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Photos of Wigan
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Wigan Album

Rendezvous Cafe

26 Comments

RENDEZVOUS CAFE
RENDEZVOUS CAFE
Photo: Frank Orrell
Views: 4,457
Item #: 30127
Customers and staff of George McCandlish's Rendezvous Cafe in Wigan gathered for a special event in the 1950s. It was situated halfway between Woolworths and Pendleburys on Standishgate.

Comment by: Mick on 24th January 2018 at 22:49

Looks like there some cowboys on the photo

Comment by: Ellen on 25th January 2018 at 03:11

I remember going there sometimes when Mum and I had been shopping; it must have been in the late 1940's. I was fascinated by the coloured sugar you could have in your coffee(I was too young to have coffee!)

Comment by: Ellen on 25th January 2018 at 03:16

Afterthought; According to my doctor, I am too old to be drinking much coffee! Sometimes you just can't win!

Comment by: Cyril on 25th January 2018 at 13:16

Can imagine it would be quite colourful in summer with those window boxes.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 25th January 2018 at 21:43

I hope that the scenario in my rhyme will give further impetus to other people's recollections of events that had taken place over the years, along this particular part of Wigan's busy town-centre.
Frank Orrell's splendid 'photo of celebration', and Mick's initial post have set the pace.

"Torch."
I stand ashamed, by poplars shorn, with you of hurt abiding,
My hurtful words, once coldly-said, ... your gaze for people dining?

I see 'the girls' through polished glass, we'll choose from platter wide,
And worldly friends they truly are, please kindly move aside.

Please hear my voice of new found words, with tune of heartfelt beat,
On urban carpet autumn-veiled, your measured words they'd meet.

Peter's sent our platter through, we three from hunger saved,
Your novel words I shall not hear come tune on golden pave'.

Mrs. Page, who passed just now, once gilded leaves in Fenton.
The pottery, ne'er well-known, had stood not far from Trentham.

Dining wares are so much fun, some please by muted clinks,
And steady hands will guide their say, oh look, Peter's sent our drinks.

Won't you stay for just a while, your friend she walks our way,
And also beams a worldly stare; assured with comely sway.

Janet stands before us then, while Mary ponders choux,
She's read so many lines before, none played with light for you.

I love your smile, on prancing gait, your grand in tartan plaid,
And float a simply gorgeous trill, ... yes, Janet's finely clad.

She also knows a heartfelt line - once famed in bringer's sheen -,
Our angel smiles at music found, let's dance at eight fifteen!

Comment by: GED on 26th January 2018 at 21:32

I thinks that very good Phil, There is a bit of a Poet in you, no doubt, My friends mother worked there in the 1940s, many is the time we went for tea & cakes, free of coarse, Her name was Hilda Highton,my friend was her son Brian

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 26th January 2018 at 23:57

Ged: I can easily imagine you and your friend Brian going pell-mell down Standishgate for free 'tea and cakes' at The Rendezvous Café, as it seems you had been onto a 'good thing.' It would also be interesting to know what the photographed staff and customers had been celebrating - perhaps your favourite?. Thanks.

Comment by: Dave on 27th January 2018 at 00:43

Must be sixty plus years since I heard the term Pell-Mell Philip.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 27th January 2018 at 10:55

Thanks Dave. I believe Pell-Mell originated during the 16th century, and the term continues to have a bit of 'zing' about it ... Whoa!

Comment by: irene roberts on 27th January 2018 at 13:05

That struck a chord with me too, "pell-mell"; took me straight back to childhood! Love the poem too. x.

Comment by: Dave on 27th January 2018 at 16:34

Thanks Philip, Like many , I always enjoy your detailed and valued contributions to WW . Regarding your wonderful poem above . I gained greater enjoyment from it by reading it quietly out loud . For me at least, the words and their meanings seemed to resonate more. I wonder if others agree. I do hope you will be inspired again in the future to ‘dabble’ (better word needed here ) in the verse Philip. Best Wishes

Comment by: Veronica on 27th January 2018 at 19:07

"Thas' geet a rare talent Philip fer a Wiganer....!

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 27th January 2018 at 20:04

Continued thanks Dave. And what about young Irene going pell-mell on her skates down Standishgate's gradient? I can see her now: Passing the halfway stage, jitters all gone, and then at the point where she realises that everything's right, shouting Whoopee!

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 27th January 2018 at 20:23

Thanks Veronica. My word, there's some rum characters here, parading at the front of The Rendezvous Café, and what in heaven's name had they been celebrating! On second thought, perhaps they'd received advanced warning that a certain little lady on roller skates had been seen heading their way.

Comment by: Poet on 27th January 2018 at 22:17

How sad that we prefer to drink from Styrofoam these days than from cups with gilded leaves from Fenton. My best regards Philip .

Comment by: DTease on 28th January 2018 at 14:20

This photo appears in a book called Images of Wigan published by the Wigan Evening Post in 1995 and according to that the photo was taken around 1945 and they are thought to be celebrating the end of the war.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 28th January 2018 at 15:27

Well done! DTease. And the cowboy hats ... ofcourse.

Comment by: Veronica on 28th January 2018 at 17:36

Thats correct Dtease as I have the book with the picture in it.

Comment by: WILLY WACKUM on 30th January 2018 at 22:36

I wonder how many of those young ladies were Nippies"

Comment by: Gerry on 1st February 2018 at 08:32

I recollect being taken in to a cafe in the 50s the tables were separated by dark wood panelling, this made you isolated from the tables next to you and you could talk with reasonable privacy. I just wish i could remember which cafe it was

Comment by: irene roberts on 1st February 2018 at 16:06

Gerry, in the 1990s Poole's café on Market Street was just as you describe; it was owned by Dave Whelan and the seating and lamps were like the 1930s. Our Ashley and I loved going in. The old Poole's café down Wallgate was also very twenties/thirties in style.

Comment by: Gerry on 2nd February 2018 at 16:26

It was the 50s though Irene i was only about 5 or 6 years old

Comment by: irene roberts on 2nd February 2018 at 18:12

Yes, I realise that, Gerry, but just wondered if you remember Poole's on Market Street in the nineties? If the name of the café you remember comes back to you, please put it on here; I would love to know! It wouldn't be Makinson's café, would it, (officially Café Makinson), top of Wallgate? I just have a fascination for old shops and cafes in Wigan. xx.

Comment by: Elizabeth on 2nd February 2018 at 20:46

Makinson's Cafe was my Mum's first job when she left school.I can remember her saying she left school at 14 a.nd started work the next day,walking to work from Ince to be there for 6.30am.It would probably have been the norm then.

Comment by: elizabeth ashall nee martlew on 11th May 2018 at 20:30

george and doris mccandlish were my aunt and uncle the photowas taken in 1945 my sister joyce martlew is on it also their two daughters and the americans from burtonwood

Comment by: Barbara McCandlish Webb on 10th January 2019 at 18:14

Correction on this photograph.
This was a private engagement party for my sister Alison who was married at St. Michael's and All Angels Wigan June 3rd 1944.
My parents and my brother together with many girl cousins who were partnered by American soldiers from Burtonwood Base who. My parents always had an open door to feed them very well!
I was 4 at the time so to young to party,but was a brides maid at the wedding!🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧😊

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