ERIC Tatton had been just minutes away from being caught up in the drama on that Saturday night.

Mr Tatton, now aged 78, of Farnworth, remembers the day the Albert Hall was destroyed by fire.

"My wife and I were in Bolton and had been to the market to buy fruit and vegetables. Our car was parked in the underground car park behind the Pack Horse Hotel and we were walking through Le Mans Crescent when I suggested we look in on the Chrysanthemum Show in the Albert Hall.

"As a Chrysanthemum grower myself, although not an exhibitor, I liked to visit shows.

"We went into the hall and marvelled at the show. The flowers were all arranged in their vases and made such a colourful display.

"At the sides of the hall was a display case of photographic slides which I spent some time viewing. On the stage were the trophies to be distributed at the prize-giving.

"There were quite a lot and they looked very handsome. We were really enjoying the scene and were particularly enjoying the organ recital being played by the borough organist, when my wife reminded me that it was time to leave.

"Reluctantly, we left the building and walked across Victoria Square. Halfway across we hard the sound of fire engines and wondered where they were going. To our astonishment they came on to the square and set up their hoses and ladders.

"Then we noticed smoke appearing above the town hall and the firemen starting to train hoses on the roof. At this point we left and it was only later, after reading the Bolton Evening News, that we realised the Albert Hall, the magnificent organ, the flowers and the silver trophies had all been destroyed.

"The most startling realisation was that we had been inside while the fire below the hall was building up and that we had left the building just moments before the hall was destroyed."

Mr Tatton has fond memories of the Albert Hall. He said: "I had been there many times before the fire and remember it with great affection. As a boy I admired the bust of King Edward VII in there."