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Missing.

Started by: xxstuartxx (5799)

Does anyone recall the incident of the lad that went missing, not sure if he was ever found?
It was around 1973/74, he came from the Carr Lane, Marus Bridge area and I think his surname name was Burney/Birney.

Started: 17th May 2007 at 20:25

Posted by: howdoo (91)

yes they found him but he had died,his name was brian mcburney they found him somewhere around prestt grove area it was when they were building the houses i,m pretty sure he was living rough but he did live local

Replied: 17th May 2007 at 20:43

Posted by: xxstuartxx (5799)

Thanks, that name definitely rings a bell.
I wasn't certain whether he was found.
I think it was around the time another lad fell down a mine shaft on the Worsley Mesnes Estate.

Replied: 17th May 2007 at 20:48

Posted by: jono1568 (413)

I remember my gran telling me about that lad who fell down the well. It used to scare the living daylights out of me each time she reminded me of it.

Can you remember when that was ?

Replied: 17th May 2007 at 22:10

Posted by: xxstuartxx (5799)

Early 70's.

Replied: 17th May 2007 at 22:13

Posted by: howdoo (91)

i think it was june 1970 the lads name was john conway, him and two mates were bird-nesting over a pit shaft at the back of where st clements court is now on worsley mesnes drive.the family used to live on walpole ave but then they moved to scholes area. john was a mate of mine.

Replied: 18th May 2007 at 08:14

Posted by: howdoo (91)

just been talking with my mate he says june/july 1972 when the accident happened he says he is definite about the year because it was just before the summerland fire in the isle of man, and he was a leeds fan them days and they won the f.a cup in 72,,,there is a memorial stone placed there, just been down but it is all overgrown

Replied: 18th May 2007 at 12:16

Posted by: wiganyankeeron (inactive)

Just received this e.mail:-
I write in response to reading the above posting, which appeared in 2007. My apologies for commenting so late.
"The boy's name was Stephen James McBurney. He died of hypothermia after sleeping rough one night. He was aged 15. We were sea cadets together. He was a great pal. He will always be sadly missed.


Please feel free to edit and use as you please.

Kind regards

John Paul Morgan..

Replied: 13th Mar 2010 at 19:59
Last edited by wiganyankeeron: 24th Nov 2013 at 14:43:39

Posted by: elizabeth (5439) 

What a sas story R I P dear lad

Replied: 27th Mar 2010 at 16:38

Posted by: leyland (27) 

With regard to John Conway, the poor little lad who fell down the mine, the year was right, it seems to be the 31st of May, but the search went on until the end of the next day.

I have just found the story in the Wigan Observer and an Evening Post at the History Shop. My cousin worked with his mum and even though I was only one when this happened, I was told the story as a toddler, then years later was playing over there, I'd forgotten all about it, and stumbled upon John's memorial plaque by accident. I always think of him when I'm passing.

Now I'm doing research on this and two other deaths that moved me greatly as a child for a short film script, I'm aware there are still friends and relatives living. The film is about the realization of my own mortality, but I'd also like to dedicate it to the people who died and whose stories have moved many Wigan people.

Replied: 20th Nov 2012 at 18:20

Posted by: bentlegs (5295)

The shafts men from Parkside Colliery were sent to try & recover his body but there was too mutch water in the shaft, Tonker may have something to add because i think his dad was one of the shaftmen,

Replied: 20th Nov 2012 at 20:43

Posted by: doodle (59)

The lad McBierney was found at the back of Rosley Road i think.There was no houses being built in Prestt Grove at that time.

Replied: 21st Nov 2012 at 02:25

Posted by: JP1943 (276)

I can confirm that sadly John Conway did fall into the mine shaft in 1970 I lived in Blake Close at the time and my flat was overlooking the site I knew his parents very well his Dad came from Scholes as my family did

Replied: 21st Nov 2012 at 13:39

Posted by: veg grower (inactive)

Shed a tear reading this thread about two boys who died too young. R.I.P.

Replied: 23rd Nov 2012 at 05:55

Posted by: joan beckett-wilding (237)

John Conway fell down that mine shaft in June 1971, I know because I was pregnant at the time and my daughter was born 30th July 1971, It was very tragic for the Conway family.

Replied: 24th Nov 2012 at 23:12

Posted by: freda (307)

I may be giving my age away, but does anyone remember reading about Sheila Fox aged 6, who went missing in 1944. It made such an impact on my young mind that I worried about her for years. I don't think she was ever found.
OK. I know she wasn't from Wigan. She was from Bolton, But news like this was unheard of in those days.

Replied: 25th Nov 2012 at 09:54

Posted by: chief57 (66) 

I was a friend of the boy who was with John Conway when he fell down the shaft he told me they were trying to get to a kestrel's nest Bernie McMahon who also died too young.

Replied: 29th Jan 2013 at 22:13

Posted by: nutty tart (477) 

I think Bernie McMahon was a good friend of my brothers. Did he die in London? Covent garden?

Replied: 8th Feb 2013 at 19:17

Posted by: watchalot (982)

MY BROTHER WAS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE SEARCH ON THAT DAY HE WAS THE OFFICER AT BOOTHSTOWN MINES RESCUE STATION HE WOULD NEVER TALK ABOUT IT

Replied: 11th Apr 2013 at 19:27

Posted by: kathpressey (5590) 

John Conway - what a dreadful way to die. it must be dreadful for his family even now.
joan becket-wilding. i was pregnant then too. my first son was born on the 22nd July

Replied: 12th Apr 2013 at 08:46

Posted by: dee61 (2)

(Comment removed because it broke the rules)

Replied: 26th Sep 2013 at 19:02

Posted by: stevejmac14 (634) 

Sad stories for sure. I remember the incident with John Conway, if it was '72 it was the year I left St Jude's junior school as I started at Tommy More in '73. John's younger brother, Andrew, was in my year and so was Jean Conway, who also tragically passed away some time ago.I think one of the lads with John when he fell was Stephen Rowe. He wasn't himself for a long time after he returned to school after the accident. I moved to Worsley Mesnes in '69 and was there for about 26 years and I remember the rescue attempt albeit only what was in the paper, seems a lifetime ago now.

Replied: 26th Sep 2013 at 19:57

Posted by: brocklanders (696) 

My Grandad watched the rescue attempt of John from his then flat in Elliot Drive, directly overlooking the site. I have tried to find his memorial a few times over the years, never seen it.

A very tragic story that still sticks in the minds of locals around at the time.

Replied: 6th Oct 2013 at 19:57

Posted by: chief57 (66) 

That's right nutty tart good memory you have.

Replied: 13th Oct 2013 at 15:54

Posted by: traceyann (1)

John fell down the shaft on 31st May 1972. I was 3 weeks old at the time. John was my uncle.

Replied: 9th Dec 2013 at 11:23

Posted by: GOLDEN BEAR (6555) 

I AM VERY SORRY AND APOLOGISE FOR BRINGING THIS VERY SAD OCCASION UP, BUT I LIVED IN WALPOLE No11 JOHN AND THE CONWAYS LIVED ABOUT8 DOORS UP FROM US ON THE SAME SIDE IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY TO ME NOW IM 68YRS AS I SAY I WAS WANTING THE DATES FOR THE STORY I AM COMPILING OF MY TIME IN WALPOLE AVE,AND WORSLEY MESNES ,SO I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.GOD BLESS YOU JOHN X

Replied: 26th Oct 2015 at 15:01

Posted by: cass276 (1)

If it's the same lad Steve who was found dead on a building site due to hypothermia (and I think it is)
I used to work with him at Thompsons Wholesale Grocers in Poolstock.
He used to be a "Drivers Mate" like me.
Something had happened at work and I think he had been sacked
A sad story, as I remember.

Replied: 11th Aug 2016 at 09:47

Posted by: MadMc1 (4)

Dear all,
Ref to Stephen McBurney. Stephen was my brother (I'm Brian) and still living in Wigan. It's now been 50 years and the actual date of his death will never be known but was estimated as late November 1971. He was found in February 1972 by someone from the Young family between the window frames in the builders compound. He is buried in Allerton cemetery with his grandad and I often visit. RIP Stephen. I'm currently compiling a family tree I can't really remember much about him so if anyone has any stories / memories feel free to message me brian.mcburney@hotmail.co.uk. Regards Brian

Replied: 11th Dec 2021 at 14:25

 

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