IT is one of Bolton Museum’s more unusual gems but a 113-year old collection of moss has attracted a visitor from the other side of the world.

Wendy Robyn, aged 62, travelled from her home in Brisbane, Australia, to visit her fourth cousin, Kath Hale, who lives in Conway, Wales, after making contact while researching her family history online. Mrs Hale’s research had in turn revealed they were related to James Sims, a French polisher from Bolton who donated 300 specimens of moss to Bolton Museum in 1898.

Mr Sims is Mrs Hale’s great-great- grandfather, and the half brother of Mrs Robyn’s great-great- grandfather, Thomas Sims.

So while she was in the country, Mrs Robyn decided to travel to Bolton and see for herself from where her family originated, including the collection of mosses donated to the museum.

She said: “Audrey Sims is still living in Bolton, and I was very happy to be able to visit and meet her while in the town. I also visited St Peter's Church, where many family members were married, and walked along Bradshawgate where the Sims family once had a tobacconist shop.

“I also walked along Wells Street looking for the site of the family’s french polishing business, which had been in business there for a very long time. Unfortunately, the Baptist Chapel in Moor Lane where so many of my ancestors were buried disappeared a long time ago and the family graves there can no longer be located.”

A council spokesman said: “We were approached by James Sims’ great, great- granddaughter, Kathryn Hale, about her Australian cousin coming to visit. Kathryn had visited a few years ago to view the collection but was unable to make it this time.

“It was nice to see that James’ ancestors were interested in the collection more than 100 years after he donated it to Bolton Museum.”