Just noticed your Father in Law worked in mining/glass in St Helens.
It's a small world indeed. As mentioned my mum is from St Helens. Her grandfather and father worked in the 'pit', as it was called. Her brother also worked in the coal mines, until he got silicosis (miner's dust on the lungs) in the 50s and had to move to nearby Pilkingtons to work in the glass industry. My mum tells me the two main pits in St Helens in the 30s and 40s were called King pit and Queen pit.
I wouldn't be surprised if your Father in Law knew my Grandad.
As you say, the coincidences just keep coming..
Apologies if this veers a little OT from the brilliant main thread
