RECENT Looking Back pictures from the first Bolton Festival in 1979 prompted a visit from Freda Martin of Stonesteads Way, Bromley Cross.

Freda worked at Alderbank Old People's Home in Melville Road, Kearsley, for 18 years and remembers the effort which the manager, Mrs Rhoda Nicholas, put into motivating everybody to produce a display to commemorate the Samuel Crompton-themed Festival.

The hard work paid off when the home won the first prize in the Festival Display competition which was staged to encourage the decoration of shop windows, homes and streets throughout the town.

The outside of the Alderbank home was decorated with more than 10,000 yellow and blue paper flowers.

Freda remembers: "The display depicted cotton from the plant stage to the finished articles of clothing, including figures dressed in Mob caps and clogs.

"The local schoolchildren drew pictures of spinning machines etc."

"Rhoda, who died last year, was quite a motivator." The picture shows staff and residents celebrating when the chairman of the Festival Committee, Cllr Denis Priestley, left, turned up with town crier Michael Allen to present the winner's award.

Freda, wearing glasses, is directly behind Mr Allen.