Greenough Street

I think I got you now Bert (jonney) Bert, why did I call you Bert? I remember lendin you £50, was no need go change your name !! get down there cheers,

Hello Cliff I'll try and see you on St Georges day butI didn't go to the school. I was the lad who knocked about with the St Judes rugby lads. Skinny bloke dark hair tash and glasses. You always said hello Bert. Don't know why. good hearing from you. Johny.

Hi Johnny, sry I cant put a face to your name, yeh was me (guilty) not sure of the West Side Story songs but you cant be far off and yes I was in the Wigan Pier Barbershop Chorus in the early 90,s it was good fun. Cheers Johnny, bring youself to the Brocket on St Georges Day, I promise I wont sing, honest.

hi kath i also have seen Billy Spencer a couple of months since sitting on a form outside the gents lavi in the galleries. he looked a bit out of it wasnt sure it was him if you know what i mean. another old teacher who knows him said it would be him cos that were he sits. so if your in the galleries any mornin see if hes siiting on the form outside the gents kazi.

Hi! Kath, Mr Spencer is still with us and still living in Vine st.

Cliff Higham. Are you the man who used to give improptu recitals of the popular musicals in the bar at Swinley Labour Club. Also didn't you used to be a member of the Greenough Street Barbers Shop band. I thorughly enjoyed your renditions of the musicals especially West Side Story. Maria! Maria! Good on you.

Idont recall the name but if Cliff Higham comes through he may know better. Sound like a medium dont I but thinking back we were all in the same class at ST GEORGES does anyone know if MR SPENCER is still with us i did hear he was still in vine st but i though he moved to highfield or was that to a school

I looled at the photo sent in by Kath. B. confirmation at St Georges. There are two lads who look a lot like the brothers Alf and Mick Padget who went to St Michaels school. Is this true?

OOP,S !! Thanks Cliff

I just noticed, 99 postings about Greeough St,it deserves it. The 100th posting wins a bottle of Whiskey !!

Hey !! St Georgians, nice to hear so many of us still around, as to a previous posting cliffs still here, and only 10yrs old, and still have nightmares about Miss Scally and I,m still making catapults and buyin pigeon peas for my pea shooter. I remember you Kath "cheeky monkey " and a few other names but I cant put faces to some, What a great idea to meet up in the Brocket on St georges Day, first drinks are on me, tea, coffee !!! teehee, whatever. If we all wore a red rose about us, just say " Hello george, hows the dragon ?" males of course, women, "Hi, hows the slayer? " it Really would me great to meet some old "oops sry," boys an girls from our old school. I still look in awe of the place whilst having breakfast sometimes in Tesco Cafe, Aww memories, thats all we got, lets make them real and meet up if you can make it. Bring all the photos you have, Joe Barker put a good one one here, class photo 1857, ok, ok! 1957, See you all there,try an make it, Cliff, aka ( bloomoon )

I was born in primrose hill in scholes but moved to pemberton as a baby so don't ever remember living there.I have only just recently found out where primrose hill was even my mum god bless her couldnt remember where it was as she and dad were in lodgings as many people were in those days (1957)I remember Dr's Johnson and Garry also I remember Longshoot health centre being built..as a matter of fact it is still my Doctors today even though I live in Pemberton.The funny thing is when I was a kid and visited the doctors I used to catch the bus from pemberton to Wigan then walk from Wigan to Whelly and I used to actually walk up the street I was born in and never new it.

just been looking at the grammer school there was a lad called oswald parr were you called ronnie by any chance i was suprised to see clifford higham and joe hill cliff do you know what happend to tony bennet he was always so clever and did donald ross ever get to be a doctor as he always said he would i have put a photo of our confirmation class we dont look very angelic at all

Kath B. Put your photos on this site on the St Georges page so that we can all have a laugh. I see you have alresdy put a Confirmation photo on of a trip to Liverpool Cathederal. Its a case of the Good Bad and the Ugly. I recognise some of the young scallies Barry Tarbuck, James Hornby and Clifford Higham. Then there is Joe Barker and Tony Bennet. Don't you think Alan Adlington reminds you a bit of Brad Pitt. Then there are the sugar and spices Sheila Connar, Rita Lowe, Joan Brennan and Lois Halsall. I don't remember all the faces. Keep up the good work.

the rose queen was the one in 1954 or 55 sheila connah and myself(kathleen bridge) were in the retinue we had to wear turquoise dresses and little hats they looked like birds nests i cannot remember anyone else a few of the lads leant over to see how many little stones they could get to land in the (birds nests) .i have some photos i would like to send who will i send them to give us a clue

Re: Kath B. The Rose Queens name was Price. I can not remember her first name.

Re: Kath B and Rose Queen. The rose queen lived at the bottom of Great Acre or Vine St in the semi-detached houses. I can not yet recall her name but will enquire of friends. Until you mentioned the Rose Queen I had forgotten all about it. She was a blond slim pretty girl. She had an older brother who wenr to St Georges and I think later the Grammar School. He was a languages teacher who taught English at Wigan Tech and was fluent in German. I will let you know the name when I find out.

can anyone from st georges remember the rose queen when we danced in the school yard dressed in vests and shorts.it would now be a sight to behold any photos knocking about.

Didn't go to St Georges school but will get in the Brocket on St Georges day for a laugh cheers Ginger. Does anyone remeber Marsh Lane it ran from Greenough St to Standishgate past St Georges church. It was the oldest property I recall in Wigan. Most of the folk were relocated to Marsh Green when it was demolished. I used to go there a lot in the 50s but I only remeber two lads Keith West and Edward Hutchinson. Anyone know what became of them.

Been reading with interest how many with memories of Greenough St have a connection with st Georges school. Why not meet up on St Georges day 23rd April - say at the Brocket Arms in Mesnes Rd at 7pm. No need for inroductions just good fun seeing who turns up.

does anyone remember a walter richardson who worked mending clog,s and shoe,s down a celler in regi suttons cloger,s on the corner of greenough street his nick name was walter coron he also mended shoe,s in a shed in the back yard at 46 bolton street hr ince but was well known at regi,s from 1930 to about 1950,s he died at the age of 93 in march 1996 if anyone rememers him please answer i am his youngest daughter

does anyone remember a walter richardson who worked mending clog,s and shoe,s down a celler in regi suttons cloger,s on the corner of greenough street his nick name was walter coron he also mended shoe,s in a shed in the back yard at 46 bolton street hr ince but was well known at regi,s from 1930 to about 1950,s he died at the age of 93 in march 1996 if anyone rememers him please answer i am his youngest daughter

Woodyard but I don't remember a Kath. Does anyone remember a little girl called Carol who visited her relatives in Turner St. She had dark hair and rosy cheeks. It was on the side of Turner St opposite Seddons toffee shop near Connors or Smiths.

Lots of kids were confirmed at Liverpool in 57. I think: Lois Halsall, Clifford Higham, Alan Adlington, Joe Barker, Rita Lowe, Donald Ross, Mary Roper, Joan Brennan to name but a few.

i lived in vaughan st across from where charlie savori used to make the ice cream i also remember the woodyard my mam used to work there she was called sally my grandma lived next door to the cloggers in oxford st the pub on the corner was the regent does anybody from st georges remember going to liverpool cathedral yo be confirmed in 1957 heres hoping

Sorry Bill owd lad remember the names but not the faces. Remembered a skinny pale blond little girl from Wynard Ave and little thin blond lad who played in the woodyard. I thought they were brother and sister cos they looked alike but I think the blond lad lived in Windsor St. Can't remember their names. Th'owd memory is fading.

hi . about the woodyard near st georges does any remember the two lads who lived in the woodyard. norman broomhead and graham eastham i think their parents owned the business, where are they now! they where in the same class all through school.bill rayner.

Hi all. Reading your memories takes me back. As kids in the 50s we had a hideout in the woodyard near St Georges School. It was a gap indside the stacked planks of wood. Things we got up to. I recall little Sheila from Turner St and Janet. The lads were a load of scallies. Wont mention names cos they are probably in the Wigan mafia if not the Chicago mafia. Great memeories though.

re. anne slevin.carol collins father frank was the uncle of jackie and bobbie edwards.rosleen simm lived with her grandparents and was friendly with barbara gilbert and her twin sister ? they lived in a street between mount st and regent st we where all in the same class at st georges rosleen got married and went to live in billinge rd pemberton she worked at billinge hospital in g ward and looked after my mother when she was in there the last i heard she was still living in billinge rd.i hope this is of some help.re. cedrick tarbuck.cedrick had a real bow and arrow he used to fire it staight up into the air and scare everybody stiff another lad who lived near cedrick was kevin mc. garty he had a sword as big as excaliber and used knight all the kids i think he had a younger sister i think they went to st mary,s does anyone remember them.regarding lewis,s snack bar hilda was addoptedby the raffo family and married charley sivori they had a son named tony who went to st john,s ps.i don,t remember ajukebox in lewis,s when did it get put in.bill rayner

hi alan brian appleton went to whelley snr school i think he left the area shortly afterwards i last saw him in skelmersdale in the 70,s where he was a policeman i think alan addlington went to all saints he was a little bit younger than me. i can,t recall the others. is the tom porter mentiond in earlier letters the same one who lived in regent st near nolan,s shop

Hi William. I went to school roughly same time as you. Lived near Greenough St. Only remember Brian Appleton. Other names on this site I remember Clifford Higham, Barry Tarbuck, Alan Addlington. Don't know what became of them. Suppose could now have passed on. Sobering thought.

i was born in mount st in 1942 i went to st georges school then on to all saints in frog lane' leaving there xmas 1957.i had lots of friends from around greenhough st.george norburn.allan berry.allan evans.from regent. st terry gerard.david ruddick.vinnie halliwell.bobbie edwards.joe fitzsimmons.brian appleton from oxford st.we used to play football on the old tennis courts on great acre park.we also spent a lot of time in the plantations (woods) during our summer holidays,happy days! does anyone remember any lads.from bill rayner fasf approaching retiring age.

Florries corner green grocers shop opposite Turner st was my mothers .Sutcliffes tripe shop was on the opposite corner.dStan Mclouds butchers next door.Lewis or Rafos ice cream and post office across the road Two chip shops Who needed super markets.

Hi Colin Mitchinson, it sounds like it was Ken that I knew. It's such a long time ago, it's difficult to remember everyone, isn't it? I remember Barbara quite well, she was a lovely girl. Thanks for the good wishes, and have a good 2007.

Message for Jim Fairhurst. Sorry Jim but your name does not immediately come to mind although it was a long time ago. I remember an Anthony Fairhurst in my class at St Johns. Is he any relation. I did have an elder sister and brother, Barbara and Ken. Sadly Barbara died in December 1963. I have asked the site to put some photographs on taken on Whit Monday 1961 during the walking day and another of the 3 of us behind the chip shop. They are a little faded but maybe you recognise one of us or maybe someone in the photos recognises themselves and will get in touch. If it helps, other people in my class at St Johns were Terry Lloyd (I am still in touch with him) Jane Ashurst, Louise Green, Rosalind Walters, Nicholas Fisher, Francis Worthington, Carl Prior, John Sharkey, Peter Robinson and John and Helen Taylor. Do you or anyone else recognise any of the names. If not it was worth a try. All the best for the new year. Colin Mitchinson

To Colin Mitchinson, Colin, I think we went to school together. The chips from your chippy were much better than from the one opposite. I remember your sister as well.

Just discovered this amazing site. The memories come flooding back. I lived at 54 Greenhough Street in the early 60s. This was in fact one of the chip shops (Mitchinsons)mentioned by Jim From Fleetwood. I also went to St Johns School in Brick Kiln Lane. I was there when the dreaded Mrs Benson first came to the school. The piercing stare over the top of the glasses would stop anyone in their tracks. Miss Murphy used to get me to call at a grocers at the top end of scholes every Friday to drop off her order for which she paid me sixpence. I remember Mr Rynn because his daughter Judith was in our class. Sister Christine was the head mistress. Does anyone remember a teacher in the infants by the name of Miss Joyce. She was great. Going back to Greenough Street there are some pictures that I can dig out taken from outside the chippy of the walking day in 1961. Once I figure out how to do it I will put them on. Can I say thanks to all who have taken the time to contribute to the site. Nostalga is a wonderful thing

My mate Julie Holmes used to work at a little hairdressers on the right side of Greenought St. further down from the bike shop, The RSPCA had an office there too later. AN old pakistani guy used to live in a flat over the hairdressers--always carried a briefcase--too bad it's all gone

I have been reading the memories with great interest having been born just off Greenough Street near St Georges school. I recall the names Alan Adlington and Tarbuck. I think the lad I remember was named Barry probably a brother of the other Tarbucks. I think they all went to St Georges school. I remember the young scallies dressing up as Guy Fawks on the corner of Turner St and cadging coppers from the passers by. Good memories, pity the community has now gone.

just looking through the memories and came across dr johnsons surgury dr johnson was a tall slim man who was born in canada both drs where strong catholics cathleen the receptionist second name was lumb known to many as mrs lumb i was once on the same bus as her coming back from scotland with my mother who was also scotish mum had a good old chat with her she used to fly across the surgery how she never sliped in those high heels is beyond me she was allways smartly dressed a very classy lady

two of the girls who posted earlier i remember you both well and good to know your both still ok how are you helen and adele ? surprised no one mentions getting 5 seps (seperate gigarettes ) and a book of matches from prescotts 12and a half pence when i used to buy them he even asked my mother for the halfpence i owed him one day and another i thought he was going to have a heart attack in 76 when it was that hot all the bottles of pop started to explode behind me gave us the chance at the penny tray without him catching us

Tom Porter remembers Cedric Tarbuck. Cedric is my brother and he went to Austalia around 45 years ago. It cost him £10 and if he didnt like it, he could come back! He stopped there and is now married to a lovely chinese woman and has two sons who are both pilots. I also remember Kate Conroy, Pats sister,Pat went out with my oldest brother Horace. I hope Kate is happy in Spain. Jennifer Tarbuck.

My maiden name was Fairhurst and have noted that a number of people with the same surname have written about greenhough st and the surrounding area. Just wandered if i have any long lost relatives out there !! My dad's name was William Fairhurst and he was a car salesman for Timberlakes in Library st from being a young lad.My mother's name was Mary but got called Polly. Her maiden name was Buckley and she had 2 sisters named Annie and Alice.We lived in the 'tin houses' in Durham st Whelley for many years. Anybody remember us ?

Does anyone remember the Drill Hall. I was a sea scout there in the 50s.

Reply Derek /congregating around the stocking factory -I used to think those Convent girls were the "bee's knees". Two of them lived facing the "breid" one had blonde hair and I used to think she was the spitting image of Doris Day! I think her mother was called Bridget. They seemed so grown up to me and my friend. They must only have been about 5 years older than us. Just because they went to the convent it was ok to hang about - if it had been anybody else - ordinary school kids we would probably have been shifted!!!When it was my turn to hang about corners we went to a street just off Scholefield Lane. I think Blackburn's coal yard was just opposite. Also an off-licence on Lorne St was another place. One night a lad pulled me by my scarf and then let go and I went through the window. Everybody scattered except me left in the window to face the shopkeeper. The others ran inside St Catharine's churchyard hiding behind the grave stones I think! Anyway a lot of empty bottles were taken back for money to pay for the damage!! Great days!

Is this my owd mate Jemmy. Haven't heard from you since school. I thought you were brown bread. Last time I heard about Ronnie he was selling time shares on the Costa Del Sol.

I used to go in a cafe at the bottom end of Greenough Street during the 60s. It was run by a well known character called Ronnie Barnes. It had a juke box on the wall. Does anbody know what Ronnie is doing now if he hasn't cocked up his toes?

Ref: Veronica,westhoughton reply. I was one of the Thornleigh boys who used to hang out at the "Stocking Factory" (later the Paradise Club)in Vauxhall Rd, off Scholes during the 1950's. I won't mention any other names for fear of reprisals!! Re. the header picture on this page: The corner shop on the left they are approaching was Tickles the Printers, just out of shot to their left was the gents urinals painted corporation green mentioned in an earlier reply --- in between was the riverside path down to the other bridge. The urinals were only half roofed, but shin up onto the Duggy bridge wall and then on to the roof top was pole position for watching the Whit Monday walks over the crowds heads as the came up from the Market square.

The "breyd" or "breid" is where we played as kids. I also remember big wagons parked on there sometimes as we used to play on them as well. There was always lots of loose bricks and we used to play at "house" with them. There must have been houses on the land at some point which must have been pulled down. We also used to pull sods of grass up and throw them at one another!! I remember walking across the spare land as a short cut to Scholes itself. There were some very old buildings on Scholes which were empty and we used to play in them as well. I recollect falling through the floor into a cellar and seeing "stars". It may be that the word "breyd" derives from the Irish because there were many Irish families in Scholes - after all it was St. Pat's parish - many families were descended from the Irish who came over in the 19th Century. I also remember girls from the Convent and boys from Thornleigh congregating near the stocking factory after school.

Does anyone remember Maggie Leyland,s Hairdressers opposite the bombed out church at the top of Greenhough St? She later became the landlady of The Bluebell. Also can anyone throw any light on the origin of the Breyd, the spare land at the back of Wellington St., bordered on one side by Seddons stocking factory later the Paradise club and Burneys handbag factory? Why was it called the Breyd ,is it an Irish name. Of course it is no longer there.