What a delight to see work on the former parcels platform at Bolton. As a former Assistant Area Manager Bolton (Parcels) I had a great time looking after my team of 100 ladies that sorted parcels from the the many mail order companies who occupied the mills in and around Bolton in the era of Rail Express Parcels. I visited a couple of year's ago to a very quiet area that reminded me of their ghosts and many happy days. I had a very demanding Area Manager and a colleague who had been the last shed master at Patricroft.
That was very interesting to read. I worked as Area Relief Clerk at Bolton from October 1972 to June 1977. I also remember the 100 ladies who work on parcels at that time. I spent many a night shift working in the 'pens' writing up the delivery sheets for the next day. And often working overtime sorting out the drivers loads along the old platform 4 (will be 5).
I also went to the Mills as well, and from time to time had the job of delivering the weekly wages around the Mills, Signal Boxes, and Stations.
It is sad to see the old parcels side so bare these days. We used to have 52 delivery rounds, from Warrington, Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe and into the Trough of Bowland. We very very busy on that night shift.
