Wigan Album

Hi Mavis. Knew John Lydon, and Joe Keegan very well. I served with them in the late fifties,and early sixties. transferred to the Kent Police in July,1964.Kitty Holden,Sgt Alice Jewell, ? Duxbury, and Amy, were the police ladies serving at that time. I think there were another couple, but their names I cannot remember. One of my ex colleagues, of the Wigan Borough Police, lives in British Colombia, he's been there many years now.

What a lovely, happy photo.....you feel a "trust" in these police officers; accident prevention??.....I wish it was like that now! The times I have walked down Platt Bridge, shopping, and just as I have decided to cross the road, sone idiot, (adult, not child), has whizzed past me ON THE PAVEMENT at a ridiculous speed! No bell, no "excuse me", NOTHING! One step towards the road and you would be knocked down by a speeding bike. I have seen police cars pass these pavement speeding cyclists over and over again without bothering to stop. I can't be the only person. No wonder they "just get away with it".....no-one seems to care any more. The lovely officers in the photo would appear to be of "the old school", who would have done something about it. Does anyone else agree? I am happy to stand corrected if Wigan Worlders think I am wrong, but surely bikes should be on the road, not the pavement, or at least should give some warning of their approach. Thankyou, Mavis, for a lovely photo.

Mavis - a wonderful pic, but should it not be Joe Keegan on the left, and John Lydon on the right? Knew John well. A true gent, and one of the funniest raconteurs I have ever known.
Albert - Kitty Holding retired in the mid to late 1980s. Used to be a communicator on my shift, and later worked on the enquiry desk, until her retirement.

You are right Irene the Police now turn a blind eye to so much because every little incident involves a paperchase.This is a lovely photo and reminds me when the Police used to visit our school. We anticipated seeing the motorbike swerve around the pretend pedestrian for days beforehand.Happy days.

Mavis. Reference my ex colleague. He lives in a district named Quesnel. B. C. For obvious reasons, I cannot name him, without his permission. Best wishes to you, and your family.

Definitely John Lydon on the right. John and Nancy came to my wedding in 1976! They were good friends with my ex in-laws Bill and Reenie McCrea

Mavis, If you go to the ex-Pats Section on here you will see the name of the ex-Policeman that Albert refers to.

broady. Under which category do I find ex-pats?

Albert..in case broady doesn't see your query..click on communicate then look down to bottom left of page..expats is there.

Thank you Maureen.

Mavis. Helped by Maureen. I looked at ex Pats, Canada. My colleague has entered his name there, so it is there for you to see. Dudley Leather.

Nice picture Mavis, what happened to the puppet? did anyone keep him? Would have been a nice keepsake, all we got were clip on ties,belts,shirts and gloves, we didn't have to hand those in.

A time when you knew your bobbies and spoke to them regular. None of the Wigan Bobbies come from Wigan anymore, mostly Commuters!

I came to Canada in 1980 and continued my work in road safety. I have my own company now the Canadian Traffic Safety Institute, working mostly overseas. I will never forget my start though working with 2 great guys and of course Tommy Chocolate and Looby Loo! John once came to the US to visit his sister and came home with Tommy Chocolate's penpal Charlie McCarthy. Happy Days!

The days when the police where police, where they were friendly, approachable and treated the public with kindness and respect, unlike today where you are likely to be met a by a night club bouncer in a luminescent jacket, asked for your I.D., stopped and searched and treated like a terrorist, then given a dose of these so-called 'non lethal' weapons called tasers, which have resulted in a dozen deaths. No Dixon of Dock Green today I'm afraid.

Mavis did you live in worsley mesnes in 1940's thank you

Transferred from Lancs Constab to Wigan 1967 became PC 5644 on amalgamation served with Dave Stott

Transferred from Lancs Constab to Wigan 1967 became PC 5644 on amalgamation served with Dave Stott

My dad, Lol Connelly, who died in 2009, aged 90, was good mates with Joe Keegan and John Lydon when he was PC76 in the Borough force, then 5681 in Greater Manchester after a stint in Lancashire Constabulary. I think it was John who used to make guitars as a hobby.

Hi my names Alexandra Keegan .... My father was Joseph Keegan ex Wigan Constabulary PC39..... remember very fondly and often Mavis .... John Lydon and John Hook ........ yes my Dad was close friends with Lol Conelly ...... brings back so many wonderful memories