Wigan Album

Joan's father was my great Uncle Edward (Ned).I was quite young when he died so remember very little about him apart from the fact that he went very deaf in his old age. The only hearing aid available to him, in those days, was an old fashioned ear trumpet. The alternative was to shout directly into his ear. Do you remember anything about Uncle Ned?
I do know that Joan's brother was Stanley.

Hello Jean, I do remember Gt Uncle Ned and know he was an avid Wigan RL fan and listened to the wireless (as they were referred to in those days) when they were featured, usually when at Wembley. If they lost he used to draw the curtains as in a wake. He also had a temper and yes he did become extremely deaf and I remember the trumpet well. Gt Aunty Nellie developed a limp in later life too and when Scholes was demolished in the sixties she move to sheltered accommodation in Whelley, top of Northumberland St or there abouts. They had a daughter Joan who married Jimmy Holden and a son Stanley. Joan and Jimmy had two sons, Kenneth who is now dead and Geoff. Joan and Jimmy emigrated to Australia many years ago and had a daughter Debbie. They still live there. Look at the Molyneux family under people. They did return to the UK a couple of times and on one occasion Debbie stayed with my family it was around 1980.

Thank you so much JohnAlan for your memories. Do you have any photos of Auntie Nellie or Uncle Ned? I have been trying to compile some family history but can't find any record of Uncle Ned's death. Do you know the year of his death?

Hello Jean. I don't know exacltly but it must have been in the 50s. If you let me have a contact number I can ask Marion Alty (nee Molyneux) Nellie's niece to see if she can shed any light on it. Have you not got Joan's address in Australia? I have and can provide it to you.

I think my mother Doreen Hankin (nee Critchley) is on back row fourth from left as you look.