Wigan Album

I remember Amy well from when I was a child. She lived across the road from my grandparents in Springfield, and always had a friendly word for everyone.
When I joined the police in the late 1970s, she had retired, but was still remembered with great respect and affection by the officers she had served with.

I remember Hector her brother in law dying as a result of a 'skirmish' at Appley Bridge Legion on New Years Eve 1967.

I remember one night in the early sixties I was on the Market Square, with another officer, and Wigan Fair was in full swing. Suddenly a big brawl erupted. It was just like a Wild West film, where everyone was hitting anyone that got in their way. Other police officers arrived, including Amy. After several minutes, the Queen’s Hall service finished, and they all got mixed into the affray. Amy grabbed hold of this chap, and was just about to skim him across the square, when he shouted . “Let me go, let me go. I’m the M.P. For Wigan.” Amy was one of the most genuine person’s, you could ever wish to meet. Everyone loved her. I had the privilege of seeing her, in the home, at Pemberton, a few weeks before she passed away.

how the police be now <feared> but respected

Yes Hector got into one fight to many, Amys brother in law wife as also just died

I would love to have known her.

Irene I met her once, I was a member of the AFS when I was 17, and on night a factory down Miry lane caught fire, and the AFS was sent to do the dampening down the next day.
It was a wet night and I was soaked from the rain and the hoses, I went for a break and Amy was stood watching in a doorway and she said come in here loves and made room for me.
You would have liked me in my old fashioned fireman outfit.

My Dad knew most of the policemen, solely because he'd stopped a couple of horses from running riot in Wallgate.When he died I met Amy in Makinsons arcade and told her,she was so sympathetic and said that when her G.P.told her she had Angina..and what not to do,she said she took everything on board and stuck to everything he said.
When she used to catch the bus to Springfield..every time someone got on,up she'd get shouting "come on love there's a seat here"',I don't think she ever sat down for a whole bus journey..she certainly was a one off,bless her.