LEW Willett was a back-street bookie with a heart of gold.

A wartime prisoner of the Japanese, he never allowed this horrific experience to embitter him or cloud his affection for his fellow man.

Memories of Lew came rushing back for Bernard Wilson of Moss Bank when he tuned in to my recent piece about the colourful characters who once patronised the old Feathers pub on the corner of Westfield Street with Eccleston Street, St Helens.

Paying tribute to Lew's memory, Bernard tells me: "He operated from his Bruce Street backyard around the later 1950s and 60s, in times when the bookies' runners had to keep an eye peeled for the bobbies.

"He was the mostgenerous of men. If he'd had a good day on a Saturday he was willing to plough back some of his profits with pints all round on a Sunday dinner at the Feathers.

"The usual characters would be gathered early to make sure they toasted Lew's success."

Christmas was also a time when Lew demonstrated his generosity. He used to have envelopes made up with small amounts of cash which he'd pass out to anyone who looked like he might need a little helping hand over the festive season.

NOT many of Lew's kind around now, I'm afraid.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.