MEMORIES of bygone times in Worsthorne are being shared by hundreds of those born and brought up in the village.

Facebook group Worsthorne Appreciation Association has grown fourfold since the start of the year, with more and more people adding photographs and recollections.

It started with one or two people exchanging photographs, then caught on among villagers and those who have moved away.

Today members as far afield as Australia and America are recalling life in the village through the decades.

Duncan Baldwin, who lives in the village and runs the site, said: “It’s been going a little while, but has really taken off in the last few months. Every time I log on I discover new members, people who have lived, worked, played, socialised and been members of groups and associations in Worsthorne at some time. From having 100 members in January, there are now 400, exchanging memories of growing up in the village and talking about the events, school life and such topics as young farmers’ meetings and gala days.”

He added: “It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to reminisce, find out about their old friends, where they are now and what they are doing and actually get people talking to one another.”

Among the pictures you can see is this one, posted by Shirley Whitaker which shows the young girls from Mrs Pinner’s country dancing in 1971.

Then there is one of Worsthorne ladies netball team, posted by Frank Reynolds who points out his dashing looking dad, in his belted mac, who was the coach.

There are names to go with the faces: back row, from left: Sheila Uttley, Florence Wilcock, Sheila Parker, not known and Alice Sagar.

Front row: Sheila Todd, Eunice Catlow, Joan Furnival and Anne Maudsley.

Here’s one that looks like a Bay City Rollers convention, but is, in fact, a young farmers’ disco, back in 1976 and the gala queen and her retinue from a village carnival in the 1960s.