Wigan Album

Looks as if he's being served by Mr Smith himself whose son Trevor was also a WGS pupil.

the charity shop in mesnes st had a load of prints of places in wigan for a couple of quid some big and some small,and i dont mean the big new one that sells furniture.i wondered had they got them from old smiths that framed them and sold them for a lot more monney.

I bought some of those prints josie. Good value but it cost me a fortune to frame them.lol

Very interesting. That does look a lot like the young Dave Ridout - so Bernie may have a point. Only thing is - Dave would have to stand there for some time whilst the artist got the detail - or did the sly dude take a photo?

Nevertheless, it is a wonderful image of the Little Arcade. Just as I remember it. Well done, Trans gee.

Who are you? Are you an Alien from outer space or a Wigan person?

Love this picture. I have it on the wall in my office, just over my left shoulder as I type. Reminds me of Saturday afternoon shopping in the 60's, getting my copy of Mersey Beat. Got my copy from WH Smiths in Wigan a few years ago.

Definitely Ridout i say.Only thing thats missing from the print is "Try your weight now friends" Bob Rudd and his Jockey scales.Wick and co used to shop in the little arcade...when it was shut.

Wick? ... Ian Whitaker perhaps. Remember him well. Didn't he have an elder brother named Michael who also went to the Grammar School. His mother had a shop in Darlington Street and his father was a senior police officer.
He left school rather suddenly in his 4th year as I recall. Does anyone know what became of Ian?

Does anyone know what became of michael Whitaker?

Bernard and pals were very health concious those days. Always interested in the Health and Efficiency magazines in Smiths.

I think Ian Whitaker moved on to a school in Preston. EIther Preston GS or Hutton GS.

Dave Ridout is still around. I saw him in The Rigby Arms at Wrightington. He lives in Shevington. He moved to Wigan as a lad when his dad Major Ridout took over the Wigan Territorials based in the Drill Hall, Greenough Street. He lived in Whitely Crescent and was a big mate of Ian Whitaker's. Liked his music, big Chuck Berry fan.

Good pic - makes you feel like you were there again.
If you never knew the Little Arcade you wouldn't know what I mean.
You can just feel the atmosphere in there.

Try your eight noe friends.

"Try your eight noe friends"?
You mean "try your weight now friends" don't you Jimmy, with a high voice and deep nasal tone.
I knew the guy well. Nice fella.
When he went for his dinner in Gorners Cafe, Ian Whitaker would sit on his chair, next to the jockey scales, immitating the voice, "Try your weight now friends".
Rum jockey, Ian!

Hello, my dad is Ian Whittaker. I would love to hear about him as a kid at school. I see from reading the comments on various threads that he was abit of a live wire/one man riot/rebel, not much changed when he was an adult. In my case, the apple has not fallen far from the tree. You can email me if you like. He died aged 71 in December 2017 due to heart problems. I never met Basil or his mum Phyllis. Michael is alive & well.
Dave Ridout I would especially like to hear from. TIA Rachel Whittaker