ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD

THERE were workmen galore - some estimate between 20 and 25,000 in St Helens alone! - at the labour-intensive Pilkington glass company of pre-war times.

And here's just a representative cross-section, the Pilks 'top works' joiner shop gang of 1932, enjoying their annual outing to Blackpool.

I wonder if there's still the odd survivor from this happy look-back shot (above) kindly provided by 80-year-old reader Mary Hurst from Oxford Street, St Helens, whose late hubby, Arthur is second left at the back?

That late local character, Alban Fay, who went on to become a Labour councillor and furniture businessman (fourth from left standing) and Lowe House stalwart Jack Grounds (third right, middle row) are included in the group.

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