Bits and Pieces

1959

JANUARY 17: Children from St Luke’s Primary School in Manchester enjoy a snowball fight on a winter picnic organised by head teacher Ethel Parkinson.

The pupils saved threepence a week to take a coach to the countryside as a special treat.

Snow soon got dirty and turned to slush in the grimy city centre, so they wanted to see the real thing.

Clearly the children made the most of their novel experience. Later in the year, snowfalls gave way to a warm spring, followed by one of the finest summers on record.

1966

JANUARY 20: Comedian and entertainer Des O’Connor caught up with the latest trends in Manchester when he made a guest appearance at a fashion show at Tiffany’s nightclub.

Pictured with Des at the event, put on by the Whitefield branch of the Women’s International Zionist Organisation, are Penny Milne in a black dress and Valerie Showman in a white leather two-piece.

O’Connor was in Manchester to play Aladdin at the Palace Theatre along with Freddie and the Dreamers and Billy Dainty.