A FRENCH woman with fond memories of Newbridge Memo has sent a donation to help with its restoration bid.

Anne-Marie Sendic spent several summer holidays in Newbridge as a teenager, with her penpal Shirley Barrett - and the pair spent many happy hours watching films at the Memo.

So when Anne-Marie recently heard about the bid to restore the former dance hall and cinema, she sent a cheque for £150 to help with the work. And she will be rooting for the Memo when it takes part in the final round of BBC2's Restoration programme on Sunday - when it gets the chance to win £3 million in an Argus-backed campaign.

Mrs Barrett, who still lives in Newbridge and is still in regular touch with her penpal, says she began writing to Anne-Marie shortly after the Second World War, when they were around 12 years of age.

"In June 1948 she came to stay with our family for three months - they had longer summer holidays than us in France," she says.

The background of the two girls could hardly have been more different. Anne-Marie's father was a barrister and they lived in one of the main avenues in Paris - while Shirley's father was a miner and the family bathed in front of the fire in tin baths.

"But she took to Newbridge and our family right from the start," said Mrs Barrett.

"She was very popular with all my friends.

"She even went underground in the South Celynen Colliery to see where my father worked - and she still has the piece of coal she cut from there." She added: "We would go to the Memo to see films, and although I wasn't allowed to go dancing we would stand by the door and watch.

"In the interval at films we always had Lyons ice-cream and she really remembers that."

She said Anne-Marie loved the sense of community in Newbridge - and came to stay there every summer afterwards.

Now Anne-Marie remembers her months spent staying in the community as some of the happiest holiday memories of her life.

She and Mrs Barrett have remained in constant touch, still sharing holidays in different locations, and taking an interest in each others' families as they grew older.

"We have also been sending the Argus out to her and she has loved reading about our bid to open the Memo again.

"She thinks it is not just about the Memo, but about the mining community as well."