Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 4th August, 2020)

I can see owd Rons house on this photo.

Poor old running horses gone my dear old grandad used to go in there in the 60s and 70s does anyone remember him he was called Walter Bateman he sometimes took his dog in with him called taffy he used to live on St Marys Road.

My uncle Bill Brindle's favourite pub.
The police station was in that row.
Another evocative photo Dennis.
Thanks.

Is your chum's house easily seen Mick?

Good photo, many memories of the Running Horses and The Hare and Hounds in the 80's

I remember The Running Horses although I only went in once. It's nice to see it again, if only on a photo.

Yes Phil its the one on the left with the white garage.
Ron told me that they used to have a horse race from the Running Horses pub, down that bit of grass and back up again to the finger post.

Ta ! Dennis, you certainly touch the nerve fella, reminding me of home. We use to go into the Runner most Saturday evenings it had good entertainment , local folks getting up for a singsong , "Harold - you hum it I'll play it- Daniels" on the old piano, never saw him look at a music sheet but he could play any song requested. Great nights.

Thanks Mick, I can see your chum's door. And I've heard of the race ... it's 'a stayers' for 4-year olds and upwards.

Does anyone remember when the flyer bus used to park further up before it went back to Hindley.

Yes Julie I remember the Flyer bus parking there. Also my Dad Joe Moore spent many hours in the Running Horses.

Julie - yes, remember the little flyer. Also remember Hall Lane when it was unmade road. When the flyer started, it was reset, tarmac and lights.

Yes Julie,I remember the 'Flyer' well,used to catch it to visit a friend who lives in Whelley when our children were toddlers.I wish it was still running !

How far back are we going, Gary? Was the 'flyer' a horse-drawn omnibus?

Rev David, "Little Flyer" was a new service introduced around 1960, Gary and Julie like myself remember it very well. LUT single deck ran from Aspull to Westhoughton via Hindley, only came about due to Hall Lane being newly re-surfaced. Nicknamed "Flyer" due to the speeds it could achieve along Bolton Road and Hall Lane. Bus stops on route were few and far between giving the driver the opportunity to floor it, It was said drivers were issued with pilots licenses --- reet is that isn't it Gary. On its return to Aspull drivers took a long break parking the bus near the Runner.

Walt - spot on. David, it was a good service, long overdue when it started circa 1960. Prior to that, Hall Lane would have tested modern off road vehicles.

Spent many happy week ends in the runnig horses,
It should never have been demolished it was a great pub.0

I remember The Running Horses (which was nicknamed The Galloping Geegees) well in the 60s and 70s. Every Saturday night 4 of us used to go in the 'Singing Room' where various singers would get up and keep us entertrained. I remember one lady who came from Westhoughton who used to sing regularly, she was fantastic. Yes, I remember the flyer as well because my in-laws lived in Sandy Lane in Hindley.