ABOUT this time of year, 60 years ago, I, along with many others, was awaiting the results of the 11-plus exam. I had attended Christ Church primary school and took this exam at St Peter's, off King Street.

In August, I heard the happy news that I had won a scholarship to Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School and duly reported there in the September.

From Christ Church there were four pupils: Phillip Hacking, Raymond Pate, Frank Taylor and myself. Unfortunately, I wasn't into girls at that time, so I don't know any of the names who qualified for Blackburn High School for Girls. I made up for that later, but always preferred Blakey Moor Girls.

It seems incredible that this was in 1942, 60 years ago, and believe me I have very many happy memories of these years, even though they were war years and, of course, there were many shortages, not much fruit (especially bananas etc), very few sweets, terrible margarine we called engine grease and when it snowed, did it snow. I have seen rooftop drifts many times.

I could go on but I would like to send my very best wishes to all those pupils who shared those years like Ernie Clarkson, Johnny Barker, Bunny Brown, Don Clark, Frank Taylor, and so on.

I don't think any of our teachers could be left, although it is only a few months ago I saw an obituary for Dr Popham, our science teacher. I wonder why we nicknamed him Popeye?

KEN HALLIWELL, Bolton Road, Darwen.