IF he sticks his neck out, old Billy could claim to be the only tortoise from East Lancashire who's wide awake and looking forward to the party season.

And there's a big shindig in the offing marking the 50th anniversary of when he woke up thousands of miles away from his home in East Lancashire -- to settle in sunny California.

And because it's so warm in California, there's no need for a tortoise to sleep through the winter in hibernation. Clearly the climate there suits him, for he's now going on for 60.

But if Billy remembers leaving New Chapel Street, in Mill Hill, Blackburn, as a youngster back in January, 1952, he will also know that he travelled to America in style -- sailing to New York aboard the luxury liner, the Queen Mary, with owners the Sargents. And it's up the famous Cunard ship's gangplank that his owners the Sargents -- dad Cyril, mum Dot, son Peter and daughters Theresa and Christine -- are going again in 12 days' time for a bumper party.

They will be celebrating Cyril and Dot's diamond wedding anniversary, and the family will also be celebrating fifty years since they arrived in the USA.

The family emigrated when Cyril, now in his 80s, went to work for Mobil Oil.

The old Atlantic liner is now a major attraction at the Long Beach resort, in California and is anchored not far from Cyril and Dot's home in nearby Torrance -- where Billy enjoys basking in the sun.

The couple will be joined aboard the ship by their children, all now in their fifties, plus other relatives and friends.

Back in East Lancashire, to which they have returned several times on holiday, the Sargents still have many relatives.

Among those travelling to their anniversary celebrations are Cyril's niece, Mrs Pauline Baldwin, of Hoghton, accompanied by her husband, Michael, sons Daniel, 20, and James, 17, and her mother, Mrs Gladys Sargent.

And among the presents Mrs Baldwin is taking with her is a copy of this 1952 photograph of Billy being packed away in a box for his passage to America -- which appeared in our forerunner, the Northern Daily Telegraph, when Theresa was aged six, Christine was five and Peter only three.

Mrs Baldwin said: "It's amazing that Billy is still alive after all this time -- it must be down to the weather over there."

And an animal expert said good weather -- and good food -- were the best things for us all!

Dr Caroline Pond, an Open University lecturer on animal behaviour said: "Sixty is not old at all for a tortoise and the fact that he does not hibernate will not cause him any harm.

"Tortoises in tropical areas don't hibernate although if it gets very hot in summer they may go into a semi-active state.

"As long has he has a stock of good food he will be all right."