A DAY trip out turned the clock back more than 50 years and ended in a surprise birthday reunion for two childhood friends who lived in Pendle during the War.

Dora Kretzschmar was on a coach trip to Pendle Heritage Centre, Barrowford, when she suddenly realised it was the village she had been evacuated to from Manchester in 1941 as a seven-year-old escaping the Blitz.

A few moments later Dora was on her way to meet the daughter of Harry and Ada Crowther, the local couple who had taken in her 57 years ago, and by coincidence turned up at the door on her 76th birthday.

Kathleen Crowther, of Riverway, Barrowford, could not believe it when her childhood friend turned up out of the blue.

"I didn't recognise her at first because I've only seen her once since then and that was a long time ago," explained Kathleen.

"But as soon as she said her name it all came back to me. It was the most wonderful birthday present I could have had. It was lovely to see her again. "We've always sent each other Christmas cards so I knew she had got married and had a family but it was lovely to see her in person."

Dora, who lives in Failsworth, Manchester and whose maiden name was Glazebrook, was on a coach trip along the Pendle Witches tourist trail, which starts at the heritage centre, when the trip down memory lane began.

"I was evacuated to stay with Kathleen's family in East Bank and I remember she was a teenager and quite a bit older than me," said Dora. "I was flabbergasted when they told me the coach was going to Barrowford.

"I told the organisers that I was evacuated there during the war. I remembered the river and the park as soon as I saw them."

Dora was sent to the Crowthers while her two brothers went to a different family in the village. After a few months they were reunited when they all went to stay with another family at a local farm but Dora never forgot the Crowther's friendship.

"I think she was as shocked as I was when I turned up at her door," said Dora. "When I found out it was her birthday as well it was unbelievable."

The coach trip, which happened on Thursday, was organised by Oswaldtwistle-based Lancashire Welcome Days Out, a company which organises guided day trips around East Lancashire. Spokesman Hayley Threlfall said: "It was a nice surprise for everyone. It's so rewarding when something like that happens."

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