Wigan Album

There was an Ashton-in-Makerfield Festival held every year in the old Ashton Baths in Morden Avenue. Most schools in the area entered musical ensembles of some description. St Oswald's Roman Catholic Primary School in Liverpool Road Ashton had a band under the auspices of Sister Enda. She chose the band and allocated which instrument each child would play. Cymbals, Drums (boys only here), Triangles and Dulcimers where the order of the day. It was well noted the cleverest was always the conductor. Mary Quinn remembers everything was played from memory - practices were each lunchtime until the band was note perfect... The dress code was white shirts and maroon gymslips the girls and white shirts and black short pants for the boys.

Conductor: Marianne Higgins (Deceased)

All rows left to right:-

Front Row: Kenneth Draper, Brian Roddican (Deceased), Patricia McHugh, Mary Quinn, Sheelagh Flynn, Margaret Lloyd, Sheila Gaynard, Ruth Tuohy, Anne Rouke, Kathleen McHugh, Marie Woods, Angela Chisnall

Second Row: -----------, -----------, Ivan O'Brien, Margaret Bruder, Frank Bullough, Mary Giblin, Leslie Merricks, Jean Pimblett, Brian Harrison, Helen Owens, Paul Southworth, Sheila Morley, Anthony nulty?, Patricia Quinn, -------------- Anthony Walker (Deceased), Michael Hayes

Third Row: Joseph Maloney, David Turner, Tony Haslam, Philip Gaynard, Colin Lodge, Harry Dixon, Michael Kelly, David Cahill, William Fairhurst, Joseph Eatough, James Bligh, Billy Sudworth, Damien Flynn, Anne Carney, Mary Entwistle? Brenda Barton, Winifred Myler

Names were researched by Mary Smith (nee Quinn), Sheelagh Garner (nee Flynn) and Tony Haslam. As far as we are aware the names reflect a true likeness of the persons on the photographs. We apologise for any which are incorrectly identified/spelt. If you have any comments or suggestions please contact Tony Haslam 01942 201571 or e-mail tony_haslam [at] blueyonder.co.uk