LINGFORD'S made baking powders of distinction, but the most distinctive part of the Bishop Auckland brand was the picture on all of its tins and posters, showing a dainty young woman tripping happily across some stepping stones.

Today, Echo Memories can reveal the identity of the woman who modelled for a Lingford's artist nearly 100 years ago.

Her name was Lucy Proud, and although she died in 1969, her son still lives in Bishop Auckland - the home of Lingford's powders.

Lucy was born in 1886, the daughter of Charles and Hannah, who lived on a farm at Low Shipley, near Wolsingham, in Weardale.

One day, when she was about 18, two men from Bishop Auckland approached her father and asked if she and her brother, William, would pose for them on the stepping stones over the Wear at nearby Harperley. They agreed, and William took the family horse and cart along - that, too, can be seen in the background of the picture.

It is important that in the picture Lucy is holding a basket of heather, or ling as it is known locally. When added to the fact that she is crossing a ford, you realise that this is a terrible pun on the company name.

The picture became the registered trademark of Joseph Lingford and Son Ltd, and was used until the family firm closed in 1973.

It was the only time in her life that Lucy did any modelling. She went to Armstrong College, in Newcastle, to study diary farming and was later appointed dairy instructress on the college staff.

In 1913, she married Charles Hood, of Tow Law, at Hamsterley Church, and they went to live on a farm near Cockfield. Lucy took an active interest in the farm, but they also had four sons and a daughter - the youngest being John, now 80, who lives in Bishop Auckland.

When Charles and Lucy retired they lived at Butterknowle and St Helen Auckland. Charles died in 1964.

A journalist who met Lucy in 1968 wrote: "Her complexion is still that of a young woman, and the beauty seen by those early photographers has not been lost in the intervening years. It has changed with maturity, but Lucy Proud was a lovely girl and Lucy Hood is a lovely old lady."

Lucy died the following year - but her picture has lived on in the memories of generations of Lingford's users across County Durham.

l IF you know anything about the Belgians of Darlington, or have memories of Lingford's, write to Echo Memories, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NF, telephone 01325-505062 or e-mail chris.lloyd 82 years. The