A Royal Celebration - Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust

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28 BURNEY’S AND OTHER MEMORIES R W Burney was established prior to World War Two. It was situated on Woodhouse Lane, occupying several buildings of the old Douglas Bank Colliery, plus new buildings. Incidentally, my Great, Great Grandfather, Matthew Harmer, was killed at this pit in 1889. The factory closed down when it was requisitioned by the Army, circa 1939-1945, re-opening after the war. I worked at Burney’s from 1947 to 1953, it employed approximately 100 people making handbags, most of which were sold at Marks and Spencer. As a 16 year old, I started work as boiler man, packing, maintenance and management trainee. Our handbags sold for about 27s 11d (£1.40 today). I ran a Mail Order Catalogue, and saw a real leather bag for sale at £7 10s (£7.50), which equated to a week’s wage then. I suggested to Mr Burney we could replicate this bag, and he gave me the money to buy it. We pulled it to pieces, copied it, and had it on sale in Marks and Spencer for 27s 11d! Burney’s was quite a happy place, he was a good boss, and quite often tipped me 10s (50p) for cleaning his Rover car. As I was only earning about £3 per week wages (which I tipped up to my parents) it was a fortune! I left Burney’s in 1953 after our first child was born. The manager, Joe Hayes, was killed on the railway at Whitley soon after. Burney’s closed down circa 1968 when Wigan Co-op built a petrol station/garage on the site. Mr Burney’s son, Derek, carried on in a smaller capacity in a small factory behind the Woodhouse Pub. I grew up at 194 Woodhouse Lane, in a terrace of five houses, four of which were occupied by relatives. In the Second World War, an army camp was established opposite our houses. About 30 soldiers lived in Burney’s factory, they marched to the camp every morning at 8am, headed by a black Labrador. This camp was a Salvage Depot, and Italian Prisoners of War were BY ALAN PARKINSON shipped in to help with the work. At night only two soldiers were left to ‘guard’ the camp, and after dark many a silk parachute, rolls of linoleum, bicycle parts etc were smuggled out to our back doors. Some nights, if my friends were on duty, I would go and play snooker with them on the camp. I was given dozens of different regiment cap badges, jack-knives, a Very pistol, and even a sword! Next to the camp was Stringfellows Removals, ‘The Bridge Between Two Homes’, which was also a coach firm. My Grandad had a pen behind their garage, where he kept hens. My earliest memories are of going with my Grandad to collect eggs. After repairing a coach, Stringfellows would sometimes give me a ride on the test-run. When the army camp was closed down after the war, I believe Webster’s Coaches took over, later to become Smiths, then Shearings. Stringfellows had by then relocated to Martland Mill. Then Union Tyre Factory (Firestone) built on the site (around 1951) and remained there until Pemberton Caravans took over. Female employees at Burney’s during the 1953 coronation celebrations. Male employees at Burney’s during 1953 coronation celebrations. Mr Parkinson is on the back row on the left.
Dear Editor Brass Band Conductors Baton A brass band conductor’s baton has been donated to the museum collection. The silver hallmarks on the baton date it to around 1911. The baton is inscribed with the text. ‘Presented / to / J. Rylance / by members of / W.C.S.D. / B.B.’ James Rylance was a well respected local brass band conductor. He lived in Pemberton and died in 1927 aged 74. During his life he was involved in many local bands and became conductor of the following - Pemberton Victoria, Pemberton Bridgewater, Ashton-in-Makerfield St Thomas, North Ashton, Garswood and Coppull Subscription. Unfortunately we have not been able to find out the name of the band that presented the baton to him. Do you know the full name of the Brass Band with the acronym WCSD? It could be Wigan Catholic Subscription Brass Band, but if this is the case what does the ‘D’ stand for? We have assumed the ‘W’ stands for Wigan but it could also be Winstanley. James Rylance worked as a street pavior for Wigan Corporation so it could even be a Wigan Corporation band. Alternatively the ‘C’ could stand for ‘Co-operative.’ If you have any information please contact Jenny Broadbent on 01942 827594 or e-mail j.broadbent@wlct.org. YOUR LETTERS - CAN YOU HELP Dear Editor Victory Medal A World War I Victory Medal has been sent to Wigan Heritage Service anonymously. The medal is inscribed ‘36611 Pte. H Mc HUGH R. LANC. R.’ The owner appears to have undertaken some research and discovered that Private McHugh was in the Royal Lancashire Regiment no. 36611 and North Staffordshire Regiment no. 41695. The owner has requested that we try to find the family of Private McHugh through Past Forward. If you think you may be a relative of Private McHugh then please contact Jenny Broadbent on 01942-827594 or j.broadbent@wlct.org. Dear Editor At the time of the 100th anniversary of the Pretoria Pit Disaster I began to do some research around my family's involvement. One of my maternal grandfather's younger brothers, John Roberts, was killed in the disaster, aged 26. He left a widow, Sarah and three young children, of whom the youngest, Irwin, was only five months. My late mother always said that she understood John's younger brother Robert was involved, but survived. Researching this, I realised he was not one of the three named survivors, neither was he the Robert Roberts of Seddon Street, Westhoughton, named amongst the victims. Further research has now revealed that Robert appears to have been a member of the first rescue party led by Alfred Tonge and received the Edward Medal (2nd Class) for his bravery. As Robert was my great uncle, I would love to know more about this and if his family still have the medal. I know that he married a Sarah Jane Crook at St Bartholomew, Westhoughton in 1908 and had at least four children - Gladys (1909), Hilda (1911), John (1914) and Maud (1916). If any of their descendants are out there and know the full story, then I would love to hear from them. My e-mail address is loisdean@mac.com and my address is 2 Gatemere Close, Worsley, M28 7UY. Regards, Lois Dean 29
Page 1 and 2: Produced by Wigan Heritage Service
Page 3 and 4: PAST FORWARD Survey Winner The winn
Page 5 and 6: throated roar’ was said to have e
Page 7 and 8: Thomas Darwell Tony Ashcroft Harris
Page 9 and 10: Leigh Canal Cruise, Holiday at Home
Page 11 and 12: Date • Time • Venue/Cost Date
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Page 15 and 16: MARK THOMAS HUGHES By Christine Wat
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Page 19 and 20: George VI and Queen Elizabeth meet
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Page 25 and 26: My own history started from June 19
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Page 31 and 32: In 1952 we secured the contract to
Page 33 and 34: (14) As the fowler enticeth the bir
Page 35 and 36: 6 April Excavations at Buckton Cast

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