Wigan Album

They don't have a vicar at St.Anne's, Bill, they have a priest. My wife was confirmed there.

Yes George, that would be due to the church being Anglican Catholic. So it would.

All vicars, curates, canons, etc in the Church of England are priests, no matter what their function within the church... or whether, like me, they're retired.
John Lawton was the first priest there - firstly as a curate of the mother church, St Andrew's, then as its priest-in-charge, then as its first Incumbent, or Vicar. But always a priest.

When I published to the photo I hoped it might bring back memories for people rather than spark a debate concerning the correct title for the incumbent of St. Anne's Parish. As choristers we often referred to Frank Cartwright as FF the V. You can make your own mind up about the first F but he was a rather rotund gentleman. Reverend Cartwright had been curate previous to returning as the vicar. We once asked him what he carried in the box at the rear of his little motor cycle, thinking it must be the sacrament or similar. He told us it was a couple of bottles of Green Worthington in case of emergencies.
As a matter of interest, the inside cover of the prayer book I received upon confirmation at St. Anne is signed ... for his Confirmation on 9th June 1961 and his First Communion on 11th June 1961 Donald F. Thompson, Vicar, St. Anne, Wigan. He obviously referred to himself as a vicar. I believe he followed John Lawton at St. Anne.

Hi william the bloke wearing something red round his neck ,wearing glasses would that be mr lester a teacher at Gidlow school whose nickname was uggy.? Cheers eric

Eric, well spotted. I think you’re right. Peter (?) Lester had a spell as choir master and organist. One of the other gentlemen you can see to Peter Lester’s right is Jack Grundy I believe. He was a fine bass. I’m the first young gentleman on the far right, having worked my way up from boy soprano joining the choir whilst at Beech Hill Primary. Those ruffs weren’t very comfortable.

I can't be sure what was in the case on the back of that Honda 50, but I don't remember Worthington in bottles with corks, you normally used a bottle opener. I opened a few of each over the years, a few for myself but many for customers. I remember Mr Grundy and Mr Lester, and the gentleman behind the Head Choirboy on the right looks familiar!
Feeling sentimental, 70 last November, Wiganer leading the Lions, my dad served in Palestine in 1948, looking back a lot right now.
I found my old red ribboned medal from my choirboy days just a few weeks ago.
My dad took me to Wembley as a kid, Wigan went a lot, and we visited the Tower of London. The Beefeaters mostly wore rows of medals, WWI and WWII. I took my son to the third of the 8 in a row, and I was so happy that the Yeoman who showed us around only had the opportunity to earn 2 medals. They all have dozens again now!
Please, lets get back to the times when we feeded 'em, not needed 'em.
FF the V was vocal about the war starting in Vietnam, and the loss of a batch of trawlers from Hull, Gaza and Kiev would break his heart.
Thanks for the memories, Bob as is and Robert as was.