AS a daily newspaper in Bolton we always endeavour to focus on the people who could be classed as well-known townspeople and those who have never been heard of.

However, the difficulty with any publication is that often for a public figure information is more easy come by than those who would rather keep themselves to themselves and therein lies the difficulty.

A case in point is a number of portraits featured on the staircase of the Bolton Museum, which may or may not have had their short time in the spotlight. However, little or no information is currently available, in some cases of who they are and in other cases in finding out a bit more detail about their lives.

The pictures we have here are of Harriett Ellen Davies Valey, who was born in 1864, then there is a beautiful portrait of a mystery May Queen from St Osmund’s Church, Breightmet.

Then there is the picture of Thomas Temperley, a Bolton architect and surveyor and three portraits of members of a well connected family in the town, the Barker Balshaw’s and 25 other Victorian pictures, which remain unidentified.

Collection officer Matthew Watson explains: “The display celebrates the people of Bolton in all their brilliant diversity. It includes the mill owners, engineers and politicians who shaped the town’s past.

“These prominent Boltonians were celebrated during their lifetimes with civic awards, statues and by having their portrait painted.

“Many are now forgotten so it is right that they are included in the display. But we are also wanted to highlight the contribution to the town of the anonymous mill workers, civil servants, doctors, nurses and shopkeepers who, on a daily basis, kept Bolton going.”

“We have marked their contribution through the inclusion of black and white photographs. We do not know who some of these people are, so we are hoping that visitors to the display will recognise them and let you know. We can then update the guide to the display to give them their proper due.”