July 2008 Archives

THE KICKING Donkey Pub in Scarisbrick was overrun by American GIs and country yokels back in 1985.

The car park was crammed full of trucks after the pub was chosen by the BBC for the Little and Large comedy show.

The comic duo were dressed as country bumpkins who were cleverly swindling American soldiers out of their money.

THIS week Memories honours the Royals in 1981, with Ormskirk's golden boy George Longstaff picking up his Duke of Edinburgh Award at Buckingham Palace.

The 18-year-old, of St Helens Road, was a student at Preston College and gained the gold award after passing his bronze and silver awards.

He had to do advanced first aid work, a 50-mile walk in four days, and a spell as a helper at a home in North Yorkshire.

THIS week we go back to 1980, the year JR was shot and Juliet Bravo showed Jean D'Arblay struggling for female equality in a fictional Lancashire village.

It was also the year that the Brooklands Cricket team took on each other in a 'Superstars' competition.

First team skipper Derek Anderton, Mark Swindlehurst, Roger Finn, Jack Call, who also chairman of Ormskirk Rugby Club, Don Pratt and Dave Brighouse entered into the spirit of the occasion.

THIS week, we have photos from 1987, the year Gordon the Gopher and Philip Schofield took over our television screens.

Another animal which was in the limelight in 1987 was eight-year-old mare Northern Bay.

Her owner Ann Stevens of Crescent Green, Aughton won the Fort Riley Supreme championship at the Northern Equitation Centre on Brookfield in Aughton.

This week's Memories takes a look at two budding soccer stars who played for the Grimshaw team in Skelmersdale back in 1988.

Stephen Reilly and Lee Barrett earned their first step on the way to making a career in professional football.

Stephen was granted a youth team place with Everton and Lee, from Burscough, was selected for a place with Stockport County.