FEMALE hearts went all of a flutter when the handsome policeman set off on his St Helens beat.

For 'Bobby' Hughes, as the local population knew him, was considered to bear more than a passing resemblance to debonair film star Cary Grant.

The Hollywood idol and the old-time copper are long gone, but Teresa Rigby (68) of Stanwood Close, Gillars Green, still has fond memories of how she and her young female friends used to sigh as that uniformed object of their admiration passed by.

"I was working at Wassal's the confectioners, in Knowsley Road, at that time and used to stand behind the counter, gazing through the shop window as he came into view."

What triggered all those romantic thoughts was my flashback photo (August 26) showing a lone policeman supervising a multitude of flat-capped Saints fans during a home match against Warrington in January, 1948.

But for all his matinee idol looks, Bobby Hughes was one of the old school. A strong arm of the law, he was very strict in dealing with anyone who stepped out of line, says Teresa.

"He had a couple of handsome sons," she adds, "but he was the best looking of the lot."

Doesn't hubby John get a wee bit jealous over Teresa's admiring recollections? "Not at all," she chuckles, "it was long before he came on the scene."

And, in any case, John was far more interested in trying to count the number of flat-caps among that crush of old-time Saints supporters.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.