Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 6th November, 2020)

I was told Pole street got its name from it being the location of the Standish Maypole.
The best chippy in Standish is located in Pole street,

Once upon a time in Pole Street there was Baybutt's shoe shop , the Midland Bank , Mort's TV repairs and Isherwood's paint and wallpaper shop.
In Baybutt's , the shoes were kept on high racks that had a sliding ladder to reach them . They also did repairs and there was always the sound of hammering coming from the back .
The bank had an imposing heavy wooden door and a big brassy looking night safe on the wall . Opposite , Mr Isherwood stood like a sentry on his front step in his brown dust coat . Scrolls of wallpaper in the window like little waterfalls .
Mort's had a few colour tellies in their window which they kept switched on all evening . On a dark rainy nights they flickered green and red on the wet pavement .
Alas, fast food now dominates but that said Pole St. chippy is brilliant .
Nice photo Dennis . I hope you don't mind me bringing a bit of then to now .

Takeaways its ridiculous that's all it is today everywhere you go be don't need so many, it should be stopped

takeaways that's all it is today everywhere you go its ridiculous we don't need so many it should not be allowed so many in small villages. Everything today has been spoilt.

Dennis, your lovely photo has brought back many memories. I worked in Standish from 1970-1973 at Richardson's Chemists which was opposite The Globe pub in High Street in those days. It is 50 years ago but I still recall many of the customers. I remember Pole Street but the chippy I used to get my dinner from was Farrimond's in Church Street, next to the doctor's surgery. The doctors were Dr. Marwick, Dr. Ormsby and Dr. McFaul. Some years ago my friend Neil took me to Standish and I went in Farrimond's chippy and it was like stepping back in time.....it was exactly the same! It has since closed but I am so glad I had the chance to go in one last time. I don't recall Pole Street with the same detail as you do, Poet, but I find your memories fascinating, and how well you have brought it back to life, especially the flickering green and red lights from the television repair shop on the wet pavement. They say a picture paints a thousand words, but your words have painted a thousand pictures.

From 1941 i lived in Market St a couple of doors from the Black Bull pub the cream coloured building which can be seen right centre of the photo. In the late 40's all our games were played in Pole St including football, we had to stop playing perhaps every 5 mins to let a car come past, a black one, no other colours those days.
TIM'S pizza shop is where Baybutt's was, as referred to by Poet, but in those days it was Rushton's the well known grocery business.
The large tree which can be seen, is a Horse Chestnut or Conker as they're called, which, when i got married in 1965 wasn't there, neither were the buildings near it.
Mick, i'm not sure about your Maypole suggestion, there was one in Duxbury, which was part of the parish of Standish.
Irene we spoke some time ago via WW about you remembering my sister bringing film to you to be processed.

It’s amazing how a bit of rain can transform a dull, lifeless scene into something beautiful.
You are right Irene, words can paint a picture in the mind. I remember a few lines of a poem who’s name I can’t remember that went...
On Linden when the sun was low
All bloodless lay the untrodden snow
And dark as winter was the flow
Of Iser rolling rapidly
I can see in my mind that dark, rolling river flowing through virgin snow and I can feel that cold, winters day.
Can’t remember the flipping’ name of the poem though!

Yes Roy, I remember that. It was when I worked at Boots in Wigan, (1992 to 2007), that I remember your sister bringing her films in. I used to develop and print them for her. When I worked at Richardson's we used to send films away to be processed. It's all digital now and I'm retired from shop work and glad to be so as we approach Christmas!

Theres a Lyndon ave in Shevy

Standish seemed like a foreign country to me as a child. Only driven through on the charabanc on the way to Blackpool Illuminations once a year. It was far away beyond the trees from Wigan Infirmary or it seemed to be, but what an adventure it was coming back in the dark despite feeling sick on the coach. My first glance at the photo, it looked like the top of Mesnes St. Lovely photo though Dennis.

You get about Dennis , good photo , nipped down there a few times to miss the lights.

I have loved reading everybody's memories about the photo. Those were days !

Farrimonds chippy was the best, on pay day used to treat my dad to fish and chips for supper, large portion was 1s 6d. Dr Marwick was our doctor.

For Dennis,

T. Campbell.

CCXV. Hohenlinden

ON Linden, when the sun was low,
All bloodless lay the untrodden snow;
And dark as winter was the flow
Of Iser, rolling rapidly.

But Linden saw another sight,
When the drum beat at dead of night,
Commanding fires of death to light
The darkness of her scenery.

By torch and trumpet fast array'd
Each horseman drew his battle-blade,
And furious every charger neigh'd
To join the dreadful revelry.

Then shook the hills with thunder riven;
Then rush'd the steed to battle driven;
And louder than the bolts of heaven
Far flash'd the red artillery.

But redder yet that light shall glow
On Linden's hills of stainèd snow;
And bloodier yet the torrent flow
Of Iser, rolling rapidly.

'Tis morn; but scarce yon level sun
Can pierce the war-clouds rolling dun,
Where furious Frank and fiery Hun
Shout in their sulphurous canopy.

The combat deepens. On, ye brave
Who rush to glory, or the grave!
Wave, Munich! all thy banners wave,
And charge with all thy chivalry!

Few, few shall part where many meet!
The snow shall be their winding-sheet,
And every turf beneath their feet
Shall be a soldier's sepulchre.

From here, Francis T. Palgrave, ed. (1824–1897). The Golden Treasury. 1875

Irene Ive just been sat talking to your mate Pam in the Wigan market place.

Thanks for that Cyril, I like that kind of poetry, very stirring. Hohenlinden, I’ll imprint it on my aged brain.

Pam Shaw, Mick? I hope you found her well. It doesn't seem that long ago you bumped into my old friend Dennis Miller on the canal bank! Lovely people both.

Yes Irene , Pam was found safely , and so was Lucy .
Do you remember that large kite she had ? Well this time, it lifted her up and dumped her in a very high tree, where she found Mr Robert’s cat Lucy who had got stranded . They were both now stuck and the battery on her mobile was flat .
But , with great fortune,
a chap on a bike turned up and offered to help . Climbing up with the tree climbing gear he just happened to be carrying , he rescued
them both to safety . With Pam on the handlebars and Lucy on his shoulder , the kind gent rode them home .
That evening , Lucy , now fully fed , slept in front of the roaring fire whilst Pam pondered how to recover her kite , which quite mischievously , had flown off and now rested in another tree close by .

Good photo Dennis,and nice to read all the memories from everyone although I'm like Veronica,it always seemed miles away.

Yes that Pam Irene,

Is that the same Pam Shaw that used to sing in the clubs Irene?

Thankyou f, for that information. I'm glad the cat Lucy is a Roberts....we must be related. Other than that, I am well and truly LOST with your post! Yes, DTease, Pam used to sing in the clubs. To be honest, we are just Facebook Friends and I have only spoken to her face-to- face once when I was walking Our Jamie's little dog and she stopped to admire him. , but she is an animal lover and looks after a number of dogs belonging to her friends, and anyone who cares for animals as Pam does is okay in my book.

Irene, I think the rescued cat was due to a certain person on a bike! Can you imagine it sat on the handlebars?! He must have taken it to Garry's house to sit in front of the roaring fire! I wonder ids I could have got a job at Bletchley ...

She was a good singer Irene.

Apologies Irene, My piece , if you can call it that, is light hearted drivel! So please don't be lost. I took a moment of silliness to run with your line 'I hope you found her well' which my odd imagination got hold of, which often happens when I read some text or see pictures etc.
Probably too many years of watching Monty Python on my part or listening to Genesis maybe. Won't happen again I promise.

Don't worry, f.....please don't apologise and please take a moment of silliness at any time! We could all do with a bit of silliness now and again, probably more than ever at the moment! I was just at a bit of a loss to understand it.

Dennis would have been stood taking the picture near to where Joe Hunter had his electrical shop. He sold parts for bikes as well, a proper Aladin's cave. I agree about the Chippy, Farrimonds was the best in Standish and district, bar non. Bill and Mary had them lining up past the doctors surgery most days. Great photo Dennis

Farrimonds was good but its gone, so the best chippy in Standish is still located in Pole street,

Pepper Lane chippy, a bit dearer but definately got the edge on Pole Street. 7 Seas Fish & Chips on Wigan Lane probably the best around although I remember a little one in Blackrod, opposite the Red Lion that was pretty good too.

7 Seas Fish & Chips have now opened one in Chorley, I was in last week, yes the Blackrod chippy is still a good one and last time I was in they served rag puddings so I had one with chips and gravy

' Rag Puddings ', new one on me that Mick. Is it some sort of steak pudding ?

Do any of you Standish people remember a little wool shop in this area in the late 50's? I remember visiting a great aunt ,named Olive who I think owned the shop.I also had an uncle Stan Whittle who lived near St Wilfred's church in a very tall terraced house,he is buried in the churchyard.I also remember playing with a girl Joan or Barbara Hunter when we visited my relations

I recall a wool shop in the 60s next to Joe Hunters on Preston Road Pw . It was built of stone and had blue window frames .

Poet,thank you very much for that information.My grandad was born at 362 Preston Rd.I now think the girl we met was Sandra Hunter so it seems likely the shop you mention is the right one.Do you know if the shop is still there?I remember also that at the back of the shop or it could be a different relative there was a huge amount of bottles which I think was Almonds Brewery but not sure.Thanks again.

The shop has gone now Pw . Almond's had land to the rear that is now a car park for Aldi .
I knew Sandra's brother Alan who sadly died before his time a few years ago .