FORMER Darwener Tom Fish read our story about his wife's first visit 'home' in 20 years before she did - and he's 13, 000 miles away in New Zealand!

May Fish, 68, had phoned her husband to tell him that the story of her nostalgic trip back to Darwen to take part in the Tower centenary walk would be appearing in the Citizen.

And she told him the story might also be published on the Internet, the world wide computer network to which our group of papers is linked.

Tom had decided, reluctantly, to stay in Army Bay, Auckland, while May left for a holiday with her brother Jim Walsh and his wife May in Sudell Road and especially for the historic walk to the Tower.

Said May: "I knew one of our friends back in New Zealand had access to the Internet and Tom dashed round to see him.

"By the time we had our Citizen delivered on the Friday evening Tom was on the phone telling us about it - and saying he liked the picture of me with India Mill chimney and the Tower in the background.

"He was very impressed. He said it was much better than a postcard - and much faster!"

Mrs Fish will be returning to New Zealand in September with sticks of Darwen Tower rock for her grandchildren - and copies of the Citizen which carried her story.

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