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Nostalgia is easing Emma through ‘uni’

David Edwards
9/ 9/2004

NOSTALGIA over Old Middleton is helping put medical student Emma Cunliffe through university.

Emma, aged 26, of Farmway, Alkrington - who already has degrees in radiotherapy and oncology - is in the second year of medical college. She is the daughter of local historian Harold Cunliffe, whose photo research is the inspiration for the Guardian's weekly Bygones feature.

When Emma saw the interest that was being generated by the Guardian feature she realised that there was a potential in a publication containing the classic images and set to work designing a book on her computer at home.

The result was Middleton Yesterday, a fascinating collection of more than 100 archive photographs. And copies are literally selling like hot cakes, so great is the demand.

Said Emma: "There is not a large profit margin on the book, I've deliberately kept it low so it is affordable. But what there is goes towards the £1,100 a year that I have to raise to get me through my course at Manchester University.

"The demand for nostalgic reminders of the past is quite remarkable and the book itself, like the Bygones column, is encouraging people to search through their old photo albums and as a result more historic shots of Middleton are being added to the archives for posterity."

The book is available from Jon Migael in Middleton Shopping Centre and S Wellens and Sons, Long Street, price £3.50 or by contacting Emma on 0161-653 4293.