Wigan Album

The signalbox in the photo is wigan no2 , the train is leaving the station.. I started work in the signalbox as a signalbox lad straight from school in1957

We could always see that from our back yard in Great George St.

I worked here when It was Garard's record players.It changed over to Plessey while I was there.I left in 1969.

I started in 1966 and was there until it closed in 1973.

I was there five yrs Ron.The best time was when we were changing over to Plessey, people were coming in from Liverpool, to train us, so a lot of the time, we had no work, but still had to go, and clock on.( Just in case) it was a great place to work.Do you remember Harold and Lilly Breatherton, she was a supervisor, I can't remember a lot of names

Yes I remember Lilly Bretherton she was over the Cable dept with Christine Latham Lilly was killed in a road accident in Upholland, where she lived, a few years ago maybe 20+ years ago.?. I was engaged to a girl who worked on the Cabling dept But that's another story.. I was a supervisor on the Functioning department. Alec Waring was the shop floor mangaer Tony Machale was a charge hand, along with Frank Wilson, Jimmy Nodwell, Roy Swift, I can't remember the woman's name who was over coil winding??? If you go onto ALBUM.PHOTOS OF WIGAN. WORK. PLESSEY WALLGATE there a re a few photographs of the people who worked there . As you say it was a great place to work It wasn't like 'WORK' I think everyone who worked there has the same opinion of the place.

You have brought the names back to me Ron, Roy Swift, etc. That's were I worked on the Cables.I remember Christine Latham, Sally Murphy.Mary Jonhnson, Ann Coyle.But what a shock to hear what happened to Lily, she was my supervisor.I will have a look on Album work,thank you.

Edna, Do you remember the two guys who worked on the cabling section. They used to knock the nails in the boards to form the cables round. One of then was gay. I think his name was John, a real pleasant man. The other guy was a miserable bugger. I don't think I ever spoke to him or saw him smile.

I worked there and was lead wirer on one of the lines. Then went onto quality control. I transferred from Garards in Pemberton. Loved working there. The girls from there dressed me up as I got married in 1966. Walking through Wigan with toilets rolls etc around me. Then I emigrated. Margaret (Bispham) Edwards who worked there was my bridesmaid.

My mum worked there, Doreen Bond. from distant memory Ron I think it was John Hinnigan you mentioned. ill ask her when she gets back from holiday in Turkey

There has to be a discussion somewhere ,why so many of us, left school, and went into factories . Was it Billy Connelly who said , the schools closed their gates and the factories opened theirs . I got offered a job at Burtons but afraid to be called a sissy , went into a factory , like all of my mates . When I look back, I wonder why I was so programmed to accept and follow the same route as everybody else . Just a thought folks .

Yes that's him, JOHN HINNIGAN ....The cable girls loved him<g>

Yes Ron, I remember John, but there was another John who came from Liverpool, training us.or was this the same John, he was a very pleasant likeable person, I think he lived with his mother.He used to be telling us tales of his youth, and how they had the same thing, for tea on the same day each week.By the way, Tommy Derbyshire died as well.

Benidormdave do you have a flat head

A dear friend of mine in Wigan puts it perfectly ,
‘I just go with the flow ‘ . I am just grateful that I recognised the flow , but also recognised, I could change its direction , which I did . Each to their own , not I suppose , but clearly .

sure do Colin. saw a post of yours the other day. reminded me of going supporting Wigan in dvision2 of the RL. some good days out and never a bad pint. you , Elwyn (rip) , Gastley and meself. always found some poor yokel to ask directions from. happy days

Benidormdave I worked on cables the same time as your mother I remember her work mate was Betty (Davies ) think that was her surname.
Ronnie was the name of the bloke who use to nail the boards John Hinegan was our line feeder.