COFFEY Time reader Bill Coleman, now in his 84th year, appears in both of this week’s nostalgic photographs.

Formerly of Fingerpost and now living in Blackbrook, Bill borrowed Mary Presland’s fascinating book St. Helens, A Pictorial History from Parr Branch Library and was amazed to see himself within its pages.

The images seen here come from St Helens Local History and Archives Library. After an extensive search Bill was finally able to buy a copy of the out of print book.

James Bridge & Co., of Ashcroft Street, Parr, owned the charabanc which served as as a coal wagon in winter when there was more demand for a roaring fire than a seaside trip.

On the extreme right is Bill’s grandad and grandmother and to the left holding baby Bill is his mother, Edith. Further to the left are brothers Tommy and Paddy Harvey. Tommy became a Councillor and Mayor of the town.

At one time we had three locomotive builders, Vulcan in Wargrave, Richard Evans’s foundry in Haydock, and Edward Borrows’s foundry in the Junction. Pilkingtons bought Borrows locomotives, and in this 1955 photo, Briars Hey, is pulling three flat trucks somewhere around the site. Large sheets of glass are securely held on the first wagon. The driver was Bill Coleman.