ASK Star readers between 1973 and 2009 what page they turned to first every week and it’s a pretty safe bet “Whalley's World” would be the answer on most lips.

Alan Whalley kept St Helens smiling over four decades as he served up a magic menu of larger than life characters and nuggets of nostalgia every week with his sublime storytelling skill.

Alan passed away last October, but we’re sure he’d be tickled pink to know his award winning words were making a timely comeback to the Star’s pages to inject a little cheer in these days of unprecedented darkness, tragedy and fear. 

This week’s piece shares the story of pioneering priest Father Riley and debate about Nanny Goat Park.

THE legendary Father Riley was a really shrewd operator when it came to fulfilling his dream.

This energetic, square-shouldered man of the cloth was the driving force behind the building of the present Lowe House Church, known locally as ‘the poor man’s cathedral’.

And one Haresfinch reader looked back with amusement and affection to one of the little ploys adopted by the St Helens priest who was renowned as the scourge of local drunks and back-sliders.

He recalls this tale from his father’s youth which typified the good priest: “Father Riley had a wonderful way of persuading people to help him.

Asking for volunteers to help in excavating the massive footings for the new church, he promised a reward to those prepared to put in as many hours as possible.

“The men smiled when Fr. Riley mentioned a reward,” he adds.
But nevertheless a volunteer labour force was raised from among his cash-strapped parishioners.

And, after much thought, the pioneering priest decided to reveal his intentions which, he explained, would be of benefit both to the men and their families.

Any coal found during excavation work could be shared among the spade-wielding labour force - without charge!

It appears that Fr. Riley knew that there was a shallow seam of coal just beneath the site of the landmark church. So the men carried on with the task, knowing that while remaining hard-up they would at least keep warm that winter.

LOVELY little tale! It appears that Fr. Riley was the stuff that legends are made of…and that he even kept a small pet alligator. 

Nanny-Goat poser

THE oddly-nicknamed Nanny-Goat Park, in the Fingerpost area of St Helens, has nothing to do with bleats, butts and bearded animals.
Well, not according to one reader who has family links with that recreation ground of a million childhood memories.

He’s responded to a query from another of our customers who has always been intrigued by that nickname since it was her playground paradise half-a-century ago.

K.Rooney told me: “The name Nanny-Goat Park links back to my great-great grandmother, Alexandra Gruff.

“She was the daughter of the man who founded the park, Albert Gruff. 
He was given the nickname of Billy, referring to his surname’s link to the story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff!”
Albert dedicated the park to Alexandra who used to own a dwelling there which was referred to, during her older years, as Nanny-Goat’s House.

“Only since she died and left the house - long since demolished - has the reference been to Nanny-Goat Park, rather than Nanny-Goat’s House.”
K.R. discovered all these ‘ifs and butts’ quite recently while researching the family tree.

Send your feedback to news@sthelensstar.co.uk