Archive

  • Pram push mum lied about rape

    A WOMAN who claimed she was raped in the grounds of St Ann's Hospice has now admitted she made up the story. She has now been referred for psychiatric counselling and support. As reported in the BEN an incident room was set up in Little Hulton after the

  • Two bridges too far end in road chaos

    TWO bridges have been rammed by articulated lorries in carbon copy accidents in Bolton and Walkden. In the first incident yesterday motorists had a lucky escape when an articulated wagon hit a bridge near Bolton town centre. The cab passed under the bridge

  • Doctors in despair

    MANY Bolton doctors are at the end of their tether because of the "outrageous" demands made by some patients, a GP claims. And he says some older members of the profession in the 50 to 60 age group are now desperate to get out. The situation is being

  • Man campaigns to keep prisoners out of Pontins

    A BOLTON man who has a caravan next to the proposed new prison near Morecambe is calling on other holidaymakers in the town to help kick out the scheme. The Director General of the Prison Service, Richard Tilt wants to convert a former holiday camp at

  • Opening the floodgates

    SIR: I am replying to P Rothwell, whose comments in the BEN recently referred to the lack of an Indian restaurant house in Bromley Cross. I too haven't lived in the area for very long, but I am aware of local people's feelings regarding infiltration by

  • Wigan deny increased offer reports

    REPORTS that Tesco have increased their offer to buy Central Park from £8 million to £12 million have been firmly denied by Wigan chairman Jack Robinson. The Warriors chief said that he had only read about the increased offer in the newspapers. "At this

  • The same old lies

    SIR: I refer to your report (BEN, January 18) on the "Churches Together" meeting held in Farnworth, which brought together the three Bolton SE Prospective Parliamentary Candidates and would like to bring to the attention of the electorate other issues

  • Restaurant could be community asset

    SIR: When the BEN gave my restaurant The Amir in 1993, the Best Restaurant of the year award, it was a proud moment for me and my family, recognising the results of the hard work and effort we had put in to create a truly excellent restaurant. It therefore

  • Group B-flattered by piano offers

    ST PHILIP'S AODS, who are staging The Music Man from February 24 to March 1, appealed recently for an old piano to use as a stage prop in the show and were inundated with calls. They thank everyone who telephoned. They have now accepted the offer of a

  • Antonia wins £5,000 opera prize

    THIS year's Leslie and Dorothy Blond Award for Operatic Singing was awarded to Bolton mezzo soprano Antonia Sotgiu. She received her prize of £5,000 towards further study from veteran opera singer Sir Donald McIntyre at the finals of the competition at

  • Mums-to-be in the swim

    WHEN Jackie Green found she was pregnant again, she was determined not to be hit by high blood pressure which put her in hospital while carrying her first daughter. She knew exercise would help - but was not sure where to turn. So she visited Sharples

  • Ace idea for high flyers

    MANCHESTER Airport is planning an avenue of fame which will be lined with sculptures celebrating the achievements of the region's famous scientists and inventors. The scheme will cost £500,00 and the airport are considering sponsorship of sites at £100,000

  • Workers hit by concrete block

    AN investigation is under way after two building workers were struck by a three-quarter ton concrete block at a site in Bury town centre yesterday. It is understood the massive block fell from the first floor of the retail development at Minden Parade

  • Testing time

    INCREASING numbers of learner drivers are failing their tests because of a tougher theory paper which is going to become harder. There is nothing wrong with that. Drivers on today's busy roads should be armed with all the knowledge and expertise they

  • 25 YEARS AGO

    From the Evening News, February 3, 1972 A LABOUR group motion calling for the resignation of Bolton's two Conservative MPs, Mr Robert Redmond and Mr Laurance Reed, was defeated at last night's Council meeting. Councs. Brian O'Hara and Noel Spencer called

  • Dirt track racing at Bolton

    BOLTON Greyhound Track closed at Christmas, much to the dismay of many people, and a lot was written about its history. The stories also mentioned that at one time it was also used for a dirt track racing, but little seemed to be generally known about

  • Safety first!

    JOHN McGinlay and Alan Thompson are prepared to play through the pain barrier as Wanderers bid to make FA Cup progress at the expense of Second Division Chesterfield tonight. Top scorer McGinlay says he'll soldier on with a calf problem that has dogged

  • Drink ban on town's streets

    PEOPLE caught drinking alcohol on the streets of Leigh could soon face prosecution. The move was revealed at the annual magistrates' licensing meeting when it was reported that more women are appearing before the courts for drink related offences than

  • Mill power

    SIR: Would any of your readers know details of the motive power (that was) in the Moss Rose Mill, Kearsley? This one seems to have escaped our database. All letters will be answered. Edward Hanson Membership Secretary Northern Mill Engine Society 28 Falinge

  • Jim says thanks!

    SIR: May I through your newspaper express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Bolton Council for the Civic Medal awarded to me on January 29 and also to the Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr and Mrs Johnson, for their hospitality to my wife and me at the luncheon

  • Plate defeat for Bolton

    BOLTON narrowly lost their Lancashire Plate match 22-14 at Wirral side St Edwards Old Boys. Travel delays forced a late start and Bolton still had lead in their boots as the Saints strolled ahead. As the game progressed Bolton came more and more into

  • Leigh defend price policy

    LEIGH chairman Mick Higgins today defended his decision to charge full admission prices for the club's two pre-season friendlies. "We've come under a bit of criticism from fans who thought the £6 admission charge was excessive in view of the weakened

  • Derby lead slips away

    LOCAL derbies always have that certain something and the Sean Grainey Memorial Cup game between Tyldesley and Leigh was no exception. The home side dominated for long periods and a typical Lee Berrisford try and a conversion and penalty from Tim Brown

  • Tree project grows on pupils

    CHILDREN from St Thomas Primary, St Joseph Primary, Brownlow Fold Primary and Chalfont Primary Schools used the theme of trees for a joint exhibition in Halliwell recently. Bolton Environment House, backed by City Challenge, and local artist Rebecca Johnson

  • RMI on the slide

    LEIGH RMI's promotion hopes were dealt a further setback when they lost 2-1 at Ashton United last night. It was their second defeat in three days, having lost by the same margin at Matlock on Saturday and now they have only taken one point out of a possible

  • Spending doubts squeeze Labour lead

    LABOUR'S lead over the Tories is being squeezed, according to the latest opinion poll. And a majority of voters do not believe that Shadow Chancellor Gordon Brown will hold to his promise to keep tax and public spending down. The ICM survey gives the

  • Health chiefs fight air plan ban

    HOSPITAL bosses are fighting a council order to pull down a massive air conditioning unit. Bolton Hospitals Trust has lodged an appeal following rejection of a retrospective planning application for the unit last month. As reported in the BEN, the ventilation

  • Allah Aubergine's TV debut

    A NEW television programme concentrating on the supernatural gave a Bolton viewer food for thought when it featured the town's 'aubergine miracle' on its first programme. Fortean TV is screened on Channel Four on Wednesdays at 9pm, and among the very

  • Civic Trust joins fight to block new restaurant

    THE Civic Trust is backing Bromley Cross residents in their fight to stop a former clinic being turned into a restaurant. A planning application has been submitted to Bolton Council by Bolton restaurateur Sabir Khan for permission to convert the former

  • Angry head hits back at schools criticism

    A BOLTON headteacher today condemned the "constant carping and condemnation" of the teaching profession. Jack Hatch, headteacher of St Bede's in Morris Green, criticised the Government's Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead, for "repeatedly hitting

  • Strike threat as fire brigade plans cuts

    FIREFIGHTERS in Greater Manchester are threatening to strike in their battle to save jobs and planned cuts in the service. A mass meeting will be held at Lancastrian Halls, Swinton, a week on Thursday. Fire Brigades Union chiefs say feelings are running

  • Figure it out

    SIR: Every month the Government announces a drop in the unemployment figures. If this continues it is only a question of time before no-one is unemployed in the UK. However these figures are based on the number of people who are claiming unemployment

  • Tory MP slams government over cash handout

    A TORY MP has blasted his own government for being "unfair" in the way it has allocated cash to Bury Council. David Sumberg, MP for Bury South, protested in the Commons that Bury Council was losing "massive sums" because of the formula used to calculate

  • Pens sent on

    SIR: Many thanks for quality pen set I received as a prize for my recent letter of the week. I thought you might be interested to hear that I still correspond with my schoolteacher, 55 years on. I have therefore sent on the pens to her as a tribute to

  • But many residents oppose idea

    SIR: Mr P Rothwell was incensed about the article on the proposed restaurant at Bromley Cross (BEN, January 28). Maybe, but his facts and observations are inaccurate and need to be corrected. His small building for 50 or 60 at most is in fact for 120

  • Poet's Corner

    I stood upon the open ground And felt the earth tremble. Then like a train, a roaring sound At first a whispered rumble. Raced on to me with gathering pace And, like a hand invisible, Shook the buildings, bent the trees And filled the air with dusty haze

  • Back to work fast for Peter

    REDUNDANCY came as a huge blow to Peter Conner. He had worked all his life and hoped to find employment quickly after losing his job in textiles. So he could not believe it when he was told at his local job centre that he would have to wait six months

  • Danger ahead

    IMPATIENT drivers have been using a residential Bolton street to avoid the traffic lights at the busy junction of Green Lane and Bradford Road. Instead, they have been using Greenland Road to get through to the Royal Bolton Hospital site as a quick way