A BLACKPOOL school received a rather special Letter From America this week to mark the opening of a new communications centre.

Collegiate High School's new facility has additional classrooms, high tech equipment and places for students to socialise.

And veteran Radio Four broadcaster, and ex-pupil of the school, Alistair Cooke -- whose weekly Letter From America programme has been drawing in listeners for decades -- made a special recording to open the centre.

"I was delighted when I spoke to Alistair Cooke on the telephone," said headteacher Keith Clark. "I have been a regular listener to his broadcasts and admired his writing.

"As the new building will house the school's communications faculty, it seemed entirely appropriate we should approach one of the best and most eloquent communicators of our time, and one who was a former pupil."

Alistair Cooke attended Blackpool Secondary School, which would eventually become Collegiate, in the 1920s.

The speech, recorded specially at his home in New York for the event, covered the topic of communication, starting by saying how in 70 years of public speaking he had never before addressed an audience with whom he did not know how to communicate. "First it seems that my old Blackpool Secondary School has turned into something called Collegiate High School.

"And I am told you are opening up a communications wing. What could that be? I retreated to the dictionary."

He also spoke of what communication really means, giving a warning to the students, saying: "Don't get so wrapped up in learning technique that you forget to learn anything else.

"I mean any history, geography, botany, literature, some subject to communicate."

The new building, called Cicero (communications in collegiates education resource opportunities), contains ten new classrooms and facilities to house 250 extra pupils.

It is also fitted with state-of-the-art internet and satellite facilities and is fully accessible to those with disabilities.