Wigan Album

I remember JJ Broughton's; it was at the bottom of Market Street. Am I right in remembering that it was once called JJ Bradburn's? In which case it would always have been JJB's. I'm sure someone will put me right if I am wrong about this.

Irene, you are correct. It was founded by J.J.Broughton, bought by J.J.Bradburn in the 1960s I would guess, and eventually bought in 1971 by Dave Whelan who kept the initials for his sports shop chain. Details can be found here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JJB_Sports
I was told the shop's founder J.J.Broughton was also a teacher at Wigan Grammar school but don't know if this is true.

John Bradburn, who bought the business from Broughton, was a master at WGS he taught English, Geography and sport.He was a County RU player also.

Did the initials J.J.stand for John Jarvis?

Thanks Orrellite, I obviously mixed up JJB with JJB.

It was John Bradburn who was a teacher at Wigan Grammar School in the 1950's. He bought JJ Broughton's in 1947 and left the "J" in place for commercial reasons (he had no middle name). Broughton coached cricket at the school and supplied sports goods. He lived at 33 Almond Brook Road in Standish, died in 1952 and is buried in Anfield Cemetary

John Bradburn was indeed a geography teacher at WGS ,in later years had the camping centre on the site of the old Abbey Lakes dance hall(still thereI think). He lived in Spencer Rd.There was a story that he fought in the Chindits in Burma in WW2 but I don't know if this is true.He did play RU for Lancashire..

My Father taught at the Grammar School with John Bradburn and remembers him buying the shop. My sister was at school with Jayne Whelan whose Father bought the business and my cousin worked with Dave in his leisure division for years,