SIR, From 1940 to 1970, Huyton Hill was a well-known boys preparatory school at the north end of Windermere in Pull Woods. It was originally the home of Sir William Crossley of Crossley Motors, Manchester. The setting for the house is magnificent.

I spent five years there as a boy from 1957 to 1962 and several holidays in the years since 1970 when the building was converted to holiday flats. Now, it has been sold and seems destined to become a timeshare development. Since there was no written or other record at all of this now vanished chapter of social history, I have put down my own recollections of the life and times of the school. It is not a scholarly work of literature, but it may be of interest to other former pupils. I have managed to include a few photos, as well.

I would be very happy to send anyone a copy. Please write to me at 12 Drumcarrow Crescent, Strathkinness, By St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9XT. A contribution of £10 towards production cost postage would be most welcome.

Peter Royds

By St Andrews, Fife

n SIR, We are trying to contact as many ex-school friends as we can with a view to a reunion. We would also like to call upon teachers of that time. We all would have started our 1st year at Longlands Girls School in 1962. Whatever people's memories, be they good or bad, please get in touch with us. It would be interesting to see how we have all got on in life, and did school do anything in the way of shaping our futures? It is a certain fact that education and its policies, along with the Children's Act, have changed dramatically since 1962 when we started our first year. I wonder how the children of the school now named Queen Katherine would like to wear the uniforms we had to?

Susan Whittaker (ne Dixon)

Tel: 01539-740088, or

Jackie Blower (ne Duxbury) tel: 07980-415422

n SIR, A holding action took place at the town of Incheville in Picardi, Northern France, 1940. Members of the 4th Battalion Border Regiment took part in this action and I am keen to contact anyone who was directly involved or knows any detail of the battle. I had a relative James M. Martin - who lost his life at this engagement and I would welcome the opportunity to gather some further information.

Mike Little, c/o Travellers Rest, Workington, Cumbria CA14 4EU

tel: 01900-602064

April 17, 2003 12:31