TWO young Burnley girls received the Brownies ‘VC’ back in the sixties — the ‘fortitude’ badge.

Jean Tattersall, 10, of Clive Street, and 11-year-old Susan Harling, of Daneshouse Road, who had both spent many months encased in plaster, belonged to the 31st Burnley brownies, the Stoneyholme Methodist Group.

Best friends who attended Stoneyholme junior school, the girls were praised for their cheerful courage in overcoming health obstacles.

Each growing up with a limp, doctors decided on a series of operations which meant they were encased in plaster from their chest to their ankles.

Jean passed Brownie tests in semophore and first aid and then went to school on crutches, still in plaster. As soon as the cast was removed she went off to the baths and in a few weeks gained her two lengths certificate.

While Susan was in hospital she practised her brownie knots on the wire case which protected her legs and passed her First Class badge.

The two were presented with their fortitude badges by county commissioner Mrs A Carter and were watched by their parents Mr and Mrs Roland Tattersall and Mr and Mrs Norman Harling.

Their Brown Owl, who visited the girls every week was Irene Dewar, of March Street .

BURNLEY’S oldest tea brewer clocked out for the last time in May 1962.

Daniel Walne, of Paisley Street, retired as a labourer/sweeper with Bellings at the age of 78.

It was his second retirement. A miner for 47 years, he had earlier ended his career as a colliery foreman at Hapton, but decided to go back to work when he was 70.

Works engineer Mr R C Smith promised there would always be a place for him at the Bellings factory if he ever got the urge to work again.

Mr Walne was also a member of the Salvation Army for more than 50 years