does ny one rem dehaans meet works park lane abram

hiya does anyone remember dehaans meat works , or worked there in the past about 1970 thanks brenda

me antie nellie worked at de Haans up park road.
i see you live in adelaide
i go there twice a year to visit my daughter and grandchildren

yes i remember it well,it was on the site of the Maypole.

hi peter 48, i was born in abram and have been in oz for 39 ears. were in adelaide does your family live . had anyone ever worked at dehaans and when . when did auntie nellie work there .its true it was on the site of the old maypole. i worked there from 68 through to 70

hi nanaspet.
me auntie nellie`s name was Mc Sorley.
not sure when she worked there though.
my daughter lives in Hallett Cove which is south of adelaide.
one of my fave places around there is glenelg, i can sit for hours watching the people go by

hi peter 48, i know hallet cove well glenelg is great. i love in gawler

I liked Victor Harbour ,I lived In Adelaide
for about 3 months many years ago,I think It Is a Very Beautiful City almost up to our Sydney.

never ventured that far north nanaspet but will one day.
all being well i will be back there at christmas.

victor harbour is akin to going back to the 50s/60s.
whenever we go down there we have our lunch in the crown before venturing over to granite island

my siter lorraine dainty worked there for a short time but i'm not sure what year or how long she stayed.she used to tickle me coz even to this day she cant stand the jelly in pies or anything like that.

I used to work at De-Haan's from 1963 to 1965, Mr Mannion was the office manager, his son also worked in the office. Mr Brown was the Managing Director, he was sacked and a Dutch bloke called Mr Wesselingh took over. The factory manager was, I think, called Jimmy May. Mrs Bent used to make the coffees, she lived just off Park Lane.

Henry 7,

I think my sister Margaret Broad worked in the office around that time. Jimmy May was my Uncle also.

broady, I remember your sister she got married whilst she was at De-Haan's, didn't she live with her grandma in Abram? A girl called Sylvia also got married at the same time, her boyfriend's family had the garage in Abram, I think it was called Ashton's.

broady, Jimmy May had a daughter who looked just like her mum and grandma, all 3 were very attractive.

Henry 7,

You are correct regarding our Margaret. I think the Sylvia must have been Sylvia Burns. Obviously that was my Grandma also and my cousin and Aunty.Thanks for your reply.

broady, what is Margaret doing now?

She is retired and lives at Timperley.

henry7,
I worked at De-Haan foods in the early 60's when Mr Mannion was office manager.I did the wages along with A girl called Sandra Sutton, Margaret Broad was in the office when I was. I remember Jimmy Fisher being the Driver and Mrs Bent making coffee. I think her husband worked there as well.I also remember Sylvia Burns, her boyfriends name was Barry Ashton and they had the garage at the end of Bickershaw Lane.

for all those who worked at dehaans in abram, do you remember , when the horn went for tea break we would all dive for the canteen... they made the best tea and toast there PERFECT

badger,

Sandra Sutton was my bridesmaid, she married Jackie Mills, his brother played rugby for Wigan.

henry7,
My husband Barry knew all the Mill's brothers, Jackie, Keith and Maurice. They all served their time to-gether at Leyland Motors. Keith was and still is very prominent in Wigan Warriors,running theKnights of Central Park. I havent seen Sandra for years. Hope she is O.K.

badger, what's your first name, mine is Ruth, do you remember me? Haven't seen Sandra for a long time, she has a son and a daughter.

henry 7
Hi Ruth, I cannot bring you to mind at the moment but it could be that I may have left De-Haan's when you worked there. My name is Olwyn and I could have been there a little earlier than you. Did you work in the office or the factory? I still dont eat tongue to this day.

Best Wishes
Badger

Hi Olwyn,

I remember you. I used to work for Mr Brown, until he got sacked. I worked in the downstairs office with Margaret, she worked on the switchboard. Do you remember Mr Cohen from Holland, I think he owned the company. I also remember Tina from Standish and Sheila from Ince.

Regards
Ruth

Hello again, Long time no see. If you worked in the downstairs office you must remember Margaret Lowe and Margaret Wilkie.Margaret Lowe Lives in the next Close to me in Ashton, Margaret Wilkie was my bridesmaid and we are still in touch in fact we are going for supper on Saturday night.Usually see her once a month. We take it in turn cooking supper. I remember Sheila and Tina. I think Tina now lives in Australia. She was the first person I can remember to have a platinum wedding ring .I think she got married to a bloke called Jeff.Will see if the two Margarets remember you.

Cheers
Olwyn

Mr Wesselingh was my neighbour and his wife took my sons to school with her son Paul.

Reddi8,

My wife's late parents were very friendly with Frans and Gerda Wesselingh. Would you have any idea what happened to them?

Cheers.

I think they went to live in Lincolnshire but their son Paul is a golf professional locally.

Thanks for that Reddi8. Would I be correct in presuming that they are still alive?

Hi Olwyn,

I do remember both Margarets very well, wonder if they remember me? I'm surprised Mr Wesselingh stayed in UK he said that he was going back to Holland. Do you remember Mr Frangleton, Ian Dunn, and Frank who worked in the office? Is the building still there?

Best Wishes
Ruth

Hello Henry, everything has gone this is what is there now

Carla,

Thanks for the photo, what a change!

Big change yes, but there is still plenty of fields and good walks.

Hi Olwyn,

Just wondered if both Margarets remembered me? Do they ever see Sandra or Sheila?

Cheers
Ruth

Hello again,

I havent seen Margaret Lowe yet but went to Margaret Wilkie's last night and she is trying to put your name to a face. She was telling me that she still gets a Xmas Card from Sheila, apparently Sheila@s husband died quite suddenly quite young, but they had no children. She doesnt see her but still receives the card. Hasnt seen Sandra. I dont remember Mr Frangleton or FRank but the other one was I think Ian Dunning not Dunn. May not see Margaret Lowe for a while but will mention you to her when I do.

Cheers
Olwyn

Hi broady,
Wonder if you can help me out with this question? I was speaking to my sister-in-laws husband on FRiday and he thinks he may know Michael and Jeremy. He has told me to ask if Michael works for Gaskell Bros in Bryn and is Jeremy a police-man. Hope you dont mind me asking

Regards
Badger (O)

Badger,

I don't mind you asking and your husband is spot on. Mike has worked at Gaskell's since he left school and Jerry went into the Police when Plank Lane closed.

broady, that was a quick answer, thanks. It isnt my husband but my sister-in-laws husband. He is a football coach with Aspull Football Club (kids I think) and seems to know Michael because of that. How he knows Jeremy I am not quite sure. Will let him know I have spoken to you.

Thanks again,
Olwyn

Olwyn,

Our Jerry played soccer for quite a few teams in his younger days.

Hello again Bill,
Apparently I got it wrong. He sems to know Michael through Gaskell Bros. He worked at Levertons in Bryn and knew him through buying machinery for the company. Still not sure how he knows Jeremy until I speak to him
Hope your Mum is keeping O.K.

Regards Olwyn
.

Hi Olwyn,

I thought it would be funny if he knew our Mike through soccer.Darts and Dominoes maybe but not soccer. I spoke to my Mum for almost an hour this morning and she is fine. Thanks for asking.

Cheers,

Bill.

Hi Olwyn,

Thanks for that info. Will try and think of more names. Did the offices used to be a private house, I seem to remember someone telling me it was the pit owners house?

Ruth

Hello Ruth,

I am almost sure it did used to be a family home. I think there used to be a family called Roberts who lived there, They had a daughter called Alwyn and I think the son opened Roberts D.I.Y. shop in Platt Bridge.(Many moons ago). Do you live local? I live in Ashton, Margaret lives in Chorley.

Regards Olwyn.

remember dirk kap & colin hayes who worked there in 70s.

Hi Olwyn,

Thanks for that info, I bet it was a lovely house in its heyday. I live in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, have been here for 20 years. Left Wigan in 1973 and moved to various places in the country with my husbands job, including Beverley, Lake District, Lichfield and Bedford. I have a son and daughter, none of them are married and no grandchildren. How about you?

Ruth

Hiya Ruth,

I have lived in Ashton for 35 years so consider ourselves pretty settled, before that we lived in Marus Bridge, I have a daughter Victoria age 39 and a son Gary age 33. Vicky has a little girl called Kira who is 8 and Gary has a little boy called Callum who is 1 year old. Vicky works for Greater Manchester Ambulance Service and Gary is a Driver and works all over the country. Margaret has lived in Chorley since she got married (42 years). She also has a son and daughter and three Grand-children.

Best Wishes
Olwyn

Hi Olwyn,

Its been lovely contacting you, will try and remember some more names. Give my regards to Margaret Lowe when you see her.

Cheerio for now
Ruth

I think the house you are refferng to was once part of the sanitorium.The majority of the DeHAAN factory were centered around the old bath-house.Thats funny though as the bath house was a new building compared to the pit.I remember my dad used to come home ,inthe early 50's and have to wash at homecos there were no facilities and as the pit closed in 1959 they didn't get much use out of the baths.
I don't know if JohnRoberts ever lived there ,he used to live across the road from us in Bickershaw and he later bought a farmhouse down crankwood road.

Hi Vera,

I think there were two biggish houses on Park Lane. The one at the top of Fisher Avenue was the one that used to belong to the Sanatorium but there was another one nearer to the factory, set back off the road, that became the Offices. Incidentally I think Johnny Roberts also lived at the top of Culcheth Avenue. There are a pair of semis and he lived in the nearest one to Ruskin Crescent.

Cheers.

broady,
you're right in what you say .I 've been able to picture that bit of Park lane n my mind and there were 2 houses.
And also the Roberts' did live at the top of Culcheth.
Hows Canada today.

Wet and rainy. It is however only six in the morning.

Jimmy May was also my uncle. I worked at De-Haans in the 70s. My mum Margaret worked in the pickling room. I worked with Joe Dearden.

The house in Park Lane was the Maypole Under Managers house.Robert's lived there.The Managers house was Willow Lodge.Bonds lived there.The daughters Alwyn Roberts and Carole Bond where in the same class has Badger and myself at Abram School.
Mickey-Have you got a sister named Susan and did you live on the Brow.

Mickey,

Would Philip May be your brother? Jimmy May was my Uncle also as Lily was my Dad's sister.

No Philip is my cousin. Jimmy was my uncle, and Lily my auntie. My dad was Alec and my mum Margaret.

So Susan is your sister.

Spot on. Susan is my kid sister. I do remember you although I only met you once or twice.

Mickey,

I can remember you and me coming from the Dover worst for wear after having too much beer ,more than once
Do you remember the camping trip to Abersoch with your Mum and Dad .

Yes I do remember both the drinking sessions and the Abersoch
trips. Is that Phil?

Mickey

Yes ,it's Phil.

This is great Phil! I am made up with this site.
How are you? are you still in Abram?

Hiya Mick,
Still in Abram,your Uncle Jimmy lived three doors up from me. Wigan World is a cracking site, Ive been in touch with friends I haven't seen for 40 plus years.The members of the group I used to play in have all met up again after 45 years due to a photo which was put in the Album.
We had some good times down the Dover didn't we.Went in the Dover about a month ago and there was only two people in.
Keep in touch.

My mother worked at Dehaans in the early sixty's - Mary Hallsworth, I shall ask her tomorrow for her recollections. I remember baby sitting for one of the Dutch managers, he had a little girl can't remember their name for sure but mum probably can.

I once did some maintainence work there and what I saw put me off eating tongue for the rest of my life

Hi Everybody
Remembering Dehaan works at Park Lane,Abram.
Great reading the comments on this page and the names of people I knew when I worked there until the bad winter of 1963.
Yes Mr Brown was the works manager,Mr Audenhoven ? and Mr Mannion in the office and Margaret Broad.I was very friendly with Jimmy May an great chap and good friend,Ian Dunning,Mr John Frangleton,Raymond Bell,Eric Cox,Margaret May (Jimmy's sister) Eddie Simm. Most of us left and joined Mr Brown when he started a new factory in an old dairy in Moore Street,Wigan. Please come back with any thoughts or info about the people I've named

johnb,

As you will probably guess Margaret is my Sister and Jimmy May was my Uncle. I am meeting Margaret in Mexico on Wednesday and I will remember you to her.

Are you Alan Whicker in disguise broady
Was the Paul Wesselingh a golfer?

Yes thanks for that reply do say hi from me.
She may not know that after I left Mr Browns canning factory in Moore Street Wigan and went back to college in 1966 I became a pharmacist,moved down to Ipswich and eventually owed two chemists in the town.
Ask her please what happened to Mr Brown ? Thank you j

fossil,
Pot calling pan springs to mind. I think the guy you mentioned was a golfer.

Also please ask Margaret what happened to the old cannery in Moore street after I had left.
Always been a mystery,its just a question of completing the story of a fairly major part of my life....thanks

I have somewhere some photographs taken by me at a works Christmas party taken about 1962-63 held at the Masonic Hall in Wigan !!
How does one get them onto this site anyone ?

Other names from the Dehann days are Phillip (the Dutch man) who never seemed happy,Derek Kapp,Walter Ashwood,and Mr Brown's PA ,Tony Moore..........how's that for a memory game !

To Broady or Anybody please any information or has this page now gone silent!!!

" Tell me more about your Uncle Jimmy May...a fine fellow and friend in my Dehaan days.....thanks"

Another topic...World one two bombs that fell in Wigan.

Did you know or have any details of the bomb that fell in 1942 in a field down Brockmill Lane

Several bombs dropped near Abram one Saturday night in November 1940 when the Germans were bombing Liverpool.One bomb crater is still visible in Finney fields at Dover not far away from the pub there.I took some photos of it some time ago.

I worked at DeHaans in the early 60s trimming the ox tongues,not bad when you got used to the smell.Then I went for my wages and my cards were waiting for me.Nothing was said before ,I had already told them I just had heart surgery,and they said they could not take the risk of my using a knife,but I was a good worker.I lasted about 2 months before that

Yes I left De Haan in the bad winter of 1963 got the blame for some tongue packs getting burnt by steam as the dutch Phillip attempted to defrost them !!!
I was not even there as it was during the night.....Thank you Mr Jim Brown.....as it turned out it changed my life pattern for the better.

Anybody have more thoughts of the factory in the early 60's...

I never heard od WW1 bombs dropping in Abram but they did in Wigan round the Birkett Bank area-some good pictures in the Observer Archives in the old library.
A bomb did fall on the trolley bus shelter at the top of the tramlines in WW2.

My Aunty Winnie ran the canteen until De Haans closed down, I do believe that she worked there for a number of years and arranged holidays abroad for herself and workmates there. The comment about going to the canteen for tea dn toast reminded me that Aunty Winne was a really good cook. I remember her occasionally speaking of a Mr Cap, her Manager who was Dutch.

I knew Mr Kapp....found him a very private type of guy....

I worked there in 1968 in the pickling room, only lasted 3 months. Mr Manion did my interview.I went to the Isle of Man with 3 girls from work, I remember Ken Faircloughs mother,he worked on the buses I had a few dates with him.

My Mam Worked there til she passed away at 41years old

I remember Rose and Annie Connaughton telling me about a bomb that was dropped near the "Miner's Hall" in Platt Bridge in WW2. Their sister was injured with shrapnel from it.This must be the one Vera is talking about.

Anybody tell me more about a great chap Jimmy May...a very likable fella but did'nt get on very well with Mr Brown.
What happened to him please after 1963....thank you

Oh dear now July 2013 and no more additions to these pages for some time...would be nice to keep the ball rolling if possible....

I have just sent Jimmy's daughter an e-mail regarding your question. As soon as I get a reply I will update you.

Thank you for that; I busy trying to upload a photograph taken at a Christmas dinner about 1962 in the Masonic Hall In Wigan.
It's a big group of the ladies and for sure I know Margaret May is one of them! the other names I am now not so sure of.The technique is a little tricky !
jb

The photograph spoken of above taken at the Masonic Hall 1962 is now out there under WORK ALBUMS and De Haan,Abram.
Any names please would be great !

Am I the only surviver from the early sixtees at De Haan in Abram?

Hi to Broady...Just to confirm you are Margaret Broads sister that use to work in Mr Mannions office.
I remember Margaret's time there when did she leave the factory?

Will check with her. Incidentally I am her Brother.

Ok sorry for that...many thanks

Anybody on this page still around at De Haans in 1962-1963

New entries welcome

I used to work with a girl called Brenda from Abram, whose Mum and Dad Ivy and Frank Skeath, both worked at De Haan's.They were a really nice couple, sadly Brenda died aged only 29.

What year did Jimmy May leave us all....I found him a good friend in my time at De Haans...

For photographs I took about 1962 of a Christmas works do held in the Masonic Hall,Wigan.....look at the Wigan Album on this site. See who you may recognize !!

my mate worked there .

Sonia b,
She became Brenda Shaw when she married.

Yes Broady, I remember she got married the same date as Matthew Mahoney's wedding,4th March 1972, which I was invited to, so I wasn't able to go and watch her get married.She had two sons, it was very sad that she passed away so young.

his name was colin hayes.

Johnb,
I am told around 22/23 years ago.

Thank you for news of Jimmy May...RIP

ias an outsider i did some maintainance work there years ago and the stink was terrible it put me off ox tails for years

My mam worked there early to mid 70s she had to cut the cancers from tongues before they went into the cans sounds disgusting.

Did Jimmy May take over Mr Brown's job when he got the push !
Anyone know what happened later to Mr J Brown

I know he started a small cannery in Moore Street, Wigan...I mean later on than that !

Anybody remember Raymond Bell, he was a fitter at De Haan's in the early 60's
or
even little Ronnie who was always singing around the place who unfortunately died tragically later.

my best mate who iv,e mentioned just up this blog colin heyes has just passed away , he was 62. he worked at dehaans when he just left school till he got a start at golborne pit.

can one post a photograph on this page and how is it done ?
Because I have two taken at a De Hann's Xmas do in the Wigan Masonic Hall taken about 1962...lots of folk you may know !

Copy and pasting does not work//

Two more names from the early sixties in Mr Brown's days and what became of them. Tony Moore Mr Brown's right hand man and Eric Cox. I left in 1963 just been wondering what became of them.

Evelyn and Doris Walsh worked there, I remember them taking me to the firework display one year..

Anybody remember the small cannery Mr J Brown opened after he left De Haan into an old dairy in Moore Street,Wigan, and anybody who worked there.
Quite a number of folk moved with him from the place of work at De Haan's into his new premises.

Oh dear no replies to my last two postings.....you know I must be getting too old these days....and living in the past... When I left De Haan's in 1963 I was 24... Now getting on a bit but luckily in reasonable health..I find it most interesting to hear any details of a very formative part of my life. After De Haan....I went back to Uni' and got a degree moved to Ipswich and started up two pharmacies....

Around 1963 anyone remember Eric Cox one of the management and what became of him....I'm just trying to complete a story line... or even Tony Moore....Mr J Brown's right hand man when I was there...

Have we reached the end of the De Haan story folk....any more memories still out there I wonder..?

Anybody remember Mr Jim Brown the factory manager before Mr Jimmy May....it is a long while ago ?

Have a very Happy Christmas 2022....all best wishes Time Travellors.....