HERE are a couple of long-distance yedscratters for customers of this column to chew over...
John Roberts, St Helens ex-pat now living in Canada, who keeps in touch with my jottings over the Internet, asks: "How did the terms seat-of-the-pants' (for being daring or taking chances) and fly-by-night (shady or shifty) come about? He'd also like to know if anyone can put a date to when these expressions were first used.
ILL-FATED
Back on local soil, Ste Derbyshire, a member of the Lowe House scratters' corner, believes that the ship's bell and portholes of the ill-fated Titanic were produced in a St Helens brass foundry, which once stood close to the Hotties stretch of the canal.
And he's now asking if anyone can put a name to that particular company, manufacturing in brass, rather than iron or steel, for which St Helens was better known.
IF you've a clue or two regarding the queries above, then please drop a line to me at Whalley's World, St Helens Star, YMCA Buildings, Duke Street, St Helens WA10
2 HZ.
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