From the Evening News, September 16, 1976

25 YEARS AGO

REDUCED services, lower standards and higher rate bills. That's the gloomy prospect in Bolton next year because of Government demands. The Council has been told to slash £1 million in spending to create a "standstill". The highest cuts will have to be made in the Education Department, the authority's biggest spender.

WITH a sense of great occasion, the new Royal Exchange Theatre of Manchester was officially opened last night. Included in those who appeared were Lord Olivier and Patricia Routledge.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

September 17, 1951

THE demand for grammar school education in Bolton has been one of the most insistent and significant trends in education. To meet the demand for places in grammar schools, which is not entirely met by existing schools, a new and independent grammar school, the Isis, came into existence. Since it was formed a few years ago, the school has been situated in Mawdsley-street. Because the demand for places has been so great, Mr Albert Smith, the headmaster, and Mr Frank Hoyle, the bursar, decided to take over Eden's Orphanage and expand the school. On Saturday, several hundred parents and friends attended the official opening day.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

September 17, 1876

ON Thursday evening a meeting of the inhabitants and ratepayers of Tong Higher End was held in the schoolroom, Tong Moor Gate, for the purpose of taking into consideration and expressing an opinion with regard to the extension of the boundaries of the Borough of Bolton, which is intended to include the township of Tong.

It was stated that there were some ways in which the rate payers of Tong would gain advantage, such as the same price for gas as the Borough, the streets, road and lights would be attended to, and the street sewers would be adequately attended to.

However, among the disadvantages was that Bolton's debt was said to be two millions.

The chairman said that he was no believer in the economy of the Borough of Bolton.

He thought that the economy of the Borough was not economical and was ruinously administered.

After a conversational discussion, a resolution was put and passed "That this meeting declines to sanction the incorporation of Tong with the Borough of Bolton".