Archive

  • Not needed

    ONCE again the subject of fluoride is being debated. Sheila Jones can be commended for her concern for children's teeth, but what about the rest of our townspeople. Those who wear dentures do not need fluoride in the water, not do those people like myself

  • I will keep saying it!

    ALEX Hastings urges me to "put another record on", by which I assume she means she would like me to stop repeating the uncomfortable truth that Bolton's young children suffer three times more tooth decay, and have three times more teeth extracted than

  • Lack of support jibe was fully justified

    FOLLOWING an initial letter from a Mr Trevor Lester published in the BEN last month about trying to raise money from the Bolton business community, I wrote in full support of his views, only to be followed by a Mrs Pat Stubbs writing in total agreement

  • Homecoming spoiled

    by 'crazy' paving BOLTON is my hometown and I've always been proud to say I was born and bred there. Nowadays I live a lot further North, but I come back often to visit family and friends. I did just that on Thursday, September 7. I had met a friend,

  • Council tax rise quashed

    TOWN hall chiefs have moved to dismiss claims of a 20 per cent hike in council tax following allegations of a damaging financial crisis sweeping the authority. It is claimed Chorley Borough Council is in dire financial difficulties with rumours that a

  • Villages scoop top awards

    A RECORD number of villages took part in this year's Lancashire's Best Kept Village Competition -- with Chorley entrants scooping a number of awards The competition, sponsored by the Chorley and District Building Society, saw 128 villages taking part

  • Time called at four pubs

    POPPING out for a pint to your local could be a thing of the past for some Chorley drinkers as a number of old haunts close. Pubs across town have been put up for sale -- prompting fears over the future of Chorley's pub trade and the amount of buildings

  • Homes to be investigated

    DETECTIVES this week revealed they are probing children's homes in Chorley as an investigation into sex abuse continues. The enquiry into allegations of child sex abuse in homes, residential schools and care establishments in Lancashire has brought a

  • Drunken dad in runway strip shame

    CANADIAN Mounties arrested a drunken Bolton holidaymaker after he sprinted along an airport runway with his trousers round his ankles. Michael Shone, 41, was grabbed at Gander International Airport, Newfoundland, after he pushed past security guards,

  • Whites' target

    WANDERERS confirmed today that they are in transfer talks with Real Sociedad's Nigerian captain Mutiu Adepoju. Sam Allardyce has targeted the 29-year-old African midfield star, formerly with Real Madrid, as he looks to shore up his injury-stricken squad

  • Back to basics

    Chorley Ladies FC 0 Barnsley Ladies FC 2 CHORLEY could not motivate themselves for this FA Cup match on Sunday and so missed out on progressing to the next round. The match started slowly with both teams failing to control the game and there were very

  • Ingles scrapes a draw

    CHORLEY Social Club and Gregson Lane shared the points with a 2-2 draw on Astley Park in the Chorley and District Faulkner Motors Alliance Football League. Gregson Lane had a goal lead at half-time but Chorley Social Club came more into the game in the

  • Batting for sweet revenge

    Netherfield CC 184-5 Chorley CC 185-4 A WONDERFUL day's cricket saw Chorley gain revenge for their Nuffield Cup Final defeat by denying Netherfield their fourth trophy of the season in the Slater Cup Final at Windsor Park on Sunday. Surprisingly the afternoon

  • Great web deals: today only

    IF you have not yet got your business on the web then the BEN can help with a great, unrepeatable deal, available until 4pm today. From only £250 we can build you a professional web site and register your own domain name. Also included in this package

  • Role Change: Chamber's funding will disappear

    MOVES are continuing behind the scenes to define the future role of Bolton and Bury Chamber when Government changes come into force next March. As previously reported, annual funding will disappear when some of its existing functions are transferred to

  • Long fuel queues bring mayhem on roads

    FILLING frenzy continued in Bolton this morning with queues forming as early as 7am at any stations where petrol could be obtained. Desperate motorists forming long lines at the Shell garage in Kay Street, caused chaos on Blackburn Road. At Bolton West

  • Man, 67, dies in car crash

    A MAN was killed when his car crashed out-of-control and overturned as he drove along the East Lancs Road at Leigh last night. Geoffrey Darwell Fletcher, 67, of Crank Road, Billinge, was driving his Ford Mondeo car along the A580's westbound carriageway

  • Sam's little beauty

    BIG Sam Allardyce glowed with pride as his newborn grandson Little Sam made his public debut. With Wanderers currently flying high in Division One, their manager already has ample reasons to be cheerful. But it was the birth of his second grandchild at

  • CRICKET: Weekend games

    SATURDAY Redmayne Bentley Bolton Association: Adlington v Darcy Lever; Astley & Tyldesley Collieries v Elton; Atherton v Little Hulton; Clifton v Daisy Hill; Golborne v Spring View; Standish v Lostock; Walshaw v Edgworth. SUNDAY Association: Blackrod

  • Andy's handy fourth '100'

    ATHERTON'S Andy Hall chalked up his fourth century of the season on Saturday in sensational style. He hit 131 against Lostock in 130 minutes off 113 balls -- hitting ten fours and eight sixes. His first 50 came off 64 balls with four fours and three sixes

  • Rugby: Street's Leigh finale

    FANS' favourite Tim Street will be back in Leigh Centurions colours next season - for one last time. The popular prop has agreed a new one-year deal with the Centurions but as exclusively revealed his plans to retire at the end of the next campaign. "

  • Cricket club receives huge Lottery boost

    CLIFTON Cricket Club have received a lottery grant for a £120,000 project to improve facilities at the club. The award comes after several years of planning and will involve a major drainage scheme, installing specialist coaching lanes and doubling the

  • LR extend lottery scheme

    ATHERTON LR Football Club this week made a decision which they hope will be the start of the long road back to the glory days. However, it was a decision off the pitch and not on it. The man responsible is the club's Director of Football Steve Plant whose

  • SOCCER: Boro put up for sale

    RADCLIFFE Football Club is up for sale -- lock, stock and barrel. Chairman Bernard Manning Junior and his fellow major shareholders have run out of patience with falling gates and decided enough is enough as they struggle to make ends meet. The sale of

  • Daisy look to climb up into middle tier

    ASSISTANT Daisy Hill manager Brian Smith has his own ideas on how the North Western Counties League Division Two will pan out putting it in the same three-tier league as the Premiership. Brian said: "The North West Counties League is made up of 20 teams

  • 00BOOK EARLY

    MEN ARENA, Manchester. October 5 to October 8, Disney On Ice, Jungle Adventures. Tickets £8.50 to £22.50. Also, October 23-24, Robbie Williams. Nov 3, Iron Maiden, tickets £20. Nov 25, Tom Jones, tickets £25.50 and £22, starts 8pm. Ring 0161 930 8000.

  • From the BEN files

    25 YEARS AGO rom the Evening News, September 15, 1975 ERE, Ere, Ere, what's all this about ears then - do your husband's pinnas stick out in sexy fashion? If you've never given them a second thought, now is the time to change your ways, says Bolton expert

  • MUSIC AND DANCE

    MONACO BALLROOM, Hindley. Charity dance in aid of the NSPCC, featuring Mr John Bowdler at the Technics Organ playing a variety of music. Admission, by programme, £4, refreshments available, raffle and tombola. Ring 01942 866092 or 01942 864171. VARIOUS

  • EVENTS

    ST PAUL'S CHURCH, Astley Bridge, Bolton. Harvest Festival with a difference from Friday September 22 to Sunday September 24. Millennium Harvest Festival of Talents featuring work of artists and craftsfolk, plus music. Friday at 7pm, Saturday from 10am

  • What's On out of town

    NORTH PIER THEATRE, BLACKPOOL, The Grumbleweeds, with Stu Francis. Runs to October 24. Seats £10. Also, Hale and Pace with support from Hilary O'Neil and Steve Rawlings. Starts Wednesday to Friday 8pm and Saturday at 7pm. Also, Roy 'Chubby' Brown, Saturday

  • SATURDAY

    LEISURE, SPORT & KEEP FIT BOLTON Excel, Lower Bridgeman Street, tel: 334456: junior fitness, 10am-11am, 11am-12 noon and 12 noon-1pm; basketball drop in, 10am-12 noon. DEANE Leisure Centre, Junction Road, Deane, tel: 334432: trampoline, 10.15am-1.30pm

  • What's On at local galleries and exhibitions

    ARC GALLERY STORE, Oldham Street, Manchester. Mon to Sat 10am to 6pm. Sun noon to 5pm. Adm free. Ring 0161 831 7454. ASTLEY CHEETHAM ART GALLERY , Trinity Street, Stalybridge. Open Mon to Fri (not Thurs) 1pm to 7.30pm, Sat 9am to 4pm. Tel 0161 338 2708

  • Nice gesture -- bad timing

    RALPH SNAPE'S concern regarding traffic in Devonshire Road is apt but his timing is a bit out. I am happy to tell your readers that I have already brought this problem to the attention of County Councillor Richard Toon, Chairman of Highways and Councillor

  • Electric store is next shops axe casualty

    A BOLTON electrical goods store will become the town centre's latest high profile casualty. Tandy in Nelson Square has announced it is to close this month as part of a shake-up prompted by Carphone Warehouse's takeover of the company. Most of Tandy's

  • Rescue gear gift used to free coach victims

    A COACH crash which left more than 30 people trapped with five dead was the first major incident Romanian fire fighters tackled -- using life-saving cutting gear donated by Bolton. The team of Romanian rescuers were forced to put their new skills and

  • Archer asks the audience on question of guilt

    JEFFREY Archer is known for many things -- novels, TV dramas, personal dramas. He's certainly made his mark and, like him or loathe him, he's a man you can't ignore. Now he's about to hit the Manchester stage in a play he's not only written but appears

  • Town's Aura4 are five of the best

    WESTHOUGHTON looks set to find a place in rock and roll history thanks to a five-piece band taking the North-west by storm. Aura4 have built up a formidable reputation over the past 12 months after playing in venues such as The Music Box and Roadhouse

  • Court cracks down on supporter

    A BOLTON Wanderers' fan banned from football grounds by a court says he will fight the order claiming he has been made a "scapegoat". Window cleaner Stephen Holden, 31, says he is prepared to take his case "right to the top" claiming the banning order

  • FOLK MUSIC

    CLIFTON ARMS, Newport St, Mons. BAND ON THE WALL, Mcr. THE MET ARTS CENTRE, Market St, Bury - 0161 761 2216. PLANET K, Oldham St, Manchester. PEMBROKE HALL, High St, Walkden - 0161 790 4584.

  • FESTIVALS

    MOSES GATE COUNTRY PARK, Farnworth, working woodlands' festival, Sunday September 24, 11am to 5pm. A great day of fun and entertainment for all the family with traditional arts, crafts, demonstrations, displays, food. Admission adults £2.50, children

  • POETRY

    BLUE CAT CAFE, Shaw Rd, Heaton Moor, Stockport. Second Thurs in the month at 8.00pm, free. Ring 0161 432 2117. MANCHESTER POETRY FESTIVAL, various venues in Manchester. Runs from October 5 to October 14 and features poets from Bolton Claire Pollard, Hovis

  • COMEDY NIGHTS

    THE MET, Market Street, Bury. Ring 0161 761 2216. BLUE CAT CAFE, Shaw Rd, Heaton Moor, Stockport, 0161 432 2117. FROG AND BUCKET, Oldham St, Mcr, 0161 236 9805. QUAY BAR, Deansgate Quay, Bridgewater Viaduct, Mcr. Ring 0161 839 8803. ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE

  • CINEMA

    All films run from Friday September 15 to Thursday September 21. WARNER VILLAGE CINEMA, Middlebrook, Bolton. Ring Bolton 669988. Me, Myself and Irene (15); Space Cowboys (PG); Shaft (18); The Cell (18); Keeping the Faith (12); Scary Movie (18); Snatch

  • North west event information from the North West Tourist Board

    BLACKPOOL PROMENADE, Blackpool. Blackpool's annual Illuminations. Runs until November 5. EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY, Bury. For more information ring 0161-764 7790. TATE GALLERY, Albert Dock, Liverpool. Ring 0151 702 7400 WHITWORTH ART GALLERY, The University

  • THEATRES

    OCTAGON THEATRE, Bolton. Ring Bolton 520661. PALACE THEATRE, Manchester. Circus of Horrors, Tuesday October 10 to Saturday October 14. Ring 0161 242 2524. OPERA HOUSE, Manchester. Runs until Saturday Nov 11, The Phantom of the Opera. Tel 0161 242 2524

  • In the running for promotion?

    Chorley FC 2 Winsford Utd FC 0 CHORLEY'S impressive start to the season continued with this convincing victory -- the Magpies' fourth in a row and their third consecutive clean sheet. It took them more than an hour to wear down a strong and competitive

  • It's simple -- use toothpaste

    TWO things I wish to comment on. I cannot help wondering that there may be something sinister regarding the fluoride issue due to the mass coverage given in these pages by eminent people and us ordinary mortals. Putting fluoride in water is encouraging

  • Good on you Andy for your stand against mob rule

    TOWN hall worker Andy Wieckowski must be saluted for his valiant lone stand against the tyranny of mob rule. The fuel frenzy isn't about the UK government -- fuel charges were announced in the budget on 21 March when the so-called fuel escalator was scrapped

  • Kick start for dance troupe

    A COUNCIL-backed dance company is about to kick-start a new season after a number of successful national and international shows. Chorley Youth Dance Company, set up with the help of Chorley Borough Council two years ago, performed at the International

  • Give arresting offer a trial

    MANY people have seen the inside of a court room on their television and cinema screens. But, other than the criminal fraternity, how many have actually paid a visit visit them? Well, if you'd like to get a real close up, look you'll find an invitation

  • Paws for thought

    CHORLEY residents have the purr-fect excuse to think about their cats this week. Cats Protection -- the largest national cat charity -- is running its annual week to encourage responsible pet ownership and tell the public about the charity's work. The

  • Fire scare rocks dance night

    A ROW has broken out between organisers and safety stewards following a weekend dance event which ended in fiasco. Security staff were criticised as hundreds of revellers were evacuated after a fire scare at Chorley Town Hall. Organisers and clubbers

  • Prepare for floods!

    CHORLEY'S flood risk households are being urged to be prepared for the worst. The Environment Agency's Flood Action Week with the message"Flooding. You can't prevent it. You can prepare for it" was launched on Monday. One of Chorley's flooding blackspots

  • School run hits the road

    IT'S THAT time of year, when schools reopen after the summer holidays, and motorists complain about the extra time their rush hour journeys are taking. The Institute of Advanced Motorists recently said rush hour traffic grows 20 per cent when parents

  • Stock Exchange aborts merger

    By Rob Arkwright, Hargreave Hale & Co THE London Stock Exchange pulled the plug this week over its plans to merge with Deutsche Borse. This was following conflicting differences between opposing directors over how the iX market would be run. With

  • Sam keeps it low key

    THERE was light at the end of the injury tunnel today but Sam Allardyce wasn't getting carried away ... no more than he's getting too excited about Wanderers being third in the league. Mark Fish and Gareth Farrelly returned to training to ease the manager's

  • Rugby: Dallas return

    WIGAN head coach Frank Endacott has named his team to face St Helens tonight with the big news surrounding the return of winger Brett Dallas. Dallas broke his jaw in the 30 - 18 win over Bradford Bulls in June but is back in action tonight. And Endacott

  • Second XI Cricket

    Walkden beat Heaton as Farnworth triumph in derby Saturday 9th September - WALKDEN beat Heaton by 5 wickets, chasing Heaton's 134 all out (Paul Mort 63 Frank Hinks 3-38) Walkden reached their target thanks to 43 from Phil Waring 43(Paul Mort 3-39). Farnworth

  • What's On for the family

    BREWERY ARTS CENTRE, Highgate, Kendal. Sunday September 24, A Feast of Winnie the Pooh performed by Richard Medrington. Performances at 11am when eeyore has a birthday, at 2pm when tiggers don't climb trees and 3.30pm when Pooh and Piglet meet the heffalump

  • Live music venues and events

    BURY MET CAFE BAR, Market Street, Bury. HORWICH RMI CLUB, Chorley New Road, Horwich. Friday September 15, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys. Ring Bolton 468085 (9am to 5pm) or Bolton 468911 (6.30pm to 9pm). MOSES GATE HOTEL, Farnworth. GYPSY'S TENT,

  • How long should we have to wait for a report on air quality?

    I SUPPORT the views expressed by Councillor Collinson (Aug 10th) and Hazel Berry (Aug 24th), regarding the activities at Washington Hall Fire Brigade Training Centre including the necessity to include training sessions to develop high levels of skill

  • Petrol crisis hits town motorists

    VITAL contingency plans were being drawn up as the continuing fuel crisis threatened a crippling knock on effect throughout Chorley. Filling stations ran completely out of fuel this week. The fear now is that businesses and services could grind to a halt

  • Old school will be trendy flats

    BOLTON'S former municipal grammar school is being transformed into trendy loft apartments. The 35 apartments, which will be completed by early next year, are a first for the town centre and likely to attract young professionals into an area where there

  • MP backs Prime Minister over handling of crisis

    A BOLTON MP has backed Premier Tony Blair over his handling of the fuel crisis. Labour MP David Crausby says the Prime Minister is right not to give into bully boy tactics by demonstrators. But he insists that he understands why there is such widespread

  • Thieves steal bag from sedated mum

    A MOTHER-of-three has hit out at callous thieves who snatched her bag while she lay sedated and recovering in a hospital bed. Joanne Rigby, 25, said she was left "sickened" by the theft which took place as she lay completely helpless in the Royal Bolton

  • Atlantic rescue hero

    A FARNWORTH navy veteran was one of the heroes of a dramatic wartime sea rescue which saved the lives of more than 800 people. Alfred Hedley, now 82, still has faded letters of gratitude from some of the people he and his shipmates helped to pluck from

  • Chaos as first petrol supplies arrive

    DESPERATE motorists caused chaos on Bolton's roads as petrol supplies started to trickle through yesterday afternoon. Police and security guards were called in to control the forecourts in a bid to stop queue jumpers sparking trouble. And hundreds of

  • SPORTS

    GREAT LEVER COMMUNITY CENTRE, Bradford Road, Bolton. Thai Boxing Tuesday eves 7pm-8pm. Thai Boxing for children Saturdays, noon to 1pm. Ring Bolton 522568. EAGLEY SPORTS AND LEISURE CLUB, Hough Lane, Bromley Cross. Yoga classes, Thursdays, 8pm-9.30pm.

  • CLUBS

    HORWICH CONSERVATIVE, Church Street, Horwich. Open weekdays after 5pm and weekends 2pm. BRADFORD WARD LABOUR, Bridgeman Street, Bolton, Mon-Sat 11.30am -3pm and 6.30pm-11pm. Sunday noon-10.30pm. Bar, rounders, darts, pool and snooker teams. TONGE MOOR

  • PUB MUSIC

    nights THE SQUIRREL, Horwich. Beer festival September 28, 29, 30, organised by the Rotary Club of Horwich. THE WRIGHTS ARMS, Belmont Road, Bolton. For details of all events ring Bolton 811206. BULLS HEAD PUB, (Bottom Bull), Bury Road, Bolton. Live bands

  • SPECIAL EVENTS

    HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 2000, Turton Tower, Chapeltown Road, Bolton, open Saturday September 16 and Sunday September 17, from 1pm to 5pm. Special free event as part of the Heritage Open Days scheme. View the stable block, kitchen garden and privies. Also,