Re: Accrington Observer
 

Lampman - do you know who the young woman is holding the flowers?

Re: Accrington Observer
 

Thank you PCPlod3487. Whatever you did brought my post into the world of visibility for me :)

Re: Accrington Observer
 

Afraid you have me there Willow',I seem to recall that the Observer had some girls working in the Comp room after my departure,but there again the girl may be a journalist seeing it was an editorial presentation.Just spotted Richard Crossley lurking in the background, later the last family owner.

Re: Accrington Observer
 

Atarah is mostly correct - except that the Oberver was not struggling at all when the decision to sell to the Guardian Media Group was made. The business reaped the benefits from the investments made in more modern computerised typesetting technology in the 1980s and was making a healthy profit when the sale was concluded in 1989.
There were a number of reasons for the sale principal amongst them being an extremely attractive offer from the Guardian and the then owners' recognition that Accrington's best days were probably behind them.
Incidentally, I have the original memorandum of sale document recording the purchase of the business by Richard S Crossley from George Toulmin.

Re: Accrington Observer
 

Is this an official Observer rep posting.

Re: Accrington Observer
 

That's quite a sweeping statement.

What as, a town, or as somewhere with an independently run newpaper of it's own?

Re: Accrington Observer
 

I too have a number of pictures taken by Garth Dawson. Mainly on 'walking days' but I have one of my brother and me at the Blackpool bus stop on Melbourne street. We were waiting to go on holiday and he just appeared with his camera in his hand & asked to take a photo of us for the Observor

Re: Accrington Observer
 

My uncle Billy Piper used to work for the Observer around 25/30 years ago. Everytime they had a story and they needed a photo of a young teenage girl to illustrate it he'd be round to photograph me. Once I remember being taken to Haworth Art Gallery and holding a brochure standing next to some Tiffany Glass - think it must have been when all the Tiffany Glass was put back on display.

He's now the Editor of the Daily Mail in Scotland.

Re: Accrington Observer
 

Re- Leo Hughes
Leo was my uncle. His mum and dad were my grandparents- Joseph and Lucy-who had the undertakers.
Uncle Leo was one of 5 children. Oswald -died in his twenties I think, Kathleen - became a Benedictine nun at the age of 16 and died about 7 yrs ago, Tony- who was the woodwork teacher at Holy family and then my mum- Sheila Claire (Banks),
We lived in Africa for a while- but he was a very interesting man - he had been a monk at Buckfast Abbey in his youth. He also worked at Bletchley Park.
Sorry- couldn't resist joining this group just to clarify matters.

Re: Accrington Observer
 

Well that is interesting Mellitus,they say still waters run deep and this must have been the case with Leo!

Re: Mr Lampman, this is for you
 

I hadn't seen this thread before today - it certainly brought back memories as I new Frank Kitchener - he was the Sports Writer (Jason) in those days and his son Keith and I were the best of friends - early '50s.
We remained friends into the '70s - none memorable Summer Ball at RAF West Drayton. Sadly lost touch as time passed and we travelled even further afield.

Re: Accrington Observer
 

Is this Pat Crossley wife to Bill if so can you pass me there email address lost contact with them.

P Welsh.

Re: Accrington Observer
 

I have added some staff names(those I know and remember) to the earlier photograph of Frank Kitchener's retirement presentation.