THE mysterious Galosher Man, who cast his shadow across the lives of the kids of bygone times, is also remembered by John Foxton of West Park.

He writes:"Once again your column (September 16) revived childhood memories going back 60 years or more. While the concept of a Bogey-man is universal, local manifestations of this other figure did, as your contributors state, exist.

"We too had the ubiquitous Galosher Man in the Dentons Green area of St Helens, thoiugh I never actually saw him. This character must have had immense stamina to cover the range of his alleged activities."

The mention of his name was enough to send kids scuttling indoors at dusk, but John didn't need such prompting. His parents told him what time to be indoors "and that sufficed".

But he had heard that, as well as the mischief he caused, there was a darker "exhibitionist" nature to the Galosher Man, who certainly had a real-life counterpart in a fellow known as Harry. "This man was identified to me by my pals, and I saw him from a distance of only a few feet".

John still has a clear picture of this particular child frightener. He was short, looked middle-aged and was dressed in a rough brown suit. "He had curly hair, a very red face and large nose all pock marked".

Certainly not the sort you'd like to meet in a dark alley, although John confesses that he has no recollection of anyone actually experiencing Harry's unwanted attentions.

"However, contact with any such individuals was to be avoided and, amongst us, the shouting of their names on dark evenings aroused apprehension and sometimes flight!"

A similar reaction could be obtained by yelling out "RLCC" , meaning "Run lads, the Copper's coming" whenever any act of mischief was being performed.

Explains John: "This figure was not a figment of folklore, but came in the form of a very real large policeman on an equally large and fast bicycle. I could also name and describe him with some accuracy, but that's another story".

CAN anyone else remember that pedal-pushing Bobby or any other characters from the past?