I hope I don't get as involved in "the great Burnden Park flag mystery" as Alan Calvert, who, as we dragged him from the building last week, was still rolling his eyes and muttering: "Crompton or the king, Crompton or the king?"

I will leave what will hopefully prove the final word to Edith Fearnley, who writes: "I took part in the flag at Burnden Park in 1927, and it was definitely part of the Samuel Crompton festival. I was 11 years old and attended Clarendon Street School.

"Everyone in the flag was provided with a fine cotton dress in red, blue or white. I wore a white dress.

"All the children were given a large handkerchief with scenes about Samuel Crompton in colour. We also sang hymns - the one I remember best was Jerusalem.

"It is possible there were similar celebrations in the 30s, but the flag I took part in was definitely the Crompton centenary.

"Had this been in the mid-30s, I would have left school."