THE impending appointment of Rev Chris Bracegirdle as the new Vicar of Bolton prompted David Kaye from Westhoughton Local History Group to get in touch with us.

During his time as team rector of Blackrod, Daisy Hill, Westhoughton and Wingates, Westhoughton Local History Group developed an excellent rapport.

He has been guest speaker at their meetings, telling the group about the many and varied aspects of his experiences in Westhoughton.

Mr Kaye said: “Dr Bracegirdle came along as a special guest at one of our recent meetings, during which we took the opportunity of wishing him well in his future role in Bolton.

“He responded with some appropriate words of farewell.

“As chairman of WLHG, I had the pleasure of presenting him with a gift on behalf of our membership.

“It was designed to thank him for his interest and support, and also as a lasting reminder of his time in the town. The gift was a framed and captioned water-colour painting of St Bartholomew’s Parish Church, as it appeared prior to the disastrous fire of 1991.

“It was yet another example of the wonderful work of Tom Newton MBE, one of our group members, whose paintings of the Westhoughton of yesteryear have proved enduringly popular for many years.”

Westhoughton Local History Group meetings take place on the first and third Thursday of the month in the room above Westhoughton Library.

The meetings run from 10am to noon and provide a fascinating insight into local history.

Admission is £1 which includes tea or coffee.

The next meeting takes place on April 5.

During the meeting will be a talk about Switzerland prisoner of war research from 1916 to 1917 by Tony Foster.