Archive

  • Norton hits back at Terry Wogan

    TV presenter Graham Norton has defended his new show Strictly Dance Fever after it was blasted by broadcasting veteran Terry Wogan. Wogan said the BBC were "beating an idea to death" by creating yet another Strictly Come Dancing spin-off. "Bless him,"

  • Chocs away for boxing hopefuls

    SOME of Bolton's biggest boxing talents are laying off the Easter eggs and getting ready for battle in the ring over the next few days writes Marc Iles Tonge ABC's Light Heavyweight Robin White will compete in the ABA Under-20s championships tonight and

  • Repairs need to be piority

    HOW sad! Our beloved council cannot find the money to provide a decent road surface. Hardly surprising, after wasting funds plonking humps on almost every street. Then there's the cost of erecting an archway and supplying rubbish bins for this, that and

  • Where are yobs' parents?

    WITH reference to your two articles on teenage gangs on Tuesday, March 22. As a parent of two teenagers, I am very concerned about the increase in under-age drinking and violence against people and their property. I live in the Heaton area and, along

  • Teen drunks moved not eliminated

    THE council and police seem to be patting themselves on the back, and the government is offering praise for their success in sorting out youths drinking in Bolton's many town centres. I personally don't think this has been dealt with fully yet. Westhoughton

  • On this day March 24

    1603: Elizabeth I died aged 69, after nearly 45 years as Queen. 1834: Artist and poet William Morris was born in London. 1877: The University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge ended in a dead heat. On the same date in 1951, the race was called off

  • Fate of Reebok Stadium in one man's hands

    10 YEARS AGO From the Evening News March 24, 1995:The fate of Bolton Wanderers' new superstadium will lie in the hands of Environment Secretary John Gummer. Planning councillors were told yesterday that Mr Gummer will be personally responsible for deciding

  • Craig tops LRC honours list

    LANCASHIRE Road Club riders dominated the weekend local cycling time trials. Craig Battersby and Paul Shallicker fresh from pre-season training in Mallorca rode in the Circuit of Ingleborough time trial. The event organised by Pendle Forest CC was on

  • Bolton man's jungle ordeal

    A BOLTON botanist lost in the jungle for five days survived by eating plants and drinking stream water. John Gillatt, aged 55, from Heaton, became lost in dense jungle in Malaysia during a solo three-mile hike. He had with him just an apple, an orange

  • Girls in biathlon triumph

    CANON Slade added yet another honour to their ever lengthening list of athletics achievements when their year nine girls won the national schools biathlon championships. Rebecca Fordham, Kate Holden and Lucie Hindley went one better than last year's second

  • Students can cash in on an Oxford place

    STUDENTS from poorer backgrounds in Bolton are being urged to apply for a place at Oxford University. Posters have been placed in schools across the borough telling pupils: "It's not what's in your pocket, it's what's in your head." The campaign tells

  • Next date

    THE next meeting of Adlington Town Council will be on April 18, at Adlington Community Centre, Railway Road, at 7.15pm.

  • Easter lunch

    HORWICH Tuesday Club is holding an Easter lunch for older and disabled people at Horwich Resource Centre on Tuesday. For details ring Barbara Ronson on Bolton 695742.

  • Alan's big carp catch

    BOLTON angler Alan Hayes made a big impression on a fishing trip to Florida's Gulf Coast. He hit the big time on the Rotunda Canal when he landed a 56lbs grass carp which is believed to be the biggest carp ever caught on a modern fishing pole. Alan's

  • Break for dad

    THE Bolton and North-west Manchester branch of the National Childbirth Trust would love to find stay-at-home dads keen to set up a fathers' coffee group. For more information about the group, call Claire Bury on 01204-596682.

  • Plans to axe trees

    PLANS have been submitted to remove half of the trees that are covered in a Tree Preservation Order at the Old Vicarage, in Railway Road, Adlington. The aim is to reduce overcrowding. A request has also been made to prune four branches that hang over

  • Charity seeks runners

    A MEDICAL charity has a few places left for the BUPA Greater Manchester Run. Myasthenia Gravis Association's Bolton Support Group is encouraging people to come forward and take part in the run on Sunday, May 22, to help fight the muscle wearing disease

  • Golfers chip in £1,700 for the Christie

    GOLFERS at Pike Fold Golf Club in Bury have presented the Christie Hospital with £1,700 following a year of fundraising events. Club secretary John O'Donnell has raised money for the Christie for many years in memory of his son Peter who died from lung

  • Still time for hot date with Coldplay

    TICKETS to see Grammy-award winning band Coldplay have yet to sell out. The group announced two summer gigs at Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium for July 4 and 5. But booking agencies say tickets are still available. It is the same situation for all of

  • Patients have say over hospital care

    PATIENTS staying on some wards at the Royal Bolton Hospital will be asked to fill in comment cards about their treatment. As part of a new government scheme, the Department of Health has asked hospitals nationwide to ask patients to fill in the cards

  • Street in line for award

    CORONATION Street is among the leading nominees for this year's Bafta TV Awards. The popular Granada soap is in the running for best continuing drama. BBC1's EastEnders failed to gain a nomination for the second year in succession, leaving Corrie up against

  • Villagers urged to fight windfarm

    Residents have been urged to oppose the latest bid for a windfarm scheme in Edgworth. Villagers have spent 12 months fiercely protesting against the plans to build two 95 metre turbines on land off Broadhead Moor. They thought they had won their campaign

  • Crackdown on road sign crime

    MEASURES to curb the growing trade in stolen road signs have been unveiled in Bolton. The Highways Agency launched a scheme that will mean every vehicle working on the motorway network has to bear a sign showing it belongs to a registered contractor.

  • Hospital 'on a knife edge'

    THE Royal Bolton Hospital is on a "knife edge" and could lose its only star, the hospital's finance director has said. Colin Dunn warned that the hospital could become a zero star trust because of its continuing financial problems. It is forecast the

  • Keep cars from Pike gates, say rescuers

    BANK Holiday ramblers at Rivington are being urged to keep their cars clear of access routes and gates by rescuers who fear they could find their routes blocked. The plea has been made by the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team which says it is facing one of

  • 210,000 expected to take off for Easter

    A STAGGERING 210,000 passengers are expected to travel through Manchester Airport this Bank Holiday weekend - a 10.2 per cent increase on Easter last year. John Spooner, managing director of Manchester Airport, said: "We're expecting this Easter to be

  • Ten-year wait ends in baby joy for couple

    TINY Nathan Pomfret brought tears of joy to his parents' eyes when he was born - because the couple have been trying for a decade to have a child. Nathan, who weighed 8lb, was born at the Royal Bolton Hospital after mum Diane became pregnant through IVF

  • Ex-Wanderers stars shine on night for Dave

    FORMER Wanderers stars attended a tribute night in memory of cult figure and commentator Dave "Ding Dong Do" Higson at the Reebok Stadium on Wednesday. John McGinlay, John Thomas and Tony Kelly were among the ex-players to attend, supporting Dave's wife

  • Wanderers in Malaga star chase

    WANDERERS should know in two weeks whether they have been successful in their bid to sign Malaga's versatile defender, Juanito. Sam Allardyce has made the 24-year-old Spaniard a lucrative offer but the player's agent, Ramon Arasa, says negotiations with

  • Ben Haim leads Israel World Cup challenge

    IT is a common misconception that Tal Ben Haim is the regular captain of the Israeli national team. For all his talent and the fact that he is making a big name for himself in the Premiership, he is just 22 and still one of the youngest members of a squad

  • Get ready for Easter fun in Bolton by Cathy Savage

    I hope you all enjoyed last week's continental market as much as I did - it certainly seemed to be a big hit with the public. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for supporting it. Please note in your diaries that Team Fantastic, who

  • Here comes the summer by Nicola Mostyn

    It is a testament to how depressing this winter has been that, given a glimpse of sunshine, the entire country left their homes in flip flops and shorts last weekend in pursuit of barbeque equipment. Sporting shades and dreaming of bikinis and bottles

  • Fixtures for the weekend

    FRIDAY Engage Super League Bradford v Leeds 8pm Northern Rail Cup Gateshead v Barrow 7:30 SATURDAY (3pm unless stated) Engage Super League Wigan v St Helens 12:30 Widnes v Leigh 12:45 Salford v Warrington London v Hull Wakefield v Huddersfield Northern

  • Norton hits back at Terry Wogan

    TV presenter Graham Norton has defended his new show Strictly Dance Fever after it was blasted by broadcasting veteran Terry Wogan. Wogan said the BBC were "beating an idea to death" by creating yet another Strictly Come Dancing spin-off. "Bless him,"

  • Warning to heads from Ruth Kelly

    Head teachers face legal action from their staff if they fail to implement a deal designed to free up teachers' time, Education Secretary Ruth Kelly has warned. The biggest head teachers' union last week voted to pull out of the controversial workforce

  • 'Much loved' bishop dies

    A FORMER Bishop of Bolton has died, aged 71. The Rt Rev David Bonser was the Bishop of Bolton from 1991 to 1999. He died this week after a long illness. Born in Huddersfield, Bishop Bonser left school at 15 with no formal qualifications. He studied at

  • Tribute to daredevil

    A DAREDEVIL pensioner who completed dozens of stunts to raise money for charity has died at the age of 87. Harold Lever was known for his untiring charity work and dedication to his local church and Scout groups. The great-grandfather completed abseils

  • Care blow for Emily's parents

    A DISABLED girl is to have respite care for her parents slashed by more than 80 per cent because of a budget crisis at Bury Council. Emily Riley, aged eight, suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy and has had her annual 232 hours of respite care cut

  • Easter chemists' rota

    SEVERAL chemists will be open on rota over the Easter holidays. Bolton Primary Care Trust has issued the following list: March 25, Good Friday 9am-11pm - Landmark Pharmacy. Tel: 01204 529111. Landmark House, 12 Chorley New Road, Bolton. 9am-10pm - Nash

  • It's strictly Disco

    A DISCO-DANCING diva from Bolton is to appear live on TV taking part in the final auditions for the BBC's new dance show. Suzanne Gaskell, aged 21, and her dance partner Paul Culshaw, aged 20, beat thousands of others at the Manchester auditions in February

  • Lawyer hired for town hall strike

    STALLHOLDERS at Bolton's Market Hall have hired a top lawyer to advise them in their fight against redevelopment plans. The move came as David Wood, the leader of the traders at the Grade II listed building, warned that the fight to stop the £30 million

  • It's strictly Disco

    A DISCO-DANCING diva from Bolton is to appear live on TV taking part in the final auditions for the BBC's new dance show. Suzanne Gaskell, aged 21, and her dance partner Paul Culshaw, aged 20, beat thousands of others at the Manchester auditions in February

  • Still time for hot date with Coldplay

    TICKETS to see Grammy-award winning band Coldplay have yet to sell out. The group announced two summer gigs at Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium for July 4 and 5. But booking agencies say tickets are still available. It is the same situation for all of

  • Famous brass band celebrates centenary

    AN AWARD-winning Bolton brass band will celebrate 100 years of performances with a concert at Bolton's Victoria Hall. At the Brilliant Brass, Brilliant Voices concert on Saturday, April 16, Wingates Brass Band will be joined by the Warrington Male Voice

  • Security stepped up at hospital

    SECURITY has been stepped up at the Royal Bolton Hospital after an increase in attacks on staff. There were 122 incidents - ranging from staff being punched to others being threatened with violence - on wards, corridors and offices throughout the hospital

  • Whoam in a wheelbarra

    MY dad remembers the first line or so of a song his grandmother sang when she was in her 80s. She was the widow of Paul Thomasson, who was killed in the Pretoria Pit disaster in 1910. They lived on St Helens Road. No one present at the time knew the song

  • Repairs, not speed humps

    WITH regard to the current state of the roads in Bolton, may I suggest that the people who decided to use the tons of tarmacadam for the creation of speed humps be made to dig them up. I am sure that, when recycled, there would be more than sufficient

  • Racist slurs just an excuse for trouble

    I WISH to congratulate Mr A Rigby on his excellent letter, "Kilroy breathes fresh air into political world". I personally didn't witness any trouble on my arrival, and therefore was surprised to learn about the protesters. The fledgling party Veritas'

  • Don't blame Lib Dems for road decline

    IT is ridiculous and hypocritical of the Labour Leader Cllr Cliff Morris to criticise the Liberal Democrats for not spending more money on Bolton's crumbling roads. Furthermore, for him to suggest that they would have put more money into roads is unbelievable

  • MP accused over road deaths claim

    BOLTON South-east MP Brian Iddon has been reported to the Speaker of the House of Commons over claims he misled MPs over road deaths in Bolton. Election rival Deborah Dunleavy has written to the Speaker, Michael Martin, asking him to look into a speech

  • Bury area results round-up

    LATEST details Radcliffe Short Mat League PRESENTATION evening will be held on April 29, at St Marys Social Club, Radcliffe, tickets available from Mr A. Smith, Tel No. 0161 723 4671. The league has vacancies for next season. Anyone interested please

  • What's on: Octagon, Bolton, Beautiful Thing

    Award-winning story about life on a Manchester council estate, filled with nostalgic music and promising a witty and winning take on what it's like to be sixteen and falling in love. Until Apr 2 (except Easter Monday) £6.50 - £15.95. ROYAL EXCHANGE, MANCHESTER

  • Fire destroys van

    A VAN was destroyed after being set alight on Wednesday. Firefighters were called to the burning Astra Van vehicle on Bolton House Road in Leigh at around 8.45pm.

  • Call for a visit

    HORWICH Visiting Service provides help for lonely, elderly, isolated and housebound people in Horwich and Blackrod. If you, or someone you know, would welcome a visit from one of the volunteers, call 01204-696341.

  • £4,000 raised in memory of young Emma

    MONEY donated in memory of a young girl who died from a brain tumour has been handed over to two charities who cared for her. A massive £4,020 was raised in memory of Emma Harrison, aged 12, who died on New Year's Eve in the Heywood ward at the Royal

  • Shane's walkies help the lifeboats

    BORDER collie Shane dragged his master, Les Watson, from Eccles to Bolton town centre on a sponsored walk to raise cash for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Members of the RNLI greeted the pair, who took part in the sponsored dog walk, when they

  • Ex-Wanderers stars shine on night for Dave

    FORMER Wanderers stars attended a tribute night in memory of cult figure and commentator Dave "Ding Dong Do" Higson at the Reebok Stadium on Wednesday. John McGinlay, John Thomas and Tony Kelly were among the ex-players to attend, supporting Dave's wife

  • It's just the ticket

    PRIMARY school children have been treated to Britain's first blockbuster animated film. The pupils from St George's Primary School, in The Hoskers, Westhoughton, watched the animated movie Valiant, courtesy of Vue Cinemas in Middlebrook. The cinema gave

  • 'Empty club needs bulldozing'

    FIRE bosses are calling for a derelict Labour club to be bulldozed to prevent young firebugs from getting killed. Teenage arsonists piled timber against the former Bradford Ward Labour club, on Bridgeman Street, Bolton, on Wednesday and set the building

  • Good weather attracts burglars, warn police

    BURGLARS are preying on houses left insecure while residents enjoy warmer spring weather, police have warned. Almost a fifth of burglaries committed last weekend were down to homeowners leaving doors and windows open. With sunshine and temperatures of

  • Birthday demo for Malcolm

    A VETERAN peace campaigner from Bolton has celebrated his 75th birthday - at a demonstration against Britain's presence in Iraq. Malcolm Pittock, of Breightmet, first became involved with peace campaigns aged 11 and has protested against a series of wars

  • Students can cash in on an Oxford place

    STUDENTS from poorer backgrounds in Bolton are being urged to apply for a place at Oxford University. Posters have been placed in schools across the borough telling pupils: "It's not what's in your pocket, it's what's in your head." The campaign tells

  • Asbestos forces pensioners' move

    A GROUP of pensioners in Westhoughton have been forced to move home. The Westhoughton Old Aged Pensioners Association met in a clubhouse behind Church Street. Mill owners Taylor and Hartley gave the land to the pensioners and donations from local folk

  • Famous brass band celebrates centenary

    AN AWARD-winning Bolton brass band will celebrate 100 years of performances with a concert at Bolton's Victoria Hall. At the Brilliant Brass, Brilliant Voices concert on Saturday, April 16, Wingates Brass Band will be joined by the Warrington Male Voice

  • Games torch comes to town

    A SPECIAL Olympic torch will light up the Greater Manchester Youth Games in Bolton this summer. Officers from Greater Manchester Police will carry the Flame of Hope to Bolton Arena on the weekend of June 11 and 12. The Special Olympics torch run, which

  • Easter procession in town square

    THE true meaning of Easter will be brought home when Christians carry a large wooden cross across Victoria Square in Bolton on Friday. A procession will take place through the centre of Bolton before a short service is carried out in front of the town

  • Jailed over armed attack

    A BOLTON man involved in an armed attack at another man's home in Atherton has been jailed for two-and-a-half-years. Wendy Nilsen, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that on June 7 last year, Paul Weaver was one of five men who went to the flat of

  • Go-ahead for appeal in case of baby killer

    A CHILDMINDER who killed a five-month old baby could face a longer jail term after the prosecution won permission to appeal against her three-year sentence. The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, has ruled that the case of Rebecca Wilson should go to the

  • Union expands into RL

    BOLTON Rugby Union Club is looking to form a Rugby League side in connection with its future plans for growth within the Bolton community, and are looking for players of all standards to become part of a new era. The squad will initially play freindlies

  • Get on course with Boro - and City!

    AN FA Level One Coaching Course is being held at Radcliffe Boro's Stainton Park home. It will run on the following days: Saturday April 16, Sunday 17, Monday 18, Wednesday 20 and Saturday 23, cost £85. For more information contact Kevin Glendon on: 724

  • Council is to blame for road scandal

    So, once again, Bolton's road users are let down by the local council. (Highway maintenance £400,000 cut - March 23). Strange, is it not, that the council can find sufficient funds for the ridiculous 'traffic calming' speed humps that now permeate most

  • Next date

    THE next meeting of Adlington Town Council will be on April 18, at Adlington Community Centre, Railway Road, at 7.15pm.

  • Band aid for church

    HIT Bolton band Jeriatric Jazz will be making music to raise money for St Paul' s Peel in Little Hulton. The band will perform on April 8 at the parish hall, where there will be a licensed bar and a raffle. Doors open at 7.30 and tickets are £6, including

  • Charity seeks runners

    A MEDICAL charity has a few places left for the BUPA Greater Manchester Run. Myasthenia Gravis Association's Bolton Support Group is encouraging people to come forward and take part in the run on Sunday, May 22, to help fight the muscle wearing disease

  • Fears over rise in fuel prices

    RISING diesel and petrol costs are putting the squeeze on motorists and transport businesses. Prices across Bolton are going up in line with the rest of the country and diesel is now costing as much as 87.9p per litre. Road hauliers are warning some firms

  • I'll be back, vows soccer ace

    A FORMER Bolton Wanderers soccer player who suffered an horrific leg injury during a match has vowed to battle back to full fitness and play again. Marcus Hallows feared his leg may have to be amputated after a tackle during a game for Altrincham FC left

  • Games torch comes to town

    A SPECIAL Olympic torch will light up the Greater Manchester Youth Games in Bolton this summer. Officers from Greater Manchester Police will carry the Flame of Hope to Bolton Arena on the weekend of June 11 and 12. The Special Olympics torch run, which

  • Police chief cleared over protest ban

    GREATER Manchester Chief Constable Michael Todd has been cleared of claims a ban on pro-Palestinian protests was unlawful. The Victory to the Intifada group was stopped from demonstrating outside Marks and Spencer over Christmas. High Court judge, Mr

  • Naps away for £500 prize

    THE Bolton Evening News annual Naps competition gets under way on Saturday with 200 teams setting out on the chase for the £500 first prize. The horseracing competition, sponsored by Anthony Axford, requires teams to place an imaginary £1 bet on a horse

  • Look Who's talking

    ACTOR Christopher Eccleston will take the Lord out of Time Lord when he steps into the Tardis for the first time on Saturday evening. The 41-year-old from Little Hulton will be the first actor in the show's history to give the Doctor a northern accent

  • Bury and Radcliffe results round-up

    WHO'S hot - who's not BURY & RADCLIFFE JUNIOR LEAGUE RESULTS LEAGUE UNDER-12 DIVISION ONE Chadderton Jnrs 0, Horwich St Marys 8; Unsworth 2, Marauders 2; Moorside Rangers 2, De La Salle 2. DIVISION TWO Rossendale Utd 1, Ladybridge 9; Chaddy End 5,

  • Sunday night stars ready to help charity

    MANCHESTER will play host to its biggest musical theatre event on Sunday, April 24. "Sunday Night at the Manchester Palace" will see many of London's theatre greats under one roof for a spectacular event in aid of the pain relief charity DebRA. An all-star