Wigan Album

This set of photos is magic . Takes me right back to boyhood . We went everywhere on our bikes . Often two on a bike . Riding on the pedal sometimes . Out all day . Only going in when your Mum shouted you .
Thanks for this latest set Frank , they are brilliant.

Wood Lane, Standish is about two miles long that goes from St Maries RC church all the way down to Willow Road, Beech Hill.

These black and white photos bury the coloured ones for clarity.

Am I right in thinking that farm is still there?

If it's the building I'm thinking of - it is painted a cream colour now and there is a small lawn just to the side of it.

The amount of times I have walked down that lane.

The Wigan Observer Photographer, the great late Arnold Hall took the photo in 1968, the Daniels family owned the farm at that time. Arnold took another photo of Jo Daniels that was on the front page of the Wigan Observer, she was ploughing the families field with a David Brown tractor.
Great days.

Thanks Arthur, I acknowledge Arnold's ability as a photographer. I would credit who the photographer was but during research for my books the Wigan Observer files don't indicate who the photographer was but I have to give a name on posting these pictures. I will probably use this picture in a future book and publish a list of photographers who were hopefully responsible for any pictures.

No problem Frank, keep them coming.

I did have my photo taken,ploughing which was on the front page of the observer

Do you still have the photo Jo?

Yes I do have the photo,it was also in the Lancashire evening post in the retro page

Never thought l’d see this again. Almost 60 years ago would use this walk from Beech Hill to Wigan Old Boys rugby club to play for the Colts team.

A proposed road that has never been built to avoid Standish town centre will come from the M6, through Arbour Lane and Standish Wood Lane to Boars Head near Gidlow Cemetery.

Hi Jo, is your Jimmy still around ? I went to school with him and came to his birthday parties at the farm.