Wigan Album

Parked up outside the entrance to Mesnes Park at the Junction of Bridgeman Terrace and Mesnes Park Terrace

Mmm, going to Blackpool on that would be fun, wonder how many times they had to stop to retrieve blown off hats.

I would think they spent more time travelling there and back, than they spent in Blackpool.

Hi Ron,
I am pleased you posted the evergreen photo of the Smith owned, Walker Bros Charabanc again, as there were circa 730 views when I posted Item 31952 but no comments; so hopefully your clearer photo might enable Wigan World readers to identify more of the passengers on the Charabanc?
Also, could you please clarify that 1922 is the newspaper publication date and that the photograph was taken, circa 1912/3, as according to Wigan Heritage Centre photo, item 31949 the gentleman with the distinctive beard is Mr. E. R. Walker, who died in 1923.

Hi John, didn't realise it had already been put on the site. I got the image from a book and it stated the photograph was 1921?

John's posting from the other image.on the site
Walker Brothers (Wigan) Ltd employees about to set off on a 12 mph trip to Blackpool in one of the towns first charabancs made by Walkers and owned by Smith Tours.
E R Walker WW item 31949 is most probably the gentleman with the distinctive beard and possibly Jim Walker with the flat cap and John Staveley Chief Patter Maker on left of E R Walker.
Can any ex employees or descendants of the following Walkers heads of department and or pattern shop employees supply any further information
Messrs L Chamley G H Sauter R Seddon J H Norris E Hall S Hall S Penson W Williamson and W Nicholls some of the Pattern shop employees Messrs James Walmsley John Mort Joseph Ball Arthur Gibson Will Rimmer Ralph Rimmer Joe Malady and John Leyland

The esteemed author of the book might, like me putting Charabanc 1922 instead of 1921, have made a similar typo and put 1921 instead of 1912 as my great grandfather John Staveley seated on E. R. Walkers left died in 1913 so most probably 1912 photo?

Hello, please can anyone help in finding my Gt Gt Grandad J H Norris on the Messrs Walker Bros charabanc photo item 33096. Was he sitting or standing, type of hat, if he wore one, which seated row etc.? If the photo date is 1912 he would be aged about his early 50s. Also, would anyone know if he was a head of department or what his job was? Thanks for any
details you can give.

Sorry Jack I cannot help but this picture Ron is amazing.
I cannot imagine driving all the way to Blackpool in those days and keeping your hat intact, overcrowded and open topped, these days you would soon get pulled over by the Police.

Hello again, Might John Staveley or Ron Hunt know which man on photo
item 33096 Messrs Walker Bros. would be John Henry Norris?
If not any ideas about who else may help? Thanks.

Hi Jack,
Sorry, I nearly missed your comment by not clicking on “View by recently commented on.”
As you have picked up, the photo was taken in 1912, not 1922, as my Gt Grandad John Staveley (sat next to the charabanc door and on LHS of E. R. Walker with the goatee beard) died a year later in 1913 aged 65.
His obituary reads “Mr. E. R. Walker, Mr. Geo. L. Walker, and Mr. J. S. A. Walker represented the firm, and the following Heads of Departments were present: Messrs. L. Charnley, G. H. Souter, R. Seddon, J. H. Norris, E. Hall, S. Hall, S. Penson, W. Williamson, and W. Nicholls.
So, your Gt. Gt. Grandad John Henry Norris was definitely a Head of Department, but the only way we can identify him is if someone has an original photo annotated with their names? Or someone with an exceptional memory and diary like Ernest Pyke can identify him?
It is a long shot, but I have fond memories of a Mr Norris assistant then Head of Engineering at Wigan and Disrtrict Mining and Technical College in the late 1960’s, could he be a relative of yours?