AFTER more than 30 years living on the other side of the world, Walter Booth was delighted to receive a bundle of British newspapers to put him back in touch with his homeland.

By one of those strange coincidences that make the universe so indecipherable, among them was the Evening Press from November 19, 2002.

An item about the 150th anniversary of St Thomas's Church was tucked away in the Street Talk column.

"You may be wondering what it has to do with me," writes Mr Booth, from Queensland, Australia.

"Well, I was a choirboy at St Thomas's in 1949 and 1950."

He enclosed the picture above right, taken outside the church, with these names: back row, left to right, Walter Booth, Danny Lambert, John Drury, John Proud; front row, Ken Ditchburn, two unnamed, and Richard King.

"I wonder if any of your readers can help with the two missing names," says Mr Booth.

"When I look at the photograph of the choirboys I often wonder what they have done with their lives."

Mr Booth can be reached at 34 Evelyn Road, Wynnum West, Queensland 4178, Australia.

"After reading the paper I got the impression that York has really changed and become a major tourist place since I left in 1972," he concludes philosphically.

"I know that if I came back to York I would see a lot of changes, some good and some not so good, but that's life."

LAST week the Diary mused upon the official name of a York native: Yorkie, Yorkist, Yorker? We even wondered whether to bring back the erstwhile York City nickname, the Y Fronts, in a more official capacity.

Step forward Dale Minks. Never one to sidestep a challenge, Minnie takes this idea and runs off with it in a typically bizarre direction.

Y-Fronts is too male biased, he argues. "For the men and women of the county's capital, who sometimes 'fly' the white rose upside down and wear their knickers back to front - why not call them Yorthongs?"

He even includes his own sketch of what the official underwear would look like, but we will spare you that.

Meanwhile, the jokey reference to York City playing in the Conference next season sent club director Sophie McGill to her keyboard.

"Thanks for your reference to York City playing Forest Green in the conference next season in your Y Fronts article. It's good to see you are getting behind the team in our fight to stay in the Football League," she writes.

"In the same way, we look forward to reading your witty anecdotes with interest in the Easingwold Advertiser next season!"

Blimey don't say that, Sophie, you'll start a reader petition demanding my transfer.

Finally on this subject, a happy-go-lucky David Wardell of Malton Road chips in with his sound and sober observations.

"I get the feeling that you're not from York true or false? If you had been from York you would have known we are YORKIES and have always been know by this nickname.

"Brave men who left York to fight in both world wars took on this name but you wouldn't have known that! If that's the best you could do, I am resorting to start reading the chemists' opening times."

Write to: The Diary, Chris Titley, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN

Email diary@ycp.co.uk

Telephone (01904) 653051 ext 337

Updated: 09:58 Monday, April 19, 2004