THE lively, bustling picture used two weeks ago was sent to me by Eddie Keavey.

“I am from Liverpool originally, but now live in Billinge,” he told me. “I came across the photo on a disc of old Liverpool images, and I thought your readers might find it interesting.

"It shows Pilkington's factory emptying in 1947. My wife, a St Helens girl, and I, find your column very interesting.”

Paul Jones, chairman of our Heritage Network, rang me to say it was his favourite local history photo.

Janet Kilgallon emailed: “This is Pilkington’s sheet works, Watson Street entrance, with the Bridge Hotel on the right.”

Councillor Geoff Almond told me: “The old Pilkington head office in the background is now Reflection Court.”

It brought back memories for Mrs V Ames who said: “The busy work scene from the early days after the second world war shows Pilkingtons’ then head office at Canal Street. My sister, Christine Beaumont, worked there as a tracer until her untimely death of kidney failure at the age of 19 in 1953 when I was just five years old.”