THE final curtain fell some decades ago but memory's melody still lingers on. For response has come pouring in following the showbiz query from reader K. Bloomfield who had wondered if anyone could remember when Pilkingtons had a thiving works theatre.

He'd also asked for confirmation that, prior to its theatrical role, that particular Pilkington building had been a hospital for wounded soldiers from the 1914-18 world war.

As usual, the loyal customers of this column have come up in force with the goods.

Margaret Highcock e-mails me: "Yes, there was a Pilkington theatre in Alexandra Drive, where there used to be a lot of plots during the war".

She appeared in panto with the chorus provided by the local Saxon Troupe (another memory-jerking name, that!) around 1946 to 48, when she was in her early teens.

Margaret believes the lead female singer was a girl named Irene Twist and another prominent performer was a boy named Keith (Stott?) who later went on to manage the Tyrers men's fashions department in St Helens.

Sylvia Leech, a member of the shop-owning family of that name who were once prominent in Haydock, writes of those wartime and immediate post-war years. "Well, you have certainly stirred some memories. Isn't it peculiar how one phrase in a newspaper brings back so clearly all those happy times during such bleak years? I haven't written to a paper before, but couldn't resist answering your article on Ravenhead Theatre which we knew as Pilks Theatre".

The firm's amateur operatic society used to present their own productions, she recalls. Pantos in winter and musicals during springtime. "Everyone put so much love and energy into the shows".

Sylvia, now of Broad Lane, Collins Greens, attended the Odessa School of Dance in Bridge Street, opposite the old St Helens market and the Savoy Cinema. Enclosing an old photo of the dance school performing on the stage of the old, recently-demolished Rivoli Cinema during a reunion of RAF personnel (see foot of page) Sylvia goes on: "We did the chorus work and dances at the productions.

"Names I remember include Nellie Couthorpe, the principal, Becky Riddell who played piano at rehearsals and had such a lovely voice, Joy Anderton, Madelaine Unsworth, Josie Smith, and Dorothy Ashley whose father had a shoe repair shop in Duke Street".

Sylvia and her sister, Alma, originate from Haydock and she adds: "I think you know most of my father's family who were Leech's the fruiterers; and my mother's family who owned Greenall's chippy in Church Road". Yes, Sylvia, I remember them well! Len Berrey from St Georges Avenue, Windle, confirms that the old Ravenhead Theatre was a well-known hospital immediately after the 1914-18 war. "I did hear that, at varying times, it was also used for badminton and even roller-skating".

Len flips back to 1929 when his dad, Bert launched into his producer role when invited to devise a revue. For a number of years after that he produced pantos with the Pilks musical section.

Plays were also staged by the works drama section (eventually both sections combined) and musicals were added to the traditional pantos. "I think the old theatre was used as a warehouse before being demolished", says Len who adds a historical little footnote.

"Lord Pilkington bought the Theatre Royal for the Pilkington AO & DS, which was in separate sections -- musical and drama -- plus the original lecture section".

Ken Chorley of Pike House Road, Eccleston, who was employed at Ravenhead works between 1938 and 1941, went to the theatre several times and in particular recalls attending a lecture by the legendary Rugby League commentator Eddie Waring some time in the 1940s. He believes the theatre closed around 1964 when Pilkingtons funded refurbishment of the St Helens Theatre Royal.

Roy Makinson of Austin Avenue, St Helens, switches us from the theatre of pleasure to the theatre of war in supplying his history of the once famous, but now little known, Pilkington special hospital which admitted its first group of injured soldiers on February 9, 1917.

These men had had earlier hospital treatment for periods between six months and two years. "Their wounds were, in the ordinary sense, healed. But there remained, in all cases, serious disabilities rendering the men quite unfit for military service". Their injuries also interfered with their ability to earn a living.

The hospital, which must have been of considerable size in accommodating almost 500 patients, had an impressive list of facilities, including gymnasium, workshops and gardens, plus a multiple-bath hydro room, radio, mechano, thermo and electro rooms to provide a range of treatments.

Every patient had, on average, 28 personal treatments a week -- each lasting at least 30 minutes. This extensive programme was carried out by a staff of 60 professionally-trained personnel, with assistance from many former patients familiar with the methods used.

Though it all happened more than 80 years ago. the hospital (founded and equipped by Pilkington Brothers Ltd.) was way ahead of its time in one crucial aspect. For, as Roy's research points out: "It recognised that to effect a purely physical cure, a person's mental attitude had to be considered. I suppose today this would be called counselling".

The place was amazingly well equipped by 1917 standards, with fully-equipped operating theatres carrying out surgery ranging from, among other things, nerve suturing, bone transplantation, re-amputation and plastic surgery.

The main hospital was demolished ages ago when the new Fibreglass factory was built. But, says Roy's report, for many years one of the remaining hospital buildings was used as a theatre.

MANY thanks to all who responsded to what has proved a fascinating topic.