Wigan Album

These are brilliant photos of old Wigan Stuart,I know it's nostalgia talking but wouldn't it be lovely to go back as it was.

Absolutely fantastic photo, it captures evrything. Yes Maureen you're right, it would be great to go back to those days...great.

Look at the bobby directing traffic..the good old days...

Mmm... going back to the way it was.... I drove a Thames Trader truck like the one behind the Standard to the left of the bus down to South Wales on the M6 - M5. When I stopped for a break on a service station after a couple of hours, I stepped down from the cab - and fell over. The noise from the engine which was beside me in the cab was so horrendous that it affected my balance.

Rev Long, The Thames Trader was only designed for short local work, going to South Wales in one ...well you deserve a medal. As you rightly say, the engine was almost in the cab, just a thin steel bonnet to try and keep the noise down, and like most lorries hard to drive as well. You was literally in the slow lane.

Even more so on the way back up - I'd gone down to Cardiff to recover a broken-down coach, and the Trader was the tow-wagon. Fortunately the two drivers were able to swap between the noisy tow-truck and the silent bus on the return journey.

I remember getting a bus here to go to the Girl's High school Playing field on the way to Standish. I think it was called Ashfield.We had an afternoon a week up there throughout the schoo; year, with hockey in winter and tennis in summer. I was no good at either!

Many's the time I've waited in this spot for a bus to take me up to my grandparents house in St Clements Road.

Magic! Its strange but a few days ago, I actually had a dream where I was standing across the road looking at a bus at that stop. I then ran toward Library Steet to catch the 3D to Ince! Even in my dream I managed to miss the bus! Very elusive was the 3D...

Oh, those underground toilets again! We're not going to be allowed to forget them, are we? And a good thing too, I say!

I spent 7 years standing at this bus stop on my way home to Pepper Lane from H.A.G.S. The number 5 went up to "Graham Farm" terminus and the 5A went to Pepper Lane end and turned round on Preston Road. Great photo Stuart. Memories....

What a long way to travel to HAGS, Ivor! I travelled there from Ince, and that was far enough! Any reason why you went so far to school?

Hi Irene. Yes it was four bus rides every day! Having been to St. Michael's Junior School previously, travel didn't bother me. Also I didn't fancy Chorley Grammar so I followed a friend from Pepper Lane, who had gone to H.A.G.S the previous year. My choice was limited because if I remember rightly,there were some restrictions and I wasn't "in the area" to go to Wigan Grammar(?)I think this changed a few years later.

Ivor....7 years seems a long time to wait for a bus.....did you sleep in a cardboard box ?

If I had but a shilling for the times I caught that bus home to Standish.