I WELL remember the saga surrounding that undervalued Blackburn business wizard and philanthropist Tommy Ball.

It was in relation to my voluntary work in the early eighties and my contact with the Blackburn footwear enterprise was making on the town.

As well as local customers, coachloads of people were coming to Blackburn from as far away as Birmingham to spend their money.

What wouldn't they give for that to be happening today.

The more money Tommy made, the more he gave to charity.

Now you would think that this guy deserved a national honour, at least.

His business expertise and his philanthropy should put him at the top of the tree.

But instead Blackburn Council took Tommy to the High Court for breaking the Sunday trading bylaws.

Whilst other authorities were turning a blind eye to the archaic Sunday trading laws, soon to be repealed, Tommy himself was facing financial ruin and jail.

Blackburn Council kept up the pressure and despite enormous public support and strenuous efforts by the Lions, Tommy finally gave up the fight, sold out and moved away.

The council should consider commissioning a statue, or better still rename Church Street in Tommy's honour, and may be in the process, gain a bit of its own honour back.

EDDIE DUXBURY, Arthur Way, Blackburn.