"BEST" pal of a famous footballer, Malcolm Wagner, revisited his old school in Prestwich for a trip down Memory Lane.

Although former Heys Boys pupil Malcolm (48) did not meet soccer legend George Best until he had left the Prestwich school, the two became firm friends and business partners during the 1960s.

Malcolm, who now owns the Grant Arms in Ramsbottom, met George Best in Manchester and they opened night club Slack Alice in the 1970s.

He went on to run Oscars night club and the pair became friends with Michael Parkinson, when he was starting out as a journalist.

The relationship between the three men will be highlighted, along with Malcolm's career in hairdressing, in a biography about the publican, entitled Who's That With Malcolm Wagner?

And it was to gather background information for the book that Malcolm visited the former Heys Boys School, now Prestwich Community High, along with his biographer, Tom Page.

Tom said: "The title of the book, which is a working title, is meant to reflect Malcolm's sense of humour. He is a lovely guy and very funny."

Tom said he and Malcolm spent a great day at the Heys Road school looking at old photographs and researching details for the book.

He added: "The book will also highlight Malcolm's life growing up as a lad in Prestwich."

Assistant headteacher at Prestwich Community High School, Brian Worthington, said: "Malcolm was a pupil here in the late 1950s. He and Tom both enjoyed their visit and stayed almost two hours looking at archive material."