Archive

  • Echoes of the old clog repair shop

    ANYONE recognise this old clog and shoe repair shop which once boomed on the corner of Rutland and Stanhope Streets, St Helens? It still stands, though evidence of its past industry has vanished. It was once Sam Emery's place, which bore the catchy legend

  • Seeking out old buddy

    ONE-time regular soldier Mick Conroy is trying to locate his old buddy from their years in the 1st King's Own Royal Borders. Mick now lives in Lancaster while his old army pal, Kenny Remeijkis once came from Carr Mill, St Helens. They've never met for

  • Calling all you old Newton Tech lads

    MORE than half a century later, ten old boys from Newton Junior Technical School enjoyed a special reunion. They were members of the school's S-Class (1950-52) who met at the Pied Bull Hotel, Newton. Now, another meeting has been scheduled for August.

  • Ladies' Night at Haydock

    HAYDOCK Park is staging its opening three-day meeting of 2006 - including the first Ladies' Night of the year (8-10 JUNE). The three days provide something for everyone visiting the racecourse. The sporting action is high class on Thursday and Saturday

  • Clash of the form teams

    SAINTS' unbeaten home record faces a stern test (tonight) when on-song Hull visit Knowsley Road for a rare Thursday night game. The Black and Whites, transformed since new coach Peter Sharp took over, have won their last seven games on the trot and have

  • Kid-free pubs

    I AGREE that children should not be allowed in adult pubs . I'm a mum of two aged three and six. For one I wouldn't subject them to a pub environment (cig smoke, glasses and swearing) and two, a pub should be a place for adults to relax, me included!

  • Lib Dems... your time starts now

    I AM writing in reply to Cllr Beirne's letter 'I've never read such rubbish in my life' (Dear Star). He is experienced enough to know that political rhetoric appears on leaflets, whatever party stands for elections, local or national, leading up to polling

  • Give Parkisde a chance

    I WRITE in response to the letter from Brendan Page 'Parkside project should not be a political football' (Dear Star May 25). I believe that the letter was totally misleading and I would like to ask Mr Page the following questions. Does he believe that

  • I can't praise these builders enough

    I LIVE on the Sandstone Drive Development surrounding the Delph Lane Quarry in Whiston. The quarry is being developed to accommodate 87 houses due to be built by Roland Bardsley Ltd, Builders. The initial quarry was developed and infilled by another business

  • Faggots - I still buy them In London

    WITH regard to Mr Walling's letter 'Faggots? They were Savory Ducks!' (Dear Star).You say you can't believe someone from St Helens used the word faggots. I still buy them in London and the name faggots is on the box. I remember the shop in St Helens and

  • See if you enjoy a night out in town

    AFTER reading the article 'Murder town tag outrage' (Star front page May 25) what does it take to make people realise what the town centre is like. I have three sons, even they won't go into the town for a night out. I've seen the trouble there, that's

  • Did they know?

    I WONDER how many Conservative voters in Windle and Rainford realised that by voting Tory they were actually voting for a Lib Dem-led Council? Liberal Democrats are now Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council as well as holding all but one of the Executive

  • Are roadside shrines tacky?

    I WISH to comment on the subject of roadside 'shrines' that are appearing all over the place. What happened to people putting tributes and flowers on graves? Instead, we see bunches of flowers strapped to lampposts and other paraphernalia on street corners

  • Watch out for perils in parks

    COULD the parks get any worse? On a recent visit to Taylor Park with our daughter we were dismayed to see the wilful destruction of the play area. What hadn't been vandalised or stolen had graffiti so bad I am glad my daughter is too young to read yet

  • Offenders come clean

    YOUNG offenders have been cleaning up parts of Parr Stocks Road and Sorogold Street in Parr. The clean up, led by police and the Young Offenders Restorative Justice team, cut back bushes and tidied stones and debris at an area that was providing a hide

  • Sure of a fun time for all...

    All the family are being invited to a free fun and information day in St Helens town centre on Saturday, June 17. The action rolls out between 10am and 4pm in Victoria Square, outside the Town Hall, and will include circus stories and craft activities

  • Food for thought

    "Muy bien gracias!" (Very well thank you!) was the phrase of the week at Corpus Christi Primary School as teachers and pupils immersed themselves in Spanish culture. The week had been dedicated to this sunny land as a way of saying thank you and goodbye

  • Anything you say...

    A RESEARCH student examining northern dialect and accents wants to contact St Helens folk who are willing to have their voices tape recorded. Phillip Tipton, from the department of language and linguistics at the university of Essex, particularly wants

  • Head injuries

    A 40-year-old man suffered injuries to his head and upper body after an assault on Baxters Lane in the early hours of Thursday, June 1. Police forensic experts were called to the scene in Sutton at around 8.30am. However, officers were forced to drop

  • Three hurt

    A CAR crash on Garswood Old Road left three people needing hospital treatment on Monday, June 5. The three were taken to Whiston Hospital at approximately 1.05pm following an accident at the junction off the East Lancs Road.

  • Hit by car

    A TEN-year-old boy was rushed to Whiston Hospital after being in collision with a car on West End Road in Haydock on Saturday, June 3. An ambulance was called to at approximately 3.15pm. Paramedics reported that the youngster's injuries were serious but

  • Hit by car

    A TEN-year-old boy was rushed to Whiston Hospital after being in collision with a car on West End Road in Haydock on Saturday, June 3. An ambulance was called to at approximately 3.15pm. Paramedics reported that the youngster's injuries were serious but

  • UFO buzzes Haydock

    A MYSTERIOUS ball of light that zipped across St Helens skies on Monday night has been hailed as a possible UFO sighting. A family from Haydock say they watched in utter amazement as the flashing light seared through the heavens and then vanished shortly

  • Ladies' Night at Haydock

    HAYDOCK Park is staging its opening three-day meeting of 2006 - including the first Ladies' Night of the year (8-10 JUNE). The three days provide something for everyone visiting the racecourse. The sporting action is high class on Thursday and Saturday

  • Sounds of Skye

    ISLE of Skye based folk band The Peatbog Faeries will be returning to one of their favourite intimate venues this Saturday. The Peatbog Faeries, who have released four albums to date and have played to audiences all over the world, stop off at the Citadel

  • Night of glory for Gekko lads

    TWO local lads from band The Gekko enjoyed a dream date on Sunday evening when they performed as a support act to rock giants Bon Jovi at the City of Manchester Stadium. Guitarist Craig Benyon, 36, and bass player Tom McCooey, 18, are the local contingent

  • PB for Gemma

    GEMMA Llewellyn (19) came second in both the discus and shot put in the UK Women's League match at Wigan at the weekend. Her shot distance of 12.22m was a personal best. Gemma represents Liverpool Harriers.

  • Rainford fightback almost pulls off win

    RAINFORD produced a magnificent fightback almost snatching victory against Rainhill in an enthralling MSCA clash at the Jubilee Recreation Ground. After a tense last two overs with Rainhill clinging on, both sides had to settle for a draw, the home side

  • Haydock's first win

    HAYDOCK picked up their first win of the season with a 50 run victory at Merseyside Commonwealth Conference. Haydock batted first on a warm and sunny day, and were in trouble early doors. The loss of Craig Gardiner and Anselm Koning to successive deliveries

  • St Helens pay for a poor start

    ST HELENS got off to a fine start against Liverpool, who batted on what turned out to be a very difficult wicket. Saints bowler Kenny removed Indian Test Star Das for 6 and tight bowling kept the runs to a minimum. With Liverpool handily poised at 60

  • Sutton fall short in cup contest

    ON a low slow track at Burrows Lane, Sutton 1st XI won the toss and elected to set a target for Prescot and Odyssey to chase. All of the Sutton top four were in the runs with Anders unlucky not to exceed his 57. Natalie Brown stepped into the breach for

  • Any clues about Knobstick hall?

    HAVE you any clues about the mysterious old Knobstick Hall? It was located in the St Helens region and a plea for information about it has arrived all the way from Perth, Western Australia. An article on the subject some years ago, mentioned the great

  • Hurry up Dick Barton's on

    REMEMBER the old cast-iron mangle, the famous Okie-Koki ice-cream man and the evenings when sidestreets were briefly emptied as kids crammed into their homes to listen to the Dick Barton radio series? These and a host of other recollections have come

  • The Wild (U)

    AS his dad tells yet another old tale about the plains of the Serengeti, Ryan the lion cub dreams of one day snaring a wildebeest on his own. But there's not much chance of that because for every second of his short life he has been cooped up in New York

  • Sinfonietta to present workshops

    ST HELENS Sinfonietta has been offered a grant from the Community Foundation for Merseyside to run workshops on classical music in each of five primary schools in St Helens. Purpose of the workshops is to offer opportunities for the youngsters to be introduced

  • Sounds of Skye

    ISLE of Skye based folk band The Peatbog Faeries will be returning to one of their favourite intimate venues this Saturday. The Peatbog Faeries, who have released four albums to date and have played to audiences all over the world, stop off at the Citadel

  • Night of glory for Gekko lads

    TWO local lads from band The Gekko enjoyed a dream date on Sunday evening when they performed as a support act to rock giants Bon Jovi at the City of Manchester Stadium. Guitarist Craig Benyon, 36, and bass player Tom McCooey, 18, are the local contingent

  • Saints 56 Catalans 10

    SAINTS booked their Challenge Cup semi-final place with a 10-try triumph over the French Super League newcomers - but they were given a few uncomfortable moments. The blistering heat, complete lack of away fans, ease of victory and the frequent stoppages

  • FOZZARD SIGNS FOR TWO MORE YEARS

    Saints have announced that prop forward Nick Fozzard has signed a new contract that will keep him at Knowsley Road until the end of 2008. 28-year-old 'Fozz' has played 73 games for Saints since signing at the start of 2004, including the 2004 Challenge

  • Going down?

    REPLYING to Confused Rugby Fan 'So where are all those fans today who backed Millward?'Saints fans protested at the sacking of our last two coaches, Ellery Hanley and Ian Millward as a sign of loyalty until the facts came to light. As for losing gate

  • On camera?

    I HAVE noticed recently that the extra community police are carrying out the duties of the traffic police by setting up speed cameras in the St Helens area several times a week. Why aren't they carrying out the duties they are supposed to do? Policing

  • Watch your speed

    POLICE handed out 19 fixed penalty notices when they held a Speedwatch operation on Prescot Road last week. One driver was summoned for four traffic offences and eight verbal warnings were dished out to drivers. Inspector Don Blackburn commented: "Speedwatch

  • No smoke at Cat

    POPULAR pub The Red Cat is believed to be among the first rural venues across the borough to outlaw smoking. The pub, in the village of Crank, has taken steps to ban smoking ahead of new laws, which will be introduced next year. Proprietor Julie Markland

  • All the sixes for Ray

    IT'S just as well Ray Farmer isn't particularly superstitious. Why? Because on Tuesday the jovial grandfather celebrated his sixty-sixth birthday on the sixth of the sixth '06! However, he did concede that sharing such an ominous milestone with the high-profile

  • Did you see motorcycle chase?

    A MOTORCYCLIST died following a crash in Wigan after he had earlier been pursued by police in St Helens town centre. Police say they chased a motorcycle being used by David Dimelow, 20, after he allegedly failed to stop on Duke Street, St Helens at about

  • Town hall attack

    A 25-year-old man suffered serious injuries after he was assaulted near St Helens Town Hall in the early hours of Friday, June 2.

  • Campaign of fear..

    A MAN who alleges his car was deliberately torched outside his home believes it is part of the campaign of intimidation he claims to have suffered ever since he confronted a gang of louts. Now he says he feel so threatened, he may have to move away. Thirty-four-year-old

  • Mark found missing mail dumped in his garden shed

    A FORMER postman was 'absolutely horrified' when he stumbled upon several bundles of undelivered old mail that had been dumped in his garden shed. Mark Saunders (35), of Cedar Grove in Haydock, uncovered eight huge piles of letters which should have been

  • Bus crime blitz

    A CRACKDOWN on yobs who cause 'bus crime' resulted in boys being punished for offences that include 'mooning', throwing stones and letting off stink bombs. Operation Trojan, an undercover police scheme, resulted in a nine-year-old boy from Sutton being

  • Stu pots his way to his own hall of fame

    SNOOKER centre boss Stuart Barrow has finally found a place in his own hall of fame - after 23 years of trying! The Scala Snooker Centre in Ormskirk Street has hosted all the top players on the local scene since it first opened in 1983. And for the whole

  • Homing News

    Knowsley South Portland Howarth &Shaw 1245 Howarth &Shaw 1222 P Powell 1213 Mr&Mrs Cleaver 1212 McKenna & Van Aston 1203 Mr&Mrs Cleaver 1203 Sutton Oak Swainswick J Schofield 1277 J Schofield 1277 R Eardley 1259 J Rawlinson & Son

  • Ash causes a stir at Rainhill

    THE Bangladeshi batsman whose century famously helped slay the Aussies in a one-day international in Cardiff last year is now finding his feet in Rainhill. Mohammad Ashraful, who is also the youngest ever test centurion having knocked a ton against Sri

  • Bowden's mixed bag takes the top slot

    Newton-le-Willows A, A Match & fishery news Harry Tackle Spring League, Sankey Canal Upper pound, Round 9. Fourteen anglers took part in this round of the competition and Ray Bowden took the top slot with a bag of tench, bream and ides on long pole