From the left, examination winners Ian Lawless, Alison McClean, Peter Hall and Susan Bowe.

Four local teenagers have been awarded Student Teachers' Life Saving Certificates in a new-style examination launched by the Royal Life Saving Society only three months ago. High in the success stakes are three firth-form pupils from Gawthorpe who swim regularly at Padiham Pool as part of the school curriculum.

Youngest of the Gawthorpe trio is 15-year-old Peter Hall of Thirlmere Avenue, Padiham. Peter who has been swimming since he was five already has a formidable list of certificates and awards for distance swimming and life saving. Susan Bowe, a 16-year-old from Pennine Grove, Huntroyde is no novice either, although she has not been swimming long. She has the bronze medallion, bronze cross and award of merit for life saving as well as bronze and silver medals and a one-mile certificate for distance swimming. Gawthorpe pupil 16-year-old Ian Lawless of Wesley Street Sabden completes the fifth-form trio of certificate winners. He adds this to elementary, intermediate, bronze medallion, bronze cross and merit awards in life saving. Veteran swimmer 17-year-old Alison McLean of Scott Avenue, Simonstone, was the only local non-Gawthorpe pupil to gain the certificate. Alsison, a pupil of Clitheroe Royal Grammar School for Girls, is a member of Padiham Swimming Club and has won several awards in past years. This year, for the second time in succession, she was awarded the Padiham Townswomen's Shield for "best of the year" in life saving.

Station Officer Fred Brown, of Burnley Fire Station, is Manchester and district organiser for the Royal Life Saving Society. Delighted with the results he explained: "The student teacher's certificate is not entirely new, but during the past three months the syllabus has been redesigned. The aim of this new format is to attract those youngsters who are now still at school because of the rise in the school-leaving age. It has been specially designed by the Royal Life Saving Society to provide a worthwhile activity for young people who show an interest in life saving."