IT is lovely to hear from readers whether they are in Bolton and reading our paper here in the town or living further afield.

Mike Stevens got in touch as he received a cutting of a November article in Looking Back delivered with his Christmas card from his friend Derek Jackson.

He is, he says, the teacher featured on a photograph taken at White Bank School which appeared in the paper — he is supervising a science lesson in the new science laboratory.

"It was a considerable departure from the one in the stables next to Reg Hamlet's workshop," he says.

He recognised John Cox, who was headmaster at the time, on the image saying that John left to take up an appointment as headteacher of a larger school in Longridge Preston.

The woman visitor who appears in the group was, suspects Mike, a local councillor.

"White Bank was my first teaching appointment and was where I learned my trade.

"I have many fond memories of my years there and there are many tales to tell.

"I didn't recognise any of the boys in the photographs but wherever they are they, too, will have fond memories of James McMillan, Peter Clegg, Lorraine Ryley, Bernard Walker, Reg Hamlet, Nelson Short, Frank Barwise, Percy Wood, George Platt, Roy Standeven and, more latterly, Fred Tyldesley.

"Sadly several of them are not with us any more — times moves on," he says.

White Bank School was, originally, a large mansion in Haslam Park in Deane.

It was the family home of the Haslams until 1920 when it was given to the borough of Bolton.

The house had thirty acres of land — now Haslam Park — and the entrance to the estate was facing Melbourne Road and the drive came out facing Hawthorne Road.

The house was brick built and on two floors with large bay windows and a columned porch main entrance.

Each room had a fireplace, with marble surrounds. Only a marble-topped table in the hall and, at the bottom of the stairs a statue of the “Discus Thrower” remained of the original fine fixtures and fittings.

The kitchen, with bells to summon the servants, still hung on the wall.

In May 1922 Haslam Park opened and on September 22 of the same year White Bank School opened.

On the ground floor the original living rooms were turned into classrooms which still retained the original large bay windows and ornate fireplaces.