Wigan Album

Piano and Accordian with drums and bass, unusual combination. I wonder if any of the guys 'doubled up' with other instruments?

I worked with Peter Banks at Golbourne colliery & my wife worked with peters wife Audrey at Heinz,

Yes!My dad- Roy Crabtree sat at the piano also played the piano accordian -but never at the smae time!! He is thrilled we have put the piccs on and would love to hear from anyone who remembers "New Embassy" He will be celebrating his 83rd birthday this year and is still playing the piano! Please let him know of any memories you have.

Is Roy from Ince? My brother, (many years my senior and now sadly deceased), used to mention a Roy Crabtree he had known as a lad.

I can remember my auntie,Esther Owen,(nee Hurst)who taught piano, being friendly with the Crabtree family. If I remember correctly, they lived quite near to the old Ince Central School.I am also sure my mum told me that the band played for her wedding reception at Ince Public Hall.

Hi Irene
Yes,Roy Crabtree lived in Heber Street in Ince and went to the old Ince Central school.When he married- him and my mum,Margaret(nee Cottam) had a shop on Darlington street where my sister Julie was born.Then they mooved to Holt street.

Hello Debbie, my brother's name was Ronald Griffiths, if Roy remembers him. I am so glad to hear Roy is in good health.Ronald was 19 when I was born, so I don't know if he and Roy were still friends then or if it was in their boyhood, before I was born. We lived in a terraced row in I nce Green Lane which stood back from the lane behind the garden wall of St. Williams' Presbytery, opposite the Anderton Arms, (known as Long-Neck), pub.

Thanks Irene
My dad is reading the comments and loving all the old memories!I am going to sit with him in the next couple of days and type in some of his thoughts.
He and mum are extreemly well and able to shed a lot of light on past history. I will be in touch soon. This is soooo exciting!

What number did Roy live at in Holt Street? My friend Neil's Grandad lived at 38. He was Jimmy Cain who owned Cain's Cake-shop in Belle Green Lane before Ashurst's took over. My friend lives in London but has a great interest in all things "Ince" and he would be so pleased if your Dad remembered his family. His Dad was Jack Cain who moved to London with his job in the 40s.

My dad does remember the name."Eeee that`s goin` back a bit!" We lived at number 67 with Nat and Dolly Ellison on one side and Bob and May hough on the other.

Hello Irene I dont remember Ronald,but I know exactly where you lived opposite the Long Neck. I do remember Jimmy Cain and the cake shop when Peter Ashurst owned it selling His famous meat pies.

Thankyou Roy. I often have a walk up Ince, reminiscing, and can still imagine that little terraced row that stood back behind the Presbytery Wall, and the "Little Alley" as we called it that went up the side of the Long-Neck to Heber Street. My friend Neil in London will be so pleased you remember his Grandad and the pie-shop. He comes to Wigan regularly and always visits Valerie Ashurst whose parents took over the shop from Jimmy Cain.

Roy, my friend wonders if you also recall from Holt St,: Mr. Grange, The Blackledge family, Daisy Stephens, The Fentons and Burgy Ben?

Hi Debbie, my wife and I are so pleased to discover the information about your dad, Roy Crabtree. Our memories of him take us back to our courting days in the mid fifties when we used to meet up at The Hermit Inn, Newton-le-Willows, together with your mum and two other couples from Wigan, Cliff and Peter Winstanley and their wives. We all had a good old singalong in the snug when Peter would sing "Aunty Maggies Remedy" and Cliff would sing "The Blind Boy" Cliff appeared on a Radio competition, singing "You Can't Be True To Two". I trust all is well with your parents and ask that you will extend our good wishes and thanks for the memories. Frank and Irene Laird.