Wigan Album

I was still at school when McAlpine's built the M6 past Wigan. I clearly remember reading an article in the local newspaper at the time, regarding the shopkeepers in Ashton being up in arms, complaining about the loss of trade that would surely ensue when the motorway eventually opened. These pillars of the community weren't exactly blessed with the power of foresight were they ? I also used to go down to Liverpool road in Ashton, to sit in the driving seats of the motor scrapers when they were parked up for the weekend, everything was a lot more relaxed back then, no one bothered to chase me off. I believe McAlpines experienced a lot of difficulty due to subsidence in the Windy Arbour area during construction. I used to see loads of Ford Thames Trader tippers flying about, up through Garswood and Simms Lane End, running material either to, or from Crow's Nest. They were the wagon of choice back in the day. A few years down the road and I was working for McAlpine's myself. On the M4 at Codrington, then for C.A. Blackwell on the M5 at Cribb's Causeway. I realise I'm rambling now, but it's nice to reminisce occasionally. Thanks Barrie, for providing me with the opportunity.

Regards. Ozy.

Don Black, a Wigan Borough police sergeant, on his retirement in 1960/61, he went as the security officer, for McAlpine's, on their motorway building project. On his promotion to sergeant, I took over his constable's number 118.

Ozy, I worked 30+ years for McAlpines all over the country. Too young for the M6 but a few roads after but mainly Pipelines. Great days. Lots of travelling (one year Inverness the next Worthing I can remember) but great craic.

I came across Don Black in my early days at McAlpine Albert.

Ozy here in Shevy we watched the euclids scrapers cut right through the golf course, and we also used to play on them when they wernt moving.
We also used to get some nice lumps of clay to make models out of.

I also used to climb all over the plant at weekends with a couple of mates. It seems the M6 became a playground for the local kids! Once it was surfaced we used to ride our bikes between Haydock Island and Windy Arbour, you could get a fair bit of speed up coming back from Windy Arbour. I think we occasionally encountered workmen but never security.