Wigan Album

Is it me or does this look 'Photo-shopped'?

That's a smashing photo Olga, thanks for posting, he's keeping warm and probably very proud to be wearing his Grammar school cap and obviously loves the collie pup too.

I agree Dave - it does look odd

He does look super impossed dave, he seems to be floating.

Photoshopped without a doubt. The pixillation isn't consistent when the image is enlarged, and the subject's head is 'all straight edges', where it has been poorly cut. Also note complete absence of shadow on face, when compared to rest of body.

I agree...a lovely nostalgic photo. Wish lads still looked and acted like this. It was a gentler, more innocent time when children were allowed a childhood.

For all you "experts" it is a genuine photo of the lad in the lake district with a genuine puppy. As for floating - something maybe floating - not the lad in the photo. He's stood on rocky heath land. If the picture has been altered in anyway then it was done a long time ago probably when the label was added.
I'll bet you guys are "The Yanks Didnt Land On The Moon" conspiracy theorists.
Shadows indeed?
I'll say hello next time I see you train spotting on Walgate Station.

http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=2&id=11849&gallery=Wigan+Grammar+Schools&offset=40

Have a look at photo on above link. Same face.

Olga, when I put "I agree" I was agreeing with Cyril on it being a lovely photo....the other comments got in before mine. I am no expert on photography and wouldn't have a clue on its being "photoshopped"; I don't even know what it means. But I'm sure no-one meant anything derogatory. All of us on here love old photos.

I wonder if all these people with just one name, Dave, Cyril, Mick, SB etc., are the same person. They seem to go to extraordinary lengths to try a prove a point .. a point that doesn’t matter a hill o' beans. Get a life!

P.S. Irene - appologies - didnt mean you.

But some of these "geeks" really irritate me - and these are probably irrating old geeks. Can't they spend their time fishing or something else as boring as that without annoying folk.

Explain this then -
http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=2&id=11849&gallery=Wigan+Grammar+Schools&offset=40

You will have to wait a long time to see mee trainspotting on Wigan station Olga, in fact you have more chance of seeing Jim Holding floating down the platform

Olga, don't you mean "it is a genuine photo of Jim Holding in the Lake District with ........"?

Dave Morris you obviously haven't read all the postings or failing that you need to go to specsavers. Negative comments such as yours can deter folk from posting!

This Olga, or whatever his name is, is taking the p*** again.

I think all these blokes with one name are the same. Did anyone consider that two photos have similar faces - because you crate eggs - its the same bloke. As my friend above says - get a life. Go trainspotting or fishing.

Did somebody mention Jas Holding?
Great lad...smashing bloke. Best "first aider" I ever taught.

Anybody says a bad word against him and I'll chin 'em.

This subject is deveoping into a mass debate. So if you dont mind I'd like to join you mass debaters. Now I knew Jim in the boys brigade. Nicest chap you could ever meet. Wont have a bad word said about him. So to continue the debate we must set some rules. Everone must give their full real name and no bad mouthing folks. Lets have a good humoured pleasant debate. Over to you my friends.

Well Olga, this photo has caused some controvesey,
so far I have been called a trainspotting geek with a multiple personality disorder, Roger wants me to go fishing, and Archie wants to chin somebody.

And - you forgot - Jimmy doesnt give his full real name - so folks - lets start again. Are we all sitting comfortably ..

I have read the comments about this photo, and to my way of thinking the background looks very much like the rabbit rocks in Ince, and there I rest my case

No one's questioning Jim's character, it appears he's a very popular bloke, it's the photograph under question.
Tell me; why would someone go on holiday in their school uniform?

Dont laugh but I went on Holiday in a school uniform.. a photo was taken of me in it in Blackpool Its not Wigan so I cant put it on here

I didn't think the Lake District was in Wigan either

Ed, alright my real name is James, and the only name I have posted under is Jimmy which I have always been known as.
also if you read the comments you will find that no one has said a bad word about Jim Holding. In fact I know Jim. its just that the photo does not look right, and who is this "Olga". could it be one of Jim's Grammar school mates having a laugh?

Gerry, neither is this photo .

And I thought August was the 'silly season'

Jim went to St Catherines school. There was a Olga in Jim's class.

I thought that this site was dying. What with the dry old pics someone bunged on the site. But I must admit this latest photo has generated some interest and given me a few chuckles.
Jimmy I found your comments about personality disorders etc. very amusing. You should write for this site.

Yes this is an amusing little conundrum and as an ex copper I’d like to join the debate having some expertise in photographic evidence.
You always start by taking the image at face value.
Now I haven’t the equipment to forensically examine the picture and can only use a magnifying effect, so to speak.
Now let’s consider a number of facts. Despite “so called experts” when pictures are digitally stored or “digitally improved” there is always a loss of some of the originality. Now this picture could have been stored for some time on a CD or other storage device and suffered accordingly.
Also, prior to the advent of digital photography photographers could make a living out of “improving” old photos. I remember when my aunts had a fad of having their favourite photos tinted. Suddenly my black and white baby cousins appeared with rosy cheeks, blue eyes and red hair.
So this photograph could have been “doctored” a long time ago, probably when the label was put on it, simply to make it look better.
I have no doubt that the photograph is genuine. Its looks older than the 50s but this is probably due to the use of a cheap camera. And the boy’s clothes are consistent with 50s styles. In the post war years few people could afford expensive cameras. This was probably taken on a box brownie.
One thing that is sure, the picture was not taken in Ince, which I know well. The vegetation is definitely native to high cold ground. And the rock formation is nothing I have seen at Rivington or the Pennines. So, if it isn’t the Lake District, then it is somewhere similar. You also can see hills in the background.
The puzzling thing to me is that in those days ordinary kids tended to visit resorts for holidays e.g. Blackpool, Southport. To get to this place would probably mean the use of a car. Very few people had cars in the mid-fifties. This fact together with the “quality clothing” and pedigree puppy would indicate that the boy came from a fairly “well to do” family.
Finally, comparison to the Boy Scout picture. As someone has already said. If they are the same person then they would have the same face. Is this the original? Is the boy scout the original? Is there a third source?
In conclusion I would say that the simple solution is the best. If the boy in the picture is still alive, and somebody knows him. Then ask him.

Dave Morris and Roger Mason I have seen you two at the North West and Wallgate stations in your anoraks carrying flasks and butties, and now you want us to join you on Saturdays. Thanks but no thanks, I've got better things to do.

Have any of you looked at the "Royal Shakespeare Theatre" photo in the Wiganers at Work section?

I am not a conspiracy theorist nor am I an antagonist but I do photo restoration as a hobby, and this and the boy scout photo are both fakes and bad fakes at that. on this photo there are shadows on the boys left leg and fingers of his right hand, but none on the left side of his face. Also in between his left ear and his cap is the original face. On the boy scout photo both faces have been layered over the originals. Take a look at the boy on the right, his neck and face are different shades and the joins are evident.

M Heaton, Yes the boy in question is still very much alive.
But there is no point asking him because he would not know, he isn't actually on either of the photos.
The facts are that some person or persons think it is a great laugh to stick Jim's head on other peoples bodies and claim that he is here there and everywhere.

I do not think for a second that this is Olga from St Cats
......unless she has had a courtesy and sense of humour bypass.
Of course the guys are different people. Seems like someone has been watching 'All about Eve' too many times. Ignore the Trolls and keep on posting guys. As I have said in the past, people who use inane phrases like 'get a life', usually do not have one.
I think that this thread has run its course now and, if possible, should be locked.

Tell thi what Franky owd lad, thas a bit of a wooden spoon. What!
I bet tha was a bundle fun at schoo.

I only asked a question :o)

Ah this photo brings back such fond memories. Run-about tickets. Southport, Blackpool, Ambleside, Morcambe Bay, The Lakes, I could go on. My dear mam and dad and little lassie. Such carefree, wonderful days, when the days were warm and the breeze smelled sweet. I was so proud when I passed my scholarship and won the right to wear the uniform. Thankyou Olga love.

Lovely Jim and dont forget Grange-Over-Sands.

Yes Jim lad pleasureful memories. They were great those Runabout tickets. I would go with my mam and dad to all those places. Rhyl and Prestatyn too. Tash came with us one year.

This must be an all time record for comments on a pic ?

Sound as a pound Jas Holding.

Hi "tricia" aren't you a former school friend of "Fred" from St John's Pem.
Wouldn't have thought you would have known that much about St Catherines in Scholes in the 1950s.
Small world.

Routh don't get upset with our Franks comments. I appologise on behalf of the family. He's a head the ball.

Hi V. Kearns

Spot on... but how did you know that??? lol
My husband and his siblings all went to St Cats.

Helen, never mind the postings look at the veiwings .. over 1000 already.
Jim Holding must be a very popular chap.

I've only one brother :o) :o)

hello Frank H
What a relief.....is he called Austin.....

Elementary my dear "tricia". One Frank Healy .. ref. above .. drew the readers attention to the Wiganers at Work page. On that page there is a picture of a "Down and Out" which caught my eye. On reading the comments I noticed some one who called themselves "tricia" in exactly the same style as you.
Now you said that you knew the Down and Out's name was Fred. Fred acknowledged that he knew you.
I recognised that face from school and from several pictures on this site. In fact you cannot escape "Fred". His name is Fred Mason and he states on many occasions on Page 1 that he went to St Johns Pem. Apart from that my wife knows him. He used to work on Wigan market as a butcher.
Now I know James Holding and I know that he went to St Catherines but I was puzzled as to how you knew him?
QED

Hi V
I see.....
I do not know James H though. I know some of the ladies mentioned, but things are not always as they seem with the WGS scallywags on here.
You refer to Pemberton as 'Pem'..not heard that for a donkey's age. Are you from there?

Bernard, we must have a pic of this very popular Jim as he is today, glasses an' all. You all should be proud that you have such a popular website..not many places could better Wigan World !

No Tric. Scholes.

Hi Helen. Jim (as now) is on the two Brocket pics on page 2. He's the handsome chap at the back, extreme left, wearing the shades. I'll introduce you if you fancy him.

Helen 54 comments so far, Wiganers are good at pulling folk down.

Bet Mick's a souser. Another word for a candy flosser.

Will Brown I think you mean "scouser" not souser. Then again maybe I dont know a souser when I see one. Tell you what - they get everywhere them sousers, dont they? But just thinking, thank the lord there wasnt a single "souser" at WGS when I was there. It would be different now. Wigan is full of "sousers". Oh yeah! I get it! It would still be OK - cos none of em would pass their 11 plus. Oh sorry - thats not PC - I'm being racist. How can you tell a Liverpudlian from Wiganer? They cant tell lobbies from scouse! P.S. Jim Holding - never met I nicer chap. Salt of the earth.

I think Harry Wink, needs to learn how to Write a sentence.

I think John should get a life.

Harry.. you might not know a SCOUSER when you see one, but you'll know one when you HEAR one, ha ha.

Hello,,,this the real Jim,,,gotta say pic leaves a lot to be desired,but dont remember ever going to any place like that,,Inspector Mic,,,,,look like back of grey hills to me ,over platt lane fields???V Kearns is that Vinnie??? yes remember you also me sisiter uesd to be friends with your sister Vera,,,from St Cats,,,,Helen,,,,,as Bernard says upto date pic on WGS page 2,,,Edd Rudd again remember you,,and your sister Sheila,,,,and regarding Olga,s such an uncommon name yet we had two in St Cats,,,one a friend of my older sisters who lived in scofield lane and secondly Olga who used to be in same class as me in St Cats,,but as one of the readers says,,its caused a few comments,,,is that what the website is about,,,,,??/gotta say last time I looked at the WGS cross country pic on page one,,that had nearly 700 comments,,,,not that must be some kind of a record,,,,any way to all our contributors,,,will be on again soon,,,any one wanting e-mail addy just mention ,,take it easy,,,,Jim

Jim you have had over 1300 viewings in little over week. You must be one of the most popular dudes on the site!

Last word. For all you train spotters, sorry to disappoint you but this isnt a picture of Platt Lane fields or Ince Moss. It is in fact the Lake District. Inspector Heaton is the only one who got it right. Also it is the picture of a grammar school boy named Jim, standing not floating, as shown. Whether you train spotters and conspiracy theorist like it or not, that is the truth.
Now "the Real Jim Holding" says that he doesnt remember a trip to the Lakes. So whether or not this is the Jim Holding that we all love and respect then you will have to make up your own minds. Respect Jim lad.

There is a picture of a “spec-tre” on a photograph taken in a tunnel in Bordsdane Wood. Would all train spotters, nerds, geeks and conspiracy theorists please give their considered opinions. You can find it at “Wiganers at Work” address: http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/work/index.php.

Nearly 1500 viewings of this one and its no longer headlines. Now there must be a message here. Is it just a good picture? Amazing!

Nice one Jas, didn't know you were a dog lover!