Відео

Don’t forget the Fleece hotel as well

Well you missed out on the unrivalled experience of driving your Ford Cortina through town with windows down, "bum-fluff" moustache on top lip with U2/Simple Minds/OMD, etc. booming on the casette deck. Those days were pure magic :-)

@@glenohare23 I was in my 1st year at Sutton High then so certainly unable to drive ha ha.

I remember the road. All the buses went down the road. It was one way - from Matalan/KFC end to Boots. Then it became Ormskirk Street, there were traffic lights, and the busses went down to Helena House, some turning right at the Gas Showroom (#1) some stopping round the corner in outside the Sefton and going back to Pimmies where the Eccleston bus stop was.

Great times... great people.... wonderful town back then. So sad :-(

@@glenohare23 yep so sad to see it now. Atleast we witnessed the good times my friend. Brilliant place

All I can say is that you missed the best decade in the memory of man. What a blast!! :-)

Totally agree. I have worked in both Warrington and Wigan (The latter being the better of the 2 I have to add) and they understand the benefit and potential future returns of "investment". This bunch of clowns couldn't even spell the word!

The council ‘planning’ is an absolute joke. They take down iconic building, and replace them with crap that won’t last more than 50 years. Helena House was the heart of the town where everyone would meet. It’s now the location of a nondescript Wilkinson. The town is a shadow of its former glory. So sad. 😞

Today's town centre pales into insignificance of what it was like in 1988. It was a lovely town, good shopping, everyone knew each other and one of the best towns for a night out in the North West (if not UK) Now, I am ashamed to say, it is an unrecognisable embarrassment and an epitaph to the hard working people that made this town what it was. Pretty much the same??? Open your eyes mate

@@glenohare23I can go further back than that. I was a child in the 1960s; we had the open market which bustled with activity, Helena House (co-op) an icon of the town, great independent shops, the Victorian Bus Station was a beautiful, the Fleece Hotel was a local favourite too. Then came to the 1970s; bulldozers came in, and left a concrete monstrosity behind. That started the decline we have today. I love my town, but am ashamed of the council ‘planning’ department who couldn’t plan a p*ss up in brewery.

Absoluetly right my friend... unfortunately :-(

It’s not just the lack of well paid work, although that is a major factor, it’s the lack of foresight by consecutive councils. The contrast between Warrington, and Wigan town centre’s is amazing. They kept there historic buildings which attract footfall and make it pleasant place to shop. Our council loves knocking down our heritage to replace it with a pile of cold concrete. Shortsightedness, has been the town centre planners downfall. I read in the St Helens Star that Beechams Clock could be up for sale, another iconic meeting place. Born and bred in St’ellins.

copyright lmao

He's robbed another too. Should credit the people he's stolen them from.

My pleasure mate 😊

Sad but true

Absolutely no problem mate. The video is there for everyone to use and enjoy. Would love to see your documentary when it's finished...will you send me a link? Best of luck and Merry Christmas👍🎅👍

Glad to hear it mate 👍👍👍

Sad but true Ken. I am born and bred St Helens (born in Cowley Hill Hospital) and I don't recognize the place anymore. People I work with all say the same... the town has unfortunately gone to the dogs 😵

Ken I whole heartedly a green with you what a crime to get rid of such a beautiful building the council made a big big bosh of the town they should of left the market alone just think if the markets were still here it would draw people into town and visitors might have come on coach trips like coach trips go to bury market town is a dead hole now too many flats are replacing shops we've got no veg shops in town one the market years ago the were butchers and veg stalls and well as butchers shops and veg shops xxxfran xx

@Jimmy Vapes not being judgemental. I'm saying people's problems are largely created by lack of opportunity. This footage is from when there were decent jobs and decent education available for people in St. Helens. Now people are left by the wayside and spiral into destructive habits compounded by relative poverty and inadequate social care.

He wasn't homeless back then. Only appeared on the streets in the early to mid 90's.

Johnny was homeless in the 1980s. He was originally from Peasley Cross, when his mum died his step father threw him out of the house. He would pass our house on his travels, and always stopped to talk. He was highly intelligent; he remembered everyone in my family, and always asked after my mam. We miss Johnny immensely.

Absolutely. I remember Martin's well. I too would buy my vinyl and "tapes" for there plus my dad's King Edward cigars every Christmas. Not the same town anymore. I too moved away over 10 years ago but it is sad to see what the town has become.

Indeed Glen; in the era when La Grange and St. Mary's were built in the 70s and through to the late 80s it remained a thriving town centre, despite the economic slump and mass unemployment of the early 80s. In the mid-80s, my colleagues and I used to do an in-store broadcast at Woolworths, which boost sales not only in the record department but also elsewhere in Woolies and further increased footfall in the Hardshaw Centre. However, we became victims of our own success and the police requested we stop as the centre was becoming too busy on the Saturdays when we broadcast. I vividly remember too just how busy the prior cast-iron framed 'covered' and outdoor markets of the sixties were, which we would go to when we came from Liverpool to visit family in St. Helens, then in 1968, we moved from Liverpool to Donkey Common (Thatto Heath). Whenever I venture to St. Helens now, there are lots of traffic jams in the town centre, but this isn't reflected in foot-fall and many stores are closed down again.

As did we all

I got my Doctor Who book signed by Tom Baker at a book signing he did there, when I was a kid.. Think it was 1975 or '76. Still got the book. All the kids were in awe of him.

Glad to hear it 😊 My old fella on the other hand... what's he like walking around with no teeth 😖 He's one step away from banging round town like Johnny Wellies

Glen O'Hare well if you need an assessment for him just let me know lol xxx he's never changed xxxx

Called at your Mum & Dads today Glen at 2pm but they must of been out shopping I will try again on the way home from work next week I'm now based in Whiston Hospital so I pass every day x

He was telling me that you had not been well. Hope you are feeling better and are on the mend X

How's our Elaine.. how's it going? Did you like the little blast from the past? Forgot how nice town used to be. 😊

I'll live in at Helens

St

I was 18 then,and it wasnt thriving at all,there was mass unemployment under maggie thatcher,st.helens and liverpool were deprived area's.

sazzle magpie77 I know. I don't live in St Helens anymore but feel sad when I visit the town centre these days. Much nicer town back then and a decent night out 😊

So much busier because the vast majority of people we saw were all old. They're dead now. And the smart ones left. (I'm not smart, I'm still here!)