LAST month I attended a 'Proper St Helens Knees Up' staged at the Citadel by the residents of Parr Mount Court, Raglan Court and Reeve Court with the help of the Heart of Glass and others.

This is ‘Hometown’ by Raglan Court and friends.

St Helens is a working class town

St Helens isn’t eyes down

I’ve lived here for 80 years

St Helens is my hometown

Pilkingtons for clarity

Beechams pills for regularity

Our glass has got the class

To help to see you through.

Generations down the pit

And that is not the end of it

Our memories still live on

Even though the pits are gone.

Every Friday’s chippy tea

And Saturdays we watch rugby

And then what can be much better than

Monday’s lobbys in the pan.

Greenall’s brewery’s now defunct

But all those times it got us drunk

Bartons pickles and Bartons pop

Pimblett’’s pies, you can eat the lot!

With our college and community

We’re wizards at technology

Sutton Manor’s got the Dream

Built to mark the last coal seam.

We love St. Helens, we’re here to stay

Come and visit us any day

For a friendly smile, a cup of tea

And to make a lasting memory.