A LETTER from California arrived on my desk recently, from Ms Nora Dibnah (nee Olive), who emigrated with her family in 1963.

She has made many trips back to Bolton since then, and as she walks through the town centre always looks for faces she may recognise.

'I have very fond memories of my friend Nora Whittle, whom I lived near on Breightmet Estate,' writes Ms Dibnah. 'I have looked for her name in the Bolton phone book, but I can never find it. Perhaps she moved from Bolton, but if anyone there knows her whereabouts, I would like to be able to get in touch with her again.' (Ms Dibnah lives at 78063 Hunter Point Road, Palm Desert, CA 92211, USA).

'I still enjoy reading the Bolton Evening News that my sister sends to me every week, and I particularly enjoyed the Looking Back section of September 25, with an article from Mrs Elsie Everan. I too lived in that area and it brought back a lot of memories.

'My two sisters, Annie and Edna, and myself, attended St. Matthew's School, and then sent on to Wolfenden Street school to finish our education. We continued to live with Grandma Kervin in Moss Street after our mother passed away.

'I remember having school pictures taken, but they were hard times then, and none of us have pictures of our school years. If any reader has any of these photographs, taken approx, 1930 to 1945, I would be so pleased to get copies.

'Mr Clegg was headmaster at St Matthew's and Miss Isherwood headmistress at Wolfenden Street.'

If anyone can help Ms Dibnah, please contact her at the address above.