Wigan Album

There is an Abram site on Facebook. You may get a better response if you post it there. If you aren't on Facebook if you give me permission I will post it there for you.

Howdo Bet. I knew an Orrell Battersby from Hindley, bottom end of Ladies Lane area. 1960's. We were both about same age then. I was born 1955. He had a younger brother Frank. Any relation?

Delighted you are interested in sharing the photo Broady and very good of you to ask,consider permission granted. Some background info may help, out of all the chaps standing Orrell Battersby is 4th from the left, he worked at the Maypole with a Mr Gregory and I had heard Mr Gregory played for Belle Vue Rangers. This has been confirmed by Albert Short here on Wigan world, who also worked at Maypole no 2 pit, time office in 1950/51. Albert who would have started work age about 14, later worked on haulage and tunnelling before leaving to join the RAF in 1955. Coincidently an Albert Gregory who played for Belle Vue Rangers at that time holds the club record for the most goals in a season with 86 in 1950/51 and the record for most conversion with 308 in his career 1948-1955 (ref rugby league project) Belle Vue Rangers left the league in 1955. Presume Mr Gregory in the Maypole team may possibly be the same player. Broughton Rangers were founder members of the Northern Union and won the challenge cup a couple of times and a championship in the early years. Later they changed their ground and name to Bell Vue Rangers reaching the Lancashire cup final on a couple of occasions, narrowly defeated both times by the Wigan team known then as the colliers, now the warriors. Result in 1946 3 - 9 Result in 1947 10 - 7. Mr Gregory did not play in those finals but it appears he may have signed for Belle Vue Rangers in 1948. Mr Gregory is the player holding the ball, presumed captain of the Maypole colliery team above.Using the power of face book perhaps some of the younger generation of Abram could test the memory of their elders, who may have a friend or relative in the photo. Good luck Broady.

Hi Chris. When you were lads he lived in Hindley, but now he lives with his wife and family in Australia and I am sure he will be very pleased that you have asked about him.

Just to clarify things Bet. I left school in March, 1949, age fifteen tears. The age had been risen from the 1948 one, fourteen years. I left school on the Friday, and I was at the Maypole on the Monday. Aged nineteen when I left the Maypole. I recollect that because I had worked underground, I had to have an enlarged x-ray on my lungs, to ensure they were not damaged, before being accepted into the R.A.F.

Joined up rather than pushed then Albert? National service conscription was the order in those days I believe, but some essential service workers including coal miners in certain circumstances were exempt. Appears you opted for a wise and healthy move Albert. The coal industry was nationalised in 1947, more coal was needed post war and it appears the state made efforts to attract workers into the coal mines, wages were improved and the 40hr week was introduced. Bevin boys were due to finish in 1948. Below is a link to a promotional newsreel, shot in 1947 at Parsonage colliery Leigh in what is now the metropolitan borough of Wigan and was shown at the local cinema in the same week. Featured is a World heavyweight boxing contender from the coal region of Pennsylvania USA, it also shows the local Parsonage colliery workers including a 14 year old lad who had just started. Amongst other tasks the lad was given the job of minding the boxers hat! He later left the colliery, but because he was employed in what was then considered non essential services,found himself serving in the army for a couple of years. He has recollected the experience with directions to the link and remembers Gregory the rugby league player above, from his playing days. He also told me had heard Ernie Ashcroft once worked at Wigan junction.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/the-man-of-the-week

I notice the clip didn't take you into the far end, where the coal faces were.
Bet. Reference Ernie Ashcroft, his dad, Jack, was my fireman, when I worked in the tunnels. He set the charges, and fired the shots. The rock dust was that thick, you didn't know whether it was a foggy night, or a white Christmas. Then there was thirty to forty ton of rock, for three of you to shift, shovelling it into metal tubs, before erecting the girders. Happy days,???. The only plus side. You had wonderful workmates. The salt of the earth. All good God fearing men.

Well said Albert, you obviously enjoyed great camaraderie and relied on each other heavily in a very dangerous environment. Some of the qualities displayed by the type of men you have described must have been extended to the rugby fields of Wigan and no doubt the forces. After reading the accounts of some of your experiences and the conditions at the Maypole colliery, it’s no wonder they didn’t allow the media people of the day anywhere near the other end of those colliery tunnels. Ernie Ashcroft played rugby for Great Britain, Wigan and Huddersfield of course, but I didn’t realise and find the fact his father Jack was your fireman, in charge of handling explosives at the Maypole, fascinating. Reminds me of stories involving my uncle, he had a couple of close shaves involving explosives, the first one when he was a very young boy. My grandfather apparently had to rush him urgently to the doctor and asked if he would try and save his partially severed finger. Cost for the doctor to stitch the end of the finger back, was about sixpence in those days and as you will know Albert, the money was then paid to the doctor, years before the NHS started in 1948. Date of this comment may give a clue as to the type of explosive he had been experimenting with, fortunately his finger survived. His next encounter was even more serious and occurred much later in Egypt, strafed by enemy aircraft. My uncle Peter was my fathers eldest brother and served in the RAF in ww2. Fortunately he survived the war.

Enjoyed reading your well structured comments Bet. Your comment on me joining up before I was pushed. The next time I did that was when the abolishment of the Borough Forces, was on the cards, in the mid sixties. As you didn't have a crystal ball to foresee what the future held for you, I transferred to the Kent Police, from the Wigan Borough Police, in July, 1964, and retired from that force, in May, 1988. after thirty years police service.

Good to know the spring view lad has made a success of life and is enjoying a hard earned rest Albert. Remember enjoying matches at central park with my father when I was a young girl and recall seeing the traffic bobby at the Market place, amazing street entertainment in those days. My late father remained with the NCB and worked at several other local collieries, his last working days were spent at the Parsonage in the early eighties. Sadly he didn’t see any retirement, but always looked forward to enjoying his rugby. Your comments are appreciated and add colour to many wonderful items on Wigan world. Thanks for your contribution Albert.

Bet. You're generous comments are much appreciated.

My Dad, Jack Greenwood, is the man stood on the far left with his arms folded. He also played rugby for Keighley and for Whitehaven. He went on to be a Colliery Deputy at Bickershaw Colliery.

Maxine: Thank you for identifying your father Jack Greenwood and providing such interesting information about his work and playing career.