25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, July 8, 1976

SIZZLING Riviera-type sunshine has brought few complaints from Bolton people in the past week or two.

But down at the fairground, showmen are blaming the heat for one of their quietest wakes weeks in the town. One stallholder said: "We had a poor time at New Year, too, only then it was because of the cold weather. We can't win."

LOWTON is claiming to be Lancashire's leading twin town. Three of the six couples living on the East Lancashire Road in the village have had twins. And elsewhere in the area twin births are booming. The three sets on the East Lancashire Road are all non-identical, all "unexpected". And all families have no history of twin births.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, July 9, 1951

MISS Kathleen Mayoh, the 19-years-old Farnworth long-distance swimmer, yesterday became the the woman to conquer Lake Windermere. She accomplished the 10 mile swim in 10hr 2 min. It was her second attempt. Her first effort last August was foiled by the weather - a strong headwind, torrential rain, and waves which turned the lake into an inland sea - and she was forced to give up after covering nearly seven miles in seven hours and 40 minutes.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, July 8, 1876

THE Duke of Connaught, the Queen's third son, together with the troops of his regiment - the 7th Hussars - passed through Bolton en route from Liverpool to Edinburgh. All along the route on Tuesday, from St Helens to Bolton, crowds turned out, and at Chowbent, special preparations were made for his reception. An abundance of bunting was displayed, and the good Chowbent people so overflowed with loyalty as to go to the expense of printing a number of bills with the words "Welcome to the Duke of Connaught".

From eleven o'clock in the forenoon, crowds began to assemble in Bolton and on the road along which the Duke was expected to travel. At twelve o'clock the Town Hall Square was rapidly filling with people, and up Derby-street and on to Four Lane-ends, Hulton, the road was lined with spectators.

The crowd which preceded and walked alongside the troop grew larger at every step, and gaining the toll bar at Daubhill, grew to immense proportions. Getting into Great Moor-street the road became almost impassable. Several people were knocked down, and at the junction with Crook-street one poor woman was with difficulty rescued from being trampled to death.

The scene on the Town Hall Square was something to be remembered. The Duke made his entry amid vociferous cheering again and again renewed. He repeatedly saluted, and was obviously much gratified at his enthusiastic reception.

The Duke took up his quarters for the night at the Victoria Hotel, and by eight o'clock on Wednesday morning the Town Hall Square was again filled by a large crowd anxious to catch a last glimpse of his Royal Highness previous to his departure for Rochdale. At three minutes past nine, the regiment began to move off down Oxford-street, to Deansgate, Churchgate, and Bury New-road. The reception at every point was most loyal and enthusiastic. At the boundary of the borough the Duke cordially shook hands with the Mayor and the Town Clerk. The Duke heartily and repeatedly expressed his thanks, and the detachment then passed on their journey.