THE 70th anniversary of Gandhi's visit to Darwen is this weekend - and a link with the historic trip still remains.

Kathleen Jebb, 75, of Garden Village, was five when the Indian leader visited workers at Greenfield Mill.

The visit was at the invitation of the Society of Friends, who were involved in the cotton industry and had dealings with Gandhi's aides through the International Peace Movement. Gandhi spent three days in the North - after Darwen he went to Edgworth and West Bradford.

Kathleen said: "My mother worked at Greenfield Mill and I used to go and meet her. She told me that on no account must I go to meet her that day because it would be very busy, so I got wind that something would be happening."

Kathleen recalls that her mother's workmate Gladys Weston spoke to Gandhi during his visit. Also among the Darwen women who met Gandhi were Kathleen's mother Clara Taylor, Lizzie Fenton, Florrie Renshaw, Stella Dirkin and Mary Walsh.

Despite Gandhi's policy of boycotting English cloth, he received a hearty welcome from the mill workers and their families

Kathleen said: "They sympathised with what was happening in India."

Gandhi stayed at 3 Garden Village, the home of Charles Haworth, the successor of Corder Catchpool, a Quaker, who helped social welfare developments for mill workers as well as designing Garden Village for the mill workers to live in.

Kathleen said: "We've had lots of visits from people from different universities and colleges to see the house where he stayed."

Kathleen has close links with people in India and is a friend of Action Village India, a London-based organisation which supports initiatives among rural communities in India to combat poverty and carry on Gandhi's work.

On October 2 - Gandhi's birthday - people are asked to make a meal and and ask guests for donations to Action Village India.