I'D imagined that the old 'Help to Scholars' booklets, distributed in millions by the Beechams firm to succeeding generations of local children, had fizzled out with the outbreak of the 1939-45 war.

But not a bit of it! After spotting my earlier piece about the little 32-page edition from 1938 - dug out by Ruskin Leisure's security man Chick Bannister - two other readers have responded.

Both were able to update to June, 1953 the unique little free publication, crammed with maths tables, geographical and weather details, scientific data, essential dates in British history and other subjects.

By that date, Beechams proudly declared that a total of more than 47 million copies had been dished out since its launch in 1889.

And at least one of those 1953 editions is still in service to this day.

Philip Watters of the local solicitors, Watters & Watters, tells me: "A Beechams 'Help to Scholars' assisted me as I went from Cowley Kindergarten to university. I still keep a copy in my desk to remind me of the size of rods or poles which sometimes come up in old deeds."

And Lilian de Looze of High Street, Newton-le-Willows, also kindly wrote in to say that she still has her 43-year-old copy of that scholars' prompter.

NOW just one mystery remains. Just when did the final edition of that helpful booklet (many of its details now obsolete in this technological age) roll off the presses?

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