Wigan Album
Ince
21 CommentsPhoto: TD,.
Item #: 30003
L to R. Mildred Metcalfe, Ada Jones and Joyce Battersby. Mildred and Joyce were sisters, Ada their sister in law.
I like this photo - it shows how the ladies could 'glam' themselves up at a time when there was still austerity about at the time.
Enjoyed two, or three good nights at this venue. Ince Police dinner dances, in the late fifties. I believe the building is now no more.
The building is still there, Albert and is, or is going to be, something to do with child welfare.
Thank you Irene. Glad it is going to be utilized for something useful
The lady in the centre, could she be Mrs Ada Jones who lived at The Pear Tree Inn on Wigan Road, Hindley?Yes, Veronica you are right they do look glam. My Mum used to go dancing there as a young woman.
You are right Elizabeth. Believe the Lower Ince (Spring view) Police station has finally been acquired by developers and is also about to be put to use, after 14 years in moth balls Albert.
TD. In the mid-1940s, when delivering papers for Tatum's, I delivered evening newspapers to this police station. In the centre of the floor there was a door that could be lifted. The bobbies used to have me on, that, that was the trap door where murderers' were once dropped through, and hung. Happy days.
Albert: The area is rich in history and I've often thought when passing, bet that place could tell a few stories. You have turned up trumps again with another great story. Hope the developers don't spoil the character of the old police station and leave the attractive features intact, including the old trap door. Now I have got a story to share with some local kids when they visit over Christmas, about a paper boy in the 40’s and his experience at the police station. Thanks Albert.
TD, how wonderful that Albert's memories will be passed on to the youngsters of today...that's what this site is all about, the importance of the uploading of photos that would never have been seen again and the stories they tell. If the young people unconsciously absorb Albert's manners and old-fashioned courtesy along with the stories, that is a bonus...a Gentleman if ever there was one!
True words and nice to see Irene.You and Albert set a very good example.
Thank you for your kind comments. At Christmas your customers were always very generous. Although I always thought it was rather cheeky. We had a little printed card. It had printed on it. "Christmas comes but once a year, and when it comes it brings good cheer. Remember the boy that brings the news, a Christmas box he won't refuse" I had one hundred, and twenty odd papers to deliver. Remuneration, 7/6d. 2/6d for the evening rounds. In those days there were several different newspaper publications, several more than the present day. You had to have a good memory to know which customer had which newspaper, mistakes, and you were out on your ear. I took out newspapers up to a month, before I left school, in Spring, 1949.
A friend has given me an excellent book for Christmas, John Sharrock Taylor's, 'Six Steps from Wigan Pier, And a bag of Uncle Joe's Mint Balls'The stories in it remind me of how rich the postings are on WW. I can relate to Irene and Albert's memories and how important these stories are to our shared history.It is the glue that holds us together. My little addition to this thread is:
in the run up to Christmas 2007 my grandson had a paper round delivering the local free paper. One other lad had phoned in sick and the supervisor asked the grandson to do an adjoining round as well as his own,over 400 houses. Good Grannie that I am I offered to help by doing one side of the streets whilst he did the other. As we finished he handed me a pound coin, a tip from a lady for 'your little friend'It was raining and in my dog-walking parka I suppose it was an easy mistake to make. Grandson looked hopeful but the coin went straight into grannie's gin and tonic fund!At my age you take what comes your way!
Grannieannie, one pound was 20 bob in the age of old money. Your priceless little friend proved to be the type of grandson Wiganers throughout the ages would be very proud of. Thanks for sharing your Christmas story.
In the days that I relate to in my comment. As in many other towns, especially in the north west there were rows of terraced dwellings, with the front door adjacent to the outside pavement. A number of the terraced houses in numerous streets faced each other, on the other side of the street, therefore you would have forty, or more houses in any one street. The only other media, besides the radio, was the newspaper, so in any one street, you would have quite a number of the residents that took a newspaper. The weekly cost was one penny for delivery. Calculating just the 120 deliveries, that was £1.00, but I got 7/6d. They were difficult times. My dad could not work because of a mining illness, but for about three years the powers that be would not recognize it as such. The N.U.M. took up his case, and through the good efforts of a great union man Frank Pelly, he obtained his compensation. This was an absolute God send. We were living of a meagre sum called the Parish. If any nosey person (and there were sum) asked me how much pay I got, I had to tell them that the paper shop owner paid me in clothing. It was extremely embarrassing, but if the powers that be, found out I got 7/6d, they would stop it out of my dad's Parish pay. It was surely Deo Gratias, when his case was won.
How terrible, Albert! I remember Frank Pelly although I didn't know him personally. But I remember his son, Brian, delivering papers for the papershop corner of Ince Green Lane/Leaway. My Dad had a bad chest from the mines and when I was a little girl he worked at the Wagon Works in Ince but could only do light duties due to his very weak chest. His wage was so low that when I passed The Scholarship for The Grammar School I got a grant for the whole uniform. A few years earlier, before that was possible, I would have had to lose my place because my parents couldn't have afforded the uniform. How many bright children lost out on an education to which they were entitled and of which they were capable, either because their parents couldn't afford their clothes or their wage from the Mine or the Mill was needed to pay for food and coal? It doesn't bear thinking about.
No shame in poverty especially in those days, but very difficult for a young lad in the face of such adversity, yet he still remembers happy times from those days, and no doubt his folks are very proud. We are privileged to know Alberts story, and we are much richer for it. There will be many folks connected to Wigan World, who will relate to his experience with a lump in the throat, and I have no shame admitting, I am one of them. Thanks again for sharing Albert.
Can you imagine these days a lad doing a paper round and giving his mother some of the money he earned? Not likely and it wouldn't be expected. At least he would be 'working' and learning the value of earning something. I'm glad the means testing days have gone -but are kids today any happier with everything they do have? It seems to me that they are never satisfied and looking for the next best thing on the agenda!
Veronica. It wasn't a case of giving my mother some of the money. I gave her all of the money. We were really struggling. I appreciated the 3d, during the week, to go to the Regal, in Ince. My dad was lying in a hospital bed, on V.E day, in Wigan Infirmary. The building of the Regal was completed in 1939. It gave a lot of people, a lot of pleasure during the following dark days.
That was true poverty then Albert. I recall my dad telling me a tale of when he first 'joined up' in 1939. Another man he was with was so poor as he had a family who lived in Hardybutts with about 6 children and when they had their meals he went around clearing plates and taking the leftovers home for his children. They were on snow clearing duties around Wigan at the time. Another time when they were posted he used to get my dad to put his letters in my dad's envelope to his mother- she would then walk down to Hardybutts with his letters to his family. He couldn't afford the stamps. Unbelievable....the family of that man are quite well off now and good luck to them.
My late husband and I held our wedding reception, 20th January 1973,. in this lovely building. Happy memories.
Lovely comment Sheila.