IT WAS a big day in the life of a little boy called Stephen -- when the Queen came to Blackburn back in 1955 on a two-day tour of Lancashire.

But how much he saw of the occasion is uncertain. For, as he stood with a flag at the front of the crowd in King William Street as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were welcomed at the Town Hall, his view was blocked by an honour guard of Territorials from the 4th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment lined up for Her Majesty's inspection -- as this picture shows.

Yet if his recollections of the occasion were reduced as a result, he can refresh his memory nearly 46 years later by becoming the owner of this souvenir photograph, sent to Looking Back by reader Mr Vincent Hornby who found it more than 20 years ago while working for the council on the demolition of a house in Blackburn.

So long afterwards, pensioner Mr Hornby has forgotten its location and only knows that the little lad with the flag was called Stephen because this detail was written on the back of the photograph.

But he adds: "I thought that if he recognised himself, he might like to have the picture."

If it's you, let Mr Hornby know on 01254-231146.

Starting at Darwen on the second day of their royal tour in April, 1955, the Queen and the Duke paid an hour's visit to the giant Mullard electronics factory in Blackburn after being greeted at the Town Hall. Receiving a civic reception later at Accrington, the royal couple then lunched at Burnley Town Hall before visiting the Malvern Mill textile works of Walter Pollard Ltd at Nelson and departing afterwards from Colne.