Friday Folk

TRAM fan Jim Halsall did not mind being sidetracked on his trips down Memory Lane.

To him, it was just the ticket that he ended up finding out so much about his home town's forgotten history.

Now the fascinating aspects of bygone Blackburn that he came across in his years of research into its long-gone tramways have been compiled into a new book published this month.

For almost 20 years, British Aerospace apprentice training co-ordinator Jim, 60, of Accrington Road, Intack, has spent at least four hours a week in the town's reference library poring over microfilm copies of old newspapers, searching out facts about his first-love hobby - Blackburn's trams - and often ending up being diverted.

"I kept coming across so many interesting articles and photographs on other features of old Blackburn that I began to make a record of them," he said.

Now, after being encouraged by librarian Ian Sutton, Jim's incidental discoveries have been put together into a collection of 80 photographs and articles covering bits of old Blackburn between 1890 and 1939.

"Many of the originals of the photographs that accompanied the articles had been lost but, with them being preserved on microfilm, we were able to get quite good copies," said Jim. But his new book project has not deflected him from tracking down tons of transfixing trivia about the town's trams.

For since starting his hobby in 1979, Jim has amassed more than 800 different pictures of Blackburn's trams which, one day, may end up in another book.

Blackburn In Times Gone By is by Landy Publishing, price £6.

Old pals herald a new century

MILLENNIUM plans will be the topic of the third reunion of past pupils from three Blackburn schools.

Pupils who between 1958 and 1964 attended Accrington Royal Secondary Modern, Furthergate and Intack schools, are to meet up in October.

Organiser Peter Hearne, a porter and car-park security officer at Blackburn Infirmary, will discuss his plans for former pupils for the year 2000.

The 51-year-old, of Heys Lane, Blackburn, is planning to involve past pupils and their families in a full day of events to mark the millennium.

Two of the events on the day at Intack County Primary School will include tree planting in memory of late pupils and teachers and the burial of a time capsule containing photographs and letters which will be opened in 100 years' time.

Mr Hearne said: "I will be talking about what will be going on in the year 2000. "I want to get all the past pupils involved in the day and also trace former pupils who have moved away from the area."

Mr Hearne is also looking for anyone who wishes to donate a tree for the planting ceremony.

Money raised from the millennium day will be donated to the NSPCC.

Anyone wanting more information should contact Mr Hearne on 01254 671386 before 9am or after 5pm.

Green for go - to the Palace

GREEN worker Bob Sutcliffe is heading for Buckingham Palace thanks to his environmental efforts.

Bob, 26, from Billington, near Blackburn, has been invited to attend a dinner at the royal residence next month in recognition of the achievements of young adults.

He has been commended for his innovative work in the North West for Groundwork, the national environmental regeneration charity.

He said: "It is a great honour for me to receive this award, especially as there are so many people doing good work for charity. When I heard I would be going to Buckingham Palace I had to ring them up because I thought someone was pulling my leg." Originally trained as a landscape architect, Bob initially worked as a volunteer and project officer for Groundwork in Blackburn and Burnley, assisting local communities and businesses to make positive contributions to their local environment.

Bob currently works for Groundwork in St Helens and leads the charity's development work in Sefton.

Guiding light shines out to earn award

BANK worker Lynda Marsh has received a prestigious Queen's Guide Award.

Lynda, 23, of Lammack Road, Blackburn, was presented with her award at a ceremony at Revidge Fold United Reformed Church, Blackburn, by County Commissioner for Guiding Hilary Wensley.

Lynda, who works as a customer service assistant at Halifax Ltd, Accrington, spent three years working for the award.

The Guide leader of Revidge Fold Guides had to undertake tasks ranging from running a netball team and organising Guide camps to researching Zimbabwe and the local media.

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