Wigan Album

Lovely pic of your Dad, Neil, and a glimpse of both the old-style and new-style buses. I know which I prefer.

Many towns would see an open space like the Market Square as an asset, Wigan just threw it away for a Shopping Center that we didn't need.

or the next shopping centre we did noot need

Agreed, Den S, but we didn't need your ridiculous American spelling, either. "Center", indeed!

Thanks for your kind comment Irene. Jack would have been 97 today. Never known anyone as proud of the town of his birth.Woe betide anyone who took the mickey out of Wigan

Michael, I will repeat 100 times "I must not spell centre as center" as a punishment.

Where did all those cobbles go - they would be worth a fortune now. Such a pity we don't have the market square any more.

With Wigan Fair on it, Maggie, on an Autumn night.

The newest bus in the background is the Wigan Corporation one. Wigan bought 11 of these between 1966 and 1968. The Ribble double decker will be from 1960-2. Not sure what the blue and white single decker is but it is the oldest bus of the three.
I remember the Market Square like this and I agree it is an asset lost forever. I know it was mainly a car park with Smiths/Blundell/Websters coaches using it on Saturday and Sunday mornings for the departure of their tours but it is much better than what replaced it.

Neil, your dad was 4 years older than my mother who was born and bred in Wigan and lived here all her life, I know she shared your dad's appreciation of the town -she had opportunities to move away but didn't- it was a special place for her.