YOU may remember one or two letters last year concerning our search for the roots of my friend's grandfather, the Bolton-born author Allen Clarke.

May I update you on our latest adventures.

On Monday, February 24, we made one of our regular six-monthly visits to the grave of four members of Allen's family, including his seven-year-old son, who drowned in Blackpool in 1899, and his baby daughter, May.

By the graveside is a tree, mentioned in Windmill Land, on which Allen carved his son's initials and the date of the funeral.

Shirley and I noticed on the other side of this tree the names "DOM (or DUM) and SUE", inside a heart, pierced by an arrow, obviously carved by a courting couple many years ago, judging by the distortion caused by the tree's growth.

This leads us to wonder who this couple were who did their courting in the seclusion of the graveyard, and how Shirley's granddad, with his lovely sense of humour and romance, would have approved. Are they still alive, and, if so, are they still together? I doubt we'll ever know, but I do hope so.

The grave is not far from the chapel (plot no V3) and, as we were too early to see the daffodils that we planted last year, if any regular visitor to Overdale's cemetery could feel moved to let us know, or even take a photo, we would dearly love to see the grave of these long neglected family members, which we only located two years ago, in full bloom.

Following our visit to the grave, we drove over the moors, stopping at Tockholes, Belmont and Abbey Village where, many years ago, Shirley and her parents were rescued from a blizzard by a kindly gypsy family who gave them beds for the night. These villages were among the many visited regularly by Allen Clarke as he cycled over the moors with his wife at his side.

May I also tell you that Shirley (Currie), granddaughter of Allen Clarke, is to marry on August 5 this year, and is to have her marriage blessed inside Lytham Windmill by kind permission of Lytham Civic Trust.

We believe this to be the first time a windmill has hosted such an occasion, and we are very much looking forward to the big day.

Shirley would be very happy to hear from relatives still living in Bolton, and also from the Pedalling Photographer's grandson (see Windmill Land) who contacted her two years ago, but who she unfortunately lost touch with. Her telephone number is 01253 310399.

Carol Ford

97 Willow Crescent

Lamaleach Park

Freckleton

nr Preston