From the Evening News, January 15, 1993: STAFF at a Bolton carpet firm will get the chance to sit down to Christmas dinner in the sun - a month late.

The four staff at Fair Price Carpets were delighted when boss Gordon Long announced he was sending them to the sunshine island of Tenerife as a Christmas bonus for their hard work. But due to the popularity of winter breaks on the island, they were unable to jet off as planned. Now the holiday has been fixed up for January 31.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

January 15, 1978

A NICE cup of tea in the morning is still Bolton's recipe for the finest start to the day. Details of what we do when we wake up are revealed in a survey carried out for a national bedding manufacturer. Nationwide 51 per cent of wives take their husbands early morning tea - but only 43 per cent of husbands return the favour.

A survey around Bolton by the Evening News proves that here, brewing the first cuppa is still a woman's job. Husbands, if they bring their thirsty wives a pot of tea at all, only manage it once a week on a lazy lie-in Sunday.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

January 15, 1953

TWO Bolton bands which are following a fine tradition of local success in the dance band world are the orchestras of Bunny Glenn, and the Woodchoppers, whose players hail from Bolton, Farnworth, Leigh and district.

At the East Lancashire district championships of the Melody Maker in Preston, in competition with bands from Manchester, Barrow and Preston, they have won the first two places.

MR. Bolton's house of the future will be in traditional style - but with better heating, lighting, better plumbing, and better foundations for its light brown brickwork. This is the plan for a house suggested by the Ministry of Works in a Modern Building Exhibition, which opens tomorrow at the Great Hall of Bolton Technical College.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

January 15, 1903

SUPERINTENDENT H.T. Batten presented his fifth annual report of the work of the Fire Department to members of the Committee on Wednesday. From this it appears that the number of calls to fires or supposed fires during the year was 78 - an increase of eight on the previous year. There were four false alarms.

The total loss occasioned at the fires was assessed at £33,000. Of the 74 fires, none resulted in serious loss (it should be explained that the loss is not classed as serious unless two-thirds of the property is destroyed).

The steam fire engines had been used six times, 16 fires were extinguished by the brigade with hydrants and hose from street mains, six with steamers from mill lodgers, 36 with hand-pumps and buckets, and six were smothered out, the remainder being dealt with by police and civilians.