BYGONES’ recent stories about Blackburn’s Ragged School have prompted happy recollections from a number of readers.

Grandmother Eileen Wharton, who still lives in the town, sent us this photograph of her and her friends, taken outside in Bent Street, back in 1941, right.

She’s on the second row from the front, third from the left and she was just 17 years old.

She worked at Newman’s slipper works in Stancliffe Street.

Eileen had attended the school with all her family, who lived in Leyland Street, from an early age and remembers when former superintendent Jess Chilman, who retired in his 80s in 1941, was in charge.

She belonged to the Girl Guild and won a New Testament for collecting eggs for servicemen during the war.

She remembers taking them to Witton Park and Preston train station, where the Women’s Voluntary Service used to boil them for the soldiers.

Eileen, nee Eddleston, was married to Fred Wharton in 1950 at the Ragged School, by the Rev Royston-Bishop.

The friend sat next to her wearing glasses was Mrs McGrath — Mr McGrath is stood on the right, with the white moustache.

Colin Smith was particularly interested in the memories of the school sent in by former student Colin Etherington, whose parents once kept a shop in Johnston Street.

Indeed, Eileen believes Colin’s mum may be on her photograph, but is not sure.

Mr Smith said: “Although I wasn’t really connected with the Ragged School, I remember going to concerts and several pantomimes during the late 1940s and early 50s.

“At one concert, I particularly recall a schoolboy singing in a lovely boy soprano voice. It was none other then Colin Etherington.

“One of the songs I distinctly remember was Tell Me the Stories of Jesus.”

He added: “The pantomimes were always great and among the ‘stars’ who frequently took part, I recall Lawrence Strahan, Steve Topping and Little Wilf, so called because of his stature.

“I once saw him appear as Dick Whittington’s cat.”