JIM Collins was going through some old family belongings when he came across a letter his mother, Daisy, had written in November 1979, seven years before she died at the age of 91.

Jim believes his mum had intending sending this to the Daily Echo but she never got around to posting it.

Daisy was quite a character who played piano in various pubs in and around Woolston and Southampton.

These included the Ship Inn, the Workmen's Hall in Chandos Street and St Parkers Hotel in Bernard Street as well as pubs in Romsey.

Daisy was about 86 when she wrote the letter but her handwriting was clear and strong as she told the story of her time at school.

"I used to go the Royal British School in Canal Walk then after it was closed down we were all transferred to the Southern District School in Bernard Street," she wrote.

"We had a singing mistress who used to train our voices and our classroom faced Bernard Street. We used to sing beautifully and just across the road lived a gentleman whose name was Mr Bevis - I think he was connected to a coal firm in Southampton.

"He used to sit in his sitting room and listen to us and one day he came over to the school and we had to sing to him. He was so delighted he left a £5 note, which was a lot of money in those days.

"Our mistress went to the Terminus station and bought train tickets to take us all to the New Forest although we had to pay 6d (2p) for our tea.

"What a happy day we had and when we came back we all thanked the gentleman for our lovely trip. He never forgot and when he passed away he left money to be spent on children to have a day and it was called the Bevis Treat.''