Upholland Delph

Coal Miners strike

Happy Hour

Happy Hour 1920s style

When neighbour spoke with neighbour

Stanley Coronation Park Centenary 1912 – 2012

Harry Simpkin

Hi has anyone got any photos of the Land that Harry Simpkin used to keep chickens on, he was my grandad and lived in union street?

Laughing At Old Age 1

At my age I should really try to be more alert to my surroundings.
The other day I wrapped up well to combat the cold weather with the intention of going out. On reaching the door and slowly crossing the threshold, I couldn’t decide wether I’d been out or was coming back in.

Ed

My First Car

My first car was a joint purchase with my friend since school days Alan Moss.  Having made the monumental decision to embark on this venture, we took the Ribble bus to Leigh Nr Wigan having seen an advert in the local press.

Arriving at our destination feeling like “the last of the big spenders”, were not in the least discouraged by the muddy ground where the cars were displayed.  The colourful bunting strewn across two posts and the small caravan as a makeshift office presented some respectability to the place.  A far cry from the hard standing display area and plush reception desk and offices we are accustomed to to-day

Venturing through the parked bangers we spotted a 1932 Austin six cylinder priced at £20.00 painted in whitening across the windscreen.  Other than just looking around the car, not even starting the engine, Alan pressed the horn button situated in the centre of the steering wheel which produced the awesome distinct AOOOO-GAAH of the Klaxon Horn, in sheer delight Alan said, we’l ev it.  Each paying the dealer the princely sum of £10.00 we proceeded to take our prized possession away, but the car had other ideas, it wouldn’t start.  Not having checked the more essentials  other than the horn like, has it got an engine, we had to get a tow to start it.

Arriving in Skem with no mishaps we proceeded along High St only to see a mutual friend Jack Lathom who worked for the council, peering down a hole in the road unaware of our approach, no such things as safety barriers or cones in those days.  As we got nearer it was too good an opportunity to miss, we just had to test the horn didn’t we, with the AOOOO-GAAH of the klaxon poor Jack shot up from the hole looking terrified. I don’t think he ever forgave us for that.

WE were overjoyed with our purchase and proud to be owners of a car at such an early age.  Having been trained as a driver in the Army, Alan taught me to drive.   We acquired a small brass plaque which had been attached to a disused public toilet door which read, place penny in slot then slide knob to open which we screwed to the passenger door.  It brought much amusement but very few pennies.

Each time we called for petrol at Harry Wyn’s garage opposite the Comrades club, Harry would always ask where we were going and did we want any Jonnies.  Not to show our ignorance on such matters we always bought a packet, sometimes two which we threw into the glove box

Driving down Cobb’s Brow one day with Alan at the wheel and me sat in the back seat, we were about to ascend the rise to the top of the brow when Alan got out of the car while still moving, stepped onto the runing board which was like a wide shelf runing the lengh of the two doors on each side, climbed over the engine bonnet and onto the nearside runing board, opened the rear door and sat along side me.  The straight six cylinder engine with a long stroke chugged up the hill in first gear with no-one at the wheel, had anyone seen us it must have looked rather odd to say the least.

At a later date I had an accident in the car outside the Endowed school, but proved by the police to be the fault of a motorcyclist.  Unfortunately the car suffered much damage and later sold to Jimmy Moyle the scrap metal dealer on the Moss for £3.00, I’m sure the value of the Jonnies left in the glove box far exceeded the £3.00 Jimmy gave us.

Happy Days

Ed

PS. Dose anyone remember the infamous Jimmy Moyle?.

Digmoor Entertainments

Silcock’s Fair visits Digmoor

Upholland Delph

Greenwaters