MEMORIES of four Darlington workmen whose names were discovered inside a wartime desk will be included in a time capsule, thanks to readers of The Northern Echo.

Earlier this month, joiner David McLean and his wife, Lynn, appealed for help in tracing Fred Metcalfe, Robert Barker, Richard Bowdrey and Herbert Fuller, after Mr McLean found their names inscribed in a 60-year-old desk which he was renovating at Huddersfield Library.

Readers immediately responded to the request and provided detailed information on the joiners, who all worked for Darlington cabinet-makers R Blackett and Sons.

"We are absolutely delighted with the response we got," said Mrs McLean, 50.

"We wanted to know who the men were and to get pictures of them if possible, which we have now got.

"We are putting all the information, along with other items, into a time capsule."

Muriel Woodhouse, 72, from Hurworth, was surprised to see her father, Richard Bowdrey's name.

"Sadly, he has been dead for 18 years, but it was lovely to see him mentioned," she said.

Peter Smith, of Westview, and Harry Widmer, from Parkside, both worked at R Blackett and remembered well the workmen who made the desk.

For Ethel Tweddle, 89, the article brought back memories of Herbert Fuller, who she cared for before he died.

Huddersfield Library has 26 oak desks, all made by R Blackett and Sons in 1939.

The capsule will be placed in a secret panel in the back of the inscribed desk for future generations to discover.