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Mayor of Middleton, Arthur Horridge inspects his shop, which is decorated to celebrate the Coronation
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Guardian angels
Harold Cunliffe19/ 6/2008
THIS week we take a look at what was making the news in the 1950s.
Moonrakers became upset when the much loved Central Gardens was dug up by the North Western Gas Board to allow a mains pipe to be laid from the gas holder in Suffield Street to the new Bowlee estate (Langley) via Burton Street. Locals referred to the estate as a ‘concrete jungle’ and its residents were given the nickname of ‘Langleyites’.
The baths superintendent and entertainment manager, Mr Carter proudly reported a record number of people attending the Baths Ballroom during the festive season of 1951. It was stated that 5,800 dancers paid to go dancing to the music of Glen Grey and his augmented band.
There were a number of complaints from the dancers however, they were of the opinion that the closure of the ballroom at 11pm was too early, and they wanted it extending to 11.30pm. Mr Carter said: "Many young people had to travel some distance, if the dancing had gone on till late many of them would have missed the last bus."
On the 26 March 1914 the Corporation of Middleton invited tenders to supply half a ton of ‘Pale soap’ to the baths at Manchester Old Road. The old pool had no filtration and we are informed that the water soon became like ‘pea soup’ – we now know the reason.
On Saturday 9 February 1952 this newspaper reported the tragic news that His Majesty King George VI had died suddenly at Sandringham. The news of his death brought back wartime memories to many townsfolk.
It was during March 1945 that the King and Queen came to town and visited the baths.
On the day of the funeral, Old Hall Street became crowded with spectators outside Horridges shop window. A display television set was showing the funeral. One year later many people rented a television to watch the Queen’s coronation.
Over at the Cromer the solemn event was being shown on six sets which were set up in the works canteen. Almost all of the 800 employees visited at various times throughout the day to witness the great King being laid to rest. The average cost of a TV was between £86-0-0 to £136-10-0.
A Mazda TV4 with an aluminised tube was £72-10-0 at Horridges.
Traffic cops 1950s style
PC John Hurst saw a Chrysler car weaving about the road, he stood in the car’s path and signalled it to stop by flashing his torch at the driver. The car failed to stop and almost mowed the officer down. He stopped another car and gave chase. It was at Rochdale Road, Harpurhey before the the vehicle finally came to a halt.
PC Hurst asked the driver, 32-year-old Angus Wellens from Woodhouses to explain the damage to the front of his car: ‘What damage?’ Replied Wellens.
"The damage that you caused to the front of your car when you ran into a traffic bollard at the junction of Victoria Ave a few miles back," stated the officer, who then asked if he was too drunk to drive.
"Yes I am too drunk to drive, and to be quite honest I am too drunk to walk," said Wellens. He was fined £10 and given a twelve-month ban.
Fire, flood and mechanical breakdown have all threatened to disrupt the publication of this newspaper.
Within hours of the recent fire at the Guardian office the town’s favourite weekly newspaper was published on time.
When the Middleton Flood of July 1927 hit, the Guardian’s printing press, located in the basement of its then Market Place office, became overrun with water.
But in true Guardian spirit the ‘paper hit the streets with only a small number of news items having to be held back.
In 1951 disaster struck when at the start of production the 25 year old printing press developed a fault and fell apart. Once again it was all hands to the pump. It was the Co-operative Press in Manchester who stepped in and produced the paper until a new machine, which could print and fold 4,000 copies an hour, was purchased from Otley in Yorkshire.
A 1950s reader brought a faded postcard into the Guardian office and wanted to know: "Who, what where and when?" Following publication a number of letters arrived all giving information. The children on the photo were from the National school were in for a treat as they made their way back to school passing New Lane. The pack of Harriers belonged to Hannibel Becker who once owned the vitriol works at Slacks Valley, Middleton Junction. The bearded policeman was named as McDonald.
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Looking at the photo of Horridges, the man with his hands on his hips looks very much like Arthur Horridge
19/06/2008 at 20:04