FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 12 - 18 OCTOBER 1976
This week's many stories include the staff shortages in St Helens hospitals, the plans to extend the Sankey Valley Linear Park to Newton, the hooligans causing trouble in Parr, why bread sales in St Helens were expected to decline, the campaign against Scott Clinic and the mayor apologises for calling cleaning ladies a rabble.
There is nothing new in staff shortages in the NHS. At a meeting of the St Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority on the 12th, a claim was made that chronic shortages of specialist employees in local hospitals could lead to patients dying. Dr John Clegg said:
"We are existing on the goodwill of the staff, but it has gone beyond the crisis point. We are going to have deaths before something is done about it. It is just not fair to existing staff. They are overburdened. Anaesthetists, obstetricians and gynaecologists are very important medical staff, and it is essential they are fresh. Yet they are doing more work than they should be."
Mr Clegg made his comments after hearing that a theatre technician had to be shuttled between hospitals by taxi and a consultant could not continue with his work through a lack of staff. And the Chairman of the Health Authority, Francis Mellor, agreed with Mr Clegg, saying: "We just cannot go on like this."
On the 14th the Francoise Club in Waterloo Street held what they described as a "Western Epic", featuring Sheriff Stuart Moffat and his deputies, along with DJ Dave Sherlock. Admission cost £1 but it was free for those that went dressed as cowboys or indians. The advert promised hats, balloons, streamers and free Champagne and a prize for the fastest draw in the North West.
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 15th and described how an extension of the Sankey Valley Linear Park, that was likely to be approved very soon, would create jobs for a total of 170 people. Some would be employed for a year linking the present Havannah Lane section of the park in Parr to Newton's Common Road. The paper also mentioned how Merseyside policymakers had approved the preparation of more phases of the linear park project from below Carr Mill Dam to Newton-le-Willows.
The Reporter also wrote: "The Great Water Shortage is over – officially. Water chiefs gave orders this week for the big turn-on to begin, thanks to the heaviest rainfall for years." Although the water restrictions, including the ban on using hosepipes, had been lifted, people were still being asked to exercise prudence in their water usage as the reservoirs were only half full. The drought caused by the long, hot summer was said to have been the worst for 200 years.
The Reporter described how the Mayor of St Helens, Cllr Tom Harvey, had offended Town Hall cleaning ladies at a function by referring to them as a "rabble". They were understandably furious but four days later he held a lengthy meeting with many of the sixty cleaners to apologise and afterwards said:
"I met the ladies and told them I was honestly and sincerely sorry about a remark that was meant to be jocular." And Cllr Harvey made a very good impression on all, with one cleaning lady saying: "We were pleased that the Mayor was man enough to admit that he was wrong."
A loaf of bread in 1976 cost 18 to 19p and the government controlled its maximum retail price as part of their anti-inflation measures. The Reporter revealed how this week they had permitted an increase in the recommended retail price of bread by one penny for a large loaf and a halfpenny for a small one. Retailers were not obliged to increase their prices but the paper felt that most shops in St Helens would do so.
But some of the bakers predicted a drop off in trade with some customers choosing to make their own bread. Henry Webster was the manager of Mercers of Higher Parr Street and he told the Reporter: "We have no choice. It is a struggle making ends meet with the price of flour and fats today. We can't keep up with the price increases, so we have to raise the cost of our bread. I would expect bread sales to fall because of these increases. It has happened in the past."
And Duke Street baker Colin Greenall said: "We have to raise our prices mainly because of the cost of flour and fat. Everything has risen and we are finding it hard to make ends meet. We only make small loaves and they will go up by a halfpenny. The increases are necessary but we don't like doing it. We just can't help it. I expect there will be a little resistance from customers, who will probably try baking their own for a while."
The Reporter also warned motorists in Parr to expect disruption for the next 16 weeks as two main roads were going to be closed. From next week a large traffic diversion was being set up as Parr Stocks Road and Fleet Lane would be shut for council workmen to replace a sewer. A council spokesman said: "The area has been prone to flooding, and we feel that the replacement of the sewer will get rid of that problem."
The elderly residents living in flats at Parr Mount Court were complaining in the paper about what were described as gangs of young hooligans who were making their lives a misery. Gladys Hinder said: "We get no peace at all here. There have been up to 20 youths on bikes and they play football near the windows." The teenagers were also blamed for pulling down trees, removing rose bushes and smashing lights. "I am sorry I ever came here," admitted one resident.
During the evening of the 15th, the National Union of Public Employees continued their campaign against the planned opening at Rainhill Hospital (pictured above) of what would become known as Scott Clinic by giving a talk at Grange Park Labour Club. NUPE claimed the proposed high security unit would prove a danger to their members and the community at large, as it would house psychiatric killers and dangerous criminals. As an interim measure, a specially-converted ward was currently housing up to 14 such patients, but the hospital authorities insisted that they were not dangerous.
At the Labour Club meeting, NUPE members from Rainhill Hospital appealed for public support to block the building of the unit. Branch secretary Paul Haunch said later:
"This was an attempt to step up our campaign and gain massive support. We had a very good reception at the club, and I feel confident from their response that in future we will have their backing. We told them what we believe would happen if the unit was built at the hospital – the dangers to their families, and how it will affect the other patients. We appealed to the people at the Labour Club because they are the working community – the people who are going to suffer because of this high security unit."
The ABC Savoy in Bridge Street from the 17th replaced 'Logan's Run' starring Michael York and Jenny Agutter, with Clint Eastwood's 'The Outlaw Josey Wales'. And the Capitol, which was now only operating five days a week, was screening 'Linda Lovelace For President'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the chemical waste dumping in Burtonhead Road, Cowley Boys achieve high A-level pass rates, there's criticism of town centre hawkers and why the council facelift scheme in Derbyshire Hill would never be repeated.
There is nothing new in staff shortages in the NHS. At a meeting of the St Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority on the 12th, a claim was made that chronic shortages of specialist employees in local hospitals could lead to patients dying. Dr John Clegg said:
"We are existing on the goodwill of the staff, but it has gone beyond the crisis point. We are going to have deaths before something is done about it. It is just not fair to existing staff. They are overburdened. Anaesthetists, obstetricians and gynaecologists are very important medical staff, and it is essential they are fresh. Yet they are doing more work than they should be."
Mr Clegg made his comments after hearing that a theatre technician had to be shuttled between hospitals by taxi and a consultant could not continue with his work through a lack of staff. And the Chairman of the Health Authority, Francis Mellor, agreed with Mr Clegg, saying: "We just cannot go on like this."
On the 14th the Francoise Club in Waterloo Street held what they described as a "Western Epic", featuring Sheriff Stuart Moffat and his deputies, along with DJ Dave Sherlock. Admission cost £1 but it was free for those that went dressed as cowboys or indians. The advert promised hats, balloons, streamers and free Champagne and a prize for the fastest draw in the North West.
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 15th and described how an extension of the Sankey Valley Linear Park, that was likely to be approved very soon, would create jobs for a total of 170 people. Some would be employed for a year linking the present Havannah Lane section of the park in Parr to Newton's Common Road. The paper also mentioned how Merseyside policymakers had approved the preparation of more phases of the linear park project from below Carr Mill Dam to Newton-le-Willows.
The Reporter also wrote: "The Great Water Shortage is over – officially. Water chiefs gave orders this week for the big turn-on to begin, thanks to the heaviest rainfall for years." Although the water restrictions, including the ban on using hosepipes, had been lifted, people were still being asked to exercise prudence in their water usage as the reservoirs were only half full. The drought caused by the long, hot summer was said to have been the worst for 200 years.
The Reporter described how the Mayor of St Helens, Cllr Tom Harvey, had offended Town Hall cleaning ladies at a function by referring to them as a "rabble". They were understandably furious but four days later he held a lengthy meeting with many of the sixty cleaners to apologise and afterwards said:
"I met the ladies and told them I was honestly and sincerely sorry about a remark that was meant to be jocular." And Cllr Harvey made a very good impression on all, with one cleaning lady saying: "We were pleased that the Mayor was man enough to admit that he was wrong."
A loaf of bread in 1976 cost 18 to 19p and the government controlled its maximum retail price as part of their anti-inflation measures. The Reporter revealed how this week they had permitted an increase in the recommended retail price of bread by one penny for a large loaf and a halfpenny for a small one. Retailers were not obliged to increase their prices but the paper felt that most shops in St Helens would do so.
But some of the bakers predicted a drop off in trade with some customers choosing to make their own bread. Henry Webster was the manager of Mercers of Higher Parr Street and he told the Reporter: "We have no choice. It is a struggle making ends meet with the price of flour and fats today. We can't keep up with the price increases, so we have to raise the cost of our bread. I would expect bread sales to fall because of these increases. It has happened in the past."
And Duke Street baker Colin Greenall said: "We have to raise our prices mainly because of the cost of flour and fat. Everything has risen and we are finding it hard to make ends meet. We only make small loaves and they will go up by a halfpenny. The increases are necessary but we don't like doing it. We just can't help it. I expect there will be a little resistance from customers, who will probably try baking their own for a while."
The Reporter also warned motorists in Parr to expect disruption for the next 16 weeks as two main roads were going to be closed. From next week a large traffic diversion was being set up as Parr Stocks Road and Fleet Lane would be shut for council workmen to replace a sewer. A council spokesman said: "The area has been prone to flooding, and we feel that the replacement of the sewer will get rid of that problem."
The elderly residents living in flats at Parr Mount Court were complaining in the paper about what were described as gangs of young hooligans who were making their lives a misery. Gladys Hinder said: "We get no peace at all here. There have been up to 20 youths on bikes and they play football near the windows." The teenagers were also blamed for pulling down trees, removing rose bushes and smashing lights. "I am sorry I ever came here," admitted one resident.
At the Labour Club meeting, NUPE members from Rainhill Hospital appealed for public support to block the building of the unit. Branch secretary Paul Haunch said later:
"This was an attempt to step up our campaign and gain massive support. We had a very good reception at the club, and I feel confident from their response that in future we will have their backing. We told them what we believe would happen if the unit was built at the hospital – the dangers to their families, and how it will affect the other patients. We appealed to the people at the Labour Club because they are the working community – the people who are going to suffer because of this high security unit."
The ABC Savoy in Bridge Street from the 17th replaced 'Logan's Run' starring Michael York and Jenny Agutter, with Clint Eastwood's 'The Outlaw Josey Wales'. And the Capitol, which was now only operating five days a week, was screening 'Linda Lovelace For President'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the chemical waste dumping in Burtonhead Road, Cowley Boys achieve high A-level pass rates, there's criticism of town centre hawkers and why the council facelift scheme in Derbyshire Hill would never be repeated.
This week's many stories include the staff shortages in St Helens hospitals, the plans to extend the Sankey Valley Linear Park to Newton, the hooligans causing trouble in Parr, why bread sales in St Helens were expected to decline, the campaign against Scott Clinic and the mayor apologises for calling cleaning ladies a rabble.
There is nothing new in staff shortages in the NHS. At a meeting of the St Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority on the 12th, a claim was made that chronic shortages of specialist employees in local hospitals could lead to patients dying. John Clegg said:
"We are existing on the goodwill of the staff, but it has gone beyond the crisis point. We are going to have deaths before something is done about it. It is just not fair to existing staff. They are overburdened.
"Anaesthetists, obstetricians and gynaecologists are very important medical staff, and it is essential they are fresh. Yet they are doing more work than they should be."
Mr Clegg made his comments after hearing that a theatre technician had to be shuttled between hospitals by taxi and a consultant could not continue with his work through a lack of staff.
And the Chairman of the Health Authority, Francis Mellor, agreed with Mr Clegg, saying: "We just cannot go on like this."
On the 14th the Francoise Club in Waterloo Street held what they described as a "Western Epic", featuring Sheriff Stuart Moffat and his deputies, along with DJ Dave Sherlock.
Admission cost £1 but it was free for those that went dressed as cowboys or indians.
The advert promised hats, balloons, streamers and free Champagne and a prize for the fastest draw in the North West.
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 15th and described how an extension of the Sankey Valley Linear Park, that was likely to be approved very soon, would create jobs for a total of 170 people.
Some would be employed for a year linking the present Havannah Lane section of the park in Parr to Newton's Common Road.
The paper also mentioned how Merseyside policymakers had approved the preparation of more phases of the linear park project from below Carr Mill Dam to Newton-le-Willows.
The Reporter also wrote: "The Great Water Shortage is over – officially. Water chiefs gave orders this week for the big turn-on to begin, thanks to the heaviest rainfall for years."
Although the water restrictions, including the ban on using hosepipes, had been lifted, people were still being asked to exercise prudence in their water usage as the reservoirs were only half full.
The drought caused by the long, hot summer was said to have been the worst for 200 years.
The Reporter described how the Mayor of St Helens, Cllr Tom Harvey, had offended Town Hall cleaning ladies at a function by referring to them as a "rabble".
They were understandably furious but four days later he held a lengthy meeting with many of the sixty cleaners to apologise and afterwards said:
"I met the ladies and told them I was honestly and sincerely sorry about a remark that was meant to be jocular."
And Cllr Harvey made a very good impression on all, with one cleaning lady saying: "We were pleased that the Mayor was man enough to admit that he was wrong."
A loaf of bread in 1976 cost 18 to 19p and the government controlled its maximum retail price as part of their anti-inflation measures.
The Reporter revealed how this week they had permitted an increase in the recommended retail price of bread by one penny for a large loaf and a halfpenny for a small one.
Retailers were not obliged to increase their prices but the paper felt that most shops in St Helens would do so.
But some of the bakers predicted a drop off in trade with some customers choosing to make their own bread.
Henry Webster was the manager of Mercers of Higher Parr Street and he told the Reporter:
"We have no choice. It is a struggle making ends meet with the price of flour and fats today. We can't keep up with the price increases, so we have to raise the cost of our bread.
"I would expect bread sales to fall because of these increases. It has happened in the past."
And Duke Street baker Colin Greenall said:
"We have to raise our prices mainly because of the cost of flour and fat. Everything has risen and we are finding it hard to make ends meet.
"We only make small loaves and they will go up by a halfpenny. The increases are necessary but we don't like doing it. We just can't help it.
"I expect there will be a little resistance from customers, who will probably try baking their own for a while."
The Reporter also warned motorists in Parr to expect disruption for the next 16 weeks as two main roads were going to be closed.
From next week a large traffic diversion was being set up as Parr Stocks Road and Fleet Lane would be shut for council workmen to replace a sewer.
A council spokesman said: "The area has been prone to flooding, and we feel that the replacement of the sewer will get rid of that problem."
The elderly residents living in flats at Parr Mount Court were complaining in the paper about what were described as gangs of young hooligans who were making their lives a misery.
Gladys Hinder said: "We get no peace at all here. There have been up to 20 youths on bikes and they play football near the windows."
The teenagers were also blamed for pulling down trees, removing rose bushes and smashing lights. "I am sorry I ever came here," admitted one resident.
During the evening of the 15th, the National Union of Public Employees continued their campaign against the planned opening at Rainhill Hospital (pictured above) of what would become known as Scott Clinic by giving a talk at Grange Park Labour Club.
NUPE claimed the proposed high security unit would prove a danger to their members and the community at large, as it would house psychiatric killers and dangerous criminals.
As an interim measure, a specially-converted ward was currently housing up to 14 such patients, but the hospital authorities insisted that they were not dangerous.
At the Labour Club meeting, NUPE members from Rainhill Hospital appealed for public support to block the building of the unit. Branch secretary Paul Haunch said later:
"This was an attempt to step up our campaign and gain massive support. We had a very good reception at the club, and I feel confident from their response that in future we will have their backing.
"We told them what we believe would happen if the unit was built at the hospital – the dangers to their families, and how it will affect the other patients.
"We appealed to the people at the Labour Club because they are the working community – the people who are going to suffer because of this high security unit."
And finally, from the 17th the ABC Savoy cinema in Bridge Street replaced 'Logan's Run' starring Michael York and Jenny Agutter, with Clint Eastwood's 'The Outlaw Josey Wales'.
And the Capitol, which was now only operating five days a week, was screening 'Linda Lovelace For President'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the chemical waste dumping in Burtonhead Road, Cowley Boys achieve high A-level pass rates, there's criticism of town centre hawkers and why the council facelift scheme in Derbyshire Hill would never be repeated.
There is nothing new in staff shortages in the NHS. At a meeting of the St Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority on the 12th, a claim was made that chronic shortages of specialist employees in local hospitals could lead to patients dying. John Clegg said:
"We are existing on the goodwill of the staff, but it has gone beyond the crisis point. We are going to have deaths before something is done about it. It is just not fair to existing staff. They are overburdened.
"Anaesthetists, obstetricians and gynaecologists are very important medical staff, and it is essential they are fresh. Yet they are doing more work than they should be."
Mr Clegg made his comments after hearing that a theatre technician had to be shuttled between hospitals by taxi and a consultant could not continue with his work through a lack of staff.
And the Chairman of the Health Authority, Francis Mellor, agreed with Mr Clegg, saying: "We just cannot go on like this."
On the 14th the Francoise Club in Waterloo Street held what they described as a "Western Epic", featuring Sheriff Stuart Moffat and his deputies, along with DJ Dave Sherlock.
Admission cost £1 but it was free for those that went dressed as cowboys or indians.
The advert promised hats, balloons, streamers and free Champagne and a prize for the fastest draw in the North West.
The St Helens Reporter was published on the 15th and described how an extension of the Sankey Valley Linear Park, that was likely to be approved very soon, would create jobs for a total of 170 people.
Some would be employed for a year linking the present Havannah Lane section of the park in Parr to Newton's Common Road.
The paper also mentioned how Merseyside policymakers had approved the preparation of more phases of the linear park project from below Carr Mill Dam to Newton-le-Willows.
The Reporter also wrote: "The Great Water Shortage is over – officially. Water chiefs gave orders this week for the big turn-on to begin, thanks to the heaviest rainfall for years."
Although the water restrictions, including the ban on using hosepipes, had been lifted, people were still being asked to exercise prudence in their water usage as the reservoirs were only half full.
The drought caused by the long, hot summer was said to have been the worst for 200 years.
The Reporter described how the Mayor of St Helens, Cllr Tom Harvey, had offended Town Hall cleaning ladies at a function by referring to them as a "rabble".
They were understandably furious but four days later he held a lengthy meeting with many of the sixty cleaners to apologise and afterwards said:
"I met the ladies and told them I was honestly and sincerely sorry about a remark that was meant to be jocular."
And Cllr Harvey made a very good impression on all, with one cleaning lady saying: "We were pleased that the Mayor was man enough to admit that he was wrong."
A loaf of bread in 1976 cost 18 to 19p and the government controlled its maximum retail price as part of their anti-inflation measures.
The Reporter revealed how this week they had permitted an increase in the recommended retail price of bread by one penny for a large loaf and a halfpenny for a small one.
Retailers were not obliged to increase their prices but the paper felt that most shops in St Helens would do so.
But some of the bakers predicted a drop off in trade with some customers choosing to make their own bread.
Henry Webster was the manager of Mercers of Higher Parr Street and he told the Reporter:
"We have no choice. It is a struggle making ends meet with the price of flour and fats today. We can't keep up with the price increases, so we have to raise the cost of our bread.
"I would expect bread sales to fall because of these increases. It has happened in the past."
And Duke Street baker Colin Greenall said:
"We have to raise our prices mainly because of the cost of flour and fat. Everything has risen and we are finding it hard to make ends meet.
"We only make small loaves and they will go up by a halfpenny. The increases are necessary but we don't like doing it. We just can't help it.
"I expect there will be a little resistance from customers, who will probably try baking their own for a while."
The Reporter also warned motorists in Parr to expect disruption for the next 16 weeks as two main roads were going to be closed.
From next week a large traffic diversion was being set up as Parr Stocks Road and Fleet Lane would be shut for council workmen to replace a sewer.
A council spokesman said: "The area has been prone to flooding, and we feel that the replacement of the sewer will get rid of that problem."
The elderly residents living in flats at Parr Mount Court were complaining in the paper about what were described as gangs of young hooligans who were making their lives a misery.
Gladys Hinder said: "We get no peace at all here. There have been up to 20 youths on bikes and they play football near the windows."
The teenagers were also blamed for pulling down trees, removing rose bushes and smashing lights. "I am sorry I ever came here," admitted one resident.
NUPE claimed the proposed high security unit would prove a danger to their members and the community at large, as it would house psychiatric killers and dangerous criminals.
As an interim measure, a specially-converted ward was currently housing up to 14 such patients, but the hospital authorities insisted that they were not dangerous.
At the Labour Club meeting, NUPE members from Rainhill Hospital appealed for public support to block the building of the unit. Branch secretary Paul Haunch said later:
"This was an attempt to step up our campaign and gain massive support. We had a very good reception at the club, and I feel confident from their response that in future we will have their backing.
"We told them what we believe would happen if the unit was built at the hospital – the dangers to their families, and how it will affect the other patients.
"We appealed to the people at the Labour Club because they are the working community – the people who are going to suffer because of this high security unit."
And finally, from the 17th the ABC Savoy cinema in Bridge Street replaced 'Logan's Run' starring Michael York and Jenny Agutter, with Clint Eastwood's 'The Outlaw Josey Wales'.
And the Capitol, which was now only operating five days a week, was screening 'Linda Lovelace For President'.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the chemical waste dumping in Burtonhead Road, Cowley Boys achieve high A-level pass rates, there's criticism of town centre hawkers and why the council facelift scheme in Derbyshire Hill would never be repeated.