Wigan Album

It's a mosque now, Cathy!
One Sunday a couple of years ago I was wandering up Clifton Street to have a look at the old place and was invited inside by one of the elders. It's changed quite a bit. They have installed washing facilities for use before prayer and have done quite a few "Mickey Mouse" alterations which certainly couldn't comply with building regs.
The chap was very friendly but I was sat down and given a lecture about Islam for about 1 hour and didn't get the chance to get a word in to say that I had to go.
I went in feeling quite nostalgic but came away feeling quite upset at how things had changed.

Wonder what my Uncle Joe would think???

By the way,when he was headmaster we always referred to it as St James Poolstock!

i went to that school, it was called St James's and was on Poolstock lane Worsley Mesnes, the other one at the side of st James's church was just called Poolstock school.

That would be Poolstock School, Tricia, not St James! St James school is in Worsley Mesnes.

Hi Trewith
No, it was definitely St James and we definitely called it Poolstock !!!! I am just saying that that is what we always called it. So did he!!!!

He was also choirmaster for a time at Highfield St Matthews .. and I have just seen your post under walking days!!! I never heard it called Worsley Mesnes before, although I do know where it is or was. I drove by there recently on a trip home. Thank you for these photos. They have very special memories for me.

Tricia, what was your uncle's name?

Joel (Joe) Magraw
Not wishing to cause offence or cause arguments Trewith, just reminiscing. Best wishes to you.

I remember Mr Magraw, Tricia. He was headmaster when I first started school. A veteran of the first world war I believe. Unfortunately he died not long after I started . His cortège passed by the school and the juniors at the time were allowed to stand by the road side to pay tribute. A fine man!

Trewith
Thank you for the kind comments. He died on 5 June 1958 and is buried at Highfield St Matthews. I do not know if you remember his daughter, Christine. Sadly she also passed away last year. I placed flowers on the grave recently on the trip home. When I was pre school age, my mother was very ill and Uncle Joe sometimes collected me and took me to school with him. He very often would buy shoes for poor children at the school and worked tirelessly for the British Legion, finding work for many ex servicemen. At this time of year Christine and I had to go round with trays selling poppies!!! Happy days

I wentto St James Worsley Mesnes and Mr Mc Graw was the headteacher and Mr Leigh one of the teachers. Mr Mc Graw used to ask me and my friend Ann Lucas to clean his car on a friday afternoon. Don't think that would happen these days but they were Happy Days!!

mr mcgraw was a real gent ,mr schofield the then school cartaker (who was a bit grumpy) caught me, brother david and derek melling playing in the school yard during school hols .he took us to your uncle who surprisingly was in during the hols,he ticked us off ,then seeing me scared gave me a nod to say it was'nt a hanging offence. i never knew he died ,funny the things you forget or never are told.he was replaced by mr cooke who i did,nt particularly like .thought mr leigh should have had the job.hope your well norman and i can see next time your up here .

I went to that school and I can't believe it's me on the picture lovely memories

That's me in the orange jumper Kim Cowpland. And Ann Middleton talking to me. Great pic.

I went to this school 1954 - 1961. It was called St James CE School , Worsley Mesnes. Main building was the juniors. Brick building on left was the infants. I still have all my school reports from here and book prizes I got for attendance which list name of school. Mr Leigh was the sports teacher and Gordon A Cooke was the headmaster.