Wigan Album

HALFWAY UP ON THE RIGHT(NEAR THE STREET LIGHT) BOLTON'S HERBALIST SHOP

What character Scholes had in those days. My father came from Vaughan Street and his grandfather came from Ireland as most people did around there. Wasn't there a Chinese laundry on the left? Wonder if that's what George Formby sang about.

I remember my father saying he had his coollars starched at the Chinese laubdry

My wife used to play in the laundry with a little girl named Wong (maybe Mary - not sure) The laundry was on the right of the picture and the bottom half the window was painted green in the 1940's. I think it was Moi Toi's before Wongs.

the name of the girl in Moi Tois was Barbara she went to St Pat's school. I used to go there every Saturday for my dad's collars.

Did Wong's have a chip shop aswell on the same row?

they certainly did have a chippy and the pub in the picture is the Fleece once occupied by the Priest family, Danny Frank John Jimmy all good at Sport. There was also a Pie shop further up Scholes than the fleece but same side Masons nicnamed pie joes. The pies were second to none.

I and my brother and sister used to play with Johnny Wong from the Chinese Laundry. I wonder what happened to them?

I lived next door to Wongs laundry until 1948 and yes there was a girl called Mary Wong my aunt Rhoda lived at the house were the net curtains are . There was a shop on the left near the top that used to sell pieces of material people called it Annie the Jews shop

Thanks Joanie for pointing out which house was my nanna's (your aunt Rhoda). Its fascinating to see the actual house my mum grew up in. I have printed a copy of the piture off for our family tree.

Yes, everything that was said is correct about the Wongs
Family, because I am the only son of Mary Wong now Mary Ng.
Mary is the oldest, then Anne, then George, then Barbara(who now suffers from Lupus and Picts disease) and finally Johnny.
The family is very much alive, of course their parents past away sometime ago. Also of note the Wongs had one of the first TV sets in Wigan.!

Anne Wong was in my class at school (ST Pats) I loved her to bits.I sat next to her in two years in sucession. She had polio as a nipper. She was such a nice girl the darling of the class. If someone did not own up to doing something wrong the whole class got caned including Ann and the rest of the class would thump the culprit after school. Such a lovely family she took me home once to meet the parents and they made me so welcome.

Thanks everyone, I've learned alot, now I have something to pick
On my mum about..ha ha..

Regards to Chirstopher Ng, not only did you're Grandparents have one of the first T.V. Sets they had a film projector and screen . Your Grandfather used to come to St Patricks school to give film show a rare treat in those days . They were very kind, and well respected , I remember Your Grandmother ran the chipshop and Grandfather looked after the laundery . I am sorry to hear of there deaths, R.I.P.

One of those shops on the right was a Chinese Laundry that I use to go to with my Gran when she took my Grandads Collars to be cleaned and starched. He used to nearly cut his own throat if he turnrd his head too quickly they were that stiff. He swore that it was the original "Mr Woo's" of George Formby, "Chinese Laundry Blues" fame

Hi, Christopher Ng is my nephew. Is it Doreen Woosey? I remember you! 60 years ago!! Nice to hear from you. Brings back lots of memories of Scholes and St Pats. Best Wishes Anne

I have learned a lot about Wigan life, thanks Aunty Anne, nice to hear from you in these pages. At some point you must come back and visit Wigan, it is a must do if you ever get time? It is something I want to do!
Wigans past seems much better than today!

Hi desperately tyrying to trace an Oriental male with the Christian name Maxime. He was apparently working at The Happy Palace Restaurant on Market Street, Wigan in 1967. I am hoping to trace other Oriental families from around Wigan at that time also as they may be able to help with my search. Any info in regards to this will be greatly appreciated.

Great memories of Wong laundry. I went to school - st Patrick's- and was a friend of Barbara, I used to go to her home after school, lovely parents nice memories,
My family moved to Pemberton 1953.