Church wake walks in 1950s

A BRADSHAW man has been in touch with the Bolton News to share some photographs that he found while researching his family history.

John Preston decided during lockdown last year to take time and go through the many accumulated colour slides from his dad and deceased relatives and of course his own which took many hours.

John said that his relatives from the USA had grown up in Westhoughton [Tom & Margaret {nee Tyldesley} Barnes sent over most of their slides from 1953 [Coronation year].

But now he has managed to dig out some more interesting shows from the 1950s.

He said: “I have got some slide shots of Westhoughton Church Wakes walks from 1953.

“The children must all be in their mid-Seventies now.

“They were all taken on Bolton Road, but I do not know anyone on the photos.

“Many of your readers will, I hope.

“The family shot, is of my dad Moses Preston, sister Pam, myself and mum.

“The Vehicle is certainly not ours [A Ford Consul] but a hired one being used by our USA relatives Tom and Margaret Barnes.

“I remember being very impressed with the vehicle, bus travel was the only transport I was used to.

“But luckily Uncle Tom got dad learning to drive in it during their stay. Which triggered no doubt the arrival of an old Austin which didn’t like hills I remember.

“I’ve walked up several times.”

John was in touch with us last week’s Looking Back to tell us about cricketing memories where he found a photo from the 1950s.

He said: “I discovered this photo amongst my mothers photos

“My father Moses Preston [aka as “Big Mo”] is the prominent leading player

“I do not know where it is taken, possibly Bolton Cricket Club, but only my guess.

“Nor do I know when but 1950s is almost certain.

“It could have been a Bolton Evening News photo, the right size of print but no stamp on the rear."

n If you want to see more of John's photograph of the Westhoughton Church Wake Walks from the 1950s then you can check out the story on our website.

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