ALL this talk about Pullingers restaurant, the popular eatery on the Weymouth pier bandstand, has brought back some happy memories for Dave Johnston.

Dave, who used to work for the Dorset Echo, points out that Rothmans and the Echo co-sponsored the lunches.

We've already heard that one of the big celebrities who graced Pullingers was Michael Parkinson and here we have a photo of the late Elaine Stritch visiting the restaurant.

Elaine was one of the guest speakers at Pullingers and the photo Dave has supplied is dated June 4 1979.

Broadway actress and singer Elaine passed away aged 89 in Birmingham, Michigan, in 2014.

She is photographed here with Dave Johnston and Derek Lever from Rothmans outside Pullingers.

Dave said Rothmans, a national company, would come to town each summer with beach events and lots of goodies.

He added: "For several summer seasons Rothmans came to town and worked with us on seasonal entertainment events in pubs, with newsagents and around the Weymouth area in general.

"Theirs was a generous sponsorship with lots of non-cigarette branded giveaways - and cigarette products too, of course."