I AM writing with reference to the front page article (Star, June 21) in which Marie Rimmer attacks the national media for their portrayal of St Helens.

Although I greatly admire Marie Rimmer and the work she does in many directions, I cannot see eye to eye with her on the present-day St Helens.

In my view, the St Helens of my boyhood days and earlier adult life was a far better place in which to live. People of all ages could walk freely in the town centre and suburbs unmolested. Old people were not assaulted and robbed and even innocent animals attacked.

I was robbed myself a few years ago in the middle of town. I had returned from a day in Blackpool and was taking a rest on a seat in Barrow Street when I was surrounded by a group of apparently friendly teenagers (including girls). However, when I got up to go I realised that my bag containing valuable equipment, along with my wallet and credit cards, had gone.

What was worse was there was a police car parked in Church Street with two officers in it, within 50 yards of the incident. They caught up with the gang, but, of course, they denied having the bag. Probably one of them had run off with it while the others stayed behind to cover up.

I have nothing against the police and have always found them helpful and courteous, but today I question whether their numbers or methods are right. Years ago in the middle of town there was always a bobby on every street corner, every property was checked for security and the police patrolled on foot. I remember one sergeant who used to be in town at night with his officers and if he caught a youth acting suspiciously he would give him a cuff around the ear and tell him to go home.

So-called do-gooders will tell me that is all wrong, but the fact is that people could go about without fear of being assaulted or robbed. It cannot be assumed that all little boys and girls are good at heart.

They have to be taught what is good or bad and what belongs to them and what doesn't. This makes it very hard for parents and teachers in this do-gooder age. I feel sorry for teachers, their 'teeth' have been taken from them. This brings me round to the subject of discipline. I was born and brought up in the Newtown area and associated with some 'hard knocks' at a very young age. We did not get our pleasure from assaulting or robbing old people, or being cruel to animals. We fought among ourselves a bit but mainly we played rugby, football or cricket on the waste land of Newtown, the Recreation Park or the 'Top Fields' between Rivington Road and Knowsley Road which is now a council estate. Towards Bonfire Night we would go far afield (singing as we went) dragging felled trees in convoy for use on the great night.

My schooldays started at Rivington Road and I recall teacher Billy Cyms whose anecdotes were most interesting. He had a spell playing at centre for Saints and was therefore a hero. Then there was Harry Cook who later became a legendary chairman of Saints. The cane for any misdemeanours was the vogue. Each teacher had his own 'weapon' and we discussed among ourselves as to which teacher could use it the hardest! I am sure it did me no harm whatsoever and taught me to become a better citizen in later life.

From there I progressed to Cowley, under the headmastership of disciplinarian Gerry Dowse, in its day one of the finest grammar schools in the North of England with very high standards academically and at sport, particularly rugby.

I later spent five years in the RAF during the second world war, where discipline was paramount, although curiously it was largely voluntary and rarely needed to be enforced.

Talking about St Helens town centre again, there is not much to my liking. The old pubs, like the Prince of Wales, the Scarisbrick, the Angel, the Cotham and the Bridge, where a man could get a decent drink and have a talk to 'mine host', have all gone.

Going back to thefts, apart from the town centre incident, I have had two break-ins and robberies in my own home. When I was in the RAF and abroad in civilian life I used to long to come back to St Helens. Somehow the feeling wouldn't quite be the same now.

No, Marie, St Helens has a long way indeed to get back to where it used to be, much less improve. At 80 years of age I have no axe to grind and have 'run my race'. I just thought you might like to know my feelings about the town as I knew it and as I see it today.

KEN Chorley, Eccleston (full address supplied).