Wigan Album

In the days of steam!

Itching to get their hands on the Horwich Crabs!

correct 👍

Our dad is on this photo, middle row third from the right, Ronnie Southworth age 16, he passed away last year and would have loved to see this. Really poignant to see on Father's Day.

hi gill, i used to be mates with ronnie up until we were about 21, smashing lad he was. we lost touch soon after and never saw him again. i was shocked when i found he'd passed away, r.i.p. ronnie.

Hi Tony great photo my father in law was an instructor in the school Harry Jones, also my wife and brother in law worked there at the loco works they are Karen and Keith Jones

Hi Tony, dad went on to join the merchant navy after Horwich , travelling around the world and then went working at Pilkingtons Glass in St Helens until he retired. Thanks for your condolences.

hi allan, i remember harry jones, smashing chap.

hello gill, i seem to remember ronnie going to edge hill in liverpool after he left horwich.

Hi Tony, yes he did go to edge hill then when he finished his apprenticeship he went into navy.

HiTony hope you are well went to the Horwich Heritage had a look round many memories .There was no photo of my year in the school sept 1959 but it was interesting never the less many happy times there ! Jim

HiTony hope you are well went to the Horwich Heritage had a look round many memories .There was no photo of my year in the school sept 1959 but it was interesting never the less many happy times there ! Jim

hello jimmy, i'm very well thanks, hope you are too. i never knew you went there, as you said, many happy times was had , so many memories.

Hello Tony was at Horwich from 1959-1984 Millwrights shop recognise Brian Jones and Kev Bond along with yourself on the photo regards Jim

Front Row : Extreme Left is it Adrian Sidebotham.

it is jcf, next to him is alan snape.

Thanks so much for sharing this photo. My uncle, Ernest Hodkinson, is on the end of the back row, right side. He lived on Longfield St., New Springs, at this time. Very sadly he died young at the age of 28. Mum says he was always late for work.

hi stephen, i knew ernie very well, had loads of laughs with him, he was the school joker, happy days they were, so sad he passed away so young.

I thought that was Alan Snape - I remember him at 16 he lived in Vaughan St off Greenough St. A very long time ago.

yes he did veronica, as did a lad called harry featherstone who was also at the apprentice school, a little earlier.

I remember Harry Featherstone as well- it's a small world. I remember Alan went to the Isle of Man for his holidays and he said he would send me a post card. I told him not to put his name on it but to put from 'Ann' - he only put "Dear Ann' and signed his name! My dad was quite strict and I didn't want him to see it! How times have changed Tony.

Here are the names filled in on the sheet at Horwich Heritage.
Back row next to Ernie Hodkinson, Stan Hart

Middle row 1st left Jack Hall,left of middle Brian Jones and then 1st right Bobby Meadows and next to him ? Smith

Front row 1st right ? Fletcher, 3rd left Tony Jones and 1st left Albert Miller. I'll fill in Alan Snape and should I remove Albert Miller and put your friend in?

Photo on album 31273

the names are, back row left to right
j mcgarty,g turner, stan hart, ernie hodkinson.
middle, jack hall,peter brabin, fletcher, brian jones,bond,ronnie southworth,geoff smith,bobby meadows.
front, adrian sidebottom,alan snape, tony jones, gerry kay, h woodward,a barton,r farmer,w barker, holloway, a sweeney.

Excellent*** You can go to the top of the Apprentice Class!

in my intake year of 1979 there were 100 apprentices and there was a few of us from Wigan also.

I was in intake 1974 there was quite a few lads from Wigan that year. Also remember lots of lads from other companies besides British Rail lads.

Is this the David Naylor who worked in the Millwrights shop same as ?