I HEAR that the American Veterans are coming to Blackpool in the last week of June to celebrate their war-time stay here.

The majority of people will not be old enough to remember them. I myself was only a boy in my early teens, but I remember them well. They certainly lifted our spirits although they were far away from home. They seemed to be a happy lot and could not have cared less about Hitler and his bombs.

They were always ready for a laugh and a joke. I myself know this to be true. The yanks, as we called them, made the ice rink at the Pleasure Beach on Sunday afternoons one of their favourite spots. They were always keen on joining in anything that we had going, and one trick was to form a chain of three or four lads, put a Yank on the end (it was called the whip).

At the right time and the right speed you let the Yank go. Depending on his ability to skate the chances are he would crash into the nearest girl. If he went down sometimes there was a quarter inch of water on the ice and he would get up wet through but still laughing. His GI mates in the rinkside cafe would cheer their heads off. They knew exactly what the routine was and they were certainly good sports.

The management and attendants at the rink took a dim view of our antics and threatened to throw us out many times. But the Yanks did not complain, nor did the girls that they crashed into. Oddly enough we were the best of friends with the Yanks and we were always sorry when they moved out, sometimes after only a few weeks. You could never find out where they came from or where they had gone. But then a new lot would arrive and they would not know anything about our whip. I hope Blackpool gives the veterans a warm welcome and if anyone has any stars and stripe flags I hope they will fly them.

If any veterans remember a 13 or 14 year old who whizzed him across the ice all those years ago, I would be more than happy if they would make my home their port of call. In fact that goes for any of the veterans. My address is Bispham Court, 357, Norbreck Road, Little Bispham, tel 864802. You cant miss it -- we will be flying the stars and stripes in honour of your visit.

Tom Roberts.