FORWARDFORWARD ISSUE No. 27 SPRING 2001 The Newsletter of Wigan Heritage Service FREE Who in 1991 would have predicted the the Heritage Service staff for success of Past Forward 10 years on? contributing to and supporting this The magazine has certainly come a very From the Editor venture over the years, as well as to all long way since its humble beginnings as of satisfaction from editing Past those involved in the actual printing and two A3 sheets – not even stapled Forward is the realisation that, were it production of the magazine. The result together! But such was the immediate not for the magazine, many readers is a very high quality and professional response that even by the second issue would probably never have actually put product – as this issue once again the size had doubled – and it was pen to paper to record their memories confirms – which is eagerly anticipated stapled together! These were indeed and reminiscences. There are too and read throughout the world. exciting days for a Heritage Service still many contributors and correspondents I often think, during the compilation in its infancy, for not only was Past to mention – although the names of old of Past Forward, how strange it is that Forward making great strides, but this faithfuls (I’m sure they won’t object to several distinct themes appear. In this was also the time of the opening of the my calling them that!) like Ernie issue, for example, two such themes History Shop – another big success Taberner, Harold Smith, Harold have manifested themselves, by story. By 1994, Past Forward was Knowles, Neil Cain, James Fairhurst, chance, closely linked and running appearing three times a year instead of Fred Holcroft, Kenneth Lucas, Harry through the magazine - World War II twice, and now contained 20 pages. Entwistle, Marjorie Bryden and Alan and Mesnes Park. I have recently Issue 13 in 1996 was a notable Roby, not forgetting J H Ollerton and received a good number of exception, commemorating as it did the Bert Worsley who have sadly passed contributions relating to the War, and 750th anniversary of Wigan’s first royal on, spring immediately to mind. But, of aviation in particular. The events of charter, not to mention the opening of course, there are many, many others – World War II have, indeed, been very the new Wickham Gallery of the History as you will see from the pages which much in all our minds of late, with the Shop, with a bumper edition of 24 pages follow. first Holocaust Memorial Day in and full colour covers. Full colour was Nor would many people, not just January. Wigan Council played its full also used during Millennium Year to do locally but literally throughout the world, part here (see p15), and particularly justice to Wigan’s Parish Map, many have been brought together in with a commemorative ceremony and sections of which were splendidly correspondence or in some cases even exhibition in Mesnes Park. The Park, reproduced in the Past Forwards of face to face, through reading the as it happens, is also the subject of 2000. magazine and finding they had a Irene Roberts’ delightful article on p21, as You, the readers, have grown and common interest. well as being the subject of a grown in number, and also in writing You, the readers, are of course forthcoming exhibition in the History prowess – my postbag has increased to largely responsible for all this – and my Shop (see p16). The Mesnes Park the extent that I, reluctantly, have to sincere thanks to all of you, near and far, Parish Map is also reproduced on the disappoint many of you, because I just whether you subscribe to the magazine back cover. cannot fit all your contributions in, even or are able to pick up your own copy. Do I know you will enjoy reading these, in a magazine which has now stretched keep sending in your contributions – and the many other, articles, in the to over 30 pages! One of the main areas financial and written. My thanks also to pages which follow. HERITAGE SERVICE CONTACTS Wigan Heritage Assistants Market Suite, The Galleries – Hilary Fairclough ........................................... (01942) 828122 Heritage Services Manager (and Editor of Past Forward) Barbara Miller ................................................ (01942) 828122 Alastair Gillies ................................................ (01942) 734732 Stephanie Tsang .............................................. (01942) 828122 Fax (01942) 704727 Local History Enquiry Desk ............................ (01942) 828020 Email [email protected] Fax (01942) 827645 History Shop – Wigan Pier – Visitor Services Manager Technician Philip Butler .................................................... (01942) 827594 Clair Templeton .............................................. (01942) 828564 Education and Outreach Manager Leigh (and Local History, West) ................................ (01942) 827580 Archives, Town Hall – Collections Development Manager Heritage Officer (Archives) ............................. (01942) 404430 Yvonne Webb ................................................... (01942) 828123 Senior Technician Heritage Officer (Industrial History) Len Hudson ..................................................... (01942) 404432 Mike Haddon ................................................... (01942) 828121 Fax (01942) 404425 Heritage Officer (Social History) Turnpike Centre, Leigh Library – Dawn Wadsworth ............................................ (01942) 828124 Heritage Officer (Local History) Heritage Officer (Family History) Tony Ashcroft ................................................... (01942) 404559 Christine Watts ................................................ (01942) 828020 Fax (01942) 404567 If you have an enquiry, and are not sure who the most appropriate person is to contact, please contact the History Shop, Library Street, Wigan WN1 1NU (01942) 828128. You can also send an Email: [email protected] All comments and correspondence Covers: Front - The Mayor of Wigan, Cllr Joan Hurst, accompanied by David Arnold of the should be addressed to: Jewish Representative Council, plants a silver birch tree in Mesnes Park, Wigan in memory of all Editor, ‘Past Forward’, those who have died as a result of genocide (see p15). Photo by Jim Pryle. Back - Two of the Wigan Heritage Service, Market Suite, Parish Maps - Wigan Town Centre (top) and Mesnes Park (bottom) - displayed in December in The Galleries, Wigan WN1 1PX the History Shop, the final venue for the Mapping the Millennium Festival (see p16). 2 The Dr. Mary Tomlinson Story ONE of the most remarkable stories from Lane on the difficulties of medical the early part of the 20th century was that of missionaries in India. She said they had Mary Tomlinson. She was born in Billinge only £75 to buy the drugs and serum to Road, Pemberton in 1899 where her parents treat tetanus and other diseases which carried on a business, her father being an old were rife among the village people and her Pemberton Colliery worker who had left the talk was mainly an appeal for funds to industry with an injury. She attended St carry on the work. She told of one man who Paul’s School, Goose Green, leaving at the was celebrated because he could kill a goat age of 13 to work at Eckersley’s Mills at with his teeth. He was an outcast, one of the Poolstock, first in the reeling room and later untouchables, and when his enemies tried becoming a weaver. After two years she left to kill him he ran 35 miles with a fractured to work on the pit brow at Pemberton skull. He wouldn’t become a Christian for Colliery, leaving after five years to become, that would have meant giving up one of his at the age of 20, a nurse at a children’s two wives. “I put him in a hut by himself,” creche in Walsall. she said, “and he barricaded himself in, but Now launched on a nursing career, she one night they came through the roof and cut later joined the staff at the Ancoats Hospital, him to pieces.” She spoke of the terrible Manchester. During that time she studied for infant mortality, saying she had seen girl a matriculation certificate, the university wives of 13 and 14 years being carried out entrance qualification at that time. Passing dead. She said, “People when they reach us the examination she began studies at are usually in a bad state because when they Birmingham University and in October, are ill they use cow dung and cow urine as 1929 at the age of 31, she obtained degrees adults in as well. Last year, [1934] we had medicine. I could weep for the superstitions in medicine and surgery, becoming a 34,000 outpatients, and although the of the people of India”. Member of the Royal College of Surgeons hospital had 60 beds there was a shortage of So far as newspaper reports are and a Licentiate of the Royal College of sheets, pillows, blankets and other things. concerned, the trail ran out about 1938 Physicians. For six months she worked in a Ten shillings [50p] would save a life.” after she had returned to India. However, a children’s hospital in Birmingham and then Mr Baines from Orrell, who served in the decided to embrace missionary work. An outcast RAF during the war, visited Dr. Tomlinson who, by this time was married. She was “Self-sacrifice” Dr. Tomlinson rose at six in the living with her husband, Mr. Rolle who morning, and after Dhoti Bazri, which was the owner or manager of a chrome The local press reported on 7 July 1935: means “little breakfast”, she plunged into factory in Crompet near Madras. She Dr. Mary Tomlinson, who has for the past her work for the day. About three times a welcomed Mr Baines, and to celebrate five years been a medical missionary in the year she visits Madras saying she saw the opened a tin of tripe which they shared. Madras district of Southern India with a film “David Copperfield” there. On She had by then left the mission, and he Methodist Missionary Society, returned Sunday 6 February 1936, she spoke at the believes she died in the 1990’s, somewhere home on leave last week.