Wigan Album

Andrea Steele, are you the Andrea Shawcross first left on the photo? If so, are you related to the Shawcross family from Ince who are in the roofing business? I only ask because I grew up near them and was friends with one of the girls in the family and you have a look of her. It may just be coincidence and hope you don't mind my asking.

Yes indeed. Who were you friends with?

It was Sheila I was friends with when we were children but I remember all the family and their parents Lois and Norman. They lived in Pickup Street and we lived across the backs from them in Ince Green Lane. I spent a lot of time in their house. But it was in the days of the "eleven-plus" exam and at the age of eleven Sheila and I went to different schools and drifted apart. Many years ago I used to write for a local magazine called Past Forward and I once mentioned Lois in an article I wrote, and she read it and came into Boots, where I worked, to see me, (this was in the 1990s)......Sheila also came in once and we recognised each other right away. Thankyou so much for replying.

This is what Wiganworld is all about. Great picture too.

My father was Norman’s brother. Sadly the last time I saw any of the family was at my dad’s funeral in 2018. I moved away from Wigan almost 44 years ago.

Thankyou for getting back, Andrea. Your photo and words have brought back many memories of growing up in Ince. A Happy New Year to you and yours. xx