Wigan Album

That brings back a lot of memories for me. I did not attend Holy Family, but I do remember that backdrop very well. Over to the left you can see the end of Collinge Street (or was it Adelade Street?)... then the double gable ends of News Street in the center. A fellow we all called Brock lived in the one on the right. Then over to the right you have Car Street, the shorter row of houses there.... the end house pictured is where I was born in 1958, right next to to the outdoor timber store for Webster's Woodyard.

Hello Dennis. Memories? You could say that! As you look at New Street I lived in the third one down on the opposite side to "Brock" (L/H side). His name was Johnny Bamber, by the way, he had an older brother called Brian. Behind there was what we called th'backs - waste land on which they dumped an old bren gun carrier after the war - imagine the fun we had with with that. And beind th'backs was th'boxworks (the old tram sheds before trams disappeared - they turned round at Platt Bridge from Wigan). My Uncle Norman lived opposite where you were born (Norman Turner, originally from Abram). And the street on the left (behind New Street) was Adelaide Street. It's gone now. The guy who lived in the end house there was Glynn Jones, but me and him were about 15 years before your time.

Just to jog your memory even more, Dennis, the end house in Carr Street where you were born, was lived in in my time by a family called "Davies" - there were two brothers, one was Frank Davies and they were always known as "Gyppos" in the non-racialist and innocent way we had in those days. Although whether or not they were originally gypsies, I don't know. I knew Frank just before and after he married - and if he reads this, he'll bxxxxy kill me!

Just to refresh your memories the bloke in the end house of New St was called BRONK their name was Evans

[quote]Just to jog your memory even more, Dennis, the end house in Carr Street where you were born, was lived in in my time by a family called "Davies" - there were two brothers, one was Frank Davies and they were always known as "Gyppos" in the non-racialist and innocent way we had in those days.[/quote]

Are you sure of this? My family lived there for donkeys years, from between the wars. But, I do not doubt you, it is new to me and something nice to know... and something to look into. I am talking about 12 Car Street?

Mark... it was BROCK, my wife is related to the Evan's on her grandmother's side

It was definately BRONK...Mary 'Bronk' was related to my mother.

it was mary evans she was my antie my grandfarther lived their before her

when billy evans sr was young he was a singer in the local pubs he dressed up as a cowboy and his stage name was bronco bill that got changed to billy bronc / long after his singing career was over he was still known as billy bronc

thats anew one on me catherine my mother never said he was a singer and it was her brother but unkle billy did alot of things in is life CLIFF

cliff. billy evans father was the singer( that would be your great uncle)

dont think so catherine billy evens was my mothers brother my mothers dad was billy evans who lived in the end house in new st but i was in platt bridge 3 years ago most of it was gone

cliff I am talking about your mothers grandfather I lived at 89 tram st for 20yrs the evans (bronc)family lived at93 tram st That was father billy evans mother mary evans ( nee macnamara) childeren billy brian john mary betty frances ann in later years mother mary daughter ann moved to new st

sorry catherine in the photo up top is my grandads house unkle billy lived in tram st who was my mothers brother and if mary is your mother you have just found your 2 cousin if you like use my email tell you more

Do any of you know Martha Evans, or Marion Blakeley from Platt Bridge.

Played rugby for holy family in the early eighties remember faceing this veiw of new st as we kicked off.

The end house in New Street (on the right hand side in the picture) was where my Nan and Granddad lived... Bill 'Owd Bronc' and Mary Evans.

are you an evens mike cliff

Hi Cliff, my Mum was Mary Evans - the eldest child of Granddad (Owd Bronc) and my Nan (Mary Evans). There was also: Billy, Frances, Johnny and Anne. My Mum married Harold Appleton and we lived in Tram Street, I went to Holy Family school - 1964 to 1970.