Archive

  • Magpies will have to face music

    Chorley 1 Farsley Celtic 4 YET another disappointing defeat for Chorley, but the scoreline only tells part of the story. Referee Mr Bell reduced Chorley to nine men before the interval with a display that was extraordinary even by normal Unibond standards

  • Invite to join Parade

    IN my capacity as Town Mayor, I would like to invite all local organisations and residents of Horwich to join me in the Annual Parade and Service of Remembrance which will be held on Remembrance Sunday, November 12. Would everyone who wishes to take part

  • March showed how to get a message across

    I WRITE further to my letter published in the BEN on October 6. On Saturday, October 21, local Muslims held a silent march from Zakariya Mosque in Peace Street, Bolton to Victoria Square, Town Hall. The protest march was about Israel's 'shoot to kill'

  • Sick of Council Tax increases

    DO the Council Tax payers of Bolton have to keep putting up with this? I see the MBC has come up with a figure of five per cent for next year's Council Tax. It always goes up but it NEVER levels off. It never comes down, and it will probably stay that

  • Mixed horizons

    THERE was mixed emotions at two Chorley children's nurseries this week. Bright Horizons, who submitted plans for a 100-place nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, were given reason to celebrate after their proposal was recommended for approval. But owners of long-established

  • Web shopping untangled

    CHORLEY'S on-line shoppers will soon be protected by new regulations. From October 31, consumers who buy goods and services by phone, e-mail, mail order, fax, or on the net can expect to do so with less problems. Consumers will have the right to receive

  • Todd for Derby?

    THERE was strong rumour in the East Midlands that Colin Todd, a former Derby County favourite, was lined up for a dramatic switch from Swindon to Pride Park. Todd who won two Championships with the Rams in the 70s has only been at the County Ground since

  • Millionaire's tax victory on the horses

    A BOLTON Wanderers' supporter is celebrating after a betting company finally agreed to pay him £500 from a £25,000 win on the horses. Bob Norburn, a 53-year-old millionaire who now lives in Canada, placed £5,000 each way on a horse which ran in the Cheltenham

  • Sampled . . . Various Artists CD album

    WELL this is interesting to say the least. You know all those really good catchy samples that appear on a whole host of dance tunes these days? Things like that great vocal on Moby's 'Natural Blues'? Well this is an album featuring the original artists

  • No Idea . . . Prince Rupert, Bolton -Sunday, October 22

    ANY band that begins their set with 'Another Brick in the Wall' is alright by me, so when No Idea kicked off with this particular number I immediately switched to party mode and stayed that way for two sets. They are one of Bolton's newest bands (in fact

  • Ship comes in for show

    The Pirates Of Penzance, Bolton Catholic Musical and Choral Society. Runs until Saturday THE Pirates of Penzance has proved to be a tour de force for the BCMCS. The group has pulled off a stunning performance -- just eight years after last putting on

  • Seven get on scoresheet

    IN the Premier Division of the CNSL, Royal Scot recorded their 6th win on the trot, totally OUTPLAYING Horwich based team Queens Head and recorded a 9-0 win. Seven different players got their name on the scoresheet. Leyland Railway continue to struggle

  • Giving a lift to Derian's Dog

    CHORLEY Harriers have handed over a cheque to Derian House for £450. The money was partly raised through a recent Fun Run. Also member Pete Gallham did a sponsored parachute jump over Cyprus. Members reckoned he would have raised more if he had done it

  • Business Club meets on Thursday

    THE next meeting of Bury Business Club will be on Thursday evening at 6pm at Link House. Security for small businesses will be on the agenda and the meeting -- free to all local businesses -- will include the usual Member's Slot and networking. Details

  • Top jobs revealed at CLB

    CHARTERED accountants CLB have made two appointments at the Bolton office. Alex White, who heads the tax department and deals with clients throughout the UK, has been promoted to tax partner. He has worked for the firm since moving from Pricewaterhouse

  • ay mower chase

    THE police helicopter followed a car for 20 miles from Warrington before it was stopped on Blackburn Road in Bolton last night. A black Volkswagen Jetta was spotted on the M62 after a suspected theft of a lawn mower. Police followed the car along the

  • Museum tests bus favourites

    FANS of bygone modes of transport will be interested in a zany competition at a Manchester museum. Greater Manchester Museum of Transport will be playing host to a 'Top Gear' type contest involving three varieties of old bus which once travelled the streets

  • Island barbecue deadly fumes tragedy

    A BARBECUE grill brought into a holiday hut in Crete for extra heating gave off deadly fumes which killed a Bury man. Cameron Smith, 30, died in the hut at the site in Sisi Merabellou, Lassithi, near Heraklion, on which he had been carrying out maintenance

  • SOCCER: LR earn a draw

    A MUCH improved showing from Atherton LR earned a 1-1 home draw last night in an NWCL Division Two meeting with Tetley Walker. Both teams played some quality football despite the very heavy conditions, with the Warrington side taking the lead on 22 minutes

  • SHAKERS: Bullock return

    SHAKERS midfielder Darren Bullock begins his comeback today when he plays for the reserves at Chesterfield. Bullock has been out since the start of the month with a ripped thigh muscle. "He is itching to play and the reserve game will be a good run out

  • SHAKERS: United starlet rejects Bury

    YOUNG Manchester United striker Alex Knotman has told Bury he doesn't want to come on a month's loan to Gigg Lane. The 20-year-old Scot told Shakers boss Andy Preece he wasn't keen on the loan switch, preferring instead to stay at Old Trafford and play

  • SOCCER: Blackrod stay in touch with top

    THE importance of Saturday's 1-0 away win at Freckleton for Blackrod Town will only come out in the final analysis but for now it keeps Arthur Flatters side breathing hard down the necks of the leading pack in the Premier Division. The listing at the

  • SOCCER: Mallinson fury after Elton 'robbed' by Shackleton.

    "WE were well and truly mugged" complained Elton Fold manager Guy Mallinson following his side's 2-0 Premier Division defeat at Mitchell Shackleton. "Early on we had a perfectly good goal disallowed. Their first goal came from a corner which should have

  • SHAKERS: Goal-shy Bury feel the heat

    Bury 0 Reading 2 BURY player/boss Andy Preece faces the first crisis of his short managerial career today after the Shakers slid to a fourth consecutive defeat, writes Steve Canavan. The football matched the weather -- miserable -- as the players struggled

  • LIVE MUSIC

    VENUES AND EVENTS HILLTOPS SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB, Hill Lane, Blackrod. Budding musicians come and play your own arrangements and compositions, Wednesday evenings from 7.30pm. For more details ring Bolton 692702. THE WATERMILLOCK, Crompton Way, Bolton

  • Dinosaurs made monster profit

    A MONSTER hit exhibition at Bolton Museum made a profit of more than £5,000, councillors have been told. The dinosaur-themed Jurassic event, a touring display from the Yorkshire Museum in York, was the first exhibition ever held at the Le Mans Crescent

  • Millionaire's tax victory on the horses

    A BOLTON Wanderers' supporter is celebrating after a betting company finally agreed to pay him £500 from a £25,000 win on the horses. Bob Norburn, a 53-year-old millionaire who now lives in Canada, placed £5,000 each way on a horse which ran in the Cheltenham

  • Oil spillage blast scare

    AN OIL spillage which created a stream of leaking fuel could have blown up an entire Bolton back street of terraced homes, a fire chief has revealed. The fuel threatened the homes in Shipton Street, Doffcocker, when it seeped along the cobbled street

  • Dinghy tragedy sparks coroner's stark warning

    A CORONER has warned parents of the dangers of toy dinghies after a dad died in a desperate bid to save the life of his son at a Bolton beauty spot. David McHugh, aged 33, drowned saving his seven-year-old son Daniel after their inflatable boat sank on

  • Clean and brilliant

    I RECENTLY read a letter in your paper about a lady moaning about D3 or D4 wards being dirty. I do not know what she was looking for or at. I have just been discharged, after 10 days, from N3 ward. I found the doctors, nurses and all staff brilliant.

  • Late night shopping

    A SPECIAL late night shopping event has been set up for disabled and deaf people in Chorley. It has been organised by Chorley and South Ribble Disability Forum. Hampson's, Toymaster, Woolworths and a selection of shops in Market Walk will open from 5.30pm

  • Investors reap rewards

    LAWTEC and businesses throughout the region celebrated the ninth national Investors in People (IiP) week last week. More than 300 organisations have achieved the accolade in Lancashire Area West and are reaping the benefits the standard brings, including

  • Ready to make a big splash

    CHORLEY Borough Council has taken the plunge by sponsoring 11young people at swimming camps at the new Manchester Aquatics Centre -- the water-based venue for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The youngsters who are attending the centre -- opened by the Queen

  • Don't get stressed

    HOW do you handle the pressures and pitfalls of everyday life? Would you class yourself as a 'stressed Eric' or someone who can take everything in their stride without so much as a burst blood vessel? Well, next month (Wednesday November 1) sees the introduction

  • Paul's got a heart of gold

    HEART-swap patient Paul Flynn was given a real kick-start to a new future when he underwent his life-saving operation nine years ago this month. Now the football fanatic is set to take a break from regular fixtures for a special away trip. For Paul is

  • Cold comfort for patients

    HOSPITAL chiefs in Chorley are drawing up plans to deal with what could be an extremely busy winter. Demands on NHS services are already running at two per cent higher than last year. Health authorities and their social care partners across the North

  • Two sad losses for the town

    By Lindsay Hoyle MP IT was with great sadness that I learnt of the deaths of Ken Charnley, former Labour councillor for Brindle and Hoghton and Graham Cocking who represented Euxton South. Ken was a well respected individual and I knew him well from his

  • Crash mum put toddler's life at risk

    A DRUNKEN mother risked the life of her two-year-old daughter when she crashed her car while THREE times over the drink-drive limit. Catherine Unsworth and her toddler were lucky to escape unhurt when she smashed into another vehicle in August. Unsworth

  • Marshall fitness doubt

    IAN Marshall is struggling to be fit for Saturday's home game against Crystal Palace after missing Wanderers' defeat at Watford with a groin strain. The versatile veteran had been lined up to continue up front in the absence of Dean Holdsworth who is

  • MATCH REPORT: Wanderers not too worried about Watford gap

    Watford 1, Wanderers 0. WHEN the dust has settled and everyone has finished slagging off the referee, Wanderers will scratch their heads in disbelief as they look up at Watford riding high at the top of the table, writes BEN Chief Soccer Writer Gordon

  • Great murder mystery - but no clues

    THE smiling faces on the cast of the latest production from St Vincent's Amateur Dramatic Society don't give away any clues about the plot. "Dead on Nine" is a murder mystery which began last night at St Vincent's Parish Centre in Rutherford Drive, Over

  • Winners in the making

    Under 7's - Panthers 20 v Blackpool 28 THE Panthers' youngsters look to have the makings of a good side as they came up against a formidable visiting team from St Helens. Blackpool took an early lead before the Panthers hit back with Patrick Taylor scoring

  • BA postpones plan to scrap commissions

    BRITISH Airways has postponed its controversial plan to scrap travel agents' commission for booking flights. The new scheme, which pays agents a flat fee for each booking rather than the previous seven per cent commission, has been put back three months

  • Blackburns appoint new systems manager

    BLACKBURNS of Bolton has strengthened the management team with the appointment of Dave Jones to the new position of Computer Systems Manager. Mr Jones, who recently ran his own business, has expertise relating to the emerging e-commerce environment. Blackburns

  • Town hall sick leave on decline

    THE number of working days lost through sickness in Bolton Council's leisure services department has fallen, a report to councillors revealed. Some 2,313 days were lost from April to September 1999 at a cost of almost £100,000. But for the equivalent

  • Computer firm blaze

    THE owners of a computer company were today estimating the cost of damage after a blaze last night. A car caught fire inside a unit on Woodford Grove, Daubhill, and smoke spread to the neighbouring Dos Computers. Firefighters forced their way into both

  • N-west trains under strain

    BOLTON Council's deputy leader travelled to Westminster yesterday to push for urgent improvements to Greater Manchester's rail network. Cllr Guy Harkin joined fellow members of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) in a Houses of

  • Saboteur damages claim blow

    A HUNT saboteur from Bolton has lost his claims for damages against Cheshire Police for wrongful imprisonment. Following legal submissions at Liverpool County Court, a judge ruled that the arrests of Edmund Shepherd on successive days in February, 1997

  • Sam's 'homer' slur could cost him dear

    SAM Allardyce could be in big trouble with the authorities again after accusing Stoke referee, Phil Dowd of being a "homer" and saying he wated to "strangle him"! The Wanderers' boss, furious after seeing his side beaten by a controversial 87th minute

  • RUGBY LEAGUE: Higham returns to training

    WANT-AWAY hooker Mick Higham is back in full training with Leigh Centurions. And if his move to a Super League club stalls, he'll start the Northern Ford Premiership season at Hilton Park. Higham, who along with full-back Stuart Donlan, continue to be

  • Stanley's delivered pintas for 50 years

    FOR more than 50 years, John Stanley's milk cart was a familiar sight around Farnworth and Great Lever. Tenant farmer John finally ceased his pinta deliveries when Highfield Hall Farm was converted into a long-awaited Community Centre. A morning round

  • Parishioners had to clean church

    25 YEARS AGO CLERGY have told their parishioners: 'We won't be unpaid caretakers or museum keepers.' They have warned the congregation at St Augustine's, Tonge Moor, that if they don't do the cleaning at the church, then no-one else will. The church recently

  • MUSIC AND DANCE

    VENUES LADYBRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTRE, Beaumont Drive, Bolton. Line dancing, beginners/intermediate classes, every Saturday 7.15pm to 10.30pm. Admission £2. KILHEY COURT HOTEL, Chorley Road, Standish, Wigan. Friday November 3, Dave Berry complete with backing

  • OUT OF TOWN

    NORTH PIER THEATRE, BLACKPOOL. Ring 01253 292029. OPERA HOUSE, Blackpool. Abbadabbadoo, Monday to Friday evenings at 7.30pm, Saturdays 5pm and 8pm, Thursday matinee 2.30pm. Shane Richie Sundays at 7.30pm. Sunday November 26, Tom Jones. Also, Saturday

  • What's On in and around the Bolton area on Thursday

    LEISURE, SPORT AND KEEP FIT BOLTON Excel, Lower Bridgeman Street, tel: 334456: 50+ badminton, table tennis, squash and gym, 1pm-3pm; body conditioning, 2pm-3pm. DEANE Leisure Centre, Junction Road, Deane, tel: 334432: aerobics, 8pm-9pm; swim lessons,

  • Widow in bill distress

    A WARNING has gone out after a disabled widow was left trapped in a 12 month electricity bill nightmare following the death of her husband. Shocked Dorothy Maddock, aged 70, was bombarded with a series of bills from THREE different suppliers in the same

  • Royal Mail delivers - with a new office

    RESIDENTS of Horwich, Lostock and Westhougton might not have noticed any difference in their daily postal service, but behind the scenes there has been a major transformation. A new postal delivery office has opened at Northgate Close, Middlebrook, and

  • 17,000 favourite museum exhibits to go worldwide!

    BOLTON Museum and Art Gallery is appealing for help from its visitors in digitalising part of their collection. The team at the museum and gallery are currently trying to secure enough funding to update their website and are keen to know what Bolton people

  • Extended quarry 'needed for safety'

    REFUSAL to allow the owners of Harwood Quarry to extend the site could lead to safety risks for the company's employees and members of the public, a public inquiry was told. A Government inspector was given the stark warning on the opening of a three-day

  • Time to talk for troubled estate

    BATTLING residents on a crime plagued Bolton estate were today putting their demands to housing chiefs. It will be the first time the trustees of Sutton Estate near Hunger Hill have visited the area since 1992. Chairman of the Sutton Estate Residents'

  • Cinema fairy tooth tale has happy ending for Whitney

    LITTLE Whitney Hamer bit into her sweet at the cinema and nearly missed her first "date" with the -- Tooth Fairy. The desperate five-year-old burst into tears when her first baby milk tooth popped out and disappeared into the pieces of popcorn discarded

  • Nurse warning over cot death theory

    A BOLTON nurse has warned the latest breakthrough in cot death research could be "just another flavour-of-the-month theory". Jackie Parkinson, whose baby son Sam died in November, 1988, says so many reasons and theories have been put forward in the past