Wigan Album

is that the Barry Arrosmith whose mother was the matron of Norley Hall old folks home. I can see Geof Smith, Harry Shepherd, Joe Kenyon, and Alan Clark

Didn't he become a chiropodist?

Missed David Brown at the back right, still not seen him in B&Q.

Back row 3rd from left Raymond Baldwin.
Middle row Robert Savage, Terence Goulden or Goulding, Clive Aspey,and Cedric Fairclough to the left of Harry Shepherd.
Front row 2nd from left Ian Clucas,4th from left Hilton cannot remember his christian name.
I was not in their form I think this is 4T, I was in 4S.

Nicola, Barry is also on the Robert Lewis/Brindley St photo on the school albumn

Yes I remember your dad, we attended the same junior school at Norley Hall. Some boys in your photo I remember
Neil Bullock, David Brown, Harry Shephard, Alan Clark, Geoff Smith and Clive Aspey,

I think the fourth from the right on the back row is Tony Dean.

Yes, My nan Joan Arrowsmith was the Matron at a home in Norley hall, and my dad became a chiropodist. He owned Only Natural health food store that is across from mcDonalds in the town centre. Before that it was in the old market hall as Platts herbal store. Sadly both my nan and dad passed away in 2004. He used to have this photo on display and he talked about school so much - he absolutely loved it. I just wondered if anyone had any tales to tell or remembered being friends with him!!

Sad to hear your dad is no longer with us,I remember him well. Some more names. Front row 1st from right is ?Winstanley, 2nd right Kiwi Roberts, 4th right Roy Webster and back row 1st left is Les Wilding.

4th from left top row,Ivor Skidmore,same row third from right,Joe Kenyon,ist left on front row,Gwyn Jones.Mr Macpherson and the class was 4E.Shared a few detentions with Barry,he could be a rum un.......

Haha, yes indeed he was, that doesnt surprise me at all!

Hello Nicola, I remember your dad very well from the 1960s. He was known as "Marrow" and lived with his grandad in Golbourne. He had some unforgettable parties there on a saturday night. I remember at one of them I was bitten by a ferret!! He was a great character Im sorry to hear that he has died.

Hi Niccola - I also remember your dad and very sorry to learn that he is no longer with us. I am not in the Class Photo, but know many of the faces - quite a 'memory lane' event.
I can contribute to your information - I remember once he went to Canada (his father was said to be a lumberjack I think - Barrie was a tall and wirey lad for his age, and could look after him self), and I for one was quite jealous of this - it seemed like an exciting journey (especially in the 1960's) and he got time off School!
I also remember your Nan at Norley Hall Hostel - she was quite a character and quite formidable on the outside, but fun on the inside. I worked for Wigan CBC as a Welfare Assistant in the mid 60's and part of my role was to go each Friday to collect the residents care costs, where we would meet and talk. The formidable side was she was openly critical of 'our' Boss in Library Street and would be very challenging to him, as well as giving me tit-bits of info about his 'failings'.
After getting to know your Nan through work, I used to have a chat with your dad in the Market Hall - your Nan was very proud of your dad.
Hope this helps

Hi, Yes he did used to be called Marrow, people still used to call him that!! He explained to me once that Marrow means friend, and because he was everyones friend he got that nickname!!

My grandad still lives in Canada, in Vancouver. :)

Everyones got some brilliant memories!! Thank you!

Hi Nicola its me again. Another memory I have of your dad. Most of my friends and myself who knew your dad were at Wigan girls high school. One night we had a dance at school(it was in the days before discos)and Marrow rode his motorbike into the hall where everybody was dancing. I can see him now riding round being chased by the teachers. We all got into trouble but it was worth it!

Haha, I remember my dad telling me about that! Very Rock N Roll!!!

I was Marrow's best man at his wedding in 1969. I am not in this picture. I was in 4S, I think. I was also at the party when the girl was bitten by his ferret. She had to get a tetanus shot.
Thanks for the memories

Haha, thats brilliant - how did he get away with all this stuff?
Ed, you will know my mum then, Brenda?

Hi Nicola,
I knew your mum but I have not seen her in a long time - probably 30 years.

Hi Nicola, Sorry to hear about your dad. I knew him fairly well. I am not on the photograph, I was in the same year but a different class along with Ed Prytherch(I have just posted a class photo). My funniest memory of "Marrow" was when he hopped on the back of my motorbike (uninvited)as I waited in traffic on New Market Street. The policeman who used to stand at the top of Library Street brought me to a halt and when I set off again, I caught a glimpse of something in my periferal vision just missing my head ....... it was your Dad's foot as he fell off the back !!

He was a lad who could "handle himself" but he had a fabulous sense of fun and a heart of gold.

Sorry - peripheral. I suppose the school wasn't all that good after all.

Its brilliant how much of a trouble maker he was! I like all these stories!

Who could forget him! I was in the same class but not in the photo (someone else is also missing as there were 30 in the class and only 28 in the photo). I am really sorry to hear of Marrows demise; Ive not seen him for years, but I heard he lost a leg. We used to think his dad was a red indian, coz he had such jet black hair and used to bring indian stuff into school.

A Red Indian! That's so funny. My Grandad is still going strong over in Vancouver.

Yes, my dad did lose a leg - infection in the bone marrow. He used to take great pleasure in wearing shorts after that and showing off his new leg :)

I love reading these old stories. Thanks everyone

Back row. Les Wilding, Alan Eckersley, Ray Baldwin, Ivor Skidmore, H.J.Holland, Grey, Tony Dean, Joe Kenyon, Ken Hart, David Brown. Middle Row. Robert Savage, Terry Goulding, Clive Aspey, Barry Arrowsmith, Geoff Smith, Stuart Smith, Carl Johnson, Cedric Fairclough, Harry Shepherd, Alan Clark. Front row. Gwyn Jones, Ian Clucas, Baldry, , Hilton, Mr. Macpherson, Roy Webster, Gasser, Keith Roberts, Winstanley.

I worked with Joan at Norley Hall in the late 70's. As someone has mentioned before, she could be quite formidable, but she was also great fun. I liked her very much. I can hear her laugh now!
She was very proud of Barry.
I'm sorry to hear they both passed.

"Lumberjack" is funny. I am pretty sure that marrow's dad Arthur Ronald Arrowsmith was a male nurse. He passed away in Vancouver in July 2015