Wigan Album

Frank Ryding's stall was, and still is, a brilliant news stall. I always imagined that Frank was a tall gentleman until one day he came into Boots, where I worked, and he was quite small....I only realised then that he was standing on a raised platform when he was behind his newspaper stand! He was a lovely gentleman and his son carries on the tradition of putting a little paper band round customers' newspapers and magazines so you get them home intact in your bag; a much-appreciated little extra service.

I was going to ask, is it Frank's son Irene. He is very pleasent.I remember Frank when he was the arcade,near Gorners Cafe.

Edna, I can't recall Frank Ryding being in the old arcade near Gorner's...I only remember Syd Smith being there before he (or his son) opened Smith's bookshop on Mesnes Street, (Smith's of Wigan that is, not WH Smith). That's not to say Frank wasn't in the arcade at some point, just that I only ever remember it being Smith's newspaper stall.

Seeing some of those old comics takes me back to my childhood. I used to read the Buster comic that ceased publication in 2000. The Beano & Victor are visible too, the latter is another comic long out of print while the former is still going strong after more than 80 years.

I am curious about the alleged date of this photo being December 1987? I though most of the original old market complex was demolished during 1986?

CJ

Frank worked for Sid Smith in the little Arcade. When it was demolished he had a newsagents shop just higher up than the Heart Foundation shop which was SID SMITHS.in the mid 1960's I think he moved into the Market hall from there? I used to pick up the Liverpool Echo on Monday morning on my way to work at John Englands. Frank used to put one at one side for me.

Thankyou Ron. It's obvious that people HAVE seen Frank in the old arcade, then. I didn't know he had worked for Syd Smith. My daughter Ashley worked at Smith's bookshop for a while when Syd's son Trevor ran it. I loved that shop. Their book and stationery departments were wonderful.

Thats were I've seen Frank, on Syd Smiths stall.I knew he had worked for someone at one point, but couldn't remember who.Your right Irene about Smiths in Mesnes St.It was a lovely shop.

I see Frank has my all time favourite magazine ' Ideal Home ' on display. I rarely missed an issue until I inexplicably switched to the Farmers's Guardian in the 80s.
It must have been around about this time that the decor in my Anderson shelter went into the downward spiral from which it has never fully recovered.
My lovely organic new spuds more than make up for this though...
Oh! and People's Friend. That was a good read an' all.
It's always good to know what mischief yon tartan rascals north of Lesmahagow are getting up to eh?