OLD York has met New York in a gesture of friendship which was initiated by a response to a tragedy.

The meeting in the "Big Apple" followed a letter written by the chairman of the York & District Family History Society, John Elliott, in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks.

He wrote to the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, offering sympathy to the people of New York.

Following this gesture, Mr Elliott visited New York last month to extend greetings from the York society, and to present a print of York Minster.

This picture taken during the visit shows Mr Elliott (left) making the presentation to William P. Johns (centre), executive director, and Harry Macy, editor of the New York Society, at their headquarters in Manhattan.

Updated: 09:19 Thursday, July 17, 2003