This column reaches parts that other columns don’t reach. Below is a message from Kristina Perris, all the way from Australia.

Nearly 40 years ago, as Kristina Radakovitch, she was taken on at Bradford Central Library. The recent Remember When? about the history of the library building evidently brought back happy memories of her time there.

She writes: “I was thrilled to receive a copy of your article in the T&A (May 29) from my dear friend Geraldine Moorhouse – the Geraldine Hayes featured in the article.

“Geraldine and I have been friends since 1974 when I joined the library as a shorthand typist straight out of Hanson School.

“My very first job was actually working for Barry Smith, whose photo I was also thrilled to see featured. I couldn’t have asked for a lovelier person to work for and especially as it was my first-ever job. Even all these years later I have a job where I regularly use my shorthand skills – certainly a dying art these days.

“The Secretariat was based on Level 1 and was managed by Eve Ward, who was a delightful lady. Another of the secretaries, Heather Lambert, and I have also kept in touch since I emigrated to Adelaide in South Australia with my family in 1975.

“One of my jobs at the time was the typing and printing of the programme for the regular musical concerts held in the then Library Theatre.

“The programmes were typed onto a special sheet. Incidentally any errors were not easy to correct as they had to be made using a thick pink glue-type ink – certainly no ‘undo button’ in those days. The programme was then spread over the barrel of a Gestetner printer upstairs and copies run off accordingly.

“Although I only spent a short time working at Central Library, I have very happy memories of my time there and have managed to visit on a number of occasions when I return to Yorkshire for holidays.

“I’m saddened to learn that the old building won’t be accessible and the new one not quite complete when I’m next in Bradford in September and October.

“It’s incredible to think it’s so many years since I worked at the Central Library as many of the memories are as fresh now.”

Kristina adds: “As an aside, my mum Molly is about to turn 80 and is hoping to catch up with a number of ladies who she used to dance with as a Sunbeam at the Bradford Alhambra, so you can see, our family association with Bradford still remains strong after more than 38 years Down Under.”