25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, June 19, 1976

SEXUAL equality has gone full circle at Smithills High School in Bolton.

Boys in the fifth form have been taking mothercraft and home economics courses and are now running a playgroup at the school for families in the community, and for children of staff. They are believed to be the first boys in the country to run a playgroup from a school.

It all stemmed from the boys jokingly asking to take the mothercraft course. Teacher Miss Josie Dawson said it had started as a "tremulous experiment which had snowballed."

JANET Ann List, of Leigh Road, Atherton, has been selected North West Coal Queen. She was nominated by Bickershaw Colliery, where her father is a surface chargehand.

June 20

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, June 20, 1951

TWO indications of the prosperity of Bolton both from a labour point of view and from a financial aspect came to light today. In May only 365 people were signing the unemployed register, thus creating a new post-war low record for the town, whilst it is announced that from Bolton Savings Bank alone £800,000 has been drawn for the holidays - £50,000 more than last year.

Secure in the knowledge of regular employment, Bolton people will be able to go on a spending spree during the holiday week, with a sum approaching £1,000,000 in their pockets.

"JUST a minute, luv," said one woman, when Mr Tom Price, the Labour candidate in the Westhoughton by-election appeared at her door on a canvassing mission. She hurried inside, and reappeared with one of his election pamphlets. She studied the photograph of Mr Price on the sheet carefully, looked up, studied his face, and commented "Ee, it doesn't favver thi one bit."

June 20

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, June 20, 1876

TWO explosions occurred yesterday, both resulting in serious loss of life. The more serious of the two took place at Hamilton, near Glasgow, where some dynamite, left in a joiner's shop connected with railway construction works, exploded, and caused the death of two joiners, two blacksmiths, a storekeeper, anmd a railway policeman, and injury to two others. The premises were utterly destroyed. How the explosion was caused is not known.

In Penarth Dock, Cardiff, yesrday, an explosion oc coal gas occurred on board the Atlanta, which ewas loaded ready for sea. Six men were killed, some of them having been blown as high as the top-gallant yard.

THE provisional order for the construction of the Westhgoughton waterworks has been granted by the Local Government Board.