Alan Calvert  RSS feed | About

Now retired after more than 40 years in full-time journalism, Alan takes a wry look at life in the 21st Century. You can also read Alan's column every Monday in The Bolton News . . .

Puzzled by a ghostly lunch 9:12am Monday 21st April 2008 ON the way to our bed and breakfast accommodation for our weekend break, we stopped off at a National Trust property - Nunnington Hall, near Helmsley. Looking back at the roof lead thieves 9:11am Monday 21st April 2008 I see that PC Hayes caught two men when he was called to a house in Park Hill-street, Bolton. Take a dose of computer medicine 9:10am Monday 21st April 2008 THERE is nothing surprising about the revelation that a Bolton pilot scheme to put patients' details on a central computer system is at least four months behind schedule because of IT problems. Future could be rosy with a robot 9:09am Monday 21st April 2008 ENGINEERS, psychologists and computer scientists from across Europe have begun a major project that aims to develop personalities for robots. Can I have BBC for free? 9:08am Monday 21st April 2008 MY television licence has been renewed at a cost of £139.50 and I am determined to remember that figure in case it comes up in a pub quiz some time. Never looking on the bright side of life . . . 9:07am Monday 21st April 2008 MY father was a Yorkshireman and that is perhaps why my trips over the Pennines always seem especially enjoyable. No 10 will be watching council polls 10:06am Monday 14th April 2008 MY poll card arrived this week for the Bolton local elections on May 1. Reader comment (1) Jazz dancer put buskers in shade 10:06am Monday 14th April 2008 THE legendary "jazz hoofer" Will Gaines celebrated his 80th birthday recently and I hope he had a good time. Leave Royal coin for the collectors 10:05am Monday 14th April 2008 THE latest batch of junk mail includes an offer from the Royal Mint to buy a Prince of Wales 60th Birthday Brilliant Uncirculated £5 coin for just £5 (normal price £9.95) plus £1.95 for postage and packaging. Hoping for laughs with Headcases 10:04am Monday 14th April 2008 IN my youth I came across the word "satire" when it was applied to That Was The Week That Was - a very clever television show hosted by David Frost. More ...

EDITOR'S CHOICE TODAY'S VOTE Should mixed wards be scrapped? Click here to vote. WANDERERS NEWS VOTE: Would Bolton have been relegated if they had gone further in the Uefa Cup? Criticism of the chairman is not fair – Megson Knox set to leave the Reebok Andy’s our readers’ top man Boss backs Wanderers' Euro policy NORTH WEST HEADLINES Christmas Day murderer jailed for life Rangers chief blasts 'small minority' Night of violence mars Uefa Cup Final ALAN CALVERT: WEMBLEY HERE I COME! Bankrupt of job ideas It may take time for Fred Eurovision that was a non-contest Compulsory emigration gave some an escape route Survival is not name of the game Get 7p off the current edition of The Bolton News by Direct Delivery HERE Check out our updated TV and Video section. Click HERE. The Bolton Blog is now up and running - and you can join. Click HERE. If you are in the middle of a major incident or see something interesting taking place you can now send Your Pictures directly to us. Click HERE. GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register Most read Comments 1 New deal would spark keeper duel 2 Stand by Megson, says Kelly 3 Man tracked burglar through Bolton's streets 4 Naked women urging people to be adventurous for charity 5 VOTE: Would Bolton have been relegated if they had gone further in the Uefa Cup? 6 Criticism of the chairman is not fair – Megson 7 Knox set to leave the Reebok 8 121-year link between Bolton and literature celebrated 9 Helicopter crashes in Bury 10 Night of violence mars Uefa Cup Final Today | 7 Days 1 Megson clear out 2 Whites target Gomis looks to Italy 3 Billionaire Roman deserves credit, says Megson 4 Supermarket money 'should stay in Westhoughton' 5 Bolton hotel rooms fully booked for Rangers' Uefa Cup Final 6 Star mum brings baby campaign to Bolton 7 Call for tougher smoking warnings 8 Teachers strike at Withins School 9 Spectacular circus opens at the Reebok 10 UPDATE: Tributes to biker killed in park accident