I WAS very interested to see that Bury College has named its new theatre after Jim Cartwright (Playwright honoured, April 5).

I first saw his extraordinary play Road, which was filmed in Accrington, on BBC 2 in the '80s and it made a lasting impression.

Of course, Mr Cartwright has a long association with the Octagon Theatre in Bolton.

It occurs to me that there is an ongoing link between the former Bury High School that became Wellington Secondary Modern, circa 1960, and then a major part of the new Bury College signature.

This grew from the original technical college building just up the road.

It was still known as Bury Tech in the '60s when many of us Baby Boomers opted to move on from Wellington to do our A-levels there.

The times they were a changing!

Your piece also prompts me to think of other individuals, well known or otherwise, and directly associated with the history of the college.

Aside from Guy Garvey, I've brought to mind the actor Bernard Hill (played the captain of the Titanic) who was in our drama group, and another member, Henry, who received a Queen's Award for very dangerous work within the police force, Vera Marriot, a charismatic English tutor and theatre producer, John Bauldie, who also taught English and was very well known for his academic work on Bob Dylan.

I believe that Keith Lescure, another actor, was recognised for a career helping young people when he worked at Bolton College.

Finally, Ton Harrison's poem V, was the subject of controversy in the '80s when he was taught at the tech and stoutly defended by the headmaster.

Would that happen now, I wonder?

Perhaps Bury Times readers may have other former staff members or students they would like to nominate.

Dave Walsh

Paradise Street

Ramsbottom