I READ with great interest (Memory Lane, Evening News, Saturday, December 28) the article on The Public Hall.

It brought back happy memories, yet sad ones that it was torn down.

I was a pupil at Worcester Grammar School for Girls - then known as the Secondary School - in Barbourne Road, from 1933-1938.

Our stage and hall at the school were not large enough for our annual prize-giving and, at the end of summer term, the whole school went to the Public Hall.

The school choir, conducted by our music mistress - the talented and greatly loved (Miss) Lilian Tyers - would be seated on the stage, together with those of us who had won prizes and members of staff in their gowns with the headmistress, Miss Jessie Steeler.

Several times, I was privileged and proud to receive my prize from quite an important person.

Being called forward on the Public Hall stage was very special to me.

I entirely agree that the loss of the Public Hall deprived Worcester of what could still have been a superb auditorium today for concerts, major entertainment and exhibitions - a venue Worcester lacks.

VERA G POWELL (nee Edgecox), Worcester Secondary school/Grammar School for Girls 1933-38.