Photo-a-Day  (Sunday, 9th July, 2023)

I was a typist there in the 60’s.

I’m in the ‘dark’ on this one…it looks like two houses have been commandeered. If it’s still a police station Standish is very lucky.
We don’t have one where I live it’s been turned over into a children’s nursery. Not many small towns/villages have their own police station…I believe one fair sized police station became a hotel…?

Inside was like an old film . A big counter with a desk sergeant in serge blue behind it . A big book lying open beside a mug of tea .
Sergeant Clayton was he , and I remember him patrolling up and down the High St like he owned it . You never really saw him anywhere else . He had two constables who did most of the running around . Ken Smith and a particularly keen chap we called Pro Joe .

More than 600 Police stations have closed in the past decade, some say its close to 900 in just ten Years. Before 1974 we had a Police station in every Council run community. When Greater Manchester Police was formed in the 70s, we started to see our local stations close down.

Police stations have been closing at the same amount as pubs.
As the saying goes, " if you don't use them you loose them".
Policing has changed over the years, internet and how we report crime is done in different ways.
If you ring the police you are put through to GMP headquarters and not Wigan Police.

I doesn't look much different than when I worked a few doors away in the early 1970s. It has a "homeliness" that reminds you of village police stations in old films, due to being in a terrace rather than a purpose-built modern building.

Why have we lost so much in our community, no wonder crime is on the up. Something has got to change.

Apparently the oldest 'working' police station in 'Greater Manchester'.

I remember going in here with my documents after being stopped and issued with a 'produce ' I remember pro Joe and it's fair to say he didn't put up with any chelp from us young uns. What with him and Parkie down Ashfield, we were kept on our toes.

Not many police stations left.

I remember the first time I went in the police station where I live aged 19 with my then boyfriend. He had to produce documents as well as it was his first car. It was a very old fashioned police station with a wooden counter straight out of Dixon of Dock Green. Lots of policemen in those days walking up and down Market St. you knew them by name as has been said. It’s a sad state of affairs these days you knew you were safer then and you could call in the police station if anything was worrying you.

I myself have not been around this locality for some years now, I was amazed to see in the photo what I presume to be the planned retirement homes, they can be seen behind the station in what was Chadwicks paddock. They are most certainly nothing like those in the flyers which McCarthy & Stone were handing out when Chadwicks butchers was still there, the homes shown in the flyers were single storey and very nice too with a few shrubs, trees and lawns, how many of these blocks are on what was the butchers, it was a very big area.

Reports are coming through that a break in has just occurred at Standish police station and with thieves having taken every toilet facility in the building. Indications are that the police have nothing to go on, and they are asking help from members of the public at their convenience.

I suppose it’s the best way of getting rid of the police on the doorstep Cyril.
The thieves will have more scope to plan their mis deeds? ;o))

Recall some members of staff late 50’s……Inspector Bill Mc Donald (brother of Colin, Burnley and England goal keeper, who is still alive, in his 90’s), Sgt. Hodgson, Sgt. Clayton, P.C’s Sid. Higson, ,Lew Gregory, Gordon Harwood, Alan Bland, Robert Bott, Jack Marsh, Norman Cross( worked Parbold area on a Velocette m/cycle

Pro Joe once stopped us doing ' penny for the guy' outside Standish Labour Club saying that begging was illegal under the 1824 Vagrancy Act. .