THE story of a pageant on Burnden Park for the Coronation of George V1 in 1937 brought back memories to Mrs Auriol Robertson (nee Helsby) of Newbrook Road, Bolton.

"I was 13 years old, and our school, Sharples Bank Top were joined with Holy Infants pupils, she writes.

"The boys built a Viking boat about 12 feet long with wheels inside, and the boys had to pull it along the football pitch dressed in armour and swords that had been made in the woodwork class.

"The brown tunics were made by our girls, cut out for us. We also knitted string armour and dipped it in aluminium paint, and they wore sacking tied round their shins.

"We girls from Bank Top made all our Saxon lady long skirts; mine was blue, with a salmon pink tunic slanting to the knees, short sleeves, with lemon long ones pushed up and held by elastic.

"The tunic had a three inch border, painted by us in a zig zag, with red and blue spots between, and topped with lemon hood and shawl.

"All outfits were made of fine cotton, and a pair of plaits out of wool - it was all very effective.

"Most of the other schools were dressed in red, white and blue, and after singing all the pomp and glory songs, conducted by Mr Parr from Chalfont Street School, they all had to bend down and they formed an enormous Union Jack.

"I recall that there was a mock fight with the soldiers and the kings. Miss Abbot was our teacher. I have never forgotten all the sewing we did -- and at 78 I am still sewing."