Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 4th November, 2022)

I took a photo of this Rev last week and I noticed the marble urn from the top of the column was knocked off and lying on the floor.

Farrimond’s chippy, Friday night tea fish and chips, that was a take away.

It looks like a vehicle hit it. There's also sand on the road and pavement, so I would say that there was an accident involving vehicles. There is too much traffic going through Standish and at certain times of the day, it is not the place to be in a car or on a bicycle.
This is next to The Globe and certainly one of the important parts of Standish.
David, I also hope that it is tidied up quickly and ready for Remembrance Sunday.

Friday night tea fish and chips from Farrimond’s, best ever.

The empty former pharmacy has been an eyesore for years now, strange that such a building has not found another use

There was a van parked up that appeared to be doing some work to it on Wednesday. Hoping it's sorted in time

I saw 2 volunteers looking at the damage the other day, it's quite a mess. Hope nobody was hurt in the collision. Begs the question, how've they managed to hit that rail there ? It's not like it's on a bend like St Maries at the top of School Lane, which keeps getting damaged. Was Billy Booze involved ? Good picture Rev David.

Please tell me that this wasn't an act of vandalism .

hope they replace that urn at the top looks like that rocket wich went into space a few weeks ago and we all new what that looked like lol

Two cars involved apparently Dave, one ended up front end against the Cenotaph.

I worked in a chemists in Standish when I was 18-21. It stood just about where the photographer would have stood to take this photo. I used to have my dinner from Farrimond's chippy most days and, some years ago, a friend took me to Standish and I went in Farrimond's and it was exactly the same....it was like time had stood still! I used to catch the bus by the monument to go home, and the boarded- up building was the surgery of Dr. Marwick, Dr. MacFaul and Dr. Ormsby, who one told me that my name was a great name for Peace! I hope they manage to get things tidied up for Remembrance Day.

Irene, I remember that chemist's. I also remember, there was a newsagent's - it was just before you got to the chemist's (going towards Standish centre) and opposite to where the lamp is (photograph).
Wasn't there a hairdresser's also in that terrace block - possibly, next to the chemist's?
I also remember the boarded-up building being a pharmacy and the building (terraced house), which has the sign "Siam...", being a chippy.
Additionally, there was a grocer's shop further down from the chippy - close to Grove Lane - and, just on Grove Lane (round the corner from the grocer's shop), there was a greengrocer's, which, I am sure, had a large sign "FRUIT & VEG." over the window.

A lovely row of idyllic cottages. I bet the residents would have heard a loud bang! It’s a shame the old Pharmact/ Chemist is boarded up you would think it would have been snapped up for a house or shop.

The urn may be seen on the step to the right of the memorial. Fortunate that it didn't shatter.
The road was recently resurfaced... perhaps the new surface hasn't got the grip it should have....
I'm sending a pic of the memorial from 1920, with the Committee which oversaw its installation.

According to the MEN it was a black Audi that was driven into it at 12.15pm on Sunday - https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/audi-ploughs-war-memorial-greater-25392026

Ian, It is approx. 50 years since I worked in that chemists but I can remember the newsagent's shop, and the hairdressers next door to the chemists, Farrimond's chippy, the little grocer's, (Annie's), close to Grove Lane, and the grocer's shop IN Grove Lane, which was Tom Robinson's. I remember the old-fashioned police station just past the chemists, The White Duck Pub, which I think is now called "Fifteens", and Stretton's wallpaper shop. I also recall a little music shop that sold LP records, (long before CDs!), which stood back from the road and was presided over by a rather serious gentleman, and a fancy goods shop where I bought a vase for my "bottom drawer" in 1973, and which I still have. There was also a dress shop. (Barbara's of Standish). I also remember many of the regular customers and where they lived, and if we hadn't got enough of their tablets in stock, I used to run round the village delivering what we owed them....no wonder I was under 8 stones in those days on the "penny" scales that stood outside the chemist door! My apologies to all for going off the subject but photo-a-day is much more than a "daily photo"....it is a chance for us all to have a little chat and share the memories that so many "photo-a-day" offerings invariably bring back.

Dr Marwick was my family doctor. There were two newsagents in the village Ian Marsdens was opposite the War Memorial and the other was Wildings at the traffic lights. The grocer was just as you turned left into Grove Lane can’t for the life of me remember his name but he used to sell boiled ham on the bone which he used to slice off as and when required. (I think it was Tom something).

Brain matter kicked in I’m almost sure it was Tom Robinson.

The newsagent's was Dagnall's . The fruit shop was Barbara Jones' .
I don't recall the boarded up building being the surgery . I think that was next door to the left in a house called Rodenhurst , which is now the dentist's and originally the private residence of Dr Marwick .
That old chemist building was a labour exchange/ signing on office in the 70s .
Thanks for that comforting news Roy .

The other shop at the top of The Grove was Tom Robinson's .

The shops below Farrimonds would have been Annie Parks on the High Street and Tom Robinsons and Barbaras grocery shop at the top of Grove Lane

Rev I was looking at the unbroken urn and wondered if it had landed on the grass and didn't get smashed, or maybe it was still on top but in a dangerous position so the got a cherry picker to lift it down.
New road surfaces don't cause cars to skid, its speed that does that.
I used to go to school with Dr Marwicks son, recently a friend of mine was in a hospital in Birmingham and Dr Marwicks grandson was the anesthetist.
I used to be a professional Pudding Chips and Gravy eater which I bought From Farrimonds chippy.

Irene , funny how we remember our old doctors . I had a doctor named Dr Dowling, think it was Ormskirk road or Pem. He was a diamond for giving you two weeks off school , and a tonic , sugar and water to right you up . God bless im. Such a warm chap

I remember passing that cenotaph regularly heading for Lils cafe about 1 mile further on straight through lights after visiting Lewis’s coffee bar at Hindley on my triumph motor bike 1964 onwards great times it doesn’t seem to have changed much at all.

Now that brings back memories of the 50's & 60's as this was the bus stop for the Wigan/Abbey Lakes bus into town. No shelter from the weather.
The surgery behind was our family doctors-Dr. Marwick, Dr Shaw and at times Dr. Ormsby. (He also had a practice near to the traffic lights if memory serves me right in the 1950's) The newsagent opposite Annie Parks shop was owned by Maggie & Lucy Marsden who bought the bungalow next to ours in Moss Grove later. Can you remember when they closed for the 1st week of Wigan Wakes and the papers were sold from outside the shop on the pavement. The chemist we used was the one on High Street just down from the Police Station as there was no pharmacy attached to the surgery then.

Linma, in the 1950s there was a third newsagents on Preston Road near Moores Lane (forgotten their name)

Marky - Dr Dowling was my doctor too. A real Irish gentleman, who often went the extra mile for his patients. He had a practice on Ormskirk Road - the other doctors were Dr Wainwright and Dr Haigh.

John , there was Heywood's News near Moore's Lane . Also Billy Wood's on the corner of High Street and Market Street .

Dr Ormsby was ' Doctor Bob' to all Standishers . As a kid , it was almost a pleasure to be taken to the surgery ( which was then on the corner of School Lane / Spar ) to be prescribed " plenty of ice cream and lemonade " for my sore throat . This was his family home before becoming the surgery ( prior to Dr Marwick' s house in Church Street)
The current Spar car park was Dr Bob's back garden , hidden behind a stone wall that ran up School Lane to where the old train line crossed the road .

Poet, that's it - Heywoods. And Billy Woods, also known as Wildings, must have been the most basic shop interior I've ever seen.

Can’t imagine doctors of today being called by their first names as it’s impossible to get to ‘know’ them in the same way. Where I live they were Dr Jim,Dr Cyril and their father before them was Dr Leo real family doctors. The present surgery is still known as the Unsworth Practice even though they are all dead and gone. I hardly know any of the doctors, these days. ( might be a good thing though!)

Although I worked in Standish, I lived in Ince. Our doctors were Dr. Hyde, his daughter who was known as Dr. Marie, (pronounced "Marry"), and Dr.Sczesniak, (pronounced "Chez-nee-ack". I know how it was spelt because at about eight years old I sat on the surgery wall and memorised it off the name-plate! It was 62 years ago and I can still remember it! Now, at our surgery in Platt Bridge, we just have a succession of locum doctors, They don't know us and we don't know them.

The shops below Farrimonds would have been Annie Parks on the High Street and Tom Robinsons and Barbaras grocery shop at the top of Grove Lane

Anyone remember the little shop in Heaton St, opposite the car park, just off Grove Lane, Mabel’s ?

Indeed he was Pat . My mam loved him.

WN1 Standisher, I remember Heaton Street and a particular customer of ours at the chemists who lived there. I have never forgotten her even after 50 years. She would probably only have been in her thirties, if that, and her life , looking back, was so sad. I was only a young girl but some things never leave you. However, I don't recall the little shop you mention.

Barrie I can still see papers for sale on the pavement in Wakes week outside Marsden’s shop.

Anyone remember the little shop in Heaton St, opposite the car park, just off Grove Lane, Mabel’s ?

I remember Jim and Cyril Unsworth from top of Leigh rd and pharmacy was across rd but like they say nothing stays the same,what with the Old Hall and doctors Veronica our paths must have crossed many times,Westhoughton casino was a popular club but if you wanted to spread your wings a bit the Queens at Cleveleys was fantastic with Brian Rossy as compare Etc and another popular haunt of ours was the Moorgate at Aspull when Trevor and Anne run it I used to spend a lot off time talking to Trevor’s dad that lived in Blackrod he was a decent chap ……happy days

John the first pub I went in around 1965 was the Wheatsheaf. ( I was asked if I was 18 ? I was all of 19 and quite indignant to be asked.) which was next door to the casino. It was the first time I’d ever been to Westhoughton and I’ve lived here 54years now and still think of Wigan as my true home.
I remember the Wheatsheaf made up of quaint small rooms before it was modernised. We did get around though as my future husband used to borrow his dad’s car. The Garrick at Leigh, The Banner at Hindley, The Old Hall at Lower Ince the Beehive at Horwich the list is endless… even the Hare and Hounds at Aspull ! You’re right about the surgery at the top of Leigh Rd as well..when you think of the new one on Park Rd ( run by the receptionists! ) It’s like a cottage hospital…but the doctors work from home …. Well most of them I believe. I liked Dr Brown in later years and Dr Peacock.

Coincidentally Veronica Dr Brown was my choice for my HGV license medical every 5 years I think he did a Blackrod practice to and he also smoked ????last time I saw him was 2007 as I retired 2012. Me and my wife frequented all the pubs you mentioned I also enjoyed the Castaways at Hindley after a couple in the Nelson across road we enjoy riding ebikes now.Where has time gone it’s amazing but no doubt we have some great memories ??

Yes the Blackrod practice was combined. I think that is where the Unsworth’s family home was. Dr Brown was very overweigh5 at one time as well. As you say John there was plenty places to go in the sixties and seventies. Not like now…

What happened to the large tree by the monument? Look at -Album Assorted-Standish Carnival #29260. August 1981 and you can see it in the background. It was large then so was it cut down and a new one planted in its place?
Linda, I can't remember who stood at the table selling them during that week but from memory an oldish fellow. Father always sent me for the papers that week as no delivery.

There was another shop halfway up Church Street opposite to what is now Potters . Annie Gray's I think .
Billy Wood's shop was dark and dingy but had a glorious smell of newspapers and tobacco. Magazines and comics hanging on string like lines of washing .

I remember the little shop in Church Street opposite the Legion, although I don't ever remember going in there. Being an Ashfield Parker Poet, you'd have had a season ticket for Birketts at the bottom of Grove Lane :)

Yes , Birkett's sold the most delicious Banana ice lollies . In the same league as Frank Taylor's Vimto ones . When you think about it , there was a plethora of these little shops all over the the place .
Margaret Atherton's and Buckley's on Preston Rd were two others where I spent most my pocket money .
I used to run errands to Margaret's for my Dad's pipe tobacco. Imagine that happening today .