BOLTONIAN Norman Law made lifelong friends when he served in Germany in the immediate aftermath of the 1939-45 war.

Norman, aged 81, who lives in Langham Close, Astley Bridge, came into the office recently to tell me about the journey he made in May to re-visit his old haunts.

Sgt Law was a young armament fitter with the RAF, and was required to help blow up various German installations.

But the memory which has lasted longest is of the kindness shown to him by a German family in the town of Gescher.

The fraternisation ban ended after hostilities ceased and Norman got to know the Boing family after one of their daughters, Erika, begged sweets and chocolates - and later taught him German.

Her mother offered to do his washing, he went for tea, accompanied family members to a mobile cinema and went walking and swimming with them.

"I have always been grateful for the fact that they befriended me," Norman said.

"There was no bitterness at all - they are a lovely family."

The memories came flooding back when his granddaughter Jenny Shore, a 25-year-old Harrogate teacher, accompanied him on a return journey.

During the trip they stayed in Coesfeld, 10 miles from Gescher, with the Boing's daughter Agnes - now married to Hans Liedel.

Norman said: "Coesfeld had been such a blitzed sight in 1945, but now it is a beautiful town."

Other stops during his "marvellous" trip included Fassberg, where he served from August, 1946 to November, 1947.

During that time he was a successful centre forward (six goals in one match) in the football team which represented 135 Wing.

When he returned to what is now a German airforce station, he found the playing field was still there and the old sergeants' mess was little-changed.

Norman and Jenny had time to call in Paderborn - one of Bolton's twin towns - and found an English-style pub which carries the Bolton name.