Fred,
Was that the original Old Mary who the pub was named after? Do you know her surname? I have always guessed at Mary Hilton, as that was the name of the landlady on the 1901 census, but she would have been around 100 years old by 1960...a very very old Mary indeed...!
Cheers,
Phil

Just as a follow-up, you might be interested, from my diary...

I went back to Ashton yesterday. Die Fuhrer (my grandmother) is invading Poland or some such until next weekend. She's been so ****ed good to me that I felt I should do something that said thanks properly. So yesterday, I took out a spade and started digging. She's always wanted a pond, so a pond she would have. I'd bought the lining last weekend so I knew what size the hole should be. Unfortunately, by the time I had finished the hole, it looked like the final resting place of a midget. I had to leave it that way overnight before going getting the sand to bed it and the stones to border it. If the police had been called, I'd have been banged up by now for my intentions, pond or no pond.

Anyway, digging done, I went down to Th'Oddies. A first class evening ensued. As I started relating tales of my manual dexterity, I realised I was being shot down in flames by the locals...they've known me six months and are thoroughly convinced I am the most useless git on the planet unless I have a keyboard in front of me. Merciless they were.

Midst all the banter, a tale was told. That of old Ma Magraim. Apparently her son had had the need to dig some holes. He did so and dumped the soil on some waste ground behind the Brittania many years ago. Upon seeing these piles of soil, old Ma Magraim assaulted her son, asking "what are those hills doing there?"

In a very Allo Allo fashion, her son looked at her incredulously and gave it the "You stupid woman" look. He then explained that these were not hills but upside down holes. She seemed OK with that for a moment and then retorted "Well what are you going to do with them?"

A moment's silence ensued before the son said "We're going to dig a big hole and bury 'em."

My pint went from my mouth in a trajectory that **** near took out the pork scratchings on the wall opposite. The night carried on and on like that. Ste arrived in a form that you cannot imagine. I pity you people who will never make it to Th'Oddies. Not one of my mates there is under 50 (with the exception of Fearless Fred's missus) and you have never met a more diverse bunch of absolutely brilliant people...I wanted sand, Fearless pitched up this morning with a few bags for me -- no charge.

Town: andy@REMOVETHIS.yatescentral.com

Well done Moderator it’s nice to have the board up and running again.

Hi Vic -

Glad that you appreciate it - let's hope that we can keep it more civilised this time.

Congratulations on becoming Chair of Friends of Three Sisters, although you've effectively acted as Chair for some time now. I look forward to seeing what further projects FOTS can carry out.

- David -

feb2006 cd release I am from cape breton canada grand pop bill sudworth great john and ruth twist sudworthPLEASE VIEW WIGAN WORLD MESSAGESlooking recording studios , backing , accomodationsfamily wigan ashton makerfield areas.appreciated any info

Town: RAINSUDWORTH@hot mail.com