THE little eccentricities displayed by our elbow-bending fraternity hold much fascination for me when on local taproom patrol.

Over the years, I've encountered a walking-stick society for the fully fit, several snugroom debating gangs and even a baldy club exclusive to men with shiny craniums.

But perhaps the most weird and wonderful of the

ventures is the newly-launched local Worry Club.

It's the brainchild of Tommy Harrison who regularly holds court at the Turks Head, a popular St Helens watering hole. And he's spelled out its aims and objectives to me.

"In these high-pressure times, folk seem to have such a load on their minds," he says. "So I've decided to try to do something about countering all this modern day stress and strain.

"They can unburden all their doubts, fears and problems on me," says Tom chirpily, "and I'll do their worrying for them at a fiver a time."

The fee, of course, is negotiable, and Tom might happily listen to your woes at his bar-top 'consultancy' for the price of a pint.

That, perhaps, represents summat of a bargain-basement offer for a session of homespun humour shared with this jokey town-centre character.

MEANWHILE, may I offer this stress-busting slice of wisdom poured into my ear by a Moss Bank reader: Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

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