A WOMAN from San Diego in California is hoping our readers can solve a mystery for her.

Tracy Tischer saw a postcard on an Internet auction that featured a painting entitled Pater Pan's Party, by Percy Tarrant.

She bought the postcard and when it arrived found it had the words 'Wharfedale Galleries, Ilkley' on the reverse side. So she contacted this newspaper via the editor's e-mail to see if anyone could help her to trace the gallery or tell her more about the painting.

"I just love this painting - I am enchanted by it," she told us. "It seems to embody the joy of childhood and it just struck a chord with me when I saw it on the Internet by chance one day.

"The lighting, the motion of the children, seem to be taken out of my own memory somehow. I bought the postcard and was hoping the gallery named on the back would have a larger print of the picture.

"I was also hoping to come and see it some day and find out a little about what inspired it as I travel to England every couple of years."

l If any readers can help Tracy in finding out more about the painting or about Wharfedale Galleries, they should get in touch with the editor on (01943) 465555.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.