Wigan Album

Happy days. No drugs, no binge drinking, just carefree enjoyment. Although as young men, I honestly believe, national service played a major roll in the demeanour of that period.

Ah, so that was why I was taken there by my babysitters!

Just look how smart the young men dressed in those days, unlike today and look at those girls behind giving them the glad eye and probably discussing which of them they wanted to 'get off with'.

Another great nostalgia- saturated picture George.

I think Albert's right. I used to go to Wigan Park on Sunday afternoons in the mid 1960's, the scene wasn't very different apart from the clothes. There were no suits, hipsters and T shirts were the fashion then. There would also be music from transistor radios, particularly after 4.00 O' clock - Pick of the Pops!

Such memories: no drink, no low life, just carefree Sundays in the sun. Times change. People change. The world hurtles to its inevitable destruction.

Jarvo, you summed it all up in them few words.

How old are you Jarvo?? I don't remember those days so I am sure you don't. Life in general has changed now. I am sure there were low life in those times. It would be quitter because modern communication equipment hadn't even been thought out never mind invented and I am positive beer was around but people handled it better and the Police would have sorted out mis-use in the park pronto.

Take heart Jarvo. Still a lot a good folk out there.

Broady. You are absolutely correct, there was a significant section of the community that gave you constant problems. In those days, it was a different ball game, for police officers', to deal with such matters. Enough said.

Broady: Please don't take everything I say or do literally. My comments are as an observer of the photograph; I was probably too young at the time to take part in gatherings such as this. And yes, there are lots of good folk still knocking about, but they no longer gather in Wigan Park like the ones pictured...And mores the pity.

george do you know if cliff parkin
in the photo worked for norweb.

Tommy - not seen Cliff for many many years now, I think he did work for norweb. There was no tins of larger or bottles of beer drunk in the park at that time, maybe an ice cream from De Romas, we lived it up in those days?? no police were seen or needed then.

Tommy: Cliff is my brother-in-law and yes he did work for Norweb. Was at his house yesterday.

Every Sunday in the park cafe..then out to listen to the band
playing ,even though we were juke box fans..ice cream, no gangs fighting..the sun always seemed to shine,very strange,
I don't seem to remember any rainy days even though there must have been..happy happy days.

As you state Maureen,it was quite a safe environment. The only drugs generally, were what the doctor prescribed for your ailment. Reasonable open, and, closing times, for licensed premises. Although Wigan Borough Police, was only a small borough force, it had sufficient manpower to cover all strategic, and vulnerable locations, especially Friday, and Saturday nights, when you would double up at potential troublesome areas. 10p.m. to 12m.n. These days you would probably have to double up, to well into the early hours of the morning. 80% of police officers were on the beat, on foot, a visible presence. At certain points on the beat, you would wait five minutes, as the sergeant may pay you a visit, at that location. So it kept you on your toes. During the night, all lock up property on your beat would be physically checked. With the advent of the panda car,in the late sixties, policing on foot steadily started to change.

What I find interesting in this photo is that my dad is the only smart dressed man wearing a tie. Which later in life he swore he hated and would never wear again! Don't worry dad, it worked anyhow, glad it was my mum you copped off with!!

Harold Gilligan, piano tuner and French Polisher who worked at Dawsons in Darlington Street with me and many others in the 1950's. Answered to the name of just Gilligan, even from his girlfriend Maureen. Happy days.