AS we usher in 2008, we turn the clock back to 1967 and remember the celebrations of a new year 41 years ago.

There are many ways of celebrating and bringing in another year, but only the hardy choose to start it by plunging into the chilly waters of a moorland dam.

But in 1967 45 brave people took part in the traditional Lee Dam swim at Lumbutts, Todmorden.

Outside temperatures were just a few degrees from freezing when the competitors gathered and although there was snow on the surrounding hills, they didn't have to break the ice to take their plunge.

In fact, Channel swimmer Kendall Mellor, who had taken part in the swim since its inception in 1960, said it had been the warmest swim yet!

The swim was begun to draw attention for the lack of swimming facilities in Todmorden and helped raised funds for a new pool.

Among the swimmers that day were three hardy souls from Nelson, Geoffrey Pickles, Judith Eggleton and John Massey.

1967 also marked the 10th anniversary of Padiham and District Male Voice Choir.

The choir then had a singing strength of almost 60 and in its time had achieved a number of festival successes, as well as taking part in radio broadcasts.

It had close links with other local choirs, particularly Colne Orpheus.

Padiham singing teacher Miss Bessie Collins had been the only woman at the inaugural meeting in 1957 - she had long nursed an ambition to form a choir and spared no effort in achieving her ambition, when others thought it would not work.

She became founder-conductor and in 1967 was still the choir leader.

In 1965 the singers suffered a blow when the community centre where they practised burnt down, destroying nearly all their library, including some irreplaceable copies, but it re-established itself in new headquarters over Padiham's British Legion Club., As 1967 arrived, the curtain went up on Cinderella, that year's pantomime offering from St James's Dramatic Society, in Briercliffe.

The producer was Jack Berry, who was also one of the ugly sisters.

Lesley Wright played Prince Regal and Pamela Thomson took the lead as Cinderella.