ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD

THERE were no limits to the gimmicks that enterprising folk would dream up to raise a bob or two in the hard-up Twenties.

Among them was marathon dancing in which competing couples shuffled around until they dropped from sheer exhaustion (an activity encapsulated in the Hollywood film 'They Shoot Horses Don't They?').

Another version of this, more favoured in the North of England, was non-stop roller-skating for days on end . . . the sort of stamina-sapping challenge witnessed by reader Reg Chadwick of Newton-le-Willows.

He retains vivid boyhood memories of a visit to Earlestown of the late 1920s legend Billy Wetherall who, to much drum-rolling ballyhoo, announced his intention of becoming a whiz-wheeled record breaker.

His challenge was staged at a little dance-hall owned by a legendary local character called Tommy Woods, an enterprising fellow of Falstaffian bearing who operated a string of local business interests - from second-hand furniture to milk delivery.

The crowds which popped into Tommy's King Street premises - known locally as The Peanut and still in business as a local hop until at least the 1950s - were all agog as Billy glided into his non-stop day and night challenge.

Reg Chadwick was too young at the time to remember the outcome of the attempt and wonders whether any other old Earlestonians can fill in some details.

However, he clearly recalls popping in, on his way home from school, to check up on the skating champ's progress. Reg, from Legh Street, tells us: "He had an assistant, also on roller-skates, and when I called in he was gliding along by Billy Wetherall's side, holding a refreshment tray, complete with a meal and cuppa, to keep the champion going."

Now, Reg would welcome further details of that event which really captured the imagination of the Earlestown public at the time.

Where did this skating champion come from; did he succeed in his record-breaking bid; and did he put on other challenge exhibitions in St Helens and other large outlying towns?

BOTH Reg and myself would be intrigued to learn more. So if you've a clue, 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.