A LOOK AT 1974
The headlines in the first Macclesfield newspaper of 1974 revealed that an 85 year old widow had died as fire struck her Davenport Street home. It was thought that Mrs Lily Bower had been using candles to light her home.
“Jesus Christ Superstar” was being screened at the Majestic Cinema, whilst Pete Douglas and singers were attracting guests to the Poynton Folk Club. The entertainments pages of the newspaper also gave a resume of our weekend television programmes of the time which included on the BBC Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game, Jack Warner as Dixon of Dock Green, Raymond Burr in a Man Called Ironside, concluding with Match of the Day. On ITV Eartha Kitt and Springfield Revival were guests on the Rolf Harris Show, Candid Camera showed practical jokes on members of the public, a Saturday evening feature film followed and later in the evening, Gordon Jackson played the part of Hudson the Butler in “Upstairs Downstairs.” Later in January, a thousand children turned up at the Majestic Cinema to see “Mary Poppins”, but 500 had to be turned away because the cinema was packed to capacity.
By a majority of seven votes to three, Macclesfield Town Football Club directors voted at an emergency meeting to play matches on Sundays whist the power crisis continued.
On January 10th it was reported that textile maintenance fitter Brian Randall of Oldham Street Bollington was waiting for confirmation of a pools win of £120018.00. Once confirmed, this must have been a welcomed financial boost as it was also reported that most of the country was being forced to work a three day week that was biting into workers’ pay packets.
Chestergate had become a ghost street with thirteen empty shops between Churchill Way and The Market Place. Having relocated to new premises, the stone built former post office on Castle Street lay vacant, and it was thought to be ideal as a leisure centre. Although the idea was supported by Nicholas Winterton MP, the proposal was later rejected by the new local authority which came into being at the beginning of April.
Two local schoolgirls, Jill Harrison and Mandy Barker, collected a staggering 550 signatures for a petition in only five hours which they handed on to MP Nicholas Winterton. They were pleading assistance in helping keep them off the streets as they felt that there was insufficient for young people to do.
“Bollington is a town” – the history making decision making decision was taken by Bollington Parish Council in January when a review of the local population figures showed that the number of people living in the Parish had grown significantly.
The Tesco Store on Exchange Street celebrated its first birthday with some special offers to customers. A ¼ pound packet of PG Tips Tea was offered at 7 pence, a tin of Libby’s rice pudding cost 6 pence, and pork retailed at 40 pence a pound.
The Post Office Telephones representative in Macclesfield, Commander W H Mair, appeared on the BBC children’s programme “Blue Peter” in a film about the Sail Training Association’s schooner, “Sir Winston Churchill.” John Noakes and his attendant team of camera and sound crew, producer and a continuity girl came aboard on Good Friday at Cowes.
At the end of April, 1000 angry ratepayers packed into Poynton Civic Centre at the meeting of the Poynton Ratepayers’ Association. The association had been formed two weeks earlier when the current year’s rates demand was received. Participants in the meeting resolved to attend a massed rally in Nantwich and to call on the Secretary of State to review the rating system
In June a £1million fire destroyed the Brocklehurst Fabrics Albert Street Mill
Annie Farrar, formerly of Peter Street in Macclesfield, celebrated her 106th birthday in Thelhill Old Folks Home in Knutsford. Annie had dedicated 60 years of her life as a Sunday School Teacher. The Mayor of Macclesfield was amongst the guests at her birthday party.
In June, more than 3000 people gathered in the beautiful grounds of the Salesion College at Pott Shrigley to sing along with the Liverpool folk group, “The Spinners”.
In September, musical memories were revived by master organist Reginald Dixon OBE when he “packed ‘em in” at the Majestic Cinema for a Sunday concert. Reginald Dixon became the world famous at the Tower Ballroom and became known as Mr Blackpool.
On the crime scene, a man was helping police with their enquiries into a raid at Monks Heath Post Office. Road blocks had been set up as the raider got away with £134. Post Office assistant and former sub mistress Miss M Hayles said that the raider had said that he wanted the money and pulled out a pistol.
Do you have any memories of Macclesfield from days past, where you worked, how you spent your leisure time, organisations to which you belonged or local events you remember? I would love to hear your stories. Please contact me at storerian@aol.com or by phoning me o 01625 432070
