AS a teenager Alan Brackstone dreamed of rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous who flocked to the Sandbanks Hotel in the 1940s.

In those days Poole was the Majorca of post-war Britain and the five-star hotel attracted a host of stars like Jack Warner, later famed for his role in Dixon of Dock Green, and comedian Arthur Askey, who came to relax on its golden beaches.

Now 50 years later the 71-year-old's dreams are set to come true after his children booked him and his wife Sadie into the hotel for a weekend as a surprise present for their golden wedding anniversary.

"We used to come off the beach across the road and sit on the low wall opposite the Sandbanks Hotel to get the sand off our feet before putting on our shoes and socks," said Mr Brackstone, who lived in Rosemary Road, Parkstone, until his family moved to Bristol when he was 14.

"We used to look at the people coming in and out of the hotel. A lot of them were film stars and radio stars of the time and did we envy them the lifestyle of staying in the very posh Sandbanks Hotel, something we never thought we would aspire to.

"Well, at the age of 71, I am at last going to make it."

And to add to the special occasion Mr Brackstone, who went to St Joseph's Catholic School, will meet up with an old school friend he has not seen for five decades.

More than three years ago the Daily Echo published a story about Mr Brackstone's experiences of living in wartime Poole. A friend read the article and put him in contact with his old pal Wendy Saunders, who lives in Toronto, in Canada.

The pair stayed in contact through email, but she will be back in Bournemouth during his visit and they have arranged to meet up for lunch.

"It's just the icing on the cake," he said. "I'm really looking forward to seeing her after so long."

First published: September 8, 2005