Wigan Album

2nd from left stood up Fred Coburn 3rd Eric Claton 4th Ronnie Capstick 6th George Fairclough

I think standing 3rd from left is Eric Clayton

i think the third person from the right,middle row,is derek gibson who worked at spings branch,and lived round the corner from me in lower ince.

6th from left is my late Uncle George Fairclough

Your right geof that is me. How you doing.

Back row extreme right,my father-in-law Arthur Gibbons

Standing - first from left Springs Branch fitter Arthur Howarth, third from left Springs Branch driver Eric Clayton, fifth from the left Springs Branch fitter Derek Gibson, sixth from the left Springs Branch electrification training instructor Arthur Hubbard. Sitting, third from the left Tommy Culshaw, second from the left Dr. Zammon. In those wonderful far off days when it was still a proper railway, the railway voluntary first aid movement (which this picture depicts) was a movement of some considerable size and professionalism. Regular classes were held at most railway locations and yearly inter-departmental competitions were held which were participated in with great enthusiasm and pride. The anuual first aid classes were structured such that a minimum number of hours of theory and practical training had to be received - in one's own time I might add - to qualify for the entry to the examination. I am not likely to forget Dr. Zammon as he gave me quite a grilling on the structure of the skeleton when I attended my first first aid training sessions, all in the best possible taste of course. As a consequence of his zealousness, over twenty years later I can still identify most of the bones which are relevent to a first aider. In those days Wigan's first aid class met in the offices above Wigan Wallgate station before moving to Springs Branch depot itself probably in the late eighties or early nineties. After privatisation reared it's exceedingly ugly head in 1994 onwards, it became ever harder to find a venue for the meetings, or railway management who would give due credence to the value of the railway first aid movement. In my time alone, we dwelt at Springs Branch depot itself, Wigan Wallgate station offices, Wigan Nor West down platform buildings, Platt Bridge scout hut and the electrification training school at the depot. After we were booted out of the main depot when it closed in 1997, the training school relocated into the old train crew building at The Branch, which is another location we used. The original training classroom at The Branch located in the main T.M.D. (Traction maint. depot) building was often used for the examinations, as it's two classrooms gave ample size for the numbers involved. At that time there would have been upwards of twenty staff attending for theory and practical training, across all grades; sadly towards the end there were only about four of us left, but I understand that we were still the last railway first aid class to fold in the St' Helens/Wigan area! Good old times indeed.

Oops sorry my mistake Artthur Hubbard is sixth from the right not left and Gibbo is fifth from the right and not left, apologies for any confusion.

The chap standing 5th from the left is my late uncle Tommy Kindred!

The person sitting third from left on front row was Tom Culshaw who worked in the Booking office at North west station,But before all these was the Founder who was a knight of St John of Jerusalem Dickie Banks he was the Wheel tapper at North west I joined through Dickie, I was a Letter sorter at same 14 years old Mr Speakman was Station Master,Little Arthur Smith was one of three Inspectors this was in 1942

As David Taylor says we met in the offices over the L&Y Station in 1942 I still have my St John/s Aid to the injured book published in 1939 cost me two shillings it has a Skeleton form that unfolds in the front of the book displaying every bone in the body in those days when you passed you was given a Silver Badge to display on your uniform as I said in my other writing Dickie Banks only a small chap about 5ft 6 inches but a excellent First Aider I was told by a recent St Johns Ambulancer that the Book I have is quite a prize asset and worth a bit to a collector

Before the days of this photo, my Dad was a St. John's ambulance man. I was sitting with him on Wigan central Station once when a railwayman came up & began to make a fuss of him. he then turned to me & said "Your Dad saved my life".

I agree with every thing you say Dave. These people who call themselves railwaymen today will never be railwaymen. The management of today dont have the right attitude to get the best out of there work force.

Eighth from left back row Ronnie Bentley, former signalman and relief signalman Wigan N.W, retiring as Station Inspector Wigan North Western Station.