ACTOR-author John D. Slater, re-visiting his old St Helens haunts for the first time in years, was inspired by his sentimental stroll around town to pick up his pen on return to his riverside cottage home in Boston, Lincs.

The hometown visit had rekindled an earlier ambition to record, in verse, some of his memories of people and places from childhood and teenage years. John, now 60 and with an eventful career on stage and in television behind him, was educated at the old St Helens Central Modern School.

He was rather saddened that this has now disappeared from the scene, but delighted that the Theatre Royal, which inspired his early acting ambitions, is currently enjoying a new lease of life following a major, highly-expensive facelift.

And John, who turned his back on his own successful ladies' hairdressing salon at the age of 30, in favour of all the risks and uncertainties of a showbiz life, hopes to step on the theatre's stage in the near future. He plans to perform songs and some of his original material, including readings from that newly-compiled collection of verse, entitled St Helens Revisited, which will hopefully be in print before Easter. The show, if all plans are finalised, would be in aid of the Tsunami disaster.

All of this represents a rapid literary follow-up for the 6ft 2ins thespian with the tousled mane of white hair and close-clipped, grizzled beard - his recent trip to St Helens having been primarily concerned with the launch of his autobiography, A Desire To Entertain, available at bookshops, including Wardleworths of St Helens, price £4.95.

It proved a long and winding showbiz road for John who is more of a contented bit-part performer, playwright and stage producer than a well-known actor. But it's been a path he has been more than happy to have trodden.

Latest poetic offering features memory-stirring personalities from bygone times, not least among them, a disabled though highly proficient lady dealer in second-hand furniture, clocks, cutlery, crockery, pictures and bric-a-brac who gloried under the strangest of nicknames - one, however, that she seemed happy to plaster on her delivery van and advertising material.

Wonder, then, how many, like John, retain fond memories of Sir Ann Taylor, the subject of the following poetic sample from his treasure trove of memories?

SIR Ann Taylor - who was she?

Some sort of nobility?

But surely, the appellation Sir,

Is really more for a him than a her!

Yet on the side of her furniture van,

It was written large that she was Sir Ann,

Knighted, so the proclamation read,

'For selling bargains'; that's what it said.

Further more, this debenture,

Was all to do with furniture.

Beds and tables, chiffoniers,

Stuff that went back years and years.

Wardrobes there, by the score,

Then upstairs, even more,

Bric-a-brac and old-fashioned chairs

Bedecked this kingdom that was hers.

Over this she would rule,

Next to the Central Modern School,

Sarah Ann was her real name,

Though Sir Ann she was called in the furniture game.

A character, without a doubt,

Who everybody knew all about.

And many a home in St Helens can

Boast a purchase from Sir Ann,

Who despite severe disability

On crutches had quite a mobility

Her handicap, most folk found,

Never stopped her from getting around.

So raise your glass, if you can,

And toast St Helens's knight...Sir Ann!

A FULL feature (with pictures) about the multi-faceted life of John Slater will be appearing in the forthcoming spring edition of Lifestyle magazine, published by the St Helens Star.