MAY I thank Eric Leaver for his interesting article (LET, May 12) on the Whitsuntide Walks and the Coffee and Bun days. It brought back pleasant memories of by-gone days in Huncoat, where I have lived since 1941.

In my younger days, Huncoat's four churches celebrated this religious occasion by parading through the village, before enjoying their Coffee and Bun Field Day. The Baptist Chapel on Burnley Lane - demolished in 1965 - held their field day on land that is now occupied by the small attractive estate of 15 bungalows, known as Highergate Close.

In addition to savouring a hot cup of coffee and a spicy currant bun, young and old members of the chapel joined in the fun and games that caused so much amusement among the many spectators. These included the obstacle race, the egg and spoon race, the three-legged race, the sack race, the wheel barrow race and the ever-popular tug of war.

Traditionally, the day ended in mayhem when the married men challenged the single men to a football match. This was an entertaining game, where the players were encouraged to break every rule in the book and to totally ignore the referee's outrageous decisions.

JIM ASHTON, Lynwood Road, Huncoat.

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