I'VE recently had a few enquiries about that little gem of a booklet about St Helens and its town hall, produced by Councillor Pat Robinson, a keen local history buff.

While making enquires, I discovered that there are none left and it is currently out of print.

It was compiled through Pat's personal knowledge of the passing scene and her involvement in the restoration of the Mayor's Parlour in 1989 when Mike Doyle and his wife Julia were mayor and mayoress.

In the years since, it has been eagerly snapped up by visitors (many from abroad) schoolchildren and even celebrities. But for those disappointed in not obtaining a booklet, I have a word of consolation. It is on the St Helens website under the heading 'St Helens A Brief History'. Tap in to www.st-helens.net/community/main.tm

Meanwhile, perhaps the council's publications office might consider getting some more of these souvenir guides published, even if they carried a small cover charge. It's all in the interest of keeping the ancient borough of St Helens on the map.