at the Clayton street photos.I've put a couple of photos of my mam dad and Netta and Bert on this site on people under the heading of McGoverns family.My mam and dad finished up living in Beech Hill and that's where we are now,please keep in touch Albert And i will do the same,It's nice to go over old memories.

Maureen, I have only just got back I have had Lunch with the Mayor at the Town Hall,It is a annual thing for me because I am the senior Ex Mayor.I have looked at the Photo/s Yes that is how I remember your Dad tall good build with a Handsome wife, Yes I could also see Netta and Bert,I too worked at Leyland Motors 1949/1966,I was the senior Shop Steward in the Engine Factory,I see you in the ropewalk do you know how it got its name?I will tell you Before Hewitts the case makers was a firm who manufactured ropes When a customer ordered rope it would be made to a length that was ordered then two people would stretch it out If it was a long rope required it would easily go up the lane and then a person would walk the length to make sure it was what had been ordered it was estimated that a fellows stride was equal to a yard in length thus the ropewalk Incidentally the name of that lane was Willgoose Lane,George Street You remember Dyers shop Mr Dyer was the person who looked after the Meals at the camp in Southport which Fr Shee used to take pupils every year His pies where delicious, Then there was Knowles Toffe Shop and Shannons who sold Cabbage and lettuce etc,Charlie Kelly the Knocker up,McMahons shop, Nags head pub kept by Tommy Burns, Down at the bottom was the Queens Pub, Sharples Shop, in between the Queens and Addison Street was Bambers Shop nearly oppositte was Wrights Chip Shop, Just after Shannons was Matty/s Chip Shop, The last door in George Street at the bottom was passage way into St Thomas/s School yard.Has that brought back any memories?

Hello again Albert,Yes I did know the ropewalk's real name was Wilgoose lane,although not quite sure where that name came from,I did know about making rope down there,having tried to read as much as I can about it.Yes Albert I love being reminded of some places down there,There was meehans chippie,I used to play with their Maureen who had been badly burned as a child,but as a child I never noticed it,isn't that strange?,she also had a dog that went everywhere with us,his name was laddie.The daughter of the pub that was nearly facing them had a daughter(all grown up as we used to say)used to turn the top of great george st after she'd finished work and at the top of her voice would shout Queenie and her dog would be running up the street like red rum,McMahons,chadwicks,ramsdales,lowes callaghans,I could go on forever,I haven't forgotten any of them Albert and I never forget a face,I love hearing of old times but can get very nostalgic as well,a lot of people say you should never look back only forward,but how can blank your childhood out,I know I can't and don't want to,it's been nice again having a chat Albert,andI hope your Winnie is bearing up.

Yes Maureen Winnie is bearing up but yesterday had a bad day I told her I had been in contact with you and the Photograph She says She has the same Photo, Meehans Chip Shop Charlie Took it over after Mattie left it Charlie worked for the Corporation only a small bloke and yes I also remember the Daughter The grown up you mention was Kathleen Burns the daughter of Tommy Burns the Landlord of the Nags Head, You remember the Big Lamp we used to sit on the base of that on Saturday nights and watch the Men come out of the Nags head to fight each other they had what was known in those days as a parring match each one took it in turn to kick each other on the shin until one cried off then they returned to the pub and the loser bought the winner a pint,But sometimes Big Annie Smith from Lyon Street would go to them and clout them on the head and say go home you daft buggers and look after your kids,Annie was quite a character,[She smoked a clay Pipe] the present election on Thursday reminds me of Annie in those days 1930s she used to get us kids and take all the bin lids from peoples bins give them to us and we would march round the streets with Annie leading us banging the lids together singing Vote Vote for Mr Riley he is sure to win the day if you don/t vote Him in we will kick your door in and youll never see your daddy anymore, Mr Riley of Course was the first Labour Councillor to win the Victoria Ward in the 30s, He was a Catholic who kept the Preston Arms in Darlington Street ,When I got on the Council in 1960 John Riley was a Alderman His Daughter Philomena was a good friend of my late Wife Joan She married a policeman and we all became great friends later in life, Maureen I can keep you going in stories of the characters that lived in and around Wallgate,They would never steal from each other I suppose that there was nothing really to steal, would defend you against any authority who threatend you ,and then give you a smack for letting them down,Yes some fantastic people salt of the earth,

The girl in the white on the left by the teacher seems to be my mum Irene Derbyshire . When I showed her this she almost dropped from shock , because its her class ,she can name virtually her entire class from memory.

Hya Marie..told you your mum was on here..does she remember me?back row fourth from left,sat hello to her from me please.

That's my mum Lily Unsworth bottom right- she just looks like my daughter!! Spotted her straight away. Must be about 7 ish??

That's my mum Lily Unsworth bottom right- she just looks like my daughter!! Spotted her straight away. Must be about 7 ish??

I think the fourth girl from the left along the second row is one of the Mahoney family of Melbourne Street, (Maureen?)

Elizabeth,that is Pat Mahoney..and she lived down Great George Street..Maureen lived in Melbourne Street.

Elizabeth,if you click on Communicate..then on People..find the Wallgate thread then scroll down(it'e a very long thread)to the 2nd June 2007 there is a photo there..find the girl with the striped jumper on,the one behind her is Maureen Mahoney.

2nd row down , third from left is Anne Gaskell-my sister
lovely photo. thanks