25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, June 11, 1976

MORE than half the shops at a £350,000 showpiece precinct are still empty after four years.

Now the tenants who have moved in are angry at what they call a "disgraceful situation" at the Brownlow shopping centre, Bolton. They say tenants are being forced to move out by the lack of trade. Since the centre opened, a supermarket, children's shop a chemist shop and a wool shop have closed down.

work on a £1,000,000 private hospital at the Last Drop Village, Bromley Cross, is to begin in August. The 24-bed building, to be named Orrellfold Hospital, will give patients the status of "pampered guests", it was said today.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

June 12, 1951

SIR,- On Sunday afternoon my 17-years-old son and his friend decided to have a game of darts, and as the weather was warm they hung the board on the backgate and played there - until a policeman came round and made them stop. If my son went around throwing the lids off dustbins at midnight, or singing at the top of his voice at 2am, I suppose that would be in order. If that same policeman stood at our back corner from 10pm on Saturday and Sunday night, he would be kept quite busy - as I am. E. Farrell, 117 Higher Bridge-st., Bolton.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

June 12, 1876

DEATH has taken away another Bolton worthy, Mr W.A. Paulton. After leaving college he commenced his career as a surgeon's assistant, but subsequently left the medical profession, and became a lecturer for the Anti Corn Law League, and afterwards a journalist. He left Bolton amid many congratulations in 1839. His last visit to his native town was paid in 1868.

A WELL-known character, Robert Jackson, foreman outdoor porter at the Trinity-street Railway Station, committed suicide by drowning himself in a lodge connected with the Wallsuches Bleachworks, on Saturday evening. It is said that deceased had been drinking excessively for a month past.