MR Steels also loaned me this one of a class at Chalfont Street School in the 1920s.

It looks from the illustrations on the wall that they were learning about the magnificence of the British Empire.

Mr Steels, incidentally, also showed me a fascinating book which he bought at an antiques fair.

It is a history of Methodism at Fletcher Street, Bolton, and contains an account of the day in 1748 - Sunday, August 28 - when the Rev John Wesley preached for the first time in Bolton.

This is a familiar story to many people, but it is worth repeating for those who have not heard it before.

Mr Wesley wrote: "At one, I went to the Cross at Bolton.

"There was a vast number of people, but many of them utterly wild.

"As soon as I began speaking they began thrusting to and fro; endeavouring to throw me down the steps on which I stood.

"They did so once or twice, but I went up again, and continued my discourse.

"They then began to throw stones; at the same time some got upon the Cross behind me to push me down, on which I could not but observe how God over-rules even the minutest circumstance.

"One man was bawling just at my ear when a stone struck him on the cheek and he was still.

"A second was forcing his way down to me till another stone hit him on the forehead; it bounded back, the blood ran down and he came no further.

"The third, being got close to me, stretched out his hand and in the instant a sharp stone came upon the joints of his fingers.

"He shook his hand and was very quiet till I concluded my discourse and went away."

Mr Wesley remembered this reception when he paid a return visit to the town in October, 1749.

He said then: "The lions of Rochdale were lambs in comparison with these at Bolton; such rage and bitterness I scarce ever saw before in any creatures that bore the form of men."

I can only think Boltonians have become friendlier over the years.

The book was produced as a souvenir of the Fletcher Street Chapel's Jubilee in June, 1911.