TWO old-time characters briefly surface this week, one of who used to enjoy a daily dip in Carr Mill Dam, even when its banks were white with frost. This hardy individual was called Vinty Walker, and former Saints ace Peter Harvey can still recall him.

But Peter, from Pike Place, Eccleston, seems rather puzzled that none of our readers has previously come up with Vinty's name when writing in about local characters who were thick on the ground in the St Helens area up to a few decades ago.

Challenge

"Vinty took the plunge all year round back in the 1950s", recalls Peter. "In the summertime, we local youngsters used to swim from the dam's Hollin Hey bay to the boat-house across on the far side".

This was a considerable watery challenge and as Peter puts it: "It was not to be recommended - but then, many things we did then would never be allowed today!"

Reader Alan Gray hopes to stir a musical memory in mentioning a short, sturdy fellow who, during the great heyday of the St Helens Co-op ballroom, was permitted to perform his special party piece, the bluesy old number Georgia, accompanied by the Bert Webb band.

This was during the managerial reign of Sylvester Burrows, a dapper dance teacher, and Alan is unable to put a name to that crop-haired, one-song singer who was thought to work in the local mines. Georgia was the only song he ever sang, says Alan, but he was a popular character and always got a big hand from his audience of dancers.

CAN anyone supply further details about the swimmer and the singer? If so, please drop a line to me at the Star.