My Dirty Old Town
I was born in Widnes in 1939 and lived there until I married my Dutch husband in 1969. I go back about once a year and always do quite a few long walk-abouts, as I can't find my way anymore by road. Some things have hardly changed but I can't recognise downtown Widnes. I attended The Commercial College,worked at several firms in Ditton Road and then at Laporte and Bowmans(Croda), used to go dancing in Warrington and Runcorn and still have quite a few friends, family and colleagues that I keep in touch with. I'm 68 now and hope to be paying another visit to Widnes this summer. I'll be visiting Victoria Park and the old Town Hall Square and West Bank. I was born in Kingsway so I like to see St.Bede's Church and maybe the Angel Pub is still standing, Farnworth Station and Laural Bank and the fields behind Wade Deacon Scool where we jumped ditches. The Open Air School where I attended until I was 13 has gone and is the Plaza still standing? I remember on a Saturday night when you could book love seats but you had to book early! I have so many memories I could probably write a book but I think that book has already been written don't you?
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RE: RE: My Dirty Old Town
Hi Lyn, The Plaza is now a medical centre , optician and Pharmacy...which I tend to visit rather more than I could afford to do when it was a cinema. I was born 1941 in Widnes. The post office at the bottom of Peelhouse Lane is now some kind of fast food place and there is an 'old folks home' across the road, which has Christmas lighting just now. I was a student at Wade Deacon, but it is now called a sixth form college, I don't know why, Wade Deacon was a good name. I met and courted my first true love at the ditches at the back of our school. We lost touch for many years, and I met him again at a hospital, where he told me he had been with the same (gay) partner for 25 years, and he was, by the way, a very good nursing sister, it was good to see him so very very happy and so successful, after quite a long struggle about his true identity. How sad that it has taken society so long to live in peace together! Regards Jackie
Comment from Jackie Worrall on Wednesday, 14th December 2011.
RE: RE: My Dirty Old Town
My Dad used to go to the Angel every Sunday night at about 9.30. His name was Bill Fox and he was a Chemical Plumber at ICI at Rocksavage. Sometimes Mum and Dad would go together on a Saturday. I used to go Wade Deacon and knew the son of the licensee; his name was John Stevens (or Stevenson). I think he may have moved out of Widnes. We lived in Princes Street. Now live on the Isle of Man, and have difficulty driving around Widnes as it has changed so much. I cannot believe the shops there now, and the free parking ... brilliant! Pat
Comment from Pat Cook on Monday, 9th April 2012.