Wigan Album
Walmesleys
8 Comments
Photo: JOHN STAVELEY
Item #: 33899
I recall there being 50 Apprentices in the 1963 intake, mostly from Wigan and Bury and a few from Bolton. Those missing were in the machine section or on day-release.
Top photo: Owen Ingram front row LHS, Tom Huddleston Bury second row LHS, Mr. Cartwright Instructor, ex Wigan drawing office, Alan Turner (Shims) Back row 2nd left, Keith Charnock 4th bench from front on RHS.
Lower photo: Mr Smith Head Instructor, John Smith 2nd row 2nd from LHS, John Staveley 2nd row 5th from LHS, Michael Morgan 2nd row RHS under picture of Calendar rolls, Fielding? Bury 3rd row 3rd from RHS.
I would be pleased to hear from any of the Apprentices. Can anyone confirm or add names?
I put a comment on here this morning but it seems to have been missed off. I just said how much the top photo put me in mind of the 1962 film, "A Kind of Loving" where Vic Brown, (played by the actor Alan Bates), is portrayed in the drawing office of the place where he works along with his colleagues. The man top left wearing a pullover over the top of a white shirt even looks like him....it's uncanny! Sorry if this comment appears twice but I think my first attempt has perhaps been overlooked.
One of the great films of the British New Wave Irene , if not the best especially now it's just been beautifully restored on DVD .
What a scene when Vic crosses the bridge with his dad and the steam from the train almost obliterates them from view .
I agree, Poet. That scene always reminds me of when my older brother Colin used to take me, (a little girl back then), to Springs Branch Railway in Spring View when he went to collect his wages on a Friday. Colin had the same overalls, cap and small haversack as Vic's Dad and the steam which enveloped us was such a part of it all, and something we just took for granted. Colin even dressed like Vic when he went out for the evening, , and his wedding in 1961
was very much like the wedding of Vic's sister at the beginning of the film, with me a nine-year-old bridesmaid like the little girls in the film. Apologies to John Staveley for going off the subject of the photo.....(I was hoping someone would come up with some names and some memories for John).... but one memory triggers off another on Wigan World as I'm sure he is aware.
No problem Irene, thanks for your interesting comments. The man in the photo looked but didn’t act the part, very respectable. Story to follow.
Walmsleys Wigan Apprentices caught a 7 or 7.30 am bus from near ABC cinema to Bolton training centre.
The Apprentices occupied the upstairs deck with Pattern Makers and Foundry workers downstairs. One day a hung over very unpleasant Pattern maker came upstairs and turfed the two App off the front seat so he could sleep off his hang over.
Next day all the App, usually very noisy, very quietly left the bus at Bolton and the bus took the sleeping Pattern Maker back to Wigan!
Next day the air was blue, but he travelled downstairs after that. We weren’t as amorous or otherwise as Vic Brown but we were more mischievous.
That made me laugh John......brilliant story! And served him right!
John,
Would you remember my uncle Tom Fleetwood and Teddy Cheetham, I think they were both pattern makers. Also Tom Siney who worked in the foundrt office.
Hi Perkin. My family had connections with the Pattern Shop, my great grandfather was Chief Pattern maker until 1912 and his son George, (very strict) in the war years, both served approx 40 years each, but before your uncles time? Sorry i don't personnaly remember the names..