ANNIVERSARIES! As I seek to continue life's journey along the periodically rocky road of my eighth decade, no doubt it's inevitable that anniversaries and special milestones are encountered with increasing frequency.

So, in this context, may I congratulate The Bolton News on reaching its 150th birthday (or its Sesquicentennial, according to a bit of obscure trivia which once came my way). Echoing the words of editor Ian Savage in the paper's fascinating special souvenir publication (highly-recommended reading for Boltonians everywhere), our local newspaper has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

Blessed with a number of strong passions: Wingates Band – 1873; Bolton Wanderers – 1874 or 1877, Bolton and District Cricket Association – 1888, the stories of these local institutions have been most comprehensively chronicled in the Bolton Evening News, and The Bolton News.

Congratulations, too, go to New Rosemere AOS on its 90th birthday (Letters, March 20), a real gem in Bolton's cultural crown. I have had the pleasure of seeing many of their gorgeous Gilbert and Sullivan productions and Saturday's production of 'The Gondoliers' is most eagerly anticipated.

The congregation of St Elizabeth's in Horwich is about to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 'new' church in Cedar Avenue, via events spread over three days at the end of April. This Golden Jubilee also coincides with the 125th anniversary of the genesis of this church in 1892. There is a fancy name for that too – a Quasquicentennial.

Finally as a long-time rank and file member of Horwich Heritage, I greatly enjoyed the recently-opened exhibition (the latest in a truly superb series, now numbering more than fifty!), which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the opening of the society's own permanent 'home' - the Heritage Centre in Beaumont Road - which finally manifested itself after over 20 years of wonderful work by HH in perpetuating the town's history.

So, whilst the natural tendency may be to bemoan the increasingly frequent trials and tribulations of advancing years, the flip-side of this particular coin is the plethora of such special events which greatly enrich life's tapestry, and which are to be savoured and enjoyed to the full.

And also congratulations to Greenhalgh's bakery on their Diamond Jubilee also – their pies, pasties and delicious egg custards continue to be regularly enjoyed!

David Kaye

Chorley Road

Blackrod