ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD

THERE was a rather uncomfortable little ritual to endure before little Annie Bracken and the rest of the chosen few were permitted to visit the great Wembley Exhibition of the 1920s.

The local education authority had agreed to foot the bill for three girls and three boys from hers and neighbouring schools to make the exciting three-day trip to London.

But first, the schoolchildren had to present themselves to a 'nit nurse' at the local swimming baths - and there was no exception to the rule, even for those with the most scrupulously clean hair.

"My head was sore from all the times she washed my hair with Derbac soap," recalls Annie (now pensioner Mrs Parker) who lives at Bernard Wood Court, Billinge.

And the squeaky-clean ritual did not end at that! The Merseyside kids were taken to various London schools and issued with camp beds. "I can still remember the paper bed sheets which afterwards could be burned."

But for all this, it was a terrific experience for Annie and her schoolgirl friends.

"We visited Wembley on the first day and toured all around London on the other two ,"says Annie (85).

SHE now wonders if any other of our veteran readers also enjoyed that unique occasion and are still alive to tell the tale.

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