51 replies to this topic

[the olden days]

boxkey4, on 27 January 2012 - 06:02 AM, said:

I think the pub you passed going to the timber yard was the Phoenix,its still standing on canal street the Washington was in Lowe street,unless there was another Washington.

It was the Phoenix, as I lived there from 1932 to 1941 and we were evacuated when the Germans dropped incendiary bombs on the timber yard (the other side of our back yard wall) and as we were being carried by firemen to the Star Inn in Liverpool Road I saw this massive 'bonfire' lighting up all St Helens. I heard later that the bombers were actually coming down and trying to shoot the firemen - don't know if this was true.

[SKYMAN]

I Would take that about bombers coming down and shooting firemen
with a pinch of salt tod,in fact make it two pinches.,

[Nanny Ogg]

Skyman, they might have had an escort - you never know!

[SMELTZER46]

I REMEMBER IN THE LATE 1960s SEEING THE PILKS FIRE STATION FROM LIVERPOOL RD(BACK OF FIRE STATION) WITH THE FIRE HOSES DRAPED ACROSS FROM THE WINDOWS I PRESUME DRYING OUT

[SKYMAN]

Bombers dont come down shooting at firemen,
take it from Skyman lol

[bigal]

Greenbanker, on 28 January 2012 - 06:55 PM, said:

Ahh, Pilks firestation. I spent so much time hanging around the place when I were but a lad. I always dreamt of being a Pilks fireman when I grew up. We had a neighbour on Greenbank,Gerry Nolan who gave sterling service to the Pilks fire station. He had a fire alarm bell set up in his house and I have strong memories of the alarm bell ringing and Gerry running from Liverpool Street via Phythian Street down to the station. Moments later you would see a few more of the firemen running down Bold Street from the firemans flats at the corner of Glover Street and Bold Street. - They had the same alarm system set up in there.

They used to have fire practice every Wednesday night starting around 6 pm and would practice their drill hosing down the old head office building - (now flats) - in Grove Street. "Rescuing" casualties from the top of the same building etc,etc.

I remember the smell of the old fire station too. It was of some kind of polish or other cleaner that they used to keep the station and fire tenders clean. The fire chief lived in the station with his family in a flat above the same.

The Fire Chief was Mr. Pemberton and his deputy was Bertie ( ? ) Buckle

[SKYMAN]

I can see it now,German Bomber pilots being given instructions,
your target for tonights raid is Canal Street ,St Helens.
on no account must the Firemen be allowed to put the fires out,