Results tagged “1981” from O & S Advertiser - Memories

WITH 2009 dawning to the woes of the credit crunch and fears over job losses, this week's memories harks back to a similar time of high unemployment.

Early in 1981 the jobless rate for Ormskirk was 17.2% of the working population, well above the national figure of 10%. At the time there were only 22 vacancies in the Ormskirk unemployment office.

More than 50 people were made redundant at Universal Bulk Handling on Orrell Lane, Burscough. The news came as a blow to workers as the company had only announced a £150,000 order a few weeks before.

WE have gone back to 1981 with our photo of the Couch family who had their 15 minutes of fame on “Family Fortunes� with Bob Monkhouse.

The family from Skelmersdale were featured on the show after Doris Couch from Blakehall applied to appear.

The family came away with over £200 and were delighted to have their chance in the limelight.

Skelmersdale Sports Centre celebrated ten years in business with special guests Alan Kennedy and Billy Butler back in 1981.

More than 2,000 people visited the centre and leading personalities from the world of athletics, body building, football and karate were there for the occasion.

DJ Billy Butler and Liverpool FC full back Alan Kennedy were joined by the Radio City team to take part in a celebrity soccer match.

CHRISTMAS is over and we start the New Year with a look back to 25 years ago.

Our first picture shows Burscough schoolboy Colin Burrell who had a lucky escape after falling into the Liverpool-Leeds Canal.

Twelve-year-old Colin saw out 1981 with a splash, but thanks to the quick-thinking of his brother Clive, 13, and friends Gary and John Evans, aged 11 and ten, he was still around to see in 1982.