WHEN Alma Wilson set up the Pilots youth group in Breightmet, it did not even have a proper church hall for meetings.

Now, 50 years later, Mrs Wilson is calling on former members to help to celebrate the group's golden anniversary.

Mrs Wilson, aged 71, remains at the helm of the Red Lane group through which youngsters aged six to 16 enjoy games, camps and Christian worship.

On April 28, former members are being invited to a reunion at Red Lane United Reformed Church where the group meets every Tuesday.

"There will be fun and games. a light tea and then a thanksgiving service in the church," said Mrs Wilson, of Eskdale Avenue, Breightmet.

She moved to Breightmet to help establish the church in 1955, when she began taking Sunday school classes.

"The original building was a three-storey house on Foster Lane with a big room across the top of the building we used for youth work.

"Some of the children wanted to come on weekdays, so I had a group of girls but then the boys starting asking why they couldn't come."

In 1957, Mrs Wilson turned to Pilots, the Congregational Church's youth group, to add structure to her group.

It has not been without setbacks, however. The house where the church was based burned down in 1959 and the group had to move to a wooden hut on its present site while a new church was being built. An extension to the church allowed the group to move into the main building in 1968.

For more details on the Pilots reunion contact Mrs Wilson on 01204 523971.