Wigan Album

Oh, what a handsome lad, young Philip! x.

All the young dudes!

Fine team of gentlemen Philip. The magnificent seven of the sixties, including a stunt double for the rolling stones.

Philip,
Would that be Stephen Rotherham who went to UGS? If so, he looks different.

Helen: It certainly is, and TD's mention of The Rolling Stones, reminds me that they are Stephen's favourite group.

Recognise Johnny Peters cool !!

I remember when they used to wear those overcoats in the sixties- so smart then in their suits and ties.

A great photo Phil thanks for that! Yeah it was me doin me Mick Jagger impression! Such happy days. Alan Swift RIP...you were a great gentle lad and a pleasure to have known you.

So you still remember me Peter Jones?
Its yonks since that pic was taken. Orrell Carnival was an annual event. Loads of us went. Great place for chattin up girls, eh Phil? And usually a band and DJ to misbehave to!!!

Ho, I still rember you Johnny, great memories can you still do the Swim dance ? ,!!

I might have known that was you, Johnny!

This post should be interesting! Gio and Phillip? I await what follows..

Youd make a good sleuth Miss Irene Marple!!
How are you and Maureen? Not many interesting pics on WW except this one!!

Hi Julie
How are you doin? Long time since our amusing repartees on WW!!

Hello Johnny,I've known it's been you (Giovanni) all along..are you still painting,why don't you put some of works of art on here, I think everyone would like to see them..I miss the banter we used to have too.I thought you'd forgotten us.

P.S. Johnny,dig you in your Levi's eh.

Maureen, how could he forget us?! I'm glad you saw this....I was going to email you to tell you to have a look. xx.

Couple of the group have something in common with the stones front man, Sir Michael Philip Jagger.

Regards TD.

What's the 'swim dance' Johnny? I'm asking because a track used to be played at the Casino called 'The Duck' by Jackie Lee,around 1969/ 1970.Wondered if it was connected.

Looking at the clothes, I would say this was more 1968-69 than 1966. The carnivals only started around 1967. One guy is wearing a 'Skinhead Ainsby' coat, so I'll plump for whitsun, 1968....

Johnny put Jarvo straight,you only started mating with me and Charlie Frank and Delano around 67 and I don’t know anyone else on the photo so it must be early than that !!

Jarvo you could be spot on with the date, coinciding with Jagger and his band at their peak. Released on 24 May 1968, "Jumpin' Jack Flash" backed with "Child of the Moon" reached the top of the UK Singles Chart.

Jarvo: I have it from a very good source that the Carnivals began in 1962, or 1963, and I also considered the photo to have been taken in 66, or 67, for very good reason. In fairness to you, though, 68-69 were also good shows i.e., The Amen Corner, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers being beamed on the underside of the marquee roof, and the Gurkhas tearing-off bottle tops in 'tough guy' style. I think the photo could also been taken around the same time that Alan had bought his blue Honda motorcycle - perhaps you knew Alan? As four-year-olds, Alan and I sifted alongside each other through the same sand pit, and later grimaced together on apples taken before their time. We sometimes played our football games on the grassy area beyond the road at the front of Alan's house. And I remember one particular occasion when Alan, wearing his spotlessly clean tea shirt, simply stood by and watched the rest of us playing our game. He then told us that he and his parents would soon be leaving for Aintree to see The Grand National, and that he didn't want to get himself dirty. I think it was last year when Alan answered my poser regarding the year of that particular Grand National, to which he brightly replied "Nineteen fifty nine, Oxo!".

Come on Johnny La ! Put them in the picture you’re full of knowledge of the 60,s !!

The guy in the middle looks like he’s wearing hipsters.which I would say,would be more 66 than 68.the trouser bar in market st was going about that time,of which Johnny would know about they where a big seller of hipsters

I remember my grandad took me to the first Orrell Carnival I went to, and he died in September 1965, so they were going before that date.

Spot on Terry and thanks to Philip for putting folk in the picture. Personally never went to the Orrell carnival and did not know Alan, but it is always very sad to lose friends. Reading comments about Alan and his blue Honda motorcycle reminded me of attending similar events with my young chums, in a different part of Wigan district in the sixties. Miners Galas included the Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team on their Norton motorcycles. Their trousers had a big red stripe down the legs and they were also known as The White Helmets (disbanded in 2017) There were many other attractions of course, not least the coal queen regional beauty contest, with young ladies representing different pits, and on one occasion a famous mine workers union rep from Wigan incorrectly announcing the winner, then correcting the mistake by apologising to the lady, who was also unfortunate to be representing a certain pit in St Helens. The announcement over the public address system went something like this………. and the winner of the beauty contest is...Clock Face!...Oh no! ... Sorry there’s been a mistake ladies and gentlemen the winner is not Clock Face. After announcing the real winner he did finish by saying “hard luck Clock Face” Possibly a bit naughty, but true and as I recall much to the amusement of some in the audience.

Great story T.D. Thanks. It's pretty clear that the Union's rep' had been a bit 'slack', during his announcement.

On reflection this pic was taken in 1967. I had moved to Ashton in Mak from Wallasey and resumed friendships with the lads in the pic. Old school mates (Upholland Secondary) and residents of Billinge where I lived once lived. The Swim was a dance of mine performed regularly at the Casino. Two steps forward,two back your arms in a crawl motion. Its popularity found its way to Twisted Wheel and Mr Smiths, Manchester, Burnley Bird Trap, Uncle Toms, Bolton and Blackpool Mecca!!
Those kecks look like hipsters....the lad probably hadnt out grew 'em!!
Youre right Pete...I met up with yous lot late 67!

Maureen check out another pic of my Levis. Look under People, Johnny Peters!!
Not a paint brush in sight!!

Footnote:
Can anyone remember the Italian style suits we used to wear with cloth covered buttons?

Johnny,that's the photo I was referring to ..you looked very dashing.

Thank you Maureen, flattery will get you anything!
Fancy a chip butty?
Our paths or footsteps may have crossed on the Casino dance floor!

Always was a ladies man ,you Johnny LA !!

John: So it was 1967 eh? Thanks for that. And I think 67 was also the year in which Alan Swift, Ste', myself, and a few 'others', went to The Floral Hall at Southport to watch The Small faces. We later walked part of the way home, parting company from our knight of the road, at the front of The Delph Tavern, Orrell - '4:00 a.m.' springs to mind.

Wish we were having our favourite tipple on Friday night johnny,”Brown &Bitter,!!

Phil..what became of Ste Rotherham. The last time I saw him was on Tottenham High Road. I was outside a pub. It was the semi final of the old Inter Cities Cup...Spurs v Liverpool. We had a chat and arranged to meet up after the match..never happened!!
Peter..Yes remember our Fridays in The Crofters before the Casino or the Ball and Boot..remember?? Brown and bitters...with those draw pumps barmaid would nearly fill pint glass with bitter!!

That’s why we drank it Johnny,pint and half for the price of a pint !!

John: I believe Ste's recovering-well from his recent hip-surgery.

Sifted alongside each other through the same sand, and later grimaced...
Pure special Philip . When honesty is spoken with soul and truth , then the word and the line she flows,,

Philip, truth is I have also been 'slack' with a need to make a correction to my previous comment. The White Helmet rode Triumph motorcycles not Norton's. T.D.

No problem T.D. And two giants of British motorcycling, I believe. Hand me two British Bulldog transfers, sir!

Thanks Phil.
Watch out for my e-mail.

Philip, coincidentally the trade unionist shared your surname. Joseph Gormley, Baron Gormley, OBE (5 July 1917 – 27 May 1993) Secretary of the Lancashire Area of the National Union of Mineworkers 1961–1971. President of the National Union of Mineworkers (Great Britain) from 1971 to 1982 and a Labour peer. Joe was also a lifelong fan of Wigan Rugby League Football Club.

I hadn't known that he was a 'lifelong' fan of Wigan Rugby League Club, TD. Thanks - perhaps he was also aware of 'black stuff' that lay beneath the scrums.

Philip, I do recall Nutty Slack the gentle grappler 1966 - 1968, presumably named after the low grade of black diamonds and not the old favourite sticky toffee.

By crikey TD! you're a mine of information, sir. I hadn't been aware of our friendly grappler, nor of Slack and Peanut Brittle's alternative names. The black stuff to which I had been referring concerns the now extinct messy business of scrum warfare, alternatively known as 'the dark arts of scrummaging', and the miners' leader's liking for 'a bit of a scrap'. Please join me in performing brilliantly behind the scrum - it's much safer. Thanks.

Joe's grandson signed pro in more recent years, but oh yes! I would be delighted for us to wear the same colours Philip and observe the scrum antics of yesteryear. Sure the miners enjoyed some of that. The second row planting an upper cut on the opposing hookers hooter, as they packed down springs to mind as one example of the dark art you mention. Oh deary me. Thanks for the invite and a safer position away from the engine room. Seize the day Philip.