WHILE the recent murder trial and subsequent conviction of the killer of Julian Brookfield is still fresh in our minds, I would like to address the imbalance of Julian's character representation in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and, perhaps, give readers a more accurate picture of him. I was a close neighbour of Julian's during the latter half of the 1970s and, over the years Julian became a close personal friend.

He studied drama at Darwen Vale High School and was very keen on obtaining a place at drama school. However, Julian had a very active social life and apart from associating with our particular group of friends, he had also made many other friends in Blackburn and surrounding areas, contrary to your description of him as 'a bit of a loner.' Because of his reluctance to give up his social life, to put aside pursuit of drama school for a year.

He worked at a Post Office in Bolton for a Christmas period when he was 17 and then enrolled on a bricklaying course at Blackburn College. Later, he joined a training course with the Board of Social Responsibilities which was based at Blackburn Cathedral and then progressed on to the Blackburn and District Playbus scheme.

In early 1984, he became an insurance salesman, but although he lost this job because of his immature approach, he was actually allowed to resign.

The next job he applied for was described in the Jobcentre as 'shop manager,' but turned out to be a vacancy for a sex shop assistant, which he did not know until the interview, but subsequently thought to be highly amusing. He did not enjoy working there and resigned after three months.

Contrary to speculation and misleading rumours, Julian was not a homosexual - either in my opinion or in that of any of his friends' opinions.

He was definitely not a compiler of erotic stories as recent portrayals of him implied. He had an eye for the women and courted many girlfriends, not unlike any normal 18 year old lad, but definitely had no obvious inclinations towards pornography or erotica.

Unfortunately, allegations and rumours can so easily lead to misrepresentation of the truth and Julian is not here to say otherwise.

Julian will be sadly missed by all friends, now that the tragic truth has emerged. He was a very clever lad and had a great sense of humour and I could probably write a book about his superb practical jokes.

Unfortunately, we will probably never know the real sequence of events that led to his murder.

NAME AND ADDRESS RECEIVED.

FOOTNOTE: All the references to Julian's supposed character reported in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph were as stated in court or related to our reporter by other friends - Editor.

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