CRICKET coach Bob Cowley had a unique 'out of pocket' method for getting the best out of batsman and bowler.

For during practise sessions, Bob, a teacher at Thatto Heath Council School, placed halfpennies on the two outer stumps and a penny on the middle wicket.

These were the rewards for a well-placed delivery, recalls 1930s pupil Stan Roberts of Wharmby Road, Haydock.

"And if were not performing too well, Bob - the world's greatest cricket coach - would place a silver threepenny bit on the middle stump as an additional incentive."

Batsmen managing to hit the ball for four were rewarded with a penny.

Stan's boyhood memories came tumbling back when his eye alighted on my recent flashback photo featuring the trophy-winning Grange Park school cricket team of the mid-30s.

Stan progressed to Grange Park just before the 1939-45 war - "and I can tell you they had one of the best teams in the county. Batsmen didn't come better than Norman Bell, and as for wicket keepers, well, the name Albert Moses says it all. As for bowlers, Noggin Birkett and myself were the fastest in Lancashire." (Come, come Stan, no need for such modesty!).

Headmaster Jones is remembered as a virtuoso violinist and Mr Baxter an accomplished viola player and wood-worker. Other teachers fondly-remembered are Sid Dennett, Mickey Myers, and Messrs Heaton, Stringer and the two Davieses.

I'M sure they'd be flattered to know that their efforts to educate were so appreciated.

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