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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Ribble Buses

30 Comments

Hope Street Mid 1970s
Hope Street Mid 1970s
Photo: Ray Smyth
Views: 3,931
Item #: 30267
The 386 Ribble bus is ready to set off on a school service. The young man in the beige
coat appears to be reaching into his pocket
for the keys to his Reliant Regal van.
The Inspector in the Ribble office doorway looks
like Jimmy Lyons.

Comment by: JJP on 8th March 2018 at 11:55

Not just the bus Ray but a great reminder of how the street looked back then, over 40 years ago and it seems like yesterday. The D type Ford in the background delivering, the old vehicles parked up, yes, a good picture Ray !.

Comment by: Helen of Troy on 8th March 2018 at 12:52

I know that part of Wigan I used to walk from Dicconson Street through a back alley that came out by The Scotch Bakers in Menses St to get the bus at the old bus station to Ormskirk where I went to school. I also went to tap dancing classes upstairs in the building next to the Congregational Church. Happy Days....well mostly !

Comment by: Poet on 8th March 2018 at 12:55

My strongest memories of Hope St. were the newspaper kiosk at the end of the bus station on the right and the chicken shop further down with roast chickens turning on spits in the window. Also orange juice in tanks stirred by rotating floating oranges.

Comment by: irene roberts on 8th March 2018 at 12:55

Agreed JJP. A lovely photo of the Wigan we used to know.

Comment by: Veronica on 8th March 2018 at 13:22

Highly memorable picture and a lovely red bus to boot! It seems like yesterday!

Comment by: Ray Smyth on 8th March 2018 at 14:54

Veronica...Thank you for your comments. This picture is from
the mid 1970s, by which time Ribble had become part of the
"National Bus Company" and their "Red" livery was known as
"Poppy Red". Have a look at a couple of pictures that I put
on here in January, The original Ribble colour was a deeper
red, and the Ribble name on the side of the bus was in the
original company style. Ray.

Comment by: Veronica on 8th March 2018 at 15:29

I will look and thanks Ray for sharing the photo it brings back memories of when I missed the coach to the ROF at Chorley and had to run all the way to the Market Square in the early morning!

Comment by: Maureen on 8th March 2018 at 16:48

The day after I had my youngest Son I was pushing him in his Pram passes the chicken shop..she came dashing out and shouted to her ( I think husband) and said just look at this...I've forgotten his name...two days ago she was walking past here with the baby still in her tummy and now he's in his Pram...you must be a healthy lass,some things you just never forget..I used to love Wigan town centre, I don't know whether it's nostalgia or what,but it seems to have lost its homeliness...I have so many memories which I will cherish for a long time...this photo really takes me back ..thank you Ray.

Comment by: Maureen on 8th March 2018 at 17:14

The day after I had my youngest Son I was pushing him in his Pram passes the chicken shop..she came dashing out and shouted to her ( I think husband) and said just look at this...I've forgotten his name...two days ago she was walking past here with the baby still in her tummy and now he's in his Pram...you must be a healthy lass,some things you just never forget..I used to love Wigan town centre, I don't know whether it's nostalgia or what,but it seems to have lost its homeliness...I have so many memories which I will cherish for a long time...this photo really takes me back ..thank you Ray.

Comment by: Irene roberts on 8th March 2018 at 17:27

I agree. I remember the baked potato cafe, the milk vending machine, the newsagents stall and the two red phone boxes.

Comment by: tom on 8th March 2018 at 18:41

to the right of the bingo hall is dave whelens first store

Comment by: . Ozymandias . on 8th March 2018 at 19:37

That Reliant parked near the bingo parlour could quite well have been the one that I used to own, ....if only it had been yellow in colour.....and squashed out of all recognition.....Maureen, I have a pre-loved iPad for sale. One that only posts your comments once....email me urgently at ozy@nohometogoto.com if you're at all interested, and seeing as how you're a WW3 regular, and a friend of Irene to boot, then this will qualify you for a 20% discount . I really don't see how I can be fairer than that. But hurry, there's only one remaining. ( please note that terms and conditions apply ).

Regards. Ozy

Comment by: Maureen on 8th March 2018 at 20:19

Ozy,I have no idea why it does it,sometimes with two hours interlude..I wish someone would tell me why!!!

Comment by: Dtease on 9th March 2018 at 00:51

Maureen, maybe it's female and that's why it takes two hours to make its mind up.

Comment by: Maureen on 9th March 2018 at 08:47

DTease,probably that's why we're always right in everything we do...you see,we don't like to do anything that hasn't been carefully thought over..and that's probably why you men love us .x

Comment by: Julie on 9th March 2018 at 09:01

Them were the very good days not like today I am very sorry to say, I remember the orange juice with the floating oranges on and the lovely smell of the chicken shop of the chickens cooking.

Comment by: MarieM on 9th March 2018 at 09:25

DTease. You cheeky beggar

Comment by: A.W. on 9th March 2018 at 10:43

When wigan was still living! How I miss those times.

Comment by: Joe Thomas on 9th March 2018 at 14:48

Spot on Ray it is Jimmy Lyons the stand inspector Joe Farrell was the other stand inspector the other four inspectors used to check tickets

Comment by: Elizabeth on 10th March 2018 at 16:48

What a lovely story Maureen, you must have been very fit and healthy.Yes, the memories of the Wigan of that time are very vivid and much missed.

Comment by: Peter on 10th March 2018 at 19:04

To the right of the amusement arcade .room at the top beat club.

Comment by: gibo on 11th March 2018 at 12:40

What a great little club that was The Room at the Top.One block you did not mess wih was the owner who was an ex restler.

Comment by: Jinksi on 11th March 2018 at 22:58

Gibo ,watched some great turns in Room at Top all went to enjoy the Music,never saw any bother. Not like them idiots in King St.Would not go there for a Pint if they paid me.

Comment by: Peter on 12th March 2018 at 07:48

Yes l remember the man the door is name was Ken, Giant of a man with ginger beard!

Comment by: Jinksi on 14th March 2018 at 14:27

Peter, Ken Baldwin

Comment by: Mick on 15th March 2018 at 12:01

Ken Baldwin - wrestled under the name Tony Zale. Called himself after the middleweight boxing champion of the 1940s.

Comment by: Mr X on 12th April 2018 at 10:23

Ribble only had 16 Albion Lowlander double deckers, 1851-1866 UCK851-860, ARN861-866C. They were low height and could be used on the Wigan to Chorley/ Preston/ Blackburn routes were they could pass under Coppull railway bridge, where a full height double decker could not. The 16 Lowlanders were allocated at Wigan, Chorley, Blackburn and Clitheroe depots. The white car is a big Vauxhall Cresta or Viscount, and if the green Reliant Regal survives today it is probably a yellow Del Trotter van.

Comment by: Amanda on 22nd April 2018 at 18:48

I never thought I would read someone saying the 1970s were the good old days. In the 1970s the 1950s were the good old days. I wonder when someone will say the 2010s are the good old days.

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