Archive

  • Song show has hit a sour note

    ANYONE viewing the latest spectacle of the Eurovision Song Contest must have been sickened, not so much by the songs, even though some bordered on the ludicrous, but by the system of voting to select the winners. To say the least, many were given on a

  • Oh, Carol, you've a figure to be proud of

    SO Carol Vorderman wore a short, low-cut dress to the Baftas. Big deal, it's not as if she looked awful. On the contrary, she looked fantastic! Why do the press always have such a downer on celebrities who dress to please? Carol is a beautiful lady with

  • Karen's column

    THE rain is pouring down outside and I must admit that I am experiencing some trepidation about the weather prospects for the end of the month and our Music Festival. I suppose I should take heart from the fantastic weather we have seen recently, particularly

  • College named a Centre of Excellence

    A COLLEGE is set to become a key 'Centre of Excellence' for teaching training later this year. Bishop Rawstorne Language College, Croston, will become a training school in September, under a new government initiative which aims to involve good schools

  • History insights

    LOCAL history enthusiasts will give people an insight of life in old Salford in a series of Tuesday afternoon talks, starting next week. The sessions, at Salford Tourist Centre, will start at 2.30pm on Tuesday, when historian Cliff Hayes will talk about

  • Vandal hit school to be fenced in

    PERMISSION to put up a 2.4 metre fence around Eatock primary school has been given the go-ahead by town councillors. But leader of the town council, David Wilkinson, said the fact that the school building and children needed protection was a sad indictment

  • Searching for a hero

    DO you know a super hero? If you know an amazing adult who has made a huge difference to the lives of young people, the charity ChildLine wants to know. They are looking for nominations for the tenth annual BT ChildLine Awards and anyone aged 18 and under

  • Historic tower takes trip back in time

    PEOPLE can step back in time on Sunday as history comes alive at historic Turton Tower. The Meet the Tudors event is a popular fixture at the tower off Chapeltown Road, just north of Bromley Cross. Visitors will get the chance to see how people really

  • Louise's 'prescription' for a really successful play...

    A FORMER Bolton woman has penned a play -- from her sick bed. Talented Louise Barrett, 26, wrote her first play during three months convalescence after an operation. The former Cannon Slade Pupil, who used to live in Harpers Lane, Smithills, has had rave

  • New Mayor steps out in style

    ONE of the first official duties carried out by the new Mayor of Westhoughton, Janet Halliwell, was the annual Mayoral Sunday Parade, which wound its way from the Greenfields club in Wigan Road to St Bartholomew's for a service last Sunday. Janet, a community

  • Waiting lists drop and targets met

    HOSPITAL waiting lists fell in Bolton by almost five per cent in March. End of month figures show a drop of 51,000 compared with February figures, leading to a drop of 13 per cent in Wigan and Bolton Health Authority since March 1997. Today Ruth Kelly

  • School has a right royal party

    RAIN failed to dampen the spirits at a royal garden party arranged to mark a fairytale year at a local primary school. Pupils at St Teresa's RC Primary were transformed into princes and princesses for the party which celebrated headteacher's Pamela McTague's

  • Awards for children's 'grot spots' video tour

    YOUNGSTERS who starred in their own film to try to raise Government money for their local neighbourhoods have earned a video company two prestigious prizes. As reported in the BEN, youngsters of all ages stepped in front of the camera to ask the Government

  • Buy a butty

    HERE'S something for you to get your teeth into. It's British Sandwich Week this week (May 14-20). And at no time since its invention in 1762 has this British creation enjoyed such popularity. The British Sandwich Association reveals that this year we

  • Musician bangs out a holy racket

    THREE new ballads by a Chorley singer/songwriter are to be the linchpin in a giant Christian Millennium celebration next month. Churches Together in Lancashire are staging 'That's the Spirit' at Preston North End's Deepdale stadium on Pentecost Sunday

  • FOOTBALL: County football honour for Bob

    BOB Naylor of Daisy Hill FC has been appointed to take up an official post on the Lancashire Football Association. "I don't quite know yet what the nitty gritty of the role will be but I'm really looking forward to it," he explains. "The LFA decided to

  • Bahutule is a big hit for Bradshaw

    By Peter Mensforth BRADSHAW professional Sairaj Bahutule is making people sit up and take notice. The Pakistan all rounder has made a big hitting start to his Bolton campaign having scored two centuries and an innings of 90 to take his total to nearly

  • SOCCER: Mixed luck for Bury's player search

    BURY FC's scouting trip to South Wales this week met with mixed fortunes. Chairman Terry Robinson, assistant manager Steve Redmond and youth coach Andy Feeley cast their eyes over the players on show in the Wales v England non-league international at

  • Check out your duty chemists

    CHORLEY'S duty chemist between noon and 1pm on Sunday, May 21, will be Boots the Chemist, Market Walk. Weekday out of hours services in the Chorley area are: M D Rimmer, 22 Runshaw Lane, Euxton, (Mon-Fri 5.30pm - 6.30pm). S P & D B Fishlock, 6-10

  • Gym closure shock

    A POPULAR Westhoughton gym has closed without notice, leaving hundreds of angry members out of pocket. Shocked members arrived on Tuesday morning to find the shutters down and no means of access at Gymnasia in School Street. A letter from the bailiffs

  • Homes plan demolished

    WESTHOUGHTON councillors have thrown out a controversial application to build homes on a site earmarked for a new school. As part of the shake-up of primary schools St John's, Wingates, and Fourgates have been earmarked for closure with both sets of pupils

  • Pupils taught to say no to dangers in life

    ATHERTON pupils have been learning about how to say no to drugs with the help of a Life Education caravan at Howe Bridge School to learn more about drugs prevention and health issues. The caravan is owned by the Rotary Club and sponsored by Wigan Council

  • War of words on water poison bug

    WATER bosses have claimed that cases of cryptosporidiosis - caused by a dangerous microscopic parasite that could be present in Bolton's water supply - are relatively uncommon in Britain. A statement issued by North West Water said the condition affected

  • Meet the dancing queens

    ASK anyone to describe your average Morris Dancer and they will doubtless come up with a picture of Morris Men bearing their usual hankies, sticks, musical instruments, bells, colourful hats and ribbons. Not so with the Marionettes - a Morris Dancing

  • Summer is again upon us

    THE dreaded drunken louts have made their first, of many, appearances in our street. Congregating in one garden until all hours of the night and showing off their lack of singing skills. The loudness of their voices somehow linked to the lateness of the

  • Time to Fight Back

    Keep your doors and windows barred Burglars don't send a card To warn you that they're on their way They come uninvited night or day. They scan your house with greedy eyes, Knock on your door in some disguise, Slip through a window that's unprotected

  • What can we do about these feral cats?

    PLEASE could anyone help to rectify a problem with feral cats? Someone moved away from the area, leaving two cats. Now they have gone wild. The RSPCA referred us to Cats Protection who, in turn, said they only really concern themselves with domestic cats

  • Only yourself to blame over Moss Bank Way

    I READ Mr James Whelan's letter (BEN May 15) in response to Mr J Holding, and, though I agreed with little of its content, it does at least serve as a good example of the sort of ignorant and selfish attitudes shared by many drivers. They remain unmoved

  • Bringing you up to speed on my driving record

    IT seems that my recent letter re Moss Bank Way has raised James Whelan's hackles. By using such words as 'fighting' and 'extremely infuriating', it suggests to me that he is a very impatient driver, worse still, he wants drivers in front of him to break

  • What else is hidden in the Tory Party's Trojan Horse . . .

    AS an anorak follower of politics, I often find myself on the different political party web sites. Just recently, I entered the Labour Party web site and, from an unbiased point of view, I would have to say that it is the best of the three main parties

  • Soldiers kill for their country, too

    MR Lucas's comments on the minor rioting in London in connection with the May Day anti-capitalist demonstration (BEN May 8) were not, fortunately, as overheated as some of those that appeared in the national press. But their thrust was the same. However

  • Chorley hot-spots come to life

    CHORLEY'S Camelot Theme Park and Astley Park are just two hot-spots which are hoped to bring Lancashire to life this summer. Both parks will play host to the 38th annual Veteran-Vintage-Classic Car Run from Manchester to Blackpool as drivers set out on

  • Students can turn ideas into reality

    STUDENTS with a 'design for life' could soon see their dreams turn to reality as a scheme to change open spaces in Chorley gets off the ground. Adult students at Runshaw College have been heavily involved in a project to dramatically change open spaces

  • Scary visitors come to town

    WOODSFOLD Saw Mill at Chorley played host to some very scary visitors at the weekend as North West Water opened its new woodland trail. The Woodsland Experience, a mile long woodland trail beginning and ending at the Dole Lane attraction, was officially

  • Swan's nest is torched

    VISITORS to a popular Chorley beauty spot have been left outraged by a heartless attack on a swan's nest. The nest was torched and its six eggs -- due to hatch any time now -- stolen. The shocking incident took place at Healy Nab, behind the Thomas Witters

  • Boss in college cash probe arrest

    A FORMER managing director has been arrested by police investigating financial irregularities at a company owned by Bolton College. Detectives arrested Glyn Pennington at his detached bungalow on The Common at Adlington on Monday. After being questioned

  • Wanderers chief backs Allardyce

    PHIL Gartside has called for referees to be made more accountable for the mistakes they make and the controversy they cause. The Wanderers' chairman has added his voice to the storm of protest stirred by the apparently one-sided performance of Orpington

  • Down but not out

    WANDERERS' brave but unsuccessful bid to reach the Premiership could have cost the club £11 million. That's the price they are likely to pay for the defeat at Ipswich on Wednesday night when they were just minutes away from a place in the play-off final

  • Lora towers above 'em

    A GOLFER from Adlington near Chorley struck it lucky this week after one of the country's most famous landmarks said it would continue to sponsor her. Lora Fairclough, 30, rated as one of England's most talented golfers is delighted that Blackpool Tower

  • Can you carry the can at the carnival?

    ORGANISERS of Westhoughton's annual carnival, are on the look out for charity collectors. As usual, money will be collected from the crowds who flock to see the carnival parade make its way through the streets of Westhoughton, but, as secretary of the

  • Housing insight for pensioners

    PENSIONERS in Bury will get an insight into the benefits of sheltered housing next week. Council chiefs have joined forces with Irwell Valley Housing Association and Muir Housing Association to promote Sheltered Accommodation in the borough. During the

  • Plea for mobile free carriages

    A TRAIN travelling Bury MP wants to pull the plug on the mobile phone pests who are ruining his journeys. Bury MP David Chaytor -- who has travelled hundreds of miles listening to other travellers using their mobile phones -- wants every train to have

  • Striking drivers leave passengers waiting

    BUS passengers were again left waiting at bus stops today as Stagecoach Ribble drivers staged their second one-day strike. And with drivers reporting a lack of correspondence from bus bosses, further action is set to take place next Wednesday. Earlier

  • China-saur unveiled!

    THE life-sized replica of a Chinese dinosaur will be unveiled in Bolton tonight. The 16 feet Tuojiangosaurus will be uncovered at a special ceremony witnessed exclusively by the hundreds of Bolton people who have bought the bones. Bolton museum staff

  • Bluebell rescue

    A SCHEME to Save the Bluebell is getting underway in the Bolton area -- with help from the public. The humble but beautiful wildflower is under threat everywhere as woodland areas are lost to development. But the Red Rose Forest Bluebell Recovery Programme

  • Free fall bank manager leaps into the record books

    A THRILL seeking bank Westhoughton manager has hurtled into the record books. Andrew Jolley was one of 124 people who took part in a World record breaking tandem free-fall parachute jump at a small airfield in Oxford. And at the same time he raised more

  • Success forces church group to close

    CHURCHES Together in Bolton has folded after 83 years of linking people of different religious denominations. Despite being the oldest group of its kind in Britain, CTB has been forced to close after falling victim to its own success. The growth of smaller

  • Joy as work on Pavilion Square starts

    BOLTON West MP, Ruth Kelly today expressed delight on hearing that the much awaited remedial work on Pavilion Square has started. As reported in the BEN, developers of the shopping centre faced council legal action over unfinished work on the site and

  • Home care boost for cancer patients

    A PILOT scheme is to be introduced in Bolton offering cancer patients chemotherapy treatment at home. Community Healthcare Bolton NHS Trust and Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust have joined forces with the voluntary sector, carers and the Community Health Council

  • Wanderers chief backs Allardyce

    PHIL Gartside has called for referees to be made more accountable for the mistakes they make and the controversy they cause. The Wanderers' chairman has added his voice to the storm of protest stirred by the apparently one-sided performance of Orpington

  • Village goes back in time

    YE OLDE days of yore were revived on Saturday when the Rivington Festival burst into action. The event, at Rivington Hall Barn, was the Rivington Millennium Festival which attracted huge crowds. The fun included a typical Saxon meal, a performance by

  • Don't miss this music extravaganza

    MUSIC madness is due to hit Chorley at the end of the month when the BBC Music Live Millennium celebrations spin in to town. The 11-hour music extravaganza, hosted by Kush Music Development Group, will take place on Saturday, May 27. The event, called

  • Family says thanks after doctor's death

    THE family of a well-known doctor from Chorley who sadly passed away this month wish to thank the many kind people who sent flowers and best wishes to their home. Dr Edward James Purcell, 72, who had a practice on Collison Avenue, Chorley, died on Tuesday

  • Dance the day away

    CHORLEY'S Derian House Children's Hospice is set to benefit from a fun day of toe tapping as part of Dance Day 2000 this summer. Wayne Sleep and a whole host of celebrities will be taking part in a fund-raising attempt to smash the world tap dance record

  • SWIMMING: Khalid joins elite squad

    TYLDESLEY and Wigan Wasps swimmer Khalid Jhugroo travelled to Canada with the England Youth squad for the Keyano International Meet alongside swimmers from Canada, China, Japan, Poland and the USA. Khalid, a pupil at Fred Longworth High School, Tyldesley

  • Rugby: Centurions work on new player deals

    LEIGH Centurions are re-doubling their efforts to secure the long-term Hilton Park futures of several of their star performers. Many of the senior squad complete their existing contracts at the end of the season and coach Paul Terzis is working on putting

  • Angling: Pimlott hauls in a Coronation Cup success

    BOLTON Anglers Association held their Coronation Cup on the Bridgewater Canal at Dane Road and the recent spell of good weather helped to get the skimmers interested and provide some decent sport. John Pimlott in permanent peg 285 was kept busy catching

  • From the BEN files

    25 YEARS AGO THE Town Clerk of Horwich, Mr Alan Knill, whose annual income is about £2,900, is being offered £1,500 following the first annual review of his salary and conditions of service. The Town Council, who appointed Mr Knill last year after advertising

  • Tired of waiting for research

    MYALGIC encephalomyelitis is a chronic disability illness of the immune and central nervous system. The condition frequently occurs as a sequel to viral infections, such as glandular fever. It is characterised by extreme fatigue, general malaise, aches

  • Play-off ref remains tight lipped

    CONTROVERSIAL referee Barry Knight was remaining tight-lipped about Wednesday's play-off match today. The 39-year-old official, who dished out 12 yellow cards, two red and awarded three penalties against Wanderers in the crucial play-off game would only

  • Hopes and Dreams choir to get caught up in Web

    AN ambitious musical production being staged in Atherton is to be featured on the BBC's Live music web-site highlighting countrywide events during the week May 21-27. The show is written by music industry professionals such as celebrated song writer,

  • Search is on for a century of memories

    THE search is on for memories of by-gone Bolton days for an arts project based in the town. One hundred years in Worktown is a voluntary arts project about the working lives of local people during the 20th century. The project is looking for memories

  • Yankee winner!

    ENTHUSIASTIC jazz fan Walter Dolphin won the holiday of a lifetime after a flutter on the horses. A Yankee bet paid for him and girlfriend Sheila Matkin to go to the States for the 31st annual New Orleans Jazzfest. His usual stake of a few pounds mushroomed

  • Barbershop singers hit the right note

    BOLTON Barbershop Harmony Club members have been singing their way to more success in Brighton. The Cottontown Chorus went to a special convention for the Millennium this month. The local singers were determined to better their sixth place at Blackpool

  • Lollipop man cross over holiday rule

    A MUCH-loved 69-year-old lollipop man has quit his job because Bolton Council refused to allow him a two-week holiday with his sick wife. Parents, children, shopkeepers, councillors and even school staff are so upset they have signed a 350-strong petition

  • Just as committed in the new Millennium

    IT sounds a lot now but 90 years ago raising £2,000 to build a church must have been a fortune. This didn't deter the members of the Hebron Christian Church, however. They not only raised the cash for the site where 12 single houses had stood, but for

  • Opencast mine 'would be mayhem'

    ENVIRONMENTAL improvements to rival the Garden of Eden would not be enough to compensate residents for the "mayhem" created by opencast mining, a public inquiry was told. Government planning inspector Michael Culshaw listened to a catalogue of opposition