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Wigan Album

Birch Grove North Ashton

33 Comments

Birch Grove 1962
Birch Grove 1962
Photo: Kath Nicholson nee Roberts
Views: 3,943
Item #: 7820
Family friend Keith Pennington with my sister Shirley Roberts in our front garden. Keith played lead guitar in a group that my older sister Glenda sang in. They were called 'Lee Shane & The Tropics'. Would be nice to hear from Keith or any of the other members of the group!

Comment by: Dave Lewis on 1st November 2008 at 14:11

Nice photo kath, is that my grandmother next door in background.

Comment by: Kath Nicholson nee Roberts on 2nd November 2008 at 14:44

It's certainly one of the Lewis family David, but I thought maybe your Uncle Maurice

Comment by: Dave Lewis on 2nd November 2008 at 22:21

yea could be kath, it's hard to tell from the angle of the photo.

Comment by: Jimmy on 4th November 2008 at 10:41

Hello Kath, I have been intouch with Keith he is now the engineer for Shopbobility in Wigan and Leigh. He also has a mobility shop in Leigh called "Mobens" on Leigh road. It is the same Keith because when I told him what it said under your photo he remembered you.

Comment by: Keith Pennington on 4th November 2008 at 15:24

hi kath just had a phone call from a mate ,telling me you were trying to get in touch.i remember all of you well ,and the welcome i got from all the family .live in billinge now 01744 892782

Comment by: keith pennington on 4th November 2008 at 22:40

Hi kath been looking at other photos. but none of glenda,how is she?through being told about this site i found an old school photo from ashton sec mod with me on it ,and a comment by Davy Thomson about me (he lived round the corner from you .another long lost friend found .as for the group phill taylor still lives in abram alan ashurst lives in hindley ,ray ellison still cant forgive. norman pritchard never saw again after he left group .do you still play in brass band

Comment by: Kath Nicholson nee Roberts on 5th November 2008 at 20:48

Hi Keith, what a lovely surprise to hear from you, and say thanks to Jimmy for telling you about the photo. Isn't this site fantastic! Our Glenda is fine thanks Keith, in fact we both live in the same village in east yorkshire. I married a yorkshireman too! He plays guitar and sings and has worked the club circuit for years, we met through Bob McKinlay (remember him - the Long And The Shorts Group?)I will pass on all the info about the lads to our Glenda,she will be so made up when I tell her you've got in touch,take care and will speak again soon! x

Comment by: Kath Nicholson nee Roberts on 5th November 2008 at 20:53

Oh and Keith about the brass band, I havent played with Trinity Girls since I moved here but if you look on the photos for 'walking days' and 'Trinity Girls Silver Band' you will see a few old photos with Our Glenda and me on! ha ha x

Comment by: keith pennington on 9th November 2008 at 11:32

hi kath,was playing in the old dog friday night,keith wright (beat boys)was in as well with us.we were talking about all our yesterdays ,and rob came in (bass)told us bob Mcinnley is not well and is in leigh hospital apparently he s been sectioned and in a secure ward(rob played bass with him)will try and find out more info if i can ,as my shops not far from leigh hosp cheers keith

Comment by: Dave Lewis on 10th November 2008 at 21:26

Hi kath, was talking to an old friend of yours on rememberance sunday, Audrey Banks, lovely girl i went school with her, she's still in trinity girls, she was telling me what a really good musician you were, but i know, i used to hear you playing from our house.

Comment by: Kath Nicholson nee Roberts on 11th November 2008 at 10:10

Aw thanks David, and how lovely of Audrey to say that about me, she is a lovely girl I remember so if you see her again tell her I said hello!

Comment by: David Thompson on 19th November 2008 at 17:48

Hi Kath,a long lost friend Keith Pennington got in touch with me recently I used to drive Lee Shane and the Tropics around in my van, ask your Glenda if she is still mad about me sorry I mean mad at me Dave Thompson

Comment by: keith pennington on 22nd November 2008 at 19:03

you lady killer you Mr Thomson,she used to fancy me as well till Ann Macilwee came along,the number of times i missed that last bus from Downall Green to Ashton i can't tell you ,so i had to walk it, and by the time i'd got to stubshy i'd missed the No 1 to Abram .do you know ,those Women don't know the sacrifices we men had to suffer to take them out.and another thing Mr Thomson ,ive still got grooves in the back of my head after being pounded by stale loaves and trays in the back of your van

Comment by: Phil.Taylor on 23rd November 2008 at 10:29

Hiya Kath,
Keith told me about the photo on the site. It's a long time since I last saw you, about 45+ years.
how are you and how is glenda{didnt she marry a soldier}
Still playing the guitar,I know 4 chords now.
Ive just retired so I will have more time to practice.We are having a reunion[not organised yet]it would be great if you and Glenda could come. Glenda could sing" Bobbies Girl"
Anyway keep in touch.
Love Phil.

Comment by: Dave Thompson on 23rd November 2008 at 13:23

Hi Keith the grooves at the back of your head are not from my van they are from trying to play Avanageela behind your head on a left handed Watkins Rapier Guitar

Comment by: Dave Thompson on 23rd November 2008 at 17:20

Anyway Mr Pennington whats all this about Glenda she was my women and Ann Macilwee was Phils I used to see his motorbike outside their house on Polar Ave oops maybe I should'nt have said that I see Ann's husband occasionaly in the Bay Horse he's a big lad from what I remember Glenda's husbands a big lad as well SAS I think who dares wins and all that so you had better whatch your back, anyway you should have bought a motor bike instead of all those guitars it would have saved a lot of walking you two timing toerag. Dave

Comment by: Dave Thompson on 24th November 2008 at 09:53

I was going to write Gi'golo instead of toerag but I don't know how to spell it. Dave

Comment by: keith pennington on 24th November 2008 at 11:02

all that walking and running away from irate boyfriends gave me the sylph like figure i have today.anyway Mr Thomson i seem to recollect a time when you and Johny ,had a set to with two sailors who had come to visit their girlfriends,only to find out you two had been tapping them up,i got roped into that one, and again had to walk home,this time with a bloody nose (they could'nt miss mine)

Comment by: keith pennington on 24th November 2008 at 11:13

and ji'gallo is spelt gee galore i always neu uz int bee clasis ad a gud komand ov ingle ish .

Comment by: keith pennington on 24th November 2008 at 11:27

P S Ann Macilwee has never spoken to me since i finished with her all those years ago,Isaw her in the black horse Moss Bank about 10 years ago and she snubbed me even then.Phil went out with her after me ,and i think they got engaged ,what was the other girls name who went out with norman, first name Ann,Kath and Glenda will know

Comment by: Bluesman on 24th November 2008 at 13:00

Keith,
Didnt get engaged.Never that serious.

Comment by: keith pennington on 24th November 2008 at 19:51

thought you did Phil,your not as daft as me ,i got engaged three times.H Samual used to rub thier hands every time i walked past their window.c'mon Kath what was Ann's last name.and Glenda all those girls from Earlstown,can only remember one Elaine Macarthy.(did'nt get engaged to her)

Comment by: keith pennington on 24th November 2008 at 20:39

P S do you realise 476 people have looked at my ugly mug on this site,i must be pinned to every dart board in Wigan.

Comment by: Bluesman on 24th November 2008 at 20:51

Keith,
Elaine Mac went out with Glenda's brother Keith.Keith was in the same class as me at Ashton.
I remember we spent some time with him in Billinge Nick. I cant remember what for,but it started off with him giving us a lift back to Downall Green in his car but we ended up in jail.

Comment by: Kath Nicholson nee Roberts on 25th November 2008 at 15:07

Hi Keith Dave & Phil, Just browsing through all your messages with our Glenda ... she has promised to get into computers eventually ... I'm going to teach her! In answer to all your questions - Ann Walkden went out with Norman Pritchard, Elaine from Earlestown did go out with our Keith, and our Glenda says that the incident in Billinge was when our Keith had a bump in his car with you all in it. The other girl from Earlestown was Kathy Forshaw. We heard that Ray Headland had sadly died, didn't know if you knew, and also our Keith died three years ago. As for the reunion let us know when and we will do our best to be there .. Our Glenda says she will give 'bobby's girl' a miss - bit high now - but might manage 'End of the world' as long as it doesn't feel like it when you hear it! ha ha Oh and Dave, our Glenda says is your watch still going that she bought for your 21st! ha ha. Keith we are gonna email you a photo of the 3 Roberts' girls as we are now

Comment by: keith pennington on 25th November 2008 at 17:46

really am sorry to here about your Keith,he was a great bloke,I lost my sister Sylvia 15 years ago to breast cancer.i,ll get some photo's to you as soon as i can.Tell Glenda i went on a course a few years ago called computers for idiots,it did'nt work i'm still an idiot,but can now press buttons.I did'nt know Glenda bought Dave a watch ,i hope it was a Mickey Mouse talking one,Ive got friends in Liversage near Leeds and my Daughter goes to Huddersfield uni .I think you'll be able to recognise us all ,we've not changed a lot except for grey hair and dropped jowels,Dave sent me some photo's and he 's not changed much after going missing for 40 odd years,Phil's the same, i wear specs .will get some up to date photo's though and send them to your E Mail, speak to you soon ,cheers Keith

Comment by: Dave Thompson on 25th November 2008 at 19:48

I think we are going for a world record number of hit's on this pic that Pennington was always a vain so & so, tell Glenda I was looking for that watch last week I kept in in my cufflinks box for years even after it packed in I couldn't bare to part with it sadly I didn't find it. Dave

Comment by: keith pennington on 26th November 2008 at 09:18

I'm now taking orders for autographs,on my third lot of printer ink ,have produced hundreds of photo's 'my daughter says 'stop sending them dad it must be costing you a fortune in stamps.and Dave ,how do you tell the time now the talking Mickey Mouse watch has stopped,ha ha hee hee ho ho .Kath he owes your Glenda a debt of gratitude ,all those years ago i thought he was listening to his watch ticking ,and all the time he was listening for mickey to tell him the time.i on the other hand had no problem telling the time(smart a...)i always wore my sun dial on my wrist(i wonder if thats why i was heavy handed playing guitar?

Comment by: keith pennington on 26th November 2008 at 19:22

up to 517 hits now Thomson.ive got so many now if you find your micky mouse watch you can flog it on here instead of e bay .P S got our Jennifer walking round Huddersfield giving out all the prints i sent her .she says there going like hot cakes on these cold nights.one chap wanted 100 then he put them in this little metal thing and it came out like a log, is'nt that nice

Comment by: whups on 25th August 2010 at 17:30

hi kath , if you look-up a site called lankybeat you may find some info about your brenda,s group . bob mckinnley is on it & oggy & the membranes .

Comment by: whups on 25th August 2010 at 17:31

sorry kath , i mean your glenda .

Comment by: whups on 25th August 2010 at 17:32

sorry kath , i mean your glenda .

Comment by: Margaret ralphs on 8th July 2014 at 22:42

My husband was born at 6birch grove His mother was Sheila marsh

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