A few doors to right of Gibsons there used to be a small boutique/clothes shop, must have about early ' 70's. I spent a fortune in there! It was probably around about where the health food shop is. (I very rarely go the village these days, the parking situation is not good).

Originally Posted by Sgt Wilson

Does anyone remember Mr Leather? He used to sell and repair bycycles in a tiny little workshop immediately adjacent to the level crossing, opposite side to the station. He was there for a long time up until the mid-seventies. I once bought a white racing cycle from him, as a schoolboy it was my pride and joy.

This is quite an old comment but I came across it and thought I may as well answer. I don't remember the workshop but my Dad was a friend of Billy Leather. Don't recall how he knew him but, as kids, whenever we had a puncture we used to take our bikes round to him. He lived in Aughton Road somewhere across from where the bookmakers is.

Originally Posted by fairbs

This is quite an old comment but I came across it and thought I may as well answer. I don't remember the workshop but my Dad was a friend of Billy Leather. Don't recall how he knew him but, as kids, whenever we had a puncture we used to take our bikes round to him. He lived in Aughton Road somewhere across from where the bookmakers is.

My old fella bought a new moped PWM368 off Mr. Leather, it was a Mobylette 49 cc. You had to pedal it to start the engine and it could nearly get up to 30 mph. If I remember right it was either 1957/58, he kept it for a couple of years then bought an updated moped, you could kick-start this one but still wouldn't exceed the speed limit.

Talking about the record shop, there used to be a beautiful girl worked in there ( girl? she'll be pushing 70 now!) .
She had long dark hair, and, I think, lived in Alma Road.


Mr Leather the bike man! He was a god send for me.
As a teenager, I always seemed to be getting punctures, and I used to find that mending them was such a messy chore.
That's where Mr Leather came to the rescue.