TWO original Hindley and Abram Grammar School remembrance wall plaques, made seemingly of oak and mahogany, perhaps both crafted during woodwork lessons, recorded that at least 40 (Park Road) School 'old boys' perished in the two awesome World Wars which raged between 1914-18 and 1939-45.

There was no shortage of talent or lack of courage attached to the famous school which (like it or not) taught Latin. In Hindley's churchyards (and elsewhere) are the remains of many fighters who gave their lives for our eventual freedom. We should be grateful and everlastingly thankful that we aren't oppressed now. Many local Servicemen will have died abroad and lots will have been simply reported missing. Some will have no known graves. Some graves will be tended beautifully by the War Commission. Another interesting local fact concerns an item of furniture which I last saw in John Leyland's (Hindley) Public Library -- a well-used public library in every sense.

In the much used library basement room could be seen a large wall decoration, said to have originated at Hindley Royal British Legion. This decoration showed a carved crown; a leopard or a puma; a soldier and a sailor (both armed and uniformed), plus a raised well-carved RAF Spitfire! On the decoration are the words -- "Lest we forget ... for our tomorrows they gave their todays". "Rest In Peace" is written inside a wreath of carved laurel and four red rosebuds are painted on separate panels!

With so much shown on the TV about the D-Day miraculous evacuation of men from the Normandy beaches and the victory which came about four years later we should consider other words on the Legion wall furniture -- "They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not wither them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them!"

Mr Kenneth Lucas

Park Road

Hindley

Wigan