Tale of the tail-less tiger THE school cleaning ladies thought they had a real-life tiger by the tail when they clocked-on with dusters, mops and brushes at the ready.

Screams rang round the assembly hall until they realised that the magnificent beast of prey was a stuffed one!

That comical little incident is recounted some 20 years later by Vic Smeltzer, retired head of Windlehurst School, who also adds a belated confession.

Vic, from Rainford, picks up on a query from Haresfinch reader Tommy Rafferty (this page, April 30) who wanted to know what happened to that stuffed tiger after its disappearance, first from the Victoria Park Museum of fond memory, and later from the top of the stairs at the St Helens central library,

"I've a little more news on the beast," says Vic. "It was certainly 'alive and well' in the late 1970s."

The local education department's infant adviser had arranged for the Windlehurst school to borrow the tiger for project work.

"It was duly delivered - apparently causing quite a stir when carried by workmen in daylight across the town hall square - and placed in a side alcove of the school hall.

"Unfortunately," Vic adds, "I forgot to tell the cleaning ladies that it was there. Very early next day, when they arrived and switched on the hall lights, you can guess what happened.

"They had the fright of their lives and told me that they ran out screaming!"

The kids had a great time with the tiger and much interesting work was generated.

But now for Vic's confession: "I must tell you a secret . . . some naughty child pulled off the poor tiger's tail and one of the teachers had to sew it back before we returned the animal to the care of the education department."

VIC regrets that the tiger trail then goes cold. He's no idea what happened to it later. Anyone else have a clue?

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