YOU may recall that last Tuesday I wrote about how the poor of Bolton were looked after (to a certain extent!) mainly before, but also after, the Welfare State was introduced following the Second World War.

High in the providers of this good work was the Queen Street Mission, and I have received a letter telling me that it continues through the Queen Street Mission Trust.

Miss Hilda Unsworth, Chairman and President of the Trust, writes that when the Mission closed around 1986/7, the congregation had joined with Claremont Baptist Church; they then jointly built Bolton Central Baptist Church in Snowden Street, where the Trustees of the Trust hold their meetings.

"The charity work is controlled by a group of enthusiastic trustees, whilst the day to day work has been undertaken for over 12 years by the Minister of Central Baptist Church, the Rev. Miss Pat Hinchsliff, who has now retired from full-time ministry.

"With the changing social conditions, our work has developed along other ways," writes Miss Unsworth.

"We still care and provide help for under-privileged children; give assistance and support for families in need; assistance for individuals with various problems and difficulties; Christmas parcels for the elderly and housebound; vouchers to provide food for families in need.

"Earlier this year, a lady from church organised a coach trip for children to Flamingo Land, whilst another lady will be taking a large party of children to the pantomime at Bolton Town Hall. We express our gratitude to the ladies involved, and to Miss Hinchsliff for her devotion to our work."