MEMBERS of Bolton's Cottontown Chorus felt at home on recent concert tour of America after ending up - in Bolton!

The choir, also known as the Bolton Barbershop Harmony Club singers, had planned their trip to the States for months.

But members didn't discover there was a place called Bolton in Massachusetts until just before they went.

And the singers discovered a place far different from their home town.

"It was more like a village than a town," said choir member Simon Bond.

"I could scarcely believe how beautiful it was, but it was a strange feeling - like being in a parallel universe."

Over 100 of the visitors made a trip to the Nashoba Valley Winery in Boston where a special edition bottle of cider had been produced and labelled "Bolton Sings!"

One of the best experiences of the trip was a concert the Cottontown Chorus gave in the local school.

It was a commemorative event to mark the opening of the new Florence Sawyer auditorium.

"There was a little bit of magic in the air and we gave probably the best performance we have ever given that night in Bolton, so far away," said Simon.

Simon took these photographs of "the other Bolton" to remember the place by.

"I still look at these pictures to remind myself that it wasn't just a wonderful dream," he said.

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