SOME thirty years ago my father sent an entry into a competition in the 'Today' newspaper with the opportunity to blow up Weymouth Pier.

We subsequently won and embarked on an adventure none of us had envisaged.

My wife and I plus our daughters Carol and Susan had first class train travel and were treated as celebrities for the next three days, it would have been four but it was a bank holiday and my firm expected me to return on the Tuesday.

As it happened I was greeted typically by "You should have stayed, it would have been all right".

We stayed at a hotel on the promenade and were greeted by the Mayor.

On the day designated for Carol and Susan to blow up the Pier we went into another hotel and onto a balcony overlooking the Pier. Below us were milling crowds, television, radio and the National Press, it was somewhat daunting for our two daughters but they grew into it.

Carol and Susan blew up the Pier and were then whisked off the beach to be photographed next to what was left of it.

The attention of the National Press became too much for young Susan and unfortunately we were unable to attend the Official Celebration at the Town Hall, but the Mayor came to our hotel and we toasted a successful event.

The family were given the freedom of all the major sites of entertainment and for a brief period we held celebrity status.

Carol and Susan have since married and had children of their own.

They both have brought their families to Weymouth for their holidays and my wife and I have also continued to be regular visitors.

We still talk about that weekend and in fact we have a poster from that time hanging on our wall.

Myself I have been a visitor for some sixty years and cannot think of a more enjoyable part of the country. My wife and I come down from Birmingham for DAY trips, we like it so much.

Keith Firth

Abbotts Road, Erdington, Birmingham