THINGS have changed down Ruskin Drive way. While soccer, rugby union, cricket and bowling still thrive (alongside the new state-of-the-art fitness facilities) the traditional athletics meetings and gala events have now vanished into oblivion.

Memories of those halcyon days when a Pilkington gala event could attract up to 24,000 people, have been revived by a 1965 works magazine handed on to former middle-distance competitor Brian Renshall.

It was initially given by a neighbour to Brian's old track adversary, John McLoughlin, who is pictured in the old publication pipping Brian in the 1965 senior mile event, by the width of a running vest. Both were then members of Sutton Harriers.

People poured in from as far as Yorkshire and the Midlands to witness the field and track events, to watch the float-adorned grand parade, applaud the Gala Queen as she was crowned by a glassworks bigwig, and to see the likes of the legendary Saints winger,Tom Van Vollenhoven, present awards to winners of the Rugby League sevens tournament.

The big day, one of the red-letter dates in St Helens' social calendar, was rounded off by a fireworks spectacular.

Brian, 59, of Mossdale Drive, Rainhill, says: "I am pleased that although that photo finish occurred 35 years ago, I am still running (though not competitively) and hope to do so for a few years yet."

The works journalist assigned to cover the athletics meeting was a bit off kilter when he presented his report for publication.

"Interestingly," observes Brian, "although he was bemoaning the lack of star athletes, I noticed that the winner of the three-mile race was Ian McCafferty who in 1970 won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh; and one of the sprinters in the photograph of the 220yards start was Brian Green, the ex-Pilkington Harrier who represented Great Britain on many occasions."

WONDER how many other customers of this column have happy memories of those glassworks gala events?