IT is almost 135 years ago that Queen's Park on Chorley New Road was officially opened, one of a large number of improvements made to the town in the middle of that century.

It was, though, at that time known simply as Bolton Park, and the name was changed to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1877.

No report appeared in the Bolton Evening News, for the simple reason that the paper was not founded until 1867, and the Park, together with Heywood Recreation Ground (named after Ald Heywood on land given by him), was opened on May 24, 1866. So I have had to go back to one of the final editions of the Bolton Chronicle to find out some facts.

The reason for this article is that former councillor, and now Hon. Alderman Ken MacIvor, of Lovat Road, Breightmet, brought to show me an original copy of the programme for the great day, which he had been given at Christmas by a former Director of Leisure, Mr Geoffrey Schofield. I reproduce it here, and it shows just what an important day it was in the town's history.

The Chronicle reported: "The Public Park in Spa-fields, and the "Heywood" recreation Ground in Lever-street, were formally opened on Thursday in the presence of an immense concourse of people." The report, I must add, took up two solid broadsheet pages, in packed small type which is very difficult to read. The article was of many thousands of words.

It seems that Bolton Park was, in fact, an extension of a Recreation Ground on Bolton-moor, and was "frequently suggested as a suitable location for a public park, being as it is of easy access from both sides of the town. It was not, however, until the attention of the Town Council was called to the desirability of finding work for the unemployed cotton operatives in the formation of work of public and sanitary improvement, that any steps were taken to give practical effect to this oft-expressed desire on the part of many of our townspeople."

And the townspeople turned out in force. "Thursday morning opened somewhat cloudily, and the wind was unusually and excessively bleak considering the close approach to the end of 'the merrie month of May.' The earliest visitors to the town would at once discover that it was festival time. In accordance with official request, the principal shops were partially or wholly close, and the suspension of business was general.

"Visitors poured into the borough in multitudes, from the townships in the immediate locality; and the early trains, both at the London and the North Western and Trinity-street stations, brought in large numbers of pleasure seekers.

The opening of the Recreation ground took place "in the forenoon, when Members of the Town Council, with visitors, clergy, ministers and such of the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood as may be desirous of taking part", went in carriages along Newport-street and Bridgeman-street, to the Recreation Ground, where it was officially opened. It concluded with "three hearty cheers" for Ald Heywood.

When they returned to the New Market-square (we know it these days as Victoria Square, or the Precinct), a much bigger procession was formed, including members of the Forces, Members of Parliament, representatives of Sunday Schools (at first the Park was not allowed to be opened on Sundays) and many others.

"While the proceedings on Bolton Moor were in progress, the Market-Square and all the principal approaches thereto had become very thronged," reported the Chronicle. "Towards one o'clock the sun shone brilliantly. The appearance at Market-Square at half-past one presented an appearance at once interesting and imposing. The various military bodies on the one side; the schools and societies with their gay and picturesque diversified banners on the other, and the well-dressed thousands on foot and at the windows contributing to the success of a spectacle which can only be realised - the metropolis excepted - in the great and busy industrial hives of the north of England."

So off the procession went, along crowded Oxford Street, Knowsley Street, Bath Street, St George's Road and Chorley New Road to the Park entrance, where the Earl of Bradford opened the gates with a special key (Queen's Park may be open to Chorley New Road now, but until relatively late in the 20th century, it was bounded by shrubs and walls), and inside speeches were made and a service held.

"After the close of the inaugural addresses," said the paper, "cheers were given for 'the ladies', for 'the gentlemen', and for 'the working man', and the National Anthem in which the vast assembly joined, having been sung, the proceedings in the Park terminated at a quarter to four.'

That wasn't the end, though. Later that day, for the lucky ones, "a grand banquet was given by the Mayor at the Baths Assembly-rooms.

Obviously a day to remember . . .