Wigan Album

What a lovely photo. Everyone has taken a pride in their appearance, as people did back then, even of they had very little. x

I like the tables having been drawn together . . . "A bit more, Jim, . . . Whoa . . . that's it."

What time is the ale coming, one of the men looks like he as Archie Andrews sat on his knee

I bet he wants a "GOTTLE O' GEER", Mick! xx

Gelter Irene,

'Give order, give order... Dust want the bad news fust?...... T' turn 's not turned up.... But 'pies have come'.....( Did they have 'turns' in them days)?

I'll say, they had Turns in those days Veronica, and some rum 'uns' according to what I've been told; "Ladies and Gentlemen, please, the artist is doing his best".

Philip. G. I believe most clubs had this seating arrangement, as is shown, especially when there was a concert on. There were some belting turns in those days, singers, comedians, etc. Most of the fifties I was in the services, but as a serviceman you were not permitted to be politically involved, you were allowed to enjoy the facilities of the club. Enjoy the beer, and the concerts.

Hope you don't mind me commenting - I'm not a 'local', but always like to look in on wiganworld. From the style of clothing, and the type of clock on the back wall, I think this is considerably later than 1950s. Late 60's or perhaps early '70s.

I played in a band in this club a few times with 'Oggie'. One night in 1967 we finished about half past eleven then drove through the night to the south coast for a week. A couple of months later we became the resident band at 'The OLd Hall', just up the road.

Thanks Albert. Perhaps you might also have seen one or two of the 'yet to be giants' performing in the northern pubs and clubs during the early stages of their careers at that time, and maybe even one or two of the southern-based entertainers as they strutted some of their early stuff in these parts.
During the late fifties, our Junior School once had the pleasure of being entertained, and advised, by a ventriloquist's sidekick called Tommy Caution?? I'm fairly sure, though, that the Turn had been provided by the 'Force; a wise move, considering that the delights of Molly Peach's toffee shop lay no more than just a hop, skip and a jump across the road from school.

Whenever I see photos like this one,it always makes me think of my Mam..after my Dad died her neighbours took her to a club in Ince to cheer her up..she told me of when the 'club steward' (I don't know what they're really called) shouted "All thoose hoos not paid their subscripshuns ul be scrut off".it certainly cheered her up.

It's cheered ME up too, Maureen.....brilliant! xxx

Irene,it still makes me laugh to this day whenever I think about it..I was in stitches when my Mam told me.

You may be right, JohnH - Daniel Swann died aged 86 in 1982 - so he wouldn't have been a pensioner until 1961, and was certainly around in the 1970s. I think at the time he lived quite close to the Labour Club. I should have checked my background notes before writing the caption.

So long ago Philip.G. I can only recollect that they were mostly class acts. Comedians that had you sore with laughing, and tip top tenors, and sopranos. Songs whose lyrics you understood, instead of lines being repeated again, and again.

There was a special warmth about these old labour clubs. I used to be a member at Gidlow and Beech Hill LC, where my grandparents, Tommy and Bessie Halligan, were steward and stewardess at one time, and my uncle Jack was president. I know nostalgia often paints a rosier picture, but I honestly believe that people were friendlier, had much more self-resepct, than today. As the photo shows, people took a pride in their appearance. Even in Wigan town centre in the 50s and 60s lads wore suits! But alas the great clubs of old have long gone - most of them anyway. Still, the memories linger on, along with the turns, the pies and the cockle man!

Not many teenagers in the club , they would be at the Emp or chatting the girls up round Wigan,

Thanks for your kind replies, Albert.

They were ordinary , down to earth people, no airs and graces. If you went to one of those clubs and you weren't a member , I recall you had to 'sign in' or a member had to be with you. There always seemed to be a couple of men at the door entrance, it was always very serious about the 'signing in'! I used to love watching Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights as it did remind you of the latter Labour Club days. Sometimes the people who frequented those clubs were funnier than the stand up comedians.

Ged, it's a Pensioner's Night. They didn't have Grab a Granny's Night's in't Lower Ince Labour Club.

How right you are, Veronica! What characters there were in the Labour Clubs and Legions! I worked in Bickershaw Labour Club and remember when the doorman wouldn't let the artiste in because he wasn't an "affiliated" member! xx

The Conservative club wasn't half as much fun either Irene...

I worked for a while in Sacred Heart lab our club,one night the 'turn' didn't show up do one little Irish man jumped to his feet and said "I'll sing for you all..well..he started to sing Danny Boy,and after about four verses everybody was shouting " that's enough lad",but he carried on for another four verses..even I never knew there was so many verses..every time they started to clap off he would go again..we were in stitches..it was a brilliant night.