Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 4th March, 2022)

Well Dennis, each morning I get up early and one of the first thing I do is look at WW, this morning I just knew that the memory drawer was about to be opened. Scot Lane, Aspull !!. Aye, I had to pedal that heavy overloaded order bike up and down that hill most days after school, in fact, there was an old Lady who lived in Ephraim's Fold at the top of the hill that made sure I kept fit, she always managed to forget to order something so I had to return several times with the odd bits and ends she needed, my leg muscles looked like pit props by the time I was 13 years old. Do you remember Nellie Orrell had a shop, just on the left of the photo, She sold nails and screws, Paraffin and paint, fire lighters and firewood, if ever that shop caught fire they would have still been trying to put it out. Next door was Billy's shop, I worked for him from 12 -15 years old 1959 -1962, delivering groceries all over Aspull, after school, what ever the weather, Mon, Tue, Thu and Friday, 4pm till 6pm. Saturday 9 am until 1 pm all for 14/6 d a week ( that's about 75p). Arthur Winrow had a shop just opposite almost next door to the Moorgate pub. Dennis, do remember that old Polish couple who had chickens and ducks and geese in their garden and grew all kinds of vegetables, totally self sufficient they were. The old Methodist Chapel that later became the Pink Elephant. I remember snowy weather and the tin plates we used to sit on sliding down, got told off by mi mam for ripping the britches arse out of my short trousers. Later years I drove lorries all over the country but never did I find a chip shop like Mrs Eckerley's, I don't care what anyone says, she was the best. In the 1950s we paid 6d for chips 1/6d for fish'n'chips, I bought some in Whitby a few months ago the cost nearly £8 can you believe. Well Marra, Thanks for the memories I have loads more and no doubt others will come to mind as the day goes by. Tek care uh thissen Marra, ast sithi soon I hope and thanks.

Looks steeper on the photo than it is.
I remember going watching the sunday afternoons strippers in the club thats on the left of that road

Thankyou for your memories, Gentlemen....I really enjoyed reading those.

I do not know Aspull very well but have good memories of going into the Moorgate on Saturday nights and then onto the Pink Elephant.

Harold St Methodist Chapel closed about 1968 and the members had to combine with the Wesleyan Chapel next to the Queen's Head.
Looking at the photo I can mentally envisage how it was.
Walt, a Whitby firm manages the fish & chip industry here in Whitley Bay, in the Dome. £10 in the cafes, £16.50 in the restaurant. Nowt like Doris Eck's.
Mick, what kind of stripper were they using? Turps or summat stronger?

Walt what memories. You brightened up the start of my day !

Try riding a loaded shop bike up it Mick, I think you’ll find it’s steep enough!

Lovely memories Walt, reminds me of Ggggranvil gggerr on yer bike! With his cardboard boxes

i think nellie orrell sold cotton wool etc

Memories of both very interesting. I read them as one. All the time having to be quick because my iPad freezes on this site. Don't know why..

Dennis, I've just discovered one of our old school chums Ken Blinston has left a message, look at our infants school photo for the comment. Hard to believe its seventy or more years ago now since we first met at that little Methodist school near the Finger Post isn't it. Gary, by gum owd beigh, that's a nice place to live. My wife and me spent a few days in your neck of the woods just a while ago, started our tour at Tynemouth and followed the coast road upto Berwick on Tweed, done this journey a few times now but I'm always gobsmacked at the beauty of the place, tek care Marra.

Walt, I remember grandma sending me to Nellie Orrell’s shop for a gas mantle (This was before she had electricity installed for the Coronation). Before I went I was told, under penalty of instant death not to drop it on the way back. Fortunately, I got it back in one piece. Nellie also had a sideline recharging the batteries that people without electricity needed to power their radio’s.
The Polish couple had one of the allotments between Sumner St and Harold St where they kept pigs Walt. We used to keep all our potato peelings for them. They went into a large dolly tub where they were boiled up for the pigs.
The Pink Elephant was in what had been the Labour Club. Herman’s Hermits appeared there just after they became famous. I suppose the booking must have been made before they hit the big time.
The stretch of road up the hill still had cobble stones (or setts) well into the 1950s. I imagine they left them to help with traction in the Winter.
It was a time when the milkman still came round on a horse and cart and there was so little traffic that we could play football in the middle of the road.
In the Summer, people put chairs out near their doorstep and enjoyed the cool of the evening.
If only the kids of today could have the kind of childhood that we had.

It's a pleasure to look on the computer every morning and look at P-A-D and not see the back biting, like you do on the Message board, General, Thanks to everyone for taking part and the memories they unlock

Today's memories have been so interesting. However, although I remember seeing The Pink Elephant Club, (though I never went in), I could have sworn it was on the road that leads up to The Balcarres and Copperas Lane, rather than the road where The Moorgate is, (which I never knew was called Sawney Brow until today). Just shows how the memory plays tricks.

Nice picture and story, Dennis, pity Mick had to ruin it.

Terry,Mick could ruin a miracle.

Flying down hill on a Trolley ! Pure magic . Do it Dennis . Re live it .

Today's picture reminded me of a wonderful collection of short stories in a book called 'The Goalkeepers Revenge' by Bill Naughton. One of those tales is all about lads trolley racing . It was called 'Spit Nolan' . There are stories about fishing and footy in the streets too . It's a young person's book but will be enjoyed by adults who did these things when kids . Anyone who enjoyed todays PaD will love it .

Do it Dennis . Re live it . A few years ago I became 12 years old again when I came upon a rope swing in Elnup Wood .

I think most of us can identify with the Gas mantles, peelings for the pigs and toffee for them. The recharging stugg for the wireless and the little corner shops. It was a sweet world then and no one will convince me otherwise

Irene, The Pink Elephant was down Harold street below the old Chapel. Which reminds me ! At the front of the Chapel was a notice board, each week it had new thought for week things like, "The Lord Is Watching" etc. One time it said "if you are tired of sin, come in" some clever spark wrote below " If not - phone jullieta on 702345. Those Aspull folk eh !

Great pic Dennis,of my favourite area of the Wigan townships.Fab memories of going up to Aspull as a child with my parents.I remember the Pink Elephant,not far from where the British Legion is now.

Forgot to say,you are so right Dougie,p-a d is a pleasure to look at,General on communications board is dire.Maureen,you are spot on as well.x

Maureen, that was a cracking observation, and so true! Poet, I have read a few of Bill Naughton's books but not that one....I must do so! Walt, that tickled me about Julietta! Thanks to Dennis for today's p-a-d, and to everyone for the wonderful memories that it brought and which you have shared with us all.

I’m sorely tempted to do it Poet, I could get on it at the top but I would need a pit crew to get me off it at the bottom!
I bet you couldn’t find a kid who could cobble a trolley together these days Poet. They would have to get their dad to buy one ready made. Although they could Google for instructions in a minute.

Maureen I'm afraid the comment isn't by me about Mick. I purposely do not comment on the album, not because I have no wish to do so but because others find it amusing to use my name for their own amusement and cause upset to others.

Dennis, I made one for my grandson when he was a little un, pushed him all over our village here in Yorkshire, he was amazed each time he came I had to get the trolley out. What made me chuckle most was the look on other kids faces, often I was asked- can I have a go on it Mister, those kids had never seen anything like it.

Terry,I didn't say it was you,just sent a message to Terry..I don't even know who Terry is..I apologise if you thought it was aimed at you,as I say I don't know who this Terry is or you.

Thank you Dennis, for evoking so many memories for so many people.They were lovely to read. I can relate to the kind of childhood we had.Well said Maureen xx

Beautiful memories,
stirred the good,
days you could hold onto,
my God, how we would.
Turn back tomorrow,
I would at a drop,
at least we can keep em,
those days that we got..

No problem, Maureen. I didn't know myself that my name was constantly being used by others until I was informed recently. Looks like it has been going on for some time.

Terry, some people need to get a life don't they..but they must feel very brave and safe behind a screen..they need to take up knitting to stop them being bored lol.

I fully agree Maureen, it looks like the idiots have no cut off point when it comes to disruption of the site. Thank you for your replies.