Essayan – Spring 1967
ECCLES
(Prize-winning essay for the Eccles Journal)
When
writing about Eccles, it is very hard for me as one of the younger generation
to be unbiased.
To anyone living in a built-up
area, it is most important that that area should be well supplied with shops
which have both a wide range of articles and a wide range of quality. Eccles
has this range, but if you want a fair number of articles, it is not improbable
that you will have to walk a mile or more to purchase these items.
Another problem
affecting Eccles shoppers is the heavy through traffic in the centre. This
could be solved by cutting the centre of Eccles off completely from cars and
lorries. Obviously, if this were done, a bypass would have to be built and the
present plans do not solve this to many people's satisfaction. Surely it would
be possible to widen and strengthen the existing perimeter road instead of
blasting a motorway through the only large playing fields in the area-and
several hundred houses.
Anybody living in
Eccles is very fortunate to have such good connections with the many
surrounding large towns. In fact, the area is historically famous for its
connection with transport. It has also many old buildings and legends. James
Nasmyth has made Eccles famous with his steam hammer and other inventions, and
the
More recent history
has, however, left us with some very drab Victorian houses, and I believe that
the new skyscraper flats now replacing them are a step in the right direction.
The smokeless zone system, now partly in force, is also a good measure which needed taking.
Eccles has some very beautiful places around it, a
good example being Worsley Woods, but other areas, particularly Barton Moss,
are being ruined by the ribbon development which is taking place.
While many other buildings are being erected, the continuation
of Alderman Grindle's work for the old people is not being forgotten. Moreover,
the pensioners are being very well catered for.
For the middle-aged,
the only facilities appear to be countless bingo clubs and three cinemas. A new
amateur theatre would attract many members and an "Over-30s club"
would be welcomed. Need for a hospital, which is up-to-date, efficient, and
general, is enormous.
In
this essay I have tried to put forward my views on what could be done to
improve Eccles and by following some of the lines I have indicated I think that
many of the grumblers would be made proud of their town.
A.
J. Britton, 5Sc.
FOOTBALL REPORT
For the first few games,
the 1st XI of 1965-66 carried on the good work of the previous year's highly
successful team. This, however, couldn't last long, for several members of last
year's illustrious team had left, and so the team was comparatively
inexperienced. The season's record reflected this, though the newcomers played
extremely well, and towards the latter part of the season the team settled down
to play well and win some games. This was due to the intensive fitness
training, and all members co-operated in this, even to the extent of training
in the holidays.
Final record: Played 19, Won 8, Drawn 2, Lost 9.
In the Chorlton "6 a-side" competition, the
team was unluckily knocked out in the second round; they did not lose by goals,
but by corners.
First XI leading appearances:
Mortimer 19, Draper 19, Rowles 19, Dutton 18, Hamblett
18, Quigley 18, Thornley 17, Finch 17, Oakes, Crossley 16, Wignall 10, Stubbs
6.
Colours: Mortimer, Rowles and Draper.
The Second XI started the season very poorly, losing
the first 3 games heavily. They improved a. little towards the end of the season,
but, like the 1st XI, they had an inexperienced team, and so the record was
quite an achievement and it promises well for next season.
Record: Played 19, Won 7, Drawn 1, Lost 11.
The U15 XI promised to do
well, since many of the side had played the previous season, but they were
disappointing and lost many matches that they should have won.
The U14 XI played very
well, and finished 2nd in the Eccles Schools U14 League, and narrowly missed
finishing on top; this promises well for future years.
This season, 1966-67, the
1st XI began rather abysmally, losing their first three games by quite wide
margins. The turning point came, however, in the fourth game against
Wythenshawe. Here, a heavy defeat was anticipated, since Wythenshawe normally
produces an outstanding team, but after a heroic display by our 1st XI, the
game ended in a 2-2 draw, a praiseworthy effort indeed! After this draw, the
1st XI has only suffered one defeat up to the time of writing, and this was
against the very strong
Played 12, Won 6, Drawn 2,
Lost 4, Goals for 29, Goals against 31.
A.D. and R.C.
The 1st
XI
THE FOG
I went out for a walk one night,
Mist came down and wet my hair;
'Twas fog just like a blanket white.
Hurry along I would not dare.
Could not see a thing before me.
Could not see a thing behind.
Buses crawled along the road,
Men carried lanterns as of olde,
Conductors they were very thoughtful
They didn't mind the overload.
At last I came across my street,
Could hear the patter of people's feet;
I groped along towards my door,
So glad to get inside once more.
Ian Andrews, 1N
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