FOND memories of Winckley Square were brought to life for one reader after seeing our Readers Recollections slot.

In a poignant letter to the Citizen, Therese Ashcroft, of Lyndhurst Drive, Savick, recalls her first job in the square in 1940 at Denny, Mott and Dickinson timber importers.

She writes: "Winckley Square always held a fascination for me and I was delighted when I got a job as a shorthand typist to a firm of timber importers based in the square.

"Memories of my life in that office are still with me at the age of 75."

Although Therese was the only female in the office of four men - others had been called up for service in the Second World War - she recalls being treated with the greatest respect.

"There was no sexual harassment in those days, that was unheard of."

Most of her work entailed typing inventories for timber orders which were used for many British ships and planes. She recalls the most popular timber was Oregon Pitch Pine used across America for house building and still popular today.

Later, she recalls taking her children to Winckley Square to see the birthplace of the famous Preston poet Francis Thompson and the delightful Georgian houses.

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