ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD

IT was a terrifying moment in time that shook St Helens and grabbed the national newspaper headlines.

And now, a gaggle of local froth-blowers has button-holed me to ask if any long-memoried reader can put a date to the huge gas explosion which totally wrecked the old Railway Hotel.

This popular pit-stop and haven of under-age drinkers had stood at the junction of George Street with Shaw Street close to the town centre.

Opinion is sharply divided on the issue.

While one member of the arm-bending gang remains adamant that it occurred in January, 1978 (on Friday the 13th, no less!) the rest argue that it happened at least a quarter of a century ago.

What made this explosive episode unique was that, although there were people inside at the time, nobody was killed or even seriously injured.

Now, I wonder if anyone with first-hand experience of that tremendous gas blast could settle the argument and share their recollections with us.

IF so, please drop me a line at: Whalley's World, St Helens Star, YMCA Buildings, Duke Street, St Helens WA10 2HZ.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.