RETRO: pictures from Wigan youth clubs in decades past, especially Comet and Shevington

By Charles Graham

Published 5th Nov 2023, 15:45 BST

Long before Wigan Youth Zone, the borough boasted a host of smaller clubs for boys and girls.

Here’s a collection of pictures from our library of several clubs between the 1950s and 2000s. Shevington’s and the Comet Club at Poolstock feature prominently.

1. Celebrity botanist Dr David Bellamy was in Wigan for an environmental conference at The Lnacre Theatre. He presented two awards to Shevington Youth Club (left) represented by Chantelle Baybutt and Jade Dean of The Junior Rangers

. Photo: JOHN LEATHERBARROW

2. Shevington Youth Club 1979

. Photo: Submitted

3. Face-painting fun at Comet Youth Club in Poolstock. Pictured are Stephen Thorpe, Steven Naylor, Martin Thorpe and Paul Robson

. Photo: Gary Brunskill

4. Fancy dress fun for members of Comet Youth Club in Poolstock in 1986

. Photo: SUBMITTED