IT was a long shot when we asked if anyone recognised a little boy who was a pageboy at a wedding many years ago. But, remarkably, it worked.

Reader Iris Wildblood took a photograph of him in his top hat and tails standing outside a Wombwell church but she had no idea who he was.

At the time she was on a mission to find her ancestors’ names in the churchyard while researching her family tree.

“He looked very smart and I asked him what he was doing. He said he was waiting for his photograph to be taken. I had my camera with me to help in my research and I told him I would take it, “ she said.

“It has been in my possession ever since and I have never wanted to throw it away.”

After Mrs Wildblood brought the photograph into the Chronicle, it was published in Memories. We did not even know if the little boy lived locally. But the mystery was solved when his mother, Ruth, rang us to say she had recognised him as her son, Jon Harding.

When the photograph was taken in February 1989 he was pageboy at the wedding of his godfather. He was only three years old, now he is 21, lives in London and works at Gatwick Airport for My Travel, flying to destinations all over the world as a cabin crew member.

“I was surprised, but recognised the little boy on the photo as being Jon straight away.”

Mrs Wildblood was “delighted” when we told her the pageboy had been identified. “I often wondered who he was and I am glad that I kept the photograph all those years now.”