THREE more names have been added to our growing list of local hops which boomed during the golden era of strict-tempo ballroom dancing.

A regular correspondent (too shy to be identified by name) asks if anyone recalls dancing at the Congs Hall in Knowsley Road, the UGB Club in Bobbies Lane, Eccleston and in the Gerard Hall, in Gerards Bridge area.

Our mystery waltzer writes: "I enjoyed reading about the days of the Maida in Prescot Road. When I first started going there, the dance hall was upstairs in a smaller room.

"I used to envy those who had gained medals and remember them giving demonstrations for the rest of us -- John Rennie and Ella Ireland and Arthur Tracy and Pat Jones, to name a couple of partnerships.

"Unfortunately, I didn't get to take my medals, but what happy days they were! It was a time when it was quite safe for a single person to walk home alone at night."

Our ankle-flicker from way back recalls that tottering high heels were the current fashion during her own dancing years.

"But if you were wearing stilletos, you had to change them for flatter shoes before stepping on to the dance-floor."

And she signs off by mentioning that her own first visit to a social dance was at Rivington Road School about 50 years ago. It was the prelude to much fox-trotting, waltzing and tango-ing to come.

DOES anyone else have a few precious dancing memories to share? If so, please drop me a line at the Star.