Wigan Album

Thanks, Bill. I remember Ced from our time together in Wigan G & S Society. He was one of the friendliest and fun-loving men I have ever met. (I have to say he had much less hair when i knew him)

Cedric was some character... I wish I could remeber half the quips and gags he used all the time. Hilairious guy and a talented plumbing craftsman who was a great welder too. He we on to teach full-time as a Lecturer in the Engineering Dept. What with me head full of the Beatles and and playing in the Shyms pop band and Ced with his G&S productions we must have been the most musically gifted plumbers of all time...

"Anticipate my requirements", was one of Cedric's favourites lines. Followed by, "Your not a qualified plumber until you've stood-up under a bath wiping a joint." and one I never quite understood, "He's not as many brains as fill a dollytub?" All great times...

The Maintenance Dept of the 'Tech' was about the size of a rugby league team and quite a close knit group which contained all the sterotypes you see see on TV soaps. The Maintenance Superintendant was a Mr James Valance. Cedric Bamber, Bill Hart and Jack Green - foreman, were the plumbers. The Joiners were Harry Bates - foreman, Jim Fairhurst, Ronnie Spencer, Billy Draper, Billy Bamber. Electricians were 'Mack' ?? and John Bates and the Painters were Ronnie Cheers, Trevor Bamber and Bert ??. There were also one or two more who's names I can't remember.

Correction... Jimmy Fairhurst should read Jim Winstanly

the joiner was jimmy spencer and the other painter was horace seddon.ced was one of the nicest people i ever had the pleasure to know.i worked in the mining dept laboratories.

some of those lads are still around,trevor bamber,ronnie cheers i think,jimmy spencer i see occasionally and i think billy draper.were you a drummer bill?

Yes Dave... I'm a drummer. Didn'y you work in the Mining Eng Dept and you are a great lover of jazz?

See my webby... www.lankybeat.com

just come across this , what a chap ced was , i could tell you a few stories , funny ones , i used to work in reprographics at the college, and i knew ced very well , what a gentleman he was .. and yes . you could make a telly series all about the Maintenance Dept ,

What a terrific response for this photo, I really enjoyed reading them. It epitomises what wiganworld is all about. Brilliant.

Can anyone tell me what happened to Harry Bates and Mr Winstanley - I knew both of them when I was at the Tach in the 1960s. Is Mr Bates son still at the Tach?Wonderful people