Wigan Album

My Mam and Dad often took me to Wigan Park, (we never called it Mesnes Park), on Sunday afternoons in the late 1950s/early 1960s, and we would always visit the café. When we came out, my Dad would unfailingly read out loud the inscription on the statue, but it held no interest at the time for a little girl when the grassy slopes at the side of the steps beckoned her to roll over and over! But it was such a part of our lives, as was rubbing Sir Francis Sharpe-Powell's shoe; just a part of growing up in Wigan, and so very special.

I've mentioned this on other occasions, on W.W.A. His arm holding the flag was broken off by a drunken sailor, just towards the the end of the war, or just after the war had finished. When asked by the magistrates why he had done it. His reply was " He seemed fed up of holding it" The account relating to it was in the Wigan Observer. I don't know the exact date, most probably during 1945.

I remember sitting just to the right of this statue when I was little with my Mam..my Auntie had bought me a little black doll,I put her down at the side of me,looked to pick her up and she'd gone..I was heartbroken..but apart from that I've always love the park..I once worked with someone who'd travelled the country quite a bit,he said he'd never seen a park as nice as ours..I agree with him.

Maureen. I am sure every Wigan person will agree with your sentiments.

Agreed Albert. The Jewel in the Crown of 2000 year old Wigan.

A lot better than the horrible thing thats there now, The new statue could have looked like this with a bit more thought .