Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 16th June, 2025)

More like Street clutter.

It really does take a lot of skill, talent and patience to put on a performance like that, all credit to ‘em.

Street graffiti, we are a society always after money. People forget there is a cost of living crisis.
Sorry but no! :-(

We need something to brighten up the town, I try not to visit the place anymore. Nothing appeals to me.

May i ask are those real people or statues just curious.

Scroungers in shop door ways, people sleeping rough, argonisers after money, food banks and no jobs. We're a skint town, with not many proper shops.
Thankfully I was born in the late 40s and had a good working life and loved Wigan in the 60s. It's sad to look at the town now.

Street theatres are usually performed without paying audiences.
After saying that, I wouldn't mind throwing a few pence at it.

It’s as if there’s competition these days who can look the scruffiest! Back in the day it was genuine pit men ( and other hard working men) who came out of the pits looking very much worse for wear…but when the men had a good scrub they were proud to look very smart…in fact they were unrecognisable after a good scrub! Bless ‘em all. I don’t understand the youngsters who like to walk about wearing ripped trousers. There’s nothing nicer than looking smart…I spend a lot of time with my appearance even at my age! The photo is a good description of ‘scruff’..

Why would any busker come to Wigan? We spend all our time moaning about the price of pies and fish and chips, so surely no money to clod away?

Exactly Dave.

Veronica you're spot on.
We've seen photos on WW and you are indeed elegant and beautiful.

Scruffy is the perfect word to describe the place.

yah Howard brilliant we have got these lot who are running this country now theres going to be nothing left even more badder than the last lot appart from that with the wars whats going on these lot are going to have us all dragged in and us being targetted.

Sorry, I'm afraid I can't find much to say about today's PAD....but in Cromer a couple of days ago we saw a coach from St Helens, a David Ogden's coach & spoke to some very nice people who were just getting aboard. They said they had enjoyed 4 interesting days in Nth Norfolk.
I know it wasnt a Wigan coach but near enough to Wigan to mention !!

That’s really nice of you to say Arthur. I think our age group appreciates good clothes - growing up in the fifties we only got new ones on special occasions. When I started work at 15 I used to save up and buy all the clothes I wanted…it’s been the same ever since and I don’t like throwing clothes away..I look after them like a lot of my age group. I just don’t need as many these days! §;>)

I do not believe for one moment that these comments are made by people who go into Wigan regularly. They are most appreciative of the the various Buskers and Entertainer who provide a little joy on Standishgate and Market Place, I doubt if most if any of these so called ‘Wiganer’s’ ever ‘If they even exist’ go into town as I now do.
Veronica, I am surprised at your comment.
And Helen, you put a similar comment up last year. Please stick to Norfolk.
As for me, you might see a few photos popping up in the near future, as for that, I have much better things to do I my life, I am now done with WW.

That green ensemble would be ideal for hiding from the bobbies in the plantations .

They’d be forced to crack open the divisional toy box and come after you with their thermos imaging cameras … by which time you’d be the other side of Rivington .

Conversely , they’d have had you down at the bridewell within minutes had you been wearing your best tuxedo and your white fedora hat .

So you see , dressing like a scruff ain’t necessarily always a bad thing … ask any British army sniper that you may be conversant with if you don’t believe me .

It’s no use dressing up like Randall and Hopkirk
( diseased ) when you’re on the run is it ? … see my point ?

I thought it was my glasses case but wrong colour

I was thinking that myself Julie, they may stand as a living statue, then when money is thrown on the mat they'll move in an attempt to give a fright. Wonder if they sleep with all that greasepaint on and so being ready for an early start, if so, their landlady will be moaning when she sees her best Egyptian cotton sheets and pillowcases are full of it.

Come on Colin put your dummy back in, people have a right to voice their opinion on WW, that's why it's the greatest site on the web. Comments are never personal.

My younger son's an actor - you won't find many who earn big money, unless they're related to a 'celeb' who's already on the box. These actors are driven by a love of the arts, else they wouldn't opt to live on very low wages. My son works in a bookshop in Muswell Hill to pay for his rent, and even though he has a good degree, 'the Arts' are what he's always loved and what drives him. People aren't always what they seem at first glance.

Colin.--. Please don't give up on WW. I for one really enjoy and appreciate your photos and informative posts and I'm sure there are many others of like mind.
Ignore the critics and those who seem determined only to post negative comments about our town. It isn't all bad, people haven't deserted the town centre, especially in the mornings, when I usually go.
It's no use folk bemoaning the past, it won't return and we have to make the best of what we have now. If we don't use the town centre and the market, we can't complain when things disappear.
A colo!urfull and unusual photo today. It must be so tiring not to move at all. Certainly not something I could do..

Colin, my comment re the coach was tongue in cheek...I,wasn't being critical about your PAD.. it was just I couldn't think what to say about it. Sorry if it upset you.....go on take some more of your excellent photos !

Colin....I don't go the Wigan as such, but drive through it. I've seen enough, especially up Wallgate, like Arthur and Veronica says we've seen better days. I live in Wigan, but keep away from walking and shopping round the town.

I do not believe for one moment that these comments are made by people who go into Wigan regularly. They are most appreciative of the the various Buskers and Entertainer who provide a little joy on Standishgate and Market Place, I doubt if most if any of these so called ‘Wiganer’s’ ever ‘If they even exist’ go into town as I now do.
Veronica, I am surprised at your comment.
And Helen, you put a similar comment up last year. Please stick to Norfolk.
As for me, you might see a few photos popping up in the near future, as for that, I have much better things to do I my life, I am now done with WW.

Have you ever shopped in supermarkets and been so annoyed with the music they play and so loud.
Annoying.

Colin you only took the photo there’s nothing wrong with the way it’s been ‘ staged’ it’s a good composition. It’s what it reflects..nothing to do with you personally you are on the outside ‘ looking in’ as we are. My comments aren’t ‘negative’ ( nothing to do with the past either!) if anything the figures look negative. There’s a ‘hopelessness’ about them in my view that comes across. If that’s what they intended then they have been successful.

Colin, I don't think for one moment that Veronica was criticising the people in your photo who are obviously "street theatre people".....she was just commenting generally how standards have dropped in dress over the years, from smart skirts and trousers to ripped jeans and slovenly appearance. Many people, ( but by no means all), only get dressed up these days for weddings and other special occasions whereas at one time they would "dress up" just to go into Wigan. Veronica is a lovely lady, as is Helen, who is a champion of Wigan and never fails to add fair and interesting comments. I think you just got the wrong end of the stick and we would be sorry to lose your input on Wigan World.

Ps I actually came to Wigan today after coming back off holiday. I left my glasses behind and had to go to SpecSavers to order my prescription. It was nice and sunny and I felt quite happy to be back after months away. I debated with myself whether to go to the
‘Chippery’ but decided not to after all the rich food I have eaten. In fact looking at that green man and the red woman that would have made my mind up. Carry on clicking Colin you have helped my waistline today.

“That’s the last time I go paintballing with you three I’ll tell you that”

Comment by: Arthur on 16th June 2025 at 16:54
Come on Colin put your dummy back in, people have a right to voice their opinion on WW, that's why it's the greatest site on the web. Comments are never personal.


Is that why there have only been 3 comments all day?

Colin its your choice, but you have to take the positives and negatives. Wigan Worlders are not aiming at you personally, you have taken some superb photo's that are so interesting with noligable stories about them. 9 out of 10 photo's you take are brilliant, that's a great percentage.
I didn't comment on today's photo because I don't like it and shares no interest with me, I believe that's the best choice. Keep clicking you camera because you'll be missed if you don't.

Ozy did you know that the plantations have this evening had a dispersal order, and are now closed; and there's police stopping and searching anyone they come across in there and the perimeter, all this after misfits have been threatening to go in with knifes and other weapons, apparently, they were to attack students whom were planning a party to celebrate the end of exams. A sad day when these misfits stop students from having a bit of fun and an evening's relaxation.

I reckon there’s only one living breathing person in among this lot .

This person would be yon youth dressed in the green camo gear … or that would be my guess at any rate .

The rest of ‘em come apart and eke out their miserable existences crammed into that blue box .

Come on , it’s blindingly obvious … ten quid in loose change for standing motionless all day ain’t gonna go that far when it’s split four ways is it really ?

Just mull it over for a minute or two .

Remember yon mon a few years back who sprayed his face white, covered himself with his mam’s tablecloth then stood on a box expecting folk to shower him with currency ?

Yeah ? … well how convincing wasn’t he ?

Whatever it was he was supposed to be .

Jelly Sunday mon presumably .

My dad back in the day wore a tie at work. He worked as a printer.

First I’ve heard about that Cyril , but it’s nowt new really . I’ve been fired upon by gobsh*tes with air rifles on two occasions in there over the years .

The local constabulary are about as much use as a rubber clothes line in my view , as when it all kicks off , they normally turn up , sirens wailing , with the dog van and the helicopter hovering overhead , at least two hours after everyone else has gone home .

But let there be a minor bump on the M6 with a bit of orange plastic from somebody’s indicator lens on the carriageway and they all turn up gang handed and close off two lanes for the best part of the day .

Muppets to a man .

Look at the response when that poor bloke was killed by a wagon on the infirmary site a few months back .
You couldn’t move on Wigan lane for the amount of bleed’n police cars … Now how’s that helping anyone ? … anybody know ? …certainly not the unfortunate fella that died .

Muppets to a man .

One has to assume that all the paedophiles ,drug dealers , murderers , rapists , shoplifters , ram raiders and other miscellaneous miscreants are already under lock and key doesn’t one ?

I got pulled by the plod near Iceland in Platt Bridge recently by what appeared to be at least 75% of the entire GM force ‘cos my trailer plate , although legible from the international space station , didn’t have a yellow backing that was reflective . ffs .

Too many people don't obay the law with number plates, altering them, moving letters and numbers to make names, don't have the post codes and BS numbers is against the law. And speed cameras can't read faulty
number plate. There's too many people breaking the law. The Police are perfectly right to stop vehicles with faulty and unreadable plates and we should have more police stops.
Remember, number plates are NOT just for show they represent the vehicles ID and help to catch the baddies who do
wrong. The Police at Platt Bridge are traffic police by the way.

Colin, was not criticising the photo which I think is great. Just stating a fact that some folk feel. I go into town at least three times a week and also shop in the market at least twice. Wigan is not the town it used to be but it is still WIGAN and I still love it!

Let's all have a nice day, re-group and start again.

There was a bit about the incident in the plantations and at Haigh Hall in the WEP:
https://www.wigantoday.net/news/crime/wigan-police-crack-down-amid-fears-of-violence-at-haigh-hall-5179317

Yes that’s right Alan re - boot as they say even though the characters look like Flash Gordon’s Clay men on Saturday morning at Scholes Pictures!

Got back from Llandudno this afternoon and watched the bloke in green putting on his make up and assembling the figures this morning,he was there yesterday as well.

We’ve been bamboozled then….Ozy was right …
They still look scruffy though. Just shows the camera does tell fibs.

Yes, Ozy was spot on Veronica