MEMORIES - A reader recalls the day she was asked to enter Miss New Brighton

Nov 11 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

SEEING the photo in Memories, I thought I’d let you know what I remember of that day.

Bob Bird (photographer) was looking for local girls to have their pictures taken for a national newspaper, which was running a feature to see which resort had the prettiest girls, and asked me to take part.

While we were there, the entertainment manager came over and suggested we all enter the Miss New Brighton contest. We all agreed we would.

Betty Lawson won first prize and I came second – much to my surprise.

Betty was a lovely, bubbly girl, overjoyed to win.

We met again in the final but were not placed and I never met her again.

I spent my ten pounds prize money on a pair of white high-heeled shoes and a white bathing costume – and so began my times in the comps.

Joan Graham

(formerly Joan Boardman)

THE story of George Harrison’s suitcase interested me very much.

I was only vaguely aware of the container’s sale at auction and its dramatisation as a theatre production.

However, I was in attendance at the fateful Irby Village Hall appearance by the group 47 years ago.

Although I was a DJ on the Merseybeat scene – and introduced the Beatles at Birkenhead’s Majestic Ballroom and Barnston Women’s Institute in the early 1960s – I was present at that occasion in 1962 in an unofficial capacity.

Nevertheless, I readily recall chatting with George, never for one moment anticipating the warm and wild worldwide welcome awaiting the Fab Four just a matter or months later – or the saga of the suitcase nearly half a century thereafter.

DEREK JEFFREY

Heswall

I WAS delighted to find you listed on the internet here in the USA.

Recently I visited my old home town, Birkenhead, where I was brought up and lived for 20 years.

I thought I would ask any of your readers who remember Ken Cooper’s Band, as I was a vocalist with it, and would love to share memories with them.

I was named Nina Day, and we played mostly Byrne Avenue Baths in Rock Ferry. In Massachusetts, where I live, I produce, host and act in my CTSBTV Community Television shows.

I interview people from all walks of life, including even the famous, such as film director Arthur Penn of Bonnie and Clyde and The Missouri Breaks fame.

I would love to hear from anyone who perhaps remembers me.

OLGA MAY MILLIGAN

Great Barrington, Massachusetts (lady12341@verizon.net) (lady12341@verizon.net)