Wigan Album

buddy can you spare a dime .

There was another one next to the Ritz cinema, a similar looking building

I can remember this building but when I was young I can honestly say I never, ever claimed the ‘dole’. There was no need to … there was an abundance of jobs. Even sickness benefit passed me by. I seem to remember you could only claim it after 3 days by that time I was better! I must have been very lucky health wise not everybody was I have to say.

Those two with the Gabardine Macintoshes look to be mysterious and like secret police, but the SIS wouldn't be signing on, would they, and why is that man wearing the white brassard, any ideas?

reminds me of reading or on war newsreels about how Jewish folks throughout Europe would be forced to wear brassards by the Nazis, and how they had to pay for the cloth and also the cloth triangles, which made the Star of David that was on them too. This article from Yad Vashem goes on to explain. https://www.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/microsoft%20word%20-%205953.pdf

I’ve just finished reading about 2 men who escaped from Auschwitz In 1944 to warn the world what was going on there. Their testimony managed to save 200,000 lives out of the 7 million that were murdered …what a feat that was. ‘The Escape Artist’ by Jonathan Freedland if anyone is interested. True story I don’t read fiction.

A sinister feel to this picture . They look very concerned about being photographed . Perhaps they're watching for people signing on who are in work . The arm band might make folk think twice .

You most definitely were !A

I remember having to go there to register for National Service.

I don't think the chap in the centre is wearing an arm band - it looks as if he's carrying something under his arm. Taking photographs in the street wasn't like today - people casually taking out their phones all the time - and the photographer here would be waiting for an opportunity with the least movement happening, so he's be stood drawing attention to himself for a while. So nothing sinister about the men looking at him, perhaps quizzically.

Was it opposite The Grand Hotel in Dorning Street?

Veronica, thanks for the info, seems to be a good book and I'll check it out to read.

It is very sinister Poet, the man has a very defiant look on his face, I wouldn't at all have been surprised if he had later come over, asking the photographer what he or quite possibly she was up too.

Reminds me also of the 1949 film ‘’The Third Man” with the Harry Lyme theme music! They just don’t make ‘em like that anymore! ;o)

Nice picture, was it compulsory in those days for all men to wear a gabardine mac and look a bit shifty?