Wigan Album

I have to agree Dennis, Mick's cap looks rather jaunty, but when it comes to being flat, it isn't in the same league of flatness as his mate's cap is it? Now that really is a flat cap. How flat can a cap be? I ask myself. That cap must be at least as flat, if not flatter than something that is extraordinarily flat. I am in little doubt that they used that cap as a benchmark to determine the international standard for flatness. And they would have us believe that the ' Frisbee ' originated in California. Well this photo is proof positive, to me at least, that its origin was actually rooted in Aspull.

Flat Cap Flying Comp's have always been big in Billinge, Eddie. I'd say that little winner has made it the other side of Wigan. Fair game,finders keepers etc.Think of it like a lost golfball. Great photo Dennis.

Eddie, I have to agree with you, for flatness your candidate wins the Golden Frizbee without a doubt.
Now that the BBC as given up the contract for formula one racing maybe we could all get together and see if they would be interested in a Flat Cap Flying Competition. It wouldn't cost much and we could have the Final on Boxing Day to make up for losing the Wigan v St Helens R.L game. I'm sure that lot ore tuther side o Billinge Hill would be interested. It would be great to beat um at summat else fer o change.

What definitely isnt flat is the street they live on.

The chap with his back against the front wheel must be the local Dr, he's got a tie on!! the others look like pigeon fanciers with their mufflers on, cracking photo Dennis, of days gone by.

You're absolutely certain this was taken in Aspull and not Bethnall Green Dennis? It's just that those three geezers kneeling down bear an uncanny resemblance to Ronnie, Reggie and Charlie Kray. While the two propping up the gaslamp put me in mind of Jack ' the flat cap ' McVitie and ' Mad Frankie ' Fraser. I wouldn't care to start nowt with ' em anyroad.

The lad wearing the tie is probably up at the magistrate's court later on in the morning Roy.

Definitely Aspull's answer to the Hardybutt's gang. Probably plotting what to do next!

Now you mention it Eddie the young lad at the front definitely has a touch of the "Jimmy Cagneys" about him the way he is staring right at the camera.
Mind you, I can't say I am impressed with their Getaway Vehicle. I don't see Mick's bike getting very far with five of them on board.

I must say Dennis, considering the possibility that some of these characters may conceivably have been family members, you appear to be taking all this frivolity in extremely good part. Fair play to you mate.

Could this group be the Bowery Boys before they emigrated to America and that's why you have no names on the back of the photograph? They probably "took their hook' and the bike as well and were only seen again in the movies! So the family never spoke of them again.

The point is Eddie I don't know who they are. They could be anyone or anything and that being so it is legitimate to speculate. I have photographs of people left by my Grandmother that are over a century old, they could be relatives of mine but I will never know because she didn't write on who they were. As a keen researcher of my family history it's very frustrating to have these old
photographs and not know who the people are.
I think that if you take a picture you should write on it who the people on it are. it may be tedious at the time but someone in the future may well bless you for making the effort. You may know who is on a photograph but when you are gone will your children or grandchildren know who those people are? Or will they end up speculating just like me?

I have an old tin it's about 107 yrs old and it belonged to my grandmother with old photos in it Dennis. When I started doing my family history I did find out who some of the people were and I noted some of the names on the back of the photos. But I find nobody in my family are interested and it's a shame because there are definite likenesses and I feel I know these people. One especially is a young soldier killed at Paschendael and he is the image of my brother. I just don't understand why people aren't interested in their own ancestry.

Wouldn't that be great Vb, I used to love the Bowery Boys at the Ritz on Saturday mornings. As I say they could be anyone or anything so all things are possible.