THIS exhilarating double bill of Gilbert and Sullivan favourites was staged in style by New Rosemere AOS. The evening started with an hilarious version of Trial by Jury in modern dress and with a jury of Morris dancers. Patrick Unsworth played the Defendant
MAY I congratulate the BEN (March 2) for highlighting the excellent work of the Little Lever community police officers. During the course of the recent consultation on the reorganisation of police resources Little Lever Labour Party emphasised the need
IT is obviously in the public interest that people should be alerted that 10 of our 104 primary schools could close because of falling numbers. While we regret the closure of any school, we appreciate the economics which make it necessary. It is better
IT is good to see that the Government's investment in the NHS is beginning to reap rewards. This month's waiting list figures show a fall of 14,200 in January. Since April 1998 waiting lists have fallen by 153,000 - the total is now the lowest figure
COUNCIL leaders have defended the appointment of a £400-a-day consultant to save Bolton's cash-strapped Octagon Theatre. But they have vowed to keep the financial situation at the theatre "under close scrutiny" for the next few months. The BEN revealed
BOLTON schools will be forced to bring in a four-month cooling-off period before expelling children who refuse to obey the rules. Teachers will have to draw up a 16-week plan to give youngsters a final chance to change their ways before they are thrown
A POPULAR Catholic school is hoping to become a winner under Government plans to create a national network of centres for sporting excellence. St Joseph's in Horwich is bidding to become a sports college in September. If successful, it will mean more
SUPER League referee Steve Ganson got it wrong twice in Leigh Centurions' narrow Challenge Cup fifth round defeat at Widnes 10 days ago. Ganson failed to send off the Vikings' teenage centre Chris Percival for a spear tackle on Leigh full-back Stuart
EIDUR Gudjohnsen proved once again last night that he has the talent and the determination to make his second chance count. The Icelander, whose career almost ended when he broke his ankle at 17, rescued Wanderers with a late equaliser for the second
TEN Bolton primary schools are under threat as education chiefs look to wipe out thousands of surplus places. Education chief Cllr Don Eastwood has admitted about 10 out of 104 primary schools could close because of falling pupil numbers. But he denies
A STUDIOUS teenager who claimed he was driven to the brink of suicide by classroom bullies has missed lessons for five months because of a wrangle over a new school. Richard Yates, aged 15, missed school for so long after becoming a victim of a new system
I am writing a book about evacuees during the Second World War who were abused either physically, mentally or sexually and would be interested to hear from anyone who suffered during those years. Your letters will be treated with total confidence. Write
LOW pay campaigners today welcomed the emphasis on children and families in the Chancellor's budget. But it was slammed by motoring organisations and brewers. The Greater Manchester Low Pay Unit praised above-inflation increases in child benefit and new
A MAN has been arrested by detectives hunting a conman who duped Bolton homeowners out of their savings by posing as a fireman. The smooth-talking thief visited homes throughout Bolton, Salford and Manchester claiming to be a fireman who could obtain
LABOUR left-wingers Terry Lewis and David Chaytor today led local MPs in hailing Gordon Brown's budget as a major success. Worsley's Mr Lewis warned that there were always problems in the details of a budget, but said that at first sight all the right
THE latest craze for children to cling on to the back of moving buses is plain daft. As we reported last night worried company bosses are working with police to try to put a stop to this before someone is killed. We urge parents and teachers to ram home
THE leader of Bolton Council has vowed to make repairing town centre pavements and potholes a "very high priority." Cllr Bob Howarth said: "If some money does come available then we will have to sort out this problem." The BEN revealed yesterday that
NORTH West Water's major sewer replacement and repair scheme in Atherton Road, Hindley, gets under way on Monday, March 15, and is expected to last until Monday, May 9. The work will take place between Leigh Road and Stirling Road and will involve the
I REFER to letters about Brian Iddon MP (BEN, February 22. I have never read as much rubbish in my life. What about Kearsley and trying to surround it with even more industry and traffic than we have now? Which councillor in his or her right mind would
I am a playwright, born in Bolton, who has had the good fortune and privilege to be produced at the Octagon Theatre, most recently with Early One Morning, about a Bolton soldier in the First World War. The Octagon is a brilliant theatre, a fantastic facility
A HANDFUL of hardy shoppers, battling against freezing rain at lunchtime on Sunday, were surprised to see a human chain of more than 150 people in Bolton town centre. People of all ages braved the elements in a long line along Knowsley Street with banners
LOCAL business leaders have welcomed the Budget's focus on small business and enterprise. Richard Bindless, chief executive of Bolton and Bury Chamber, said today: "There is much good news for the small companies which are so crucial to the two towns'
THREE masked raiders brandishing a sawn-off shotgun and a sledgehammer escaped with a haul of cash after a raid at Little Lever Post Office. The robbery is the latest in a spate of raids on the Market Street sub post office - and happened on the same
SUPERSTORE wars have broken out with two developers locked in a row about a planned new B&Q near Bolton town centre. Two planning applications will go before Bolton councillors tomorrow. One is from Leicester-based Helical Retail for a 15,328 sq metre
THREE Bolton badminton players took top trophies at the All England Veterans' Championships in London at the weekend. And the town was well represented throughout the prestigious event, which attracts players from all over the country including a large
COLIN Todd assured his nerve-wracked Wanderers that he is prepared to take the strain as the promotion pressure hots up. The Reebok boss, who has seen his team suffer an attack of the jitters after playing their way into pole position, refused to be fazed
STAN Ternent gave the shortest press conference of his life last night as his Burnley dream turned to disaster. Ten months ago Ternent was a king at Bury after guiding the Shakers to two successive promotion successes and then surviving in the First Division
BOLTON couples hoping for a baby to bring in the new Millennium are being warned that Caesarean deliveries will not be given on demand. Around the country, doctors have expressed concern that there may be a boom in births as couples race to have the first
Wanderers 3, Barnsley 3 M ARK Fish believes Wanderers have hit a mental barrier in their push for the Premiership. Ultra-confident and hot favourites for automatic promotion a fortnight ago, they have become their own worst enemies, dramatically self-destructing
NEIL Warnock has warned his First Division relegation rivals to expect a fight to the finish, after scrapping for a point at Bristol City last night. Bury were 10 minutes away from their first win on their travels this season, when a home goal denied
LEIGH RMI move into the top half of the Unibond Premiership after a thrilling 3-2 victory over in-form Guiseley at Hilton Park last night. All the goals came in the first half, with the Railwaymen's first two getting a little help from their friends.
LOCAL companies are being invited to register their interest in "Export Explorer" missions to Belgium, Luxembourg and Iceland. Two trips in May are part of a Government scheme designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises take their first tentative
A RE-STRUCTURING exercise at the new Bolton and Bury Chamber looks likely to lead to a slimmed-down staff. Chief Executive Richard Bindless called three meetings last week to inform the 170 employees of current developments. He said today: "My belief
THE President of Bolton-based EEF Lancashire has made a strong attack on Government policies. Mr Brian Ward, Managing Director of Senior Hargreaves, Bury, was speaking at the Association's recent annual meeting. He said: "It is disturbing that, at a time
"The issue isn't how to divide the cake, but is the cake big enough in the first place?" This was your response to the eminently sensible suggestion from Mike Ruane, chief executive of Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, that your paper becomes involved
A LOVE-sick Bolton man found himself stuck in a letter box as he tried to serenade his girlfriend. The 26-year-old man trapped his arm in the letter box in Haroldene Street, Tonge Moor, after he had pushed his hand through last night. And he had to ring
ST John Ambulance, which has several divisions across Bolton, is suffering from a volunteer "famine". Now, it is set to launch a major recruitment drive targeted at adults and young people. There are 2,000 St John Ambulance volunteers in the Greater Manchester
COLIN Todd assured his nerve-wracked Wanderers that he is prepared to take the strain as the promotion pressure hots up. The Reebok boss, who has seen his team suffer an attack of the jitters after playing their way into pole position, refused to be fazed
I listened to philosophers Talking far into the night, They spoke of many grandiose ideals, And mentioned deprivation And the need to put things right, The senseless killings and the wars, Fought often in the name of Christian laws. These philosophers
HEALTH bosses have been landed with a massive £10 million bill to settle clinical negligence claims. Mr Tim Bennett, Director of Finance with Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, said most of the cases related to claims first made several years ago and
RESIDENTS living near a proposed opencast mine on the outskirts of Bolton have been urged to put pressure on the Government for a new planning inquiry. Objectors to the plans to opencast mine a huge spoil heap at Cutacre tip, near Over Hulton, can now
AT the public meeting on Monday, February 8 in Westhoughton Council Chamber, Cllr Guy Harkin (Labour), Deputy Leader Bolton MBC, disguised as a Westhoughton resident, sought to distract the public in attendance objecting to the Lee Hall proposals, saying
A BOLTON woman has slammed a driver who smashed into the side of her car and then made a quick getaway. Kath Cornwall, of Ainsworth Lane, was driving along Brooklyn Street, Halliwell on Thursday night when a man driving a small white van pulled out in
THE Mossfield Road estate in Kearsley has had the water supply turned off twice in under a month with no prior warning to the consumer i.e. to fill kettles or pans in reserve. I remember a time when someone would drive round the avenues with a loudspeaker
A NEW chief executive has been appointed to head the troubled Greater Manchester Ambulance Service. John Burnside will replace current chief, Adrian Lucas, in June. Mr Lucas has led the service for nine years, and is to take over the Scottish Ambulance
25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, March 10, 1974 ST Barnabas Church, Chorley Old Road, Bolton, built in 1913, will close this year if proposals now being advertised by the Church Commissioners are approved. The well-built brick church, in good condition
TODAY is No Smoking Day - a pivotal one for all who want to quit smoking. And for those of you who want someone else to give up the fags, the BEN is making you an offer you can't refuse. We are inviting you to SHOP A SMOKER - your chance to shame someone
PENSIONERS expect this Labour Government to fulfil its promise that they would share in their country's prosperity, not by patronising hand-outs, but by restoring the link between the basic state pension and average earnings. A pensioner's cash has to
THEATRE, MUSIC & DANCE LOURDES of the Dance Line Dance Club, line dance fundraiser and fancy dress for Comic Relief, Our Lady of Lourdes Social Club, Plodder Lane, Farwnorth, 8pm-11.30pm. Admission £2.50 without red nose, £2 with red nose. Tel: Pete
