EILEEN McMenamin was returning to Bolton from Oldham, along Bury Road, with her three children, when she spotted the Albert Hall fire.
She said: "It was hard to place at first, but it became clear that it must be in the town centre.
"Only as we passed the station into Crook Street could we see the flames billowing from the town hall.
"It's hard to explain the feelings as we saw it but with the memories of functions, dances, being entertained in the mayor's parlour with German exchange friends and Sunday evenings with traditional jazz bands, we were reduced to tears.
"We stopped the car and just stared. It was unbelievable. The place was a focal point in our lives."
"Who in Bolton has not met someone by the town hall steps?"
She added: "You do tend to take your own town for granted, but that sight was awful. We were delighted it was saved and restored but on a recent visit to one of the concert halls, I felt it."
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