39 replies to this topic

[Olliebeak]

A few weeks ago, we had mention of a new DVD and a book about St.Helens - well of course, I've sent my other-half out to get them for me and can't remember the name of the book. He's managed to get the DVD (the one with 'the two Johns') but Wardleworths didn't seem to know which book he was on about. My own stupid fault, I know - should have written it down and put it 'somewhere safe' at the time.

Is there anywhere on this site that we could perhaps put a list of books, DVDs etc with comments on whether or not we think they're worth getting hold of?

cheers - Ollie

[Dave]

You might be able to find it in the Library Catalogue Ollie.

If enough stuff - lists, recommendations + places to obtain are posted on this thread (which will be better pinned in St Helens Topics), then we can see about making a little table in the database.

[Olliebeak]

Thanks for that, Dave . I think it may have been 'Clog Irons in the Fire' that's listed on the Library Site.

Hope everything's alright now and that we've got you back with us properly.

[Dave]

(OT - me too, but I was enjoying the rest change. )

[Clancy]

Ollie, the book is called 'Clog Irons In The Fog' written by Roy Harrison.

I have just read the book, it was sent to us by a friend in St.Helens. It is mainly about Carr Mill and Haresfinch during the World War 2 years. The author lived in Haresfinch.

I found it quite interesting, although he tends to repeat himself quite a lot.

It's only a short book and it does give an insight into how things were during the war, so I'm glad I read it

[Olliebeak]

Cheers for that info, Clancy.

As it's only about Carr Mill/Haresfinch area, I think I'll probably just try to get it through the library, rather than have it bought for me.

[Clancy]

That might be a good idea Ollie ...I also found a couple of mistakes in it.

Anyone from Carr Mill and Haresfinch might find it interesting.

Lobotmoto might like it as it mentions the Congregational Church in Derwent Rd, which he has mentioned in relation to his wife

[John D Slater]

I think by now many people will have heard of "St. Helens Revisited" - the DVD we launched in October. It was partly based on the verse collection of the same name which I wrote and launched with a performance at The Theatre Royal in 2004.

The book is still available from the website www.johndslater.co.uk as is the DVD also from the website. Both can be sent post free.

They are also on sale at Wordleworths Book Shop in Westfield St.

[Clancy]

I thoroughly enjoyed your DVD John...St.Helens Revisited. Know what you look like too

[llanyb]

Over the years, I've collected/inherited/been given a range of books on St Helens but, as Clancy points out, they can have mistakes which, if they're not noted, can lead to the mistakes becoming 'fact'.

As a case in point - I have just dug out "Industrial Town: Self Portrait of St Helens in the 1920s". It's written by a Charles Forman - and, most importantly, he's not born and brought up in St Helens, though he does/did live there for a while. To create the book (in the 1970s), he interviewed large numbers of people in St Helens about their memories of the town in the 1920s. Generally it's very interesting and not light-weight (250-plus pages). However, in a chapter on brass bands, he writes about "Parson Peter's band". Personally, I'd bet good money on that really being "Parr, St Peter's Band".

[Alan]

A few fairly recently written ones I have are as follows:

Black Gold and Hot Sand, A history of St Helens by Mike Fletcher published 2002 by Carnegie Publishing

The Global Miracle of Float Glass, A tribute to St Helens and its glass workers by Tom Grundy, published by himself in 1990

Voices of St Helens by David Paul, published by Tempus Publishing in 2000

I Thought as a Child, growing up in St Helens in the 1930s and 1940s by Barbara H Menzies published by Countyvise Publishing in 1997

Memories of St Helens by Peggie Burns, Phil Holland plus many other contributors, published by True North Books in 1998. (this one is pure nostalgia with many pictures of old St Helens and its townsfolk)

Growing up in St Helens, memories and recollections of a Glass Town by John D Vose

St Helens Trolleybuses by Geoff Sandford, published by Regent Transport Publications. Unsure when this was published but I believe it was in the early 2000s (Great one for the St Helens Transport buffs with dozens of contemporary photos of trolleybuses. I bought my copy from St Helens Transport Museum)

Edited by Alan, 28 December 2010 - 05:12 PM.

[joycegb]

Another one for the list. "What was it like...". Not sure if it is in the local bookstore as i got it from a distant relative who wrote it, Denis Brown. I found it very good. It is about his growing up during WW2. He was born in Rodney St. in 1931, then moved to Pine Avenue, Windlehurst. It is an excelent read for people who remember the war years. Denis is still alive and well and living locally. The book was printed by Poplar printers Ltd.

Joyce

[Alan]

Clancy, on 17 December 2010 - 12:55 AM, said:

Ollie, the book is called 'Clog Irons In The Fog' written by Roy Harrison.

I have just read the book, it was sent to us by a friend in St.Helens. It is mainly about Carr Mill and Haresfinch during the World War 2 years. The author lived in Haresfinch.

I found it quite interesting, although he tends to repeat himself quite a lot.

It's only a short book and it does give an insight into how things were during the war, so I'm glad I read it

I read it last night and enjoyed it. I was born in 1942 so have very limited memories of the war years but I do remember the post-war austerity that Roy Harrison talks about, which we assumed was normal as we'd never known anything else. It's barely more than 100 pages so can easily be read in one sitting.

Certainly one for any bibliography of St Helens books that Dave may produce. I've no idea where you might buy it and at what cost. I imagine it was published by the author himself

[Phyll]

I think I put this link on once before somewhere. It's available at Wardleworth's @ Six Pounds.
I think I would find it interesting, as I was brought up near Carr Mill.

http://www.sthelenss...r_Mill/?ref=rss

[Le200]

That's £6.00

ALT and 0163 on the numeric keypad for anyone without a £ sign on their keyboard