A GROUP of Bolton men and women are glued to the box more than most as tribute programmes are screened to mark the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

TV documentaries and dramas have been recalling the part the Royal Air Force and Women's Auxiliary Air Force played in the epic battles to stop Hitler taking control of the skies as he tried to pave the way for the invasion of Britain.

Their heroic success and the sacrifice it took is now history.

But to some of the 120 members of the Bolton branch of the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA), wartime memories have flooded back, even though they were not directly involved in the Hurricane and Spitfire dogfights as Hitler's "bandits" streamed over the English Channel.

Two of the veteran members still active in the Bolton branch -- Eric Massey and George Davies -- were wartime flyers. And the branch's oldest member, Miss Mary Chadwick of Radcliffe, who has just celebrated her 90th birthday, served in 937 Squadron of Transport Command.

She was one of the few women to fly a Lancaster, which, in its role as a heavy bomber, played such a major part in the war.

As TV programmes of the RAF heroes were rolling, branch officials called round to wish Mary a happy birthday with a huge bouquet of flowers.

In 1937, at the age of 27, she held a civilian air guard pilot's licence and at the outbreak of war was drafted in to the RAF. She joined 937 Squadron in 1939 and soon afterwards became involved with the infant RAFA.

She took out life membership in 1944 and became one of the RAFA's outstanding fund-raisers.

She worked for both the Bolton and Leigh branches and was a familiar sight with her dog for many years as she collected on the streets and in the cinemas.

Farnworth man Eric Massey, who flew Spitfires in the Channel and Burma campaigns, and Little Lever man George Davies, who served for 40 years -- including four years of the war -- as an aircraft navigator, can appreciate more than most what the RAF crews went through.

George, who hails from London, did not only spend his whole working life in the RAF -- serving all over the world -- he continues to earn his "wings".

The 77-year-old, who came to Bolton when he was made RAF careers officer here in 1972, is now treasurer of the Bolton RAFA.

He is also chairman of the 80 Bolton Squadron of the Air Training Corps and says of the flourishing organisation: "It is now the pride of my life." Ironically, George planned to go away to sea when he was a teenager -- but his mum wouldn't let him.

Graham Peters of Farnworth joined the RAF just after the war and became a flight mechanic.

He is now secretary of the Bolton RAFA and he and branch chairman Mrs Netta McLoughlin say volunteers are still needed to help with collections held annually around the Battle of Britain anniversary.

These start tomorrow in Farnworth and Little Lever, and the other dates are: September 9, Westhoughton; September 16, Bolton town centre; and September 23, Horwich.

Graham said: "Obviously most of the RAF people who served in the war are now elderly but we are not getting many coming into the RAFA from the modern day RAF.

"The problem is probably that we haven't got a club but we are one of the oldest RAFA groups in the North-west and we are determined to keep going."

Meetings are held at Lancaster House, off Clive Street, on the second Tuesday of each month at 8pm.

Details from Graham on 01204 792865.