Dennis Allcock writes: "Hello from the balmy (or barmy!) south coast."

"I have just discovered your website and my fond memories of 'Bowton' have prompted me to contact you. I was born in 1927 at the Haslam Maternity Hospital, and lived at 54 Crumpsall Avenue, Astley Bridge, until 1938 when my parents moved to Blackpool; in that short space of time I remember having done so much and been to so many places that I pity the children growing up in today's environment - choir outings from All Soul's Church, Sunday School picnics, a trip to Barrow Bridge, Belmont moors for wimberries, Billy Carr's racing stable up Dunscar. As a young child I could walk for what seemed miles with a bottle of liquorice water and some sandwiches spread with dripping, with none of the fear of today for the safety of one's children.

"Wolfenden Street School and St. Thomas's, Halliwell, also stick in my mind. I did pay a fleeting visit in 1980, and noticed with regret that my church of All Souls was boarded up.

"I remember being awakened in the early morning by the click clack of clogs and seeing lines of shadowy figures in the half light of morning making their way to t'mill' at the top of the street, the hooter sounding, causing late comers to scurry for fear of being quartered by the foreman. I also recall a very large funeral at Moss Bank Cemetery, in about 1936; the word was that it was a queen of the gipsies. The hearse was pulled by black horses with black plumes, and it seemed as though the whole town had turned out to witness it.

"Then there was collecting jam jars and taking them to the rag man on Blackburn Road where we would get a penny, or two pence, which would take us to the pictures; my father was a 'chucker out' at the Palladium.

"Ah well, my nostalgia must cease, but I am extremely glad I discovered your website."

It is perhaps doubtful if anyone in Bolton remembers Mr Allcock from so many years ago, but if so, and you want to contact him, his e-mail address is: dennisallcock@onetel.net.uk