COLLECTING stamps was a pastime enjoyed by many a youngster in the past.

Alan Rigby was one of those children who developed a passion for philately at a young age and that passion never left him.

But today Alan, who is aged 73, is more likely to be seen collecting postcards than stamps and has amassed hundreds of examples of fascinating scenes and pictures — most of them associated with Bolton.

Alan, who lives in Sharples, opened up just a small section of his incredible collection to us for Looking Back readers to share and enjoy and it was a fascinating insight into the town's past.

His collection includes a wide variety of postcards of all shapes and sizes — some have words on them others do not. Some have been sent through the post but some have not.

Apparently if you wanted to put words on a postcard it would cost more to send than if you did not add any.

"So people would stick their stamp on sideways to indicate they had arrived at a destination safely.

"It mean it would cost them less to send," explains Alan.

In the golden age of postcards there was a postcard for every occasion, including bas relief cards (3D cards), Bamford song cards which contained the words of songs (Alan has several World War One examples bearing the words to the hymn Abide with Me) and hold to light cards which show the light through to clever effect.

His oldest card dates back to the turn of the 20th century but all are equally interesting and intriguing in equal measure.

In his collection Alan has a lovely example of a Valentine's Card from 1913 which actually shows the loving couple flying high above a message which says "Having a heavenly time in Bolton".

"There was a card for every occasion and from everywhere. You name it there was a card you could send showing that place," says Alan, pointing out a postcard showing Bolton Higher Grade School which would, eventually, become Bolton Country Grammar School which Alan attended.

There are postcards of Breightmet Church, Bolton Chadwick Museum and Lord Leverhulme's bungalow which would, later, be destroyed by fire by a suffragette.

Motor cards are included in Alan's collection — these are delightful little cut out cards of cars which were often sent to boys, in particular.

The waterfall at Barrow Bridge makes a particularly pretty addition to the collection, as do several cards showing the 63 Steps.

The dancing troupe the Dinky Dots appear on a postcard from around 1930 and there is a lovely picture of Deane Clough as well as Bradshaw Cricket ground and Harwood Lodge.

Alan's interest in collecting started with visits to two town centre shops — Bolton Stamp Centre in Mawdsley Street and Harry Vanston Stamp Dealer in Wood Street.

He, and his pals, would spend lunchtimes from school browsing the collections — often dreaming of being able to afford some of the more rare stamps available to buy.

"There were penny boxes and you would root through in the hope of finding a penny black. Of course you never did find one in there," he laughs.

Stamps would be swapped with friends — along with cigarette cards, cigarette packets and even bottle tops "which we also played games with," he says.

The stamps collected would be placed in albums in country order and were in the bedrooms of many a school boy collector in the 1940s and 1950s although the hobby is not as popular today as it was then.

Alan scours fairs for postcards having progressed from stamps to the cards they were stuck to and particularly enjoys collecting cards from Bolton, although is always keen to pick up unusual cards wherever they might be from.

Some have lovely messages on the back describing the local scenery or days out and provide a fascinating snap shot of life in Bolton over the 19th century.

Meanwhile Alan is still adding to his collection on a regular basis. If he is not snapping cards up at stamp and postcard fairs all over the country he is scouring internet auction sites where he bids anything from a few pence to a several pounds for a fine example and one he has not yet got in his vast collection.

Do you have a hobby that spans the decades that is not popular with youngsters today?

Perhaps you are a collector who would like to share that collection with other Looking Back enthusiasts.

If so get in touch with Gayle McBain on 01204 537269 or email gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk as we would love to hear from you