WHAT a brilliant idea by K Hunter (Letters, March 30), for a get-together of youngsters of the 1950s and 1960s from Grimshaw Park, Blackburn.

I, too, was one of the Croft Gang, all through the Fifties.

They were wonderful years and I am always talking about them even now.

We used to keep our bonfire wood in the old shelter just off Brandy House Brow, opposite Kemp Street where I used to live.

Also, we would go up to the 'Roddle' near Eccleshill, on our bikes, some of us having cadged a 'backstep' from someone, and were very lucky coming down 'Brandy,' if the brakes worked and often ended up in the gable end of Kemp Street.

Yes, I remember the summer nights walking through Ingle and Bluebell Woods (without being frightened of an attacker being around) and also Primrose Hill, also known as 'Frozen Row.'

We would go home for our tea, then all meet on the 'croft' later, to help or hinder, Fred at his tripe works. Then we would play Relieve-O, until who knows what time. It never seemed to go dark in those days. And the music! Best ever.

By the way, does anybody remember Parishes Chemical Food, lung healers, Doctor Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People, Thermogene, goose grease and having fatty bacon round your neck in a stocking if you dared to complain of a sore throat?

Then, we would be taken to Gilbert Hope's chemist's "ont' brig," for him to mix us a bottle of some magical cure.

MRS VALERIE DONALD (was Young, ne Bottomley), 32 Pilmuir Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HZ.

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