MEMBERS of St Paul's Players in Adlington present Guys and Dolls as their next production from Monday, March 5 to Saturday, March 10. The show will be staged at Adlington Community Centre, Railway Road, Adlington. Music and lyrics are by Frank Loesser
BOLTON's Beavers went to Chester and could feel justifiably agrieved coming away with a 2-1 defeat. Both sides played attractive hockey and the game ebbed and flowed as each team had periods of prolonged superiority. Bolton were off to a flying start
NUMBERS of lollipop controlled crossing patrols have declined over the past two years, causing concern for youngsters, parents and teachers. So it will come as a pleasant surprise to hear that Bolton Council has decided to stop the rot and address the
A ROYAL Bolton Hospital spokeswoman made a statement which isn't true. She said therAe is no shortage of blankets. I visited D2 ward at 1pm on February 4, to see an elderly friend, who is very poorly. She was sitting in a chair with her dressing gown
WHAT a miserable, sarcastic person retired head teacher Mr Norman Johnson must be, with his attitude regarding the Breakfast Club recently instigated at Bolton's Johnson Fold CP School. Mr Paul Smith, the recently appointed head teacher at Johnson Fold
BEING truly patriotic to this nation, and withstanding all and anything that threatens its true democratic constitution, our heritage surely is something we should all stand and fight for. This Prime Minister, since his misguided election in 1997, has
CONTRARY to what Len Bradbury thinks, I am well aware of how hard shop workers work. Most people, wherever they work, work hard, many are forced or intimidated into working long hours. As a lifelong trades unionist and ex-shop steward, I have always opposed
I DON'T know how long it is since 'J T F' lived in this village (BEN, February 7 -- 'Losing piece of history'), but I must inform him that the postal address for the area has been Stoneclough, Radcliffe, Manchester (as displayed in the Post Office window
MRS Busby (BEN: February 5) complains about the level of Council Tax in Bolton if the rate is set to rise 5.8pc in 2001/2002 and goes on to claim that we are above most Authorities -- which has she chosen to compare us with? Her charge is not borne out
IN reply to George K Brown's letter criticising Brian Derbyshire's views supporting corporal punishment as 100 per cent wrong. Sorry, Mr Brown, it is, in fact, you who are wrong. In the USA, the anti-smacking brigade are now being totally discredited
BOLTON Wanderers Academy and backroom staff have achieved National Vocational Qualifications in Information Technology. They attended sessions organised by Panacea Professional Training Ltd in Bolton Enterprise Centre, Washington Street, Bolton. The Academy
SAM Allardyce believes the ability to handle pressure will have a massive bearing on the First Division title race. With hopes, expectations and nerves all increasing with the Premiership prize looming ever larger, Allardyce expects the team that stays
AFTER the seniors had to forfeit their game against Salem due to a technical hitch, the top spot of the Manchester League Division One which they currently own, could be lost depending on the results of other games. However, the team is in good shape
POLICE are being presented with new riot gear to protect them in dangerous situations. By the end of March, every officer in Bolton will have received the public order coverall, claimed to be the most effective in the country. The made-to-measure dark
BIKERS are being warned to look after their motorcycles after a spate of thefts. Police figures reveal that 43 bikes have been stolen in the last three months -- 18 of which have never been found. They are urging owners to fit security devices and park
MIKE Harding's comedy Comfort and Joy is the name of The Players' next production . . . but so far it has been no laughing matter for members of the company. The play initially had to switch dates, and has now had to swap its venue. And in an attempt
"HELLO Dolly" -- it's so good to see it back where it belongs -- on stage in Bolton! It is easy to forget just how many good songs there are, the strength of humour, and the wonderful array of characters which feature in this show. However, bearing this
FARNWORTH Performing Arts Company, formerly Farnworth AODS, welcomes a happy mix of new and familiar faces in its next production, The Merry Widow. The show at the Albert Halls runs from March 26 to 31, and Judith Riley will feature in the role of the
BOLTON Wanderers Academy and backroom staff have achieved National Vocational Qualifications in Information Technology. They attended sessions organised by Panacea Professional Training Ltd in Bolton Enterprise Centre, Washington Street, Bolton. The Academy
FIRE brigade adviser Keith Laird was due to hand over cheques worth £5,000 to two charities today. Mr Laird, who was allegedly spoofed by funnyman Peter Kay, was presenting the cash to the National Fire Safety Charity for Children and the Fire Service
A MAN alleged to have raped an elderly woman has again appeared before magistrates. The court at Bury adjourned the case against 58-year-old Henry Lasota of Radcliffe Road, Bury, until February 26. Conditional bail was granted. Lasota is charged with
ANYONE who fancies combining a spot of shopping with courting is urged to attend a supermarket "singles night" tonight. Asda in Horwich will be providing a creche for children and a candle-lit cafe to create the perfect setting for shoppers to find love
A WOMAN has complained to the General Medical Council over the actions of a former Bury doctor during a medical examination. The woman from Waterfoot says she is seeking compensation from Bury Healthcare NHS Trust who employed Mr Alexander Clubb. The
THE shape of the North-west over the next 20 years comes under the spotlight. Various groups will meet in Manchester today to discuss the draft Regional Planning Guidance, a framework for identifying where new housing could be built and looking at priorities
NOVICE poet Emily Dalton beat 6,000 children in a competition celebrating cats and dogs. The 11-year-old's poem, Lowry's Cat, impressed judges in the regional contest so much they put her top of the class and awarded her £1,000 for her school and a £50
BOLTON rock star Badly Drawn Boy, aka Damon Gough, has been approached by ITV to write the theme tune to its new football highlights programme. The singer, from Breightmet, has been asked to contribute a track which will be considered as the signature
A MAN who lured a near neighbour to his house on the pretext of offering him work and then viciously assaulted him has been convicted by a jury. Robert Houghton, aged 31, of Whitehead Crescent, Brandlesholme, Bury, was jailed for three years for causing
A BOLTON cricketer has been called up by England for a tour of Australia in April. Eagley batsman Tim Rees has been selected for the England under 17s side that will tour Down Under for two weeks, leaving on April 1. It's the latest cricketing honour
WALKDEN took a further step in proving that they have taken over Haslingden's title as unofficial kings of North West indoor cricket, winning the LCB's North West finals for the second year in succession. Astley Bridge's renaissance, however, was put
Tyldesley 39 Burnage 5 TYLDESLEY made it a sweet sixteenth successive win on Saturday with a comprehensive 39-5 victory over a spirited Burnage side who withstood a first half onslaught before succumbing to the consistent pressure play that has become
Bolton 17 Heaton Moor 6 THE importance of this game was somehow at odds with the relaxed atmosphere and build-up prior to it. Even late changes and the introduction of Hodgkinson and Towler did nothing to detract from the calm. The whistle, though, signalled
Crosfields 20 Bolton Mets 4 BOLTON Mets ARLFC travelled away on Saturday to Crosfields of Warrington. Not having played for four weeks, the Mets started the game at break-neck pace, putting Crosfields under pressure straight from the off. Good early drives
BRIAN Hall from Bolton United Harriers finished second for England in the Under 20's Men's High Jump competition at the Home Countries Under 20 and Senior Indoor International at Cardiff. Brian jumped two metres and is now looking for victories during
NOVICE poet Emily Dalton beat 6,000 children in a competition celebrating cats and dogs. The 11-year-old's poem, Lowry's Cat, impressed judges in the regional contest so much they put her top of the class and awarded her £1,000 for her school and a £50
EIGHT people who sold drugs to undercover police officers posing as addicts were jailed yesterday for a total of 32 years and two months. A ninth man who helped organise ecstasy deals for officers escaped jail and was sentenced to 200 hours of community
AN elderly couple claim they have been living in "a burglars' paradise" since Bolton Council refused to repair a fallen brick wall. John and May Ede, of Roosevelt Road, Kearsley, said there had been five attempted break-ins and a burglary along their
BOLTON Institute chief Mollie Temple is calling on ministers to end months of speculation and decide whether the college should be awarded university status before a general election. Ms Temple first spoke out about the issue at the Institute's annual
BOLTON rock star Badly Drawn Boy, aka Damon Gough, has been approached by ITV to write the theme tune to its new football highlights programme. The singer, from Breightmet, has been asked to contribute a track which will be considered as the signature
THE top of the table clash in Bolton Combination Division Two saw leaders Brindle Heath extend their lead to six points with a 4-1 away win at second placed Mitchell Shackleton. Robert Marriet set the ball rolling with the opener on 20 minutes with hotshot
THE Redwaters Cup competition produced excitement galore. In the one remaining Round One tie goals from Mark Broli (2), Ian McKinnon, Chris Mulcahy and David Bullough saw Britannia to a 5-1 victory over Church Inn, Wayne Woods replying. Half a dozen Round
ATHERTON Town striker Phil Hornby had a golden day with all four goals in his team's 4-4 Finnair Manchester Football League Premier Division draw at Mitchell Shackleton. Town were denied the services of centre backs John Elliott and Steve Dixon for the
THE Football Association has just launched what is already being heralded as its most innovative and exciting new initiative for grass roots football ever and three of our local clubs have been heavily involved in the pilot project. Daisy Hill, Horwich
THE bad weather was back to disrupt the North Bury League programme again this week with only 16 games being played. Roach Dynamo Under 12s lost out to Walshaw Sports after twice coming from behind. Walshaw scored first through Jonathan Hazeldine, Liam
A SECOND-HALF of quite stunning quality from Peter Cooper 's Old Boltonians left Southport Amateurs shaken and stirred in a 6-0 scoreline. "The first half was very tight," explained the Tower Street team boss. "We scored with virtually the last kick before
LEIGH RMI's scheduled Marsden Lancashire Trophy quarter-final replay with Lancaster at Hilton Park tonight has been postponed. Although the playing surface has improved considerably over the last couple of days, it is still considered unfit. No new date
MEMBERS of Christ Church, Heaton, re-enacted the happiest days of their lives last week when they staged a farce at the Parish Centre. The play, The Happiest Days Of Your Life, by John Dighton, was performed last Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
A COURT appearance looks guaranteed for anyone willing to appear in St Peter's Amateur Dramatic Society's next production. Members are searching for a man and a woman, both aged between 35 to 45 years to play to major roles in their forthcoming performance
LITTLE Lever crushed Harlequins 7-1 in a contest that promised to be the pick of the day's matches in the BSF Ladies Hockey League, but in reality turned out a great disappointment. Little Lever produced all the best moments with their forwards passing
WINNING can become a habit and Bolton Hockey Club's 1st and 2nd XIs have it. However, the teams both achieved three points this week, despite vastly different displays, the 1sts winning 2-1 against Preston and the 2nds 7-1 at Leigh. Preston came to play
WITH regard to the BEN Reader Club No. 12345 -- is this a record? I would think the chances of this sequence coming up in a draw are phenomenal. Congrats to the member! K F West Newbury Road, Little Lever, Bolton
THANK you for publicising my Rocky Mountain bike ride for The Children's Hospitals' Appeal in the BEN on January 26, 2001. Raising money for charities is becoming more and more difficult these days, and I would like to publicly thank the management and
YET again your letters page features another personal attack on Ruth Kelly MP, and in particular her voting record in the House of Commons. This is despite Ruth Kelly providing a full explanation of her voting record, and pointing out that most of an
I'D like to congratulate V Entwislte in speaking out as she did for Kevin Foster, the butcher who still uses pounds and ounces. He is quite right to do so, and is doing the public a favour. I for one will not ask for any other measure. Why, after generations
BOLTON Institute chief Mollie Temple has called on the Government to end months of speculation and finally decide whether the college will be awarded university status. She is asking that the decision is made before the General Election, due to take place
THE INHUMAN statements made by 'name and address supplied' prompts me again to write regarding snares being used. It never ceases to amaze me how these people can sleep at night. These blood-crazed elements in our society make every excuse possible so
BUSES have been taken off the streets of Bolton after inspectors swooped on a depot in the town. Random testing of 67 First Manchester single and double deckers revealed some had serious faults which needed urgent repairs. The exact number of buses which
POLICE are advising residents to take extra precautions when fitting household security cameras. Detectives in Little Hulton say there have been around 15 devices taken because it is easy to detach them. DI Ray Towey said: "You should have a guard or
POLICE stations could soon have prayer rooms in a pioneering move to attract new recruits from minority ethnic groups. The facility has just opened at Greater Manchester Police's headquarters in Stretford and, if the idea proves successful, it will be
ONE of the best loved Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals takes to the Bolton stage next month. Members of St Philips Amateur Operatic Dramatic Society head for exotic climes when they present South Pacific. The show runs Monday to Saturday, March 5 to 10
BOLTON Little Theatre's choice of next production has been ruffling the feathers of theatre audiences for more than 300 years . . . The Country Wife by William Wycherley may well be centuries old but the humour lives on. Described as a "bawdy comedy in
BUSINESS leaders in Bolton and Bury have welcomed the Bank of England's decision to cut interest rates by a quarter per cent to five and three quarter per cent. Andrew Ratcliff, Chief Executive (designate) of Bolton and Bury Chamber, said: "We have been
LOCAL investors and entrepreneurs have been given an important new trade link to opportunities in developing overseas economies. The Northwest Development Agency and the business support organisation Nimtech have been chosen by the United Nations Industrial
A SCHOOLBOY, who was praised by firefighters for staying calm as they cut him out of a crashed car, is recovering at home. Daniel Fisher, aged 10, was commended for not panicking while being trapped in the vehicle, after the accident with a motorbike
THE vulnerable will benefit from the £1.7 million health authority cash windfall given out to Bolton and Wigan. A spokesman for Wigan and Bolton Health Authority said the extra money, given by the Government to make sure people living in poorer areas
RESIDENTS on a Bolton estate are today celebrating the announcement of almost £80,000 to boost community confidence. The Home Office has awarded the cash as an extension of the national neighbourhood warden scheme. The successful bid by housing association
A YOUNG girl is recovering from a life-altering operation to correct her badly disfigured feet. Little Katie Power, aged 10, of Lonsdale Road has a beaming smile and is full of fun - but she was born with a crippling disfigurement - both her feet were
MATURE males pining for a Valentine sweetheart need look no further than Mrs Wright. The Lancashire Dining Club, run by Tottington councillor and businesswoman Yvonne Wright, is desperately seeking eligible bachelors in their 40s and 50s to meet ladies
BOLTON'S first Asian councillor believes the huge relief effort triggered by the Indian earthquake has united the town's Hindu and Muslim populations. Cllr Ansar Hussain, who made history when he was elected in Derby ward last May, says determination
SAM Allardyce is maintaining his interest in Coventry striker John Aloisi and could return for more talks with the Sky Blues later in the week. The Wanderers' boss has again confirmed he has had no contact from Wimbledon manager Terry Burton over speculation
BOLTON League junior teams started their indoor competition at Turton Leisure Centre. The competition, sponsored by Cricket World (Bolton), takes place on Sundays from 1pm-3 until April 1, and is in association with the Bolton Cricket Development Committee
Leigh 6 pts, Northwich 8 LEIGH'S dismal league season continued against Northwich when they lost 8-6. True to form they conceded an early penalty to trail. Good forward play set up several chances but all went begging in their failure to finish. Parker
WIGAN Warriors still licking their wounds after the Challenge Cup exit at St Helens field a blend of youth and experience for the Mark Forster testimonial match against Warrington Wolves at Wilderspool tomorrow. Several first team members and many of
Westhoughton Lions U8s 20 To a man, the Lions U8s and their coach are Wigan Warriors supporters and were desperately disappointed about their heroes' inauspicious exit from the Rugby League Challenge Cup on Saturday. So, like all good young warriors,
PRINCE Charles says in a television interview to be shown in Canada soon that he sees no reason why his mother should ever retire. A monarch "is reaching the most useful stage" at the point in life when most people retire, the Prince says in the interview
Model racing cars and aircraft proved a popular draw at Leverhulme Park when Bolton Model Engineering Club held a meeting in 1948. The cars were raced on a newly-built permanent track and re-fuelling on some models was by hypodermic syringe. Many people
LEISURE, SPORT & KEEP FIT BOLTON Excel, Lower Bridgeman Street, tel: 334456: yoga, 7.30pm-9pm. DEANE Leisure Centre, Junction Road, Deane, tel: 334432: aerobics, 8pm-9pm; swim lessons, 5.30pm-6.30pm; line dancing for beginners and experts, 8pm; multi
DESPITE the rain sheeting down on Sunday morning, a goodly number of members met at the town hall for the days rides, the upside of the morning being a very mild temperature, almost spring like but not quite. Climbing out of Bolton up Bull Hill was warm
A COMPANY which employs more than 1,000 people at a Bolton call centre said it is not one of the workplaces described as a "sweatshop" in a new report. Vertex said it has never exploited its staff at its Manchester Road branch, after the TUC claimed many
A BOLTON MP has supported a move which he hopes will end the tragedy and suffering caused by fireworks. Dr Brian Iddon wants to see the introduction of new regulations to reduce the number of accidents and has co-sponsored an Early Day Motion in Parliament
A PENSIONER who escaped unhurt from her blazing house has said a heartfelt thank you to the two young heroes who saved her life. Brave schoolboys Matthew Done and Ryan Fletcher, both prefects at Bridgewater Primary School, Little Hulton, flagged down
A YOUNG woman left fighting for her life after a motorway accident has left hospital -- 15 months after the smash. Kathryn Gottweiss, now 21, was left paralysed from the neck down after the five-vehicle accident on the M61 north of Bolton in October,
FLAGSHIP health facilities in Bolton have been praised by health minister John Hutton. Mr Hutton, second-in-command at the Department of Health, was in town to visit a range of key projects. He described facilities like the new eye operating theatre at
TWO of Bolton's top headteachers will be meeting "our Mo" today to pick up awards recognising the excellence of their schools. Woodside Senior School head Tony Johns and Marion Evans, of Horwich's Claypool County Primary School, will be guests of honour
LEIGH RMI's hopes of reaching the last four of the Lancashire Marsden Trophy tonight rest on the state of the Hilton Park pitch. Badly affected by Leigh Centurions' Challenge Cup win over Salford on Sunday after two days of heavy rain, the playing surface
BURY'S on-loan striker John Newby has given his firmest hint yet that he may stay at Gigg Lane for the rest of the season. Since the arrival of the pacy 23-year-old, the Shakers have won two matches and both boss Andy Preece and chairman Terry Robinson
IN this weather-beaten football season the Bolton Boys Federation has taken drastic action whilst others dilly dally. A decision has been taken to suspend play for two weeks and erase records to date. All divisions will now be split into two sections
