JOAN Kemp contacted me after last week’s column about Crosfields.

Previously I’d shared Barry Jones’s recollections about his father, Jack Jones, who was the Crosfields chairman’s chauffeur.

Barry talked also about Tony Curtis, one of the Crosfields’ chairmen over the years, and father of screenwriter Richard.

Joan says: “Have read your article in the Guardian and I knew Jack Jones.

“My late husband Joseph Kemp was the chauffeur after Jack retired.

“He was also very fond of Mr Curtis and the later chairman Mr Dougan.”

Thank you for getting in touch, Joan.

This is one of the things I love about writing this column. It’s the power it gives me to scratch the surface of a subject – especially a cherished jewel of local history – that then gives you, the readers, the opportunity to bring forth all your wonderful memories.

So, this week, I’m going to look at a subject connected to Crosfields.

Before I begin, let me say this could develop a bit like Mark Radcliffe’s BBC Radio 2 segment The Chain, where records were played in succession linked in the most tenuous of ways.

This week: Warrington’s transporter bridge.

Be honest, how often do you pass its imposing structure spanning the Mersey at Bank Quay without a thought?

Yet, this wonderful steel structure is such a rare piece of architecture that it is Grade II listed.

The current one was actually the second transporter bridge built at Warrington.

But let us focus on the one that still stands. This was constructed in 1915 to link two chemical and soap works owned by Crosfields.

Its purpose was to carry railway vehicles but was later converted to take road traffic.

William Henry Hunter designed it and Sir William Arrol and Co put in the hard work and brought it to life.

The bridge buzzed with enterprise and activity for almost 50 years before it fell into disuse in 1964.

These days, due to its condition, it has been placed on the heritage at risk register.

Thankfully there are plenty of people around who don’t just drive past the transporter bridge without a second thought.

The Friends of Warrington Transporter Bridge was set up two years ago to put a protective arm around the structure and to speak up in its defence.

They are working closely with Warrington Borough Council and last December an information board was unveiled at Bank Quay.

More power to their elbow and if you are interested in helping preserve this essential part of our heritage, then you can become a ‘friend’ of the transporter at their excellent website, warringtontransporterbridge.co.uk.