Wigan Album

Can anyone tell me what Elma Green is doing these days??

Did the owner of Wigan Printing Company have a son called Brian?

Whatever happened to Barbara?

Was The Wigan Printing Co owned by the Ostick family?

The Ostick's had two sons, one was called Geof if i remember correctly.

In answer to your question Evelyn -Elma and her husband Harry are alive and well as far as i know and live near to the Brocket Arms in Wigan
Your question Harry --no, but the owner of Starrs printers of Wigan had 2 sons Colin and Brian.
Your question Jarvo--don`t know what happened to Barbara ( Topping was her maiden name )
Your question Roy --yes Wigan Printing was owned by the Ostick family until 1985
Your question Trewyth--Jack Ostick died in the 1960s and Bert Ostick died in the early 1970s he had 2 sons David and Geoffrey both deceased

HT FERGUSON, many thanks for the update on Elma.I have relatives who live near the Brocket so I can ask if they know Elma and her husband and who knows I may be surprised
one day and meet up with her.

Thanks Haydn,went to school with David,didn't realise he had passed away.

I remember starting Wigan Printing at 15ish at easter 1965. I remember almost every one in old building in Chapel Lane 3 storey building opposite Wigan baths. Dorothy, Valerie, Susan, Glenys and Margaret and Haydn anyone remember me? also
Marlene who may have left to have her 1st baby (Christopher)
I remember Harry, John Lennard and all the Printers, not enough space here. I could probably write a book about my happy memories of WPC wher I did my apprenticeship before marrying and moving to Birmingham in 1971

If anyone is interested in any of the printers between 1965 and 1971 feel free to e-mail me and have chat. Sorry but at my age (60) I cannot handle facebook

I remember when Jack Ostick died,his brother Bert told the staff to go to a certain garage in Wigan Lane and put petrol in all cars who went to funeral in Southport and he paid for the lot. The whitsun works outings were to be remembered as well. What generous bosses they were. Happy days

Derek; Did a Freddy Howarth work there with You, he later moved to a job in Bristol. Couldn't contact You, not got Your email address. Peter

Hya Peter. Langton Avenue seems a very long time ago. I did work for Wigan Printing Company as you say in the late 50's early 60's, not in the main printing works but across the road in the screen printing/poster production building which the company took over from a Don Croome from Southport. Later I worked for Reeds Paper Group. The boss of the screen printing section, whose name I forget, was from Hindley and had a daughter named Hazel. I left the North in 1964.

hi jarvo...barbara went to live in australia in 1981..and im still here. the weather is great

Said hello to Elma on Tuesday getting in the lift in B.H.S.in Wigan

To all who worked at Wigan Printing here is my e-mail address. I worked as an apprentice between Easter 1965 and May 1971. Anyone want a chat, feel free, dccally@hotmail.co.uk

Freddie Howarth. I'm afraid Freddy you were before my time as I only started at Easter 1965. In fact the screen printing dept had been moved upstairs to the top floor when I was there it was run by John Lennard. whose little helper was a lad named Terry who came from Bryn (I think)

i remember dorothy bithell.i worked there 1960/s-1970/s.my name is brian hughes,and worked with fred risdale in screen printing(his daughter hazel)great days with them all sincerely.

doyou remember norma in reception,who was courting with keith holden,who played for leigh rugby league

Worked at Wigan Printing September 1987 to April 1990. My first job, worked as a young Graphic Designer working on the new Apple Macs! Worked my first week in the Binding Section with Haydn, John, Roy and Val. Happy memories working here!

Well! what fabulous contribution from everyone who worked there, like myself all have good memories.
I started work on the top floor, Poster Writing and Silk Screen Printing a couple of days after my 15th Birthday 17th April 1963. Summer Holiday was on the Ritz!
Fred Ridsdale was in charge of Screen Printing and John Lennard Poster Writing. Although Jack and Bert Ostick owned the company there was an elderly gentleman there, Mr Lee who used to hand write all the time tables for British Railways, I think he might have once owned the company but sold up and was retained. Although he reminded me of Boris Karloff I was tasked to assist (No wonder all the time tables were wrong!) He liked Kippers. I recall that first summer going to the Isle Of Mann and sending him Kippers through the post, he was pleased with the gesture but had been away on holiday himself for two weeks and was not too happy with the smell behind the door when he got back. He retired not soon after!!!
Along with Fred was his daughter Hazel who did the stencil cutting, she was great fun married to Ian Briscoe and had a son Carl and then later Neil.
At first we were a small team Susan Spencer, Marina Walder (father Harry Walder the famous Wigan artist) and then John Lennard's team, Jack Griffiths, David Mottler and Malcom Carey from Bolton.
We all worked and socialised together, very often all of us going to the pictures, all scared to death when we saw The Thing at the Princess cinema. Hazel gave a wonderful 21st birthday party at her home, and Fred invited us all for a Christmas party at his home, huge Christmas tree.
As others have stated the Ostick's were great employers, in the early days there was what was known as Tradesman's Holiday around 16th June, a coach trip would be provided free of charge and as we boarded the coach in Douglas Street we would all be given an extra pay packet, first trip I recall was Lake District then Morecombe. Second year Blackpool with Uncle Tom's Cabin in the evening, think Roy Orbison singing Pretty Woman was on the radio and I got bad sunburn at Blackpool open air pool!
Derek mentioned Terry, he was a lovely lad, would not harm a fly and always obliging, his surname was Kelly and lived between Bryn and Ashton, had a bad accident when he fell down the stairs at Chapel Lane, the place was a death trap, but we loved it.
Haydn, sorry to leave you till last, of course I remember you like yesterday along with Margaret. and your colleagues at the time on the Middle Floor, Harry Cunliffe and little Jimmy on the Guillotine, hope he retired with all fingers! no safety guards in those days.
I remember all the girl, Dorothy was classy and sort of the queen bee but lovely, Valery was my first date, we went to the Court Cinema. Did see her and her hubby John from time to time in the late 1970's but lost touch. Marlene is not on the picture, think she married Jimmy Mitcheson. One of Caxton's kids from the ground floor (Sorry Jimmy).
I'm now 75 and in good health, hope all you good people are the same, but forgive me as I know many are no long with us? Best regards to all Colin.

Ps to my previous contribution, On the Printing works side on the ground floor I remember Eddy Occleshaw, I think he died in his twenties. Gordon Collier, tall lad with red hair and an ardent Latics fan and of course Jackie Lomax.
After the new build extension to the side had been built apart from Reg in Book Binding there was Jean Liptrot and in the office Susan Gaskill who married David Butler who worked at Santus's, Saw Susan a few year back they had a Newsagents near Whitley, Think its now Banks's Funeral Parlour, David sadly has now passed away.

Sorry not to see any further comments from anyone.

With so many views and comments I am surprised no one, apart from myself has visited this site for many years. I trust everyone is still okay?

I knew Eddie Occleshaw he was the brother of my mate Bob Occleshaw. I also knew Gordon from the Latics and his wife who worked at John Englands. Also it transpired in talking to her. She had lived a couple of houses from me when I lived in Spring Street. I think Gordon died a few years ago

Thanks Ron for the update, knowing I was only 15 in 1963 and many where older than myself - not the girls I might add - perhaps very many are no longer with us.