Just heard the sad news that Fred passed way last night. What Fred didn't know about Mining and Pemberton wasn't worth knowing. He wrote a book about growing up in Pemberton centered around the Billinge Road area. Its on the site somewhere? If you get time (and we all have plenty of that) read it. I printed it off as its easier to read. BRILLIANT nostalgia
A nicer man you couldn't wish to meet. He was a Stalwart of Highfield church, and up to a few years ago Fred and his wife, made Marmalade with various flavours. His whisky Marmalade was something he could easily have marketed. Giving all the proceeds to the church.
Condolences to Fred's friends and family from everyone associated with wiganworld

He was a good man

Condolences to his family.

R.I.P Fred.

He was indeed a lovely man R.I.P. Fred.

Childhood Memories by Fred Foster - Click here
Fred's recollections from 1931 to 1950

Hey thanks Joanne I would recommend people read it.As I said I printed it off I don't know if the library have a copy but when everything is back to normal I'll take a copy down for them to put in their archives.

I was at Parkside in the early 60s,Fred was there at the same time,but I was not on the same shift as Fred so never met him,but I knew about him,and he was a popular chap,RIP Fred.

Sad to hear that nice chap as everyone that knew him will tell you, I meet Fred in 1955 at Park Colliery on Liverpool road he also wrote a book about is working life a that pit naming people like it was only yesterday,this is also a good read specially for people that worked there, R.I.P. Fred nice to have known

May Fred RIP. Read his pages which where on WW.

Rest in peace, Mr. Foster.

RIP Fred, A better friend you could not find,Worked with Fred At Park Colliery.

This is a photo of the shaft Fred worked at after leaving school, many will not remember this pit in Liverpool Road --Fred foster--

I had a mate called Harold Foster RIP who died young.
Could he be any relation?

I know his lad, Jeff Foster. He was an electrician at Parkside. Fred finished his Parkside years working in the stores.

he could have worked with my dad & his brothers then dougie .

I wouldn't think so he worked on the yard mine but he could've done at Parkside I don't know

Rest in peace Fred. You will be well remembered.

R.I.P Fred.

Fred and his Mrs made lovely strawberry jam.

We used to take the 'empties' back...

Sad day.

Fred and I exchanged emails, and generous man that he was, he gave me permission to reprint some of his work - credited, of course - in one of my books. I am sure that other expats have relished his lucid and evocative prose in the pages on this site.

When Fred wrote, you were there, in that place, with him; people around the world have enjoyed his company. Thank you Fred. He will be sorely missed.

all my dads brothers worked at "stones" until it shut dougie.

Our uncle John worked at Landgate Colliery they also had two Walker down pits, one across the road at high-brook the other at Moore-lane on the left just before going down brow to DG so John worked at all three till they closed, he then got offered Parkside one of his brothers got offered Golborne they changed round so John went to Golborne for a spell before working on the M6, was it your Dad that went to Parkside

Myself my brother & my dad are in Freds book about Stone,s colliery ( PARK COLLIERY).

Yes and us that work in the yard mine could read/understand everything he was writing about as if it was yesterday

Tumtingle, Enjoyed my time in the yardmine . pity it had to shut,

no dougie but he worked at those pits too .

Yes so did I,for people that didn't know Fred in the 60s like we did he was as fit as a butchers dog and a body to match, in his 20s he biked to work everyday in shorts and te-shirt rain or shine made no difference to Fred, it must have killed him after a days work down pit even if he had moved on to shot-firing by then, looking back he would put a few bricks of roming by the second fireman's cabin at the bottom of the first brow to put on the haulage for him as we were passing, Fred always worked the way he should

I worked with Fred at Parkside in 1970's,a great character.R.I.P. mate.

I worked with Fred at Parkside in 1970's,a great character.R.I.P. mate.