From the Evening News, February 2, 1977

A PORTRAIT of Joe Public - Mr Average Briton - detailing his life from the cradle from the grave, is out today. The book, "Britain 1977", gives vital statistics about life in the UK.

Total births of boys exceed those of girls by six per cent, but more baby boys die in infancy. Men in Britain are outnumbered by 105 to 100. The number of single people over 15 has fallen to an all-time low of 22.7 of the population. The book also shows that Joe Public is spending more on housing, cars, alcohol, recreation and entertainment, and less on clothing and footwear. Beer drinking has gone up 30 per cent.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, February 2, 1952

SIR,- Whilst granting that once in a decade this country produces an undoubted genius in the physical form of a woman, the suggestion of one reader, that Parliament should hold more of them, is even more alarming that visions of the next coal delivery. For instance, imagine what would happen if we were governed by an all-woman assembly.

It would, I imagine, take approximately three weeks for the house of Commons to become a much-used "Corridor of Mirrors", with "Miss Prim" preening herself before the general "entry of the gladiators", and at the same time casting a suspicious sideways squint at "Miss Proper" at the next mirror, to see if her "genuine mink" is really rabbit.

Topics of discussion would of necessity be limited to one per week, since the length of a woman's tongue has, as yet, to be ascertained, and a general recess declared during all "sales" periods.

Above all, which brave person would call them to order, since the chances of agreement amongst a female government must be even more remote than a "yes" from Vyshinsky. Even so, in matters of finance, they would undoubtedly excel.

G.A. Entwistle, 21 Netherfield-rd., Bolton.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, February 2, 1877

THIS morning, at the Bridgewater Hotel, Buckley-lane, Farnworth, the adjourned inquest on the bodies of the 18 men and boys killed at the catastrophe, on the 23rd ult, at the Stonehill colliery, belonging to Messrs Roscow and Lord, was held before J.B. Edge, Esq., district coroner, assisted by his deputy, Mr A. Edwards. The following are the names of the deceased:

John Stones, aged 23, Dobhill-street, Farnworth. Wife and one child; William Chirnside, 35 years, Bridgewater-street, Farnworth. Wife and two children; George Gerrard, 23, Albert Road, Farnworth, single; John Gerrard, 20, brother of George, same address, single; William Entwistle, 27, Glynne-street, Farnworth, single; James William Brown, 19, Cross-street, Farnworth, single; Thomas Barnes, 21, Lords Square, Farnworth, single; Ralph Eckersley, 18, Oldhall-street, Kearsley, single; Owen Williams, 35, Cook-street, Kearsley. Wife and no children; Daniel Walker, 27, Newport-street, Longcauseway Farnworth. Wife and three children; Albert Daley, 25, Crompton-street, Farnworth, single; James H. Shorrocks, 37, Southern-street, Little Hulton. Wife and five children; Richard Shorrocks, 15, son of above; Joseph James Hall, 15, Worsley-road, Little Hulton; Joseph Farnworth, 26, Topping's-houses, Worsley-road, Little Hulton. Wife and two children; James Lomas, 19, stepbrother to above, single; Abraham Scott, 31, Tynebank, Little Hulton. Wife and five children; Thomas Smethurst, 34, Queen-street, Little Hulton. Wife and one child.