IN response to the state of Westleigh Park, described in the Journal by reporter and columnist Lesley Richards, the following response was received from former Westleigh resident Alan Goodwin.

I'M an ex-pat from Westleigh now living in Germany. It was only a few months ago that I stumbled across "This is Leigh" on the website and wrote in to say how much I liked it, little thinking that my letter would actually go into print.

Since then I have received numerous e-mails from long-lost friends, and even one from a chap I must have played with as a toddler!

Your recent article on Westleigh park tugged at the heartstrings. I was born in 1958 and grew up in Philips Street, just behind St. Paul's School, and remember the park with its manicured lawns and beautifully kept flowerbeds.

I also vividly remember going over the shaking bridge as a schoolkid and watching workers at the brickworks.

I recently went back to the area after several years away and was absolutely speechless at the rundown state I found Westleigh in. The place doesn't deserve that because the people there are as friendly as can be.

I was recently requested by the German pensions scheme to provide proof of school attendance and was sent a list of school pals born in the same year as I was.

The list brought back lots of memories, not least of a certain Michael Broome, whose father was a hairdresser in Westleigh Lane. At about the age of 13, the Broomes emigrated to Australia and I have never heard from them since. Is there any way of locating them?

Alan Goodwin

e-mail

Germany Anyone who can help should contact the Journal. Kind regards

I agree with the sentiments about Westleigh, and I'm sure some kind person will help you find the Broomes if past records are anything to go by.