Wigan Album

I stood on this very platform, when I bid my farewells to friends and family, to journey to Heathrow and then on to Australia in May 1966.
I've lived here in Australa ever since.
I don't want to think of Wigan now, as it has become.
My Wigan is a different place, than it seems to be now,
people can criticize me for my perspective. I left because I genuinely believed that there was a better way to live and with the benefit of hindsight, "I was right"
But all of this, in no way diminishes my love for my home town. My memories of Wigan are frozen in time, sort of "a time capsule" and for all the money in the world, I wouldn't have it any other way. Take care all you Wiganers.

To be honest Syd I think if you stood on this very platform you would have been going to Heathrow via Glasgow?

Dave, I have absolutely no doubt that you are right,I left from a platform on Wigan North Western 44 years ago, I was 16 years old, I know that I should be able to appreciate the difference between north and south after all these years, especially from this single photograph? The simple fact is I got here anyway, I hope that at least, you will concede that! Take care of yourself.

Wigan's never been a better place, and neither has the UK! Many ex-pats who return to the "Motherland" end up staying!
It's a fact, Wigan in the 21st century is a great place to live.

i have to disagree with you paul the wigan of 2012 is a dump but that does take away the fact i am proud to be a wiganer but in all honesty i wish i had been brave enough when i was his age i would love to have gone to oz or nzealand