THE fact that during the Second World War Bolton raised enough money to buy a warship, the "Dido", is well known. What is less known, however, is that Horwich also bought a ship, a Corvette named the "Heather".

This has been brought to mind by photocopies of a handbill sent to me by Mr Geoff Waine, secretary of Horwich Heritage, produced at the time as "Every Week is Warship Week". He tells me that the leaflet has originated from Mrs Jean Dawes, formerly of Horwich, now of Norwich, and it includes the following verse.

Among the moors o' Lancashire,

Where blooms the bonny heather,

There lies the town of Horwich, sir,

Whose people stand together

To go "All out" for England

Through toil and blood and sweat:

And they've helped defend the Homeland

By buying a Corvette.

A gradley ship she is, lads,

Come fair or stormy weather,

And rightly is she named, lads,

For she's been called the "Heather".

We toast the gen'rous sponsors,

Who dug down for the money:

"To them!" "To the men who man her!"

"To the Heather! she's a Honey."

And whenever you go sailing,

From your heather-covered moors

Come our thoughts and prayers unfailing,

To link our hearts with yours,

While you bravely hold the lifeline,

Yea! no matter what the weather:

Hats off to you, the gallant crew,

Of that fighting ship - "The Heather."

Seemingly, the verse was written by Alf. Whitehead, of Rhode Island, USA, in March, 1942, although it is not clear whether or not he had a connection with Horwich.

The leaflet had been issued by the National Savings Committee, London, and has the message: With every day that passes, we want more ships, guns, planes, tanks and bombs for victory. We must stop buying things we don't need. So the signal is still - Save, and keep on saving. This is the one decisive contribution which every single one of us can make - must make - to the War Effort.