Wigan Album

Wow!!!! What a blast from the past.
I knew Kath Roberts' face straight away, not seen her in years. Also remember Barbara Stubbs. Great photo.

Great photo Susan, I used to play for Wigan & District and we played many a comp against you girls. Some of the girls would come back on our coach on the odd occasion although our conductor Alan Mason didn't like it. I'm pretty sure that one of your girls married Jim Tollit one of our front row cornet players. You may also remember Mick Dugdale and Paul Statter.

Oh yes Stephen I remember those days oh so clearly. It was Janice Williams who married Jim, their son lives next but one house to me. Well remember Alan Mason he was a lovely chap, and Mick & Paul, in fact could name quite a lot of you. What a laugh we used to have eh!

Extreme left, back row;
The sexy girl from the time office.
Her name:
Irene Lowe...
How's that for a poem!
(Irene worked in the Time Office at Triangle Valve).
I worked there from 1969 TO 1981 as an Apprentice, then Centre Lathe Turner.
Good looking girl was Irene...

Hi John, yes Irene, a very dear friend, sorry to inform you but sadly she passed away two years ago, She is missed so much.

I should have said John that Irene would have loved your poem.

Hi Susan, so sorry to here about Irene. She was the first face i recognised on your photo and she certainly had many admirers in our ranks. Have you any more photo's? I've lost all my old W&D photo's and as they don't exist now it isn't easy to find any. Maybe you could ask Jims lad if Jim has any he could put on here. I'll also take you up on remembering the names of our lads.

I haven't got any pics of W&D and very few of Trinity Girls Stephen. I will ask Jims son though for you. Give us a clue who you are and what instrument you played as the old grey matter isn't what it was and I'm trying desperately to recall who Stephen is, I played euphonium & my sister tenor horn. Paul Statter married Carol Atherton though sadly it didn't last. Recalling other names, Ken Pollitt, Pete Iddon,Trevor Halliwell, Ian Anderton,John & Alan Withington,Brian Tollitt, Nigel Cavell. Got brain block now will have another think about it.

Hi Susan. Sorry to hear about Irene, God, I couldn't believe it. I think she was the same age as me,or perhaps a year older. She was the prettiest girl at Triangle Valve in those days, without a doubt. How sad.

Susan, I joined the band just as Alan Withington was leaving. Mike Dugdale then got the principal cornet spot. I started on 3rd cornet and ended up on rep. My surname is Price. I left W&D when the band had a big falling out around '71. Alan Mason was a family friend and i felt obliged to go with him over to Haigh along with the Tollits and a few others. We didn't have a Euph' player and i ended up filling that spot. I hoped to become the Ken Pollit of Haigh but fell way short of his undoubted ability. At Wigan i used to knock about with Terry Nicholson mostly. You did very well with the names, the only ones i can add are Dave Bellis, David Shaw, Peter Crompton and Dave Whelans lad. I vividly remember our red haired soprano player but can't for the life of me remember his name. Oh and Rory one of our Bass players.

Susan, Didn't Paul go on to play at Wingates?

I do remember Rory, don't know about Paul but I know Trevor Halliwell became principal Cornet with Wingates (thinking about it wasn't Trevor in Pem Band with Dave Bellis?) Have been in touch with Dave through this site, he's in Australia now. I remember Ken P went into the police force didn't he?

Susan, I think most of the things you mention probably happened after i left Wigan for Haigh. I don't remember Trevor Halliwell but my memory isn't great. I think i left Wigan around 71 and only stayed at Haigh for about 2yrs before i packed up altogether. I did get a message from Dave a few weeks ago. I'd posted on here asking if anyone had any photo's of W&D and he sent a reply. I hope Jim can help with some. I wonder why it is we get so much pleasure from the past?

Susan, I've just been checking the 'Regional' results from Belle Vue. We (W&D) came 2nd in 70 and 71 and then Haigh appear in the 72 listings with Alan Mason as conductor so that would be when i left W&D. I rang the sec at Pem regarding old W&D photo's and he gave me the number for the Brass Band Archive museum in Scholes. You may already know about it. i'm going to have a trip down ( i live in Carnforth) either next week or the week after and see if they have owt. I'll have a look for any Trinity stuff as well while i'm there and let you know.

Great photo Susan and lovely to look back on those very happy days! Enjoyed reading all the comments from the lads at W&D - We could write a best seller eh Sue ha ha.I will have to look for my old Trinity Girls photos and put them on this site. Oh and to Karen who remembers me - what is your surname?

Hiya Kath. My surnames Halliwell and i used to come to your house all the time with your Shirley. We all knocked about together with the Duttons girls, Iris Sankey, Jeanette Littler, Susan Speakman etc.
How r u keeping kath?

Hi Kath, great to hear from you. It would be great if you could post your Trinity Girls photos alongside this one. Like you say we could write a best seller hahaha! I was one of the girls travelling back on W&D coach a few times LOL! Hope you're ok.

Hi Karen, yes I do remember you well and coming to our house with our Shirley. Sorry to tell you but did you know that Kath Dutton died very suddenly only about a month ago. We were all so shocked and our Shirley was devastated - she had been with her only the day before - it is so very very sad isn't it.

Hi Sue I will get onto putting the photos on that I have but I havent got many unfortunately - isn't it sad that we don't have a lot more - there must be loads kicking around I would think - lovely to be in touch Sue, take care, lots of love, Kath x

Anyway Susan, What comp was it that you won? Obviously we werent playing in it lol

Hi Kath. Long time no see eh?
I did hear the really sad news about Kath Dutton, it must have been a terrible blow for the family, especially Christine as they weren't just sisters they were best mates an all...joined at the hip.
It's a good job we don't know what's around the corner kath.
I hope you and yours are all well and please pass my regards on to everyone.
X

Well Stephen I can't remember which competition we had won that day - there were so many - double LOL! Hope you're lucky on your visit to the museum at Ince, I haven't managed to speak to Jim's lad yet, his name's Jim too.Will try my best and will keep on looking for any Trinity one's too. Hoping Kath comes up trumps with her pics.

so very sad to hear of irene lowes passing.way back in 1970 on saturday nights irene and her frieds would be upstairs in the clarence in wigan.so very sad to hear of her passing.

This is my mum Susan and my auntie carol.... (Susan atherton and Carol atherton)