Wigan Album

Nice to see, not seen it for a long time. Could have been the station that all my family caught the train to London's Waterloo Station beginning our epi journey to Australia. Thanks Roy, cheers!!!

Hasn't changed much, has it ;-)

Lizzie where you born in Wigan? Where did your family come from?

Maggie I was born in Billinge hospital and lived just outside Standish. My parents were both Incers, my Dad lived and was born in Kebel Street Higher Ince and My Mum was born in Junction Terrace Lower Ince. We flew out to Australia on the first chartered flight for 10 pound poms in 1964 and me and my two sisters and their families have been here since. My Mum's name was Dorothy Hayes nene Birchall and Dad's name was William Arthur Hayes. Cheers, Lizzie.

it was about here, I was with my Dad who was seeing me off, when a man in guards uniform rushed up to us and made a huge fuss of my Dad. he turned to me & said "Your Dad saved my life" He had been hurt in an accident & my Dad gave him First Aid, which did save his life. Wonderful experience.

ARE YOU ANY RELATION TO THE JOLLEY'S WHO LIVED IN ALBERT STREET, INCE ?

Bill if you are asking me, no I don't think so. Cheers.

That is a wonderful story Maggie, where was the train journey taking you? We slept at my Grandparents house and took the midnight train to London, it was all so exciting when you were 14, adventure into the unknown, cheers!!!

A couple of weeks ago I was waiting for the Euston train coming in, about 10.30pm, it was dark and you couldnt see much either side of the station down the track..all of a sudden, coming from the Preston side came a massive big train, it thundered through the station at what must have been abot 70 to 100 miles per hour, there were heavy metal carriages and bogies zooming out of the darkness and through the station like something out of a scary movie, it was a very awsum and frightening experience,the station shook, im not afraid of much and ive seen a lot of trains and carriages but this was a sight never to forget. maybe some of your railway fans can enlighten me as to what it was in railway jargon.
Very Scary indeed, we were shell shocked.

Lizziedownunder.
Just wondered if you had been back home at all?
Seems from your persistency on the site...you still love us here in Wigan..
As much as we love hearing from you!!!
Great to hear all your lovely comments.

Dave, what an awful experience !!!!!!
In answer to your question, no I havn't been back to visit hence the amazement I am experiencing on this great site. My daughter has a lot to answer for, she sold me her iPad 2 as she upgraded to a 3 so like a bull at a gate I was off, and here I am!!!! I am so thankful to have come in contact with such nice people, but then Wiganers all are nice people!!! To be honest I had forgotten a lot of things so all this help I am getting to jog my old memory, well, it is just wonderful, I will always have this special love for England no mater if I ever return or not and it probably will be not. Like one of the girls said, this Internet has a lot to answer for and it is all good for me!! Thanks for the chat Dave, cheers!!!

Lizzie, I was a student in London & was returning there. my dad being a Railway man - in those days they had privelege tickets - took me all over the country when I was a child.I found this station quite exciting.

HI LIZZY WAS THE ROBERT BIRCHALL WHO MARRIED ELIZABETH RUTTER IN 1929 AT INCE PARISH CHURCH RELATED TO YOU ROBERT DIED MAY 1881 HE CAME FROM KEBBLE STREET

Daves experience reminds me of the time I was taking photos of trains at Wigan North West station early in 1990. A goods train came from Preston direction at high speed. It had open flat trucks behind it. As it passed me a large metal shackle flew off one of the trucks and hit the wall beside me. It only missed me by a fraction of an inch.
Luckily, it knocked a chunk out of the wall instead of me!

Cath my grandparents on my Mum's side had the surname Birchall, Harry Birchall and Elizabeth Birchall nee Owen that lived in Junction Terrace Lower Ince. Sorry I am not related to the Keebel St Birchalls,

Maggie I bet you were really proud of your Dad, fancy saving a life, wonderful, cheers!!

Lizzie down under...my Wifes maiden name was Owen. Her mums maiden name was Birchall. A coincidence in reverse...

Bill you never know we may be related somewhere in the backwaters of time. My married name is Kearvell and we have our own website started by my cousin Mike and you know all the Kearvells in the world are related!! If you are interested, Kearvell.com cheers