WHO is Bury's most eligible bachelor... the man who gets invited to all the parties and is instantly recognisable as "a man about town"?

Could it be that Bury FC's own Robbie the Bobbie is moving up in line for the accolade?

Certainly, Robbie's engagement diary is filling up rapidly and not only with engagements at the football club. Since his appearance at the Peel Tower on top of Holcombe Hill at the commemoration celebrations for Sir Robert Peel, enquiries have started to pour in for Robbie.

Robbie's public appearances away from Gigg Lane are handled by the External Relations Group of Forever Bury, the club's supporters society.

He is booked for appearances at Mancityland -- Prestwich Tesco -- (Sunday afternoon), Millgate shopping centre, Bury (Saturday afternoon, November 2), and Radcliffe Asda (Sunday afternoon, November 24).

On Sunday afternoon, November 17, Robbie has been invited back to the Millgate at Bury, to participate in the official jollifications marking the start of the Christmas shopping season.

At all these events, Robbie and Forever Bury pals will be inviting young children to take part in a colouring competition, for which entries have to be in by December 15. Prizes will be donated by the Ramsbottom company of Clark Craft Products, and Bury FC.

There is just one drawback to Robbie's social demands, what with his club commitments and all, it is getting a bit wearing for the person inside the suit who, like the rest of the Forever Bury members, is doing it all for free, as a volunteer.

So the search is now on for a deputy who will don the suit from time to time, to give the present occupant a breather. If there is anyone out there who has a lot of patience with children of all ages (including adults), and would be prepared to stand in as Robbie, the external relations team would like to know. Just drop a note to Alan Lumsden, Forever Bury, PO Box 310, Bury BL9 6WF.

Does anyone out there have a spare copy of the official Bury FC History by Peter Cullen, published a few years ago?

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, who are corporate members of Forever Bury and via the Lancashire Fusiliers, have a long connection with the club, are re-vamping their regimental museum at Bury. They are searching for a copy of Peter Cullen's publication and are having trouble finding one. Even the author doesn't have a spare one.

The Fusiliers have appealed to the Forever Bury society for help in finding a copy, which will have a prominent place in the new museum.

If any reader can help in this quest, please contact Dave Giffard at Forever Bury, address above.