Archive

  • Magpies dumped out after replay

    THE Magpies crashed out of the FA Umbro Trophy despite David Eatock giving them a 13th minute lead. Manager Ken Wright made one change from Saturday's game bringing Damian Corcoran back after suspension in place of Ian Leather. The Magpies could have

  • Can anyone help over Crompton?

    I LIVED in Bolton until December 1938, when I came here to find work. I worked at Dobson & Barlow, Kay Street, until its closure in January, 1933. I lived in Firwood Fold -- Samuel Crompton was born at one of the other houses. I have been to the Museum

  • Colonies quest

    WE are an independent television production company based in Shropshire. We are researching an idea for a television documentary about the story of the British Empire and the legacy that it has left behind. We are trying to find out what it means to be

  • Pool too hot to handle?

    REGARDING the plight of the Jubilee Pool (BEN, October 30) and the 'Too cool, too hot' story. This is nothing new. It has been an ongoing problem for quite a few years. Suffice it to say -- not enough cash (an old and regular excuse!). The refurbishment

  • Now a stranger in my own land

    I HOPE that BEN readers will be interested in reading this copy of a letter that I sent to the Prime Minister: "I am not sure if this letter will actually reach you. I hope it does. I am now 57 years old and feel I am becoming a stranger in my own nation

  • What's in the bank and what Tony Blair wants...

    DO any politicians ever truly support the people that support them? I can understand dedication to a worthwhile political cause, for the good of the people. But certainly not a dedication to arrogance and a contempt for people's right to protest against

  • Fire tragedy after night out

    A WOMAN died and her partner was injured after a chip pan caught fire at their home in Adlington. Firefighters were called to the house on Railway View just after 2.30am on Sunday after smoke and flames were spotted. The house had a smoke alarm, but it

  • Forty jobs go in Vertex closure

    VERTEX Training Services has announced it is to close its Chorley call centre as part of a company restructure -- with the loss of up to 40 jobs. VTS, in Little Carr Lane, provides staff training for both technical and customer services to employees of

  • Sheila's US trip highlights road campaign

    THE fight to stop a new road -- which would destroy local woodland -- took an international twist when campaigner Sheila Hindle ended up as front page news in America. Sheila, of Duxbury Keep The Peace group which is fighting the proposed Eaves Green

  • Drug dealer gets jail sentence

    A CHORLEY man, who delivered a bag containing more than 9,000 ecstasy tablets to the home of a former boxing champion's girlfriend, has been jailed for four-and-a-half years. Philip Heneghan, aged 29, of Blackthorn Court, Clayton-le-Woods, had pleaded

  • Tough talk in the town

    THERE'S going to be some tough talk going on later this month, when a title holding powerlifter checks in. World champion and Guinness Book record holder Arthur White is visiting Clayton Green Leisure Centre, near Leyland, on Sunday, November 26 at 7pm

  • School polishes up on proud history

    LITTLE Robert Taylor polishes up on a spot of proud military history as Chorley prepares to mark the first Remembrance Day of the new millennium this weekend. Robert, aged six, who attends Anderton CP, in Babylon Lane, adds a pre-commemoration shine to

  • Teacher cleared after child sex probe resigns

    A BOLTON primary school teacher, who was cleared of indecently assaulting six pupils, has resigned. Neville Moss, 50, quit just weeks after walking free from Bolton Crown Court having been found not guilty of 13 charges of indecent assault. The father-of-five

  • Kiddy Bun wins award at Fair

    MANAGERS were all smiles when Greenhalgh's Craft Bakery at Lostock, Bolton, won an award at the Bakers' Fair in London's Business Design Centre. It was awarded third place in the Innovation Awards for its new Kiddy Bun product -- a range of craft-baked

  • Julie's cash point

    COMPANY accountant Julie Rafferty has been promoted to financial controller for Redrow Homes (Lancashire). Julie, aged 30, who is based in Leigh, joined the company three years ago. She studied maths and economics at Norwich University and has since qualified

  • Ways to motivate staff

    LOCAL employers are being invited to seminars where they will learn about ways of motivating and rewarding employees through company share schemes. The events, which involve BDO Stoy Hayward and Cobbetts solicitors, are next Tuesday at the Radisson SAS

  • Death crash witnesses appeal

    POLICE investigating a crash which killed a teenager are appealing for witnesses. Badar Rafique, aged 19, was thrown through the windscreen of his car following the smash on Chorley Old Road, Bolton, on Friday at 2.10pm. It is thought the teenager --

  • Patients miss out on funding

    BOLTON patients have missed out on £185,000 funding after the health authority failed to hit waiting list targets. Bolton and Wigan Health Authority was penalised because the high number of people waiting more than 13 weeks for their first appointment

  • Astronaut relives tales of space flight

    AN astronaut who flew in the Space Shuttle has relived his experiences for cadets of the No 80 Bolton Squadron Air Training Corps. Don Lind spent an evening with the teenagers at Nelson Street Barracks telling them about his flight in 1985 and his years

  • Jean loses six stone to beat wheelchair life

    A MUM from Westhoughton has found a new lease of life since losing six stone in weight. Jean Best, of Molyneux Avenue, weighed almost 22 stone 12 months ago when she decided she had to lose weight or end up in a wheelchair. The 43-year-old had started

  • Sam's warning over hunt for new signings

    WANDERERS fans were warned today that the search for new talent is unlikely to produce instant results. Sam Allardyce has targeted three new signings to bring his squad up to scratch for a concerted promotion push but the job is easier said than done

  • Lancashire bright sparks awarded

    LANCASHIRE'S Street Lighting Group have scooped another award for green thinking. And the group have been praised for their efforts by members of Lancashire County Council. At a recent meeting of the highways and transportation committee, councillors

  • Second red card for Knight

    THE way referee Barry Knight is going he won't be welcome in Lancashire before long. He has been persona non grata in Bolton since issueing 12 yellow cards and two red and giving three penalties to Ipswich in last May's play-off semi-final. Since Saturday

  • World of indifference for rugby league

    YOU'D never know it but there is a major world sporting tournament taking place in Britain at the moment. The Rugby League World Cup has brought the cream of the earth's players to our shores but nobody seems to have told the people. Actually, that's

  • Tempest confident of Goldline glory

    THERE'S been a lot of success for Tempest United over recent years, just last season the Chew Moor outfit triumphed in the Bolton Hospital Cup, but nothing approaches the dizzy heights of next Monday night's Goldline Trophy in association with the Bolton

  • CONCERTS

    ALBERT HALLS, Victoria Square, Bolton. Tribute band, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, Sunday, November 12, 7.30pm. Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Thursday, November 9, 7.30pm. Ring Bolton 334400. BRIDGEWATER HALL, Manchester. Hall Orchestra present Suk, Martinu and

  • GALLERIES AND EXHIBITIONS

    ARC GALLERY STORE, Oldham Street, Manchester. Mon to Sat 10am to 6pm. Sun noon to 5pm. Adm free. Ring 0161 831 7454. ASTLEY CHEETHAM ART GALLERY , Trinity Street, Stalybridge. Open Mon to Fri (not Thurs) 1pm to 7.30pm, Sat 9am to 4pm. Tel 0161 338 2708

  • Ex-drug baron marks makes fun of his career as pot peddler

    SOME people might be puzzled why a 55-year-old former convict could attract a capacity crowd at Bolton's Albert Halls, but, after an encounter with Howard Marks, all became clear. The controversial, former international drugs baron turned witty raconteur

  • School move loses stigma

    BOLTON'S newest state-of-the-art school has finally opened its doors -- shedding an old Victorian building and an outdated stigma. Woodside Primary School for children with special needs is now Ladywood School and is based in a modern, bright and airy

  • Catwalk children attract stars of sport and screen

    CHILDREN showed off all the latest fashions when they paraded on the catwalk to help raise the profile of disabled people. The two-day Kid-e-Quip event at the Reebok stadium opened yesterday with thousands of visitors travelling to Bolton from all over

  • Flat blown apart: Three hurt

    A WALKDEN flat was blown apart in a suspected gas blast which left three people needing hospital treatment for burns, shock and glass injuries. Firefighters described the scene of the early morning explosion on Kingsley Road, Walkden, as "a warzone" as

  • FOLK MUSIC

    LYRIC THEATRE, The Lowry, Salford. Ring 0161 876 2000. BAND ON THE WALL, Manchester. THE MET ARTS CENTRE, Market St, Bury. Thursday November 16, Patrick Street. Starts 8pm. Tickets £8 and £6 concessions. Ring 0161 761 2216. PLANET K, Oldham St, Manchester

  • COMEDY

    QUAYS THEATRE, The Lowry, Salford. Ring 0161 876 2000. BLUE CAT CAFE, Shaw Rd, Heaton Moor, Stockport, 0161 432 2117. FROG AND BUCKET, Oldham St, Manchester, 0161 236 9805. QUAY BAR, Deansgate Quay, Bridgewater Viaduct, Manchester. Ring 0161 839 8803.

  • Why it's 'No thanks Nichola'

    IN response to your letter from Peter Saunders 'Thanks a lot, Nichola' (Your Views: November 2). I wrote about her calling Channel 4 for 'milking it'. But you don't mention about the 'milking' she has done to get where she is. As for the sour grapes.

  • Shocking service!

    THERE'S a new saying by the passengers of the No 22 bus, living in the Springfield and Pilkington Road area of Kearsley. If you pay peanuts you get GM Buses. Seriously, I'd like GM Buses to give a public explanation why we have to put up with what must

  • New roads are needed

    "MEMBERS of crackpot minority pressure groups such as Transport 2000, who erroneously believe new roads simply add to congestion, should be served with a gagging order". That was my summation after using the recently completed M60 eastern section. This

  • Festive chance

    THOSE of us who have lost loved ones, for whom the approaching festive season is a sad and sometimes dreaded time, might need an opportunity perhaps to demonstrate their poignant memories in a practical way. It was with great joy that I heard of the Bolton

  • Is this how Bolton treats its history?

    I READ with interest the article in a recentedition of the BEN concerning the mistake made over the name of Hall I'Th' Wood museum by the makers of Ordnance Survey maps. Ironically, it seems as if the ordnance survey is not the only party prone to making

  • Ex-mayor and wife on Remembrance trip

    A FORMER Chorley mayor and his wife have been handed the honour of officially representing Coppull branch of the Royal British Legion at Remembrance Day gatherings in London this weekend. Ralph and Joyce Snape are both current independent councillors

  • Better quality water on the way

    WORK has begun on a major £3.5 million scheme to bring better water quality to 3,900 properties in Chorley town centre and Charnock Richard. Some 36 kilometres of obsolete iron mains will be refurbished as part of an ongoing programme of water quality

  • Big fall in class sizes

    CLASS sizes at Chorley infant schools have dropped dramatically. There are now 30 children or less in local primary school classes (five to seven-year-olds), according to figures released by the Department for Education and Employment. But reducing class

  • Taxman wants to give money back!

    THE taxman desperately wants to give thousands of pounds back to Chorley folk! Inland Revenue says there are several million people nationwide on low incomes who may be entitled to some tax back on their savings interest. And until people get in touch

  • Ripley set to face Bolton

    STUART Ripley is lined up to play against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday after signing on a month's loan for Barnsley. The winger, who played five games on loan at Burnden Park 15 years ago and has since won a Premiership title with Blackburn, scored for

  • And small businesses are in the shake-up

    ANOTHER element of the Government shake-up -- the national Small Business Service -- will also operate from next April. A Small Business Service company is being established in North Manchester across the boroughs of Wigan, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale and

  • Prudential chosen for Chamber's stakeholder pension

    THE British Chambers of Commerce organisation has chosen Prudential to be its preferred stakeholder pension scheme provider. Details will be given in a marketing and communications campaign to members of 61 accredited Chambers of Commerce across the UK

  • Council will oversee all post-16 education

    THE new Greater Manchester Learning & Skills Council is to be based in Arndale House in the centre of Manchester. It will be an important organisation for Bolton, Bury and Leigh when, as a result of a government shake-up, it begins funding all post

  • Stacey set to make debut

    YOUNG Stacey Taylor hopes to be in fine voice tonight when she makes her professional singing debut -- at the tender age of 12. Stacey will be the support act at Halliwell Labour Club, when she will perform a set of eight songs. The youngster from Tonge

  • Lest we forget...

    REMEMBRANCE Day services at Christ Church, Heaton, start at 8am with Holy Communion, followed by 9.30am Family Communion, 10.45am Matins with Parade and 6.30pm Commemoration of the Departed BCP Eucharist.

  • Autumn Fair

    THE Childrens Opportunity Group is holding its Autumn Fair at the Children's Centre, Devonshire Road, Heaton, on Saturday, from 1pm to 4pm. Attactions include tarot card readings, Christmas stalls, raffle, plants, second-hand stalls, tombola, refreshments

  • Patients miss £185,000 funding boost

    BOLTON patients have missed out on £185,000 funding after the health authority failed to hit waiting list targets. Bolton and Wigan Health Authority was penalised because the high number of people waiting more than 13 weeks for their first appointment

  • Musicians to star in Bridgewater show

    YOUNG musicians from Bolton will be appearing at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall for a world premiere performance of a new work by a fledgling composer. Pupils at Bolton Music School will be joining the region's flagship chamber orchestra, Manchester Camerata

  • Trust plan by doctors

    DOCTORS in Bolton look set to join together to form their own trust. The GPs and community nurses in the town will be able to have independence from the health authority if they decide to push for trust status. It would mean they would be given more control

  • Jason is the golden boy

    I MIGHT have held an Olympic gold medal last Friday night but in one way it was a bad move attending the BEN Sports Awards. No sooner had I got Roger Black off my back as my wife's sporting heart-throb than she finds an instant replacement in track cycling

  • Varadi is not the answer

    NOW the answer to last week's question about the man who, along with Andrei Kanchelskis, played in Manchester, Merseyside and Glasgow derby matches. The feedback has been huge to a question which originated in the Sunday People which gave the answer last

  • Another Capital blunder

    MAYBE it's my fully paid up membership of the Northern camp in the North-South divide debate coming out in me, but I can't help smiling when I see London making an almighty pig's ear of things. The development of a new national stadium to replace Wembley

  • SHAKERS: Bury fans forum

    BURY supporters have a chance to ask questions to Shakers stars past and present at a Fans Forum. Managers Andy Preece and Steve Redmond along with captain Nick Daws and Indian international Baichung Bhutia will be there to answer any fans' queries. And

  • SOCCER: Interest high in LR post

    ATHERTON LR have received 10 applications to date for their first team manager's position, after current manager Steve Plant decided to stand down and concentrate on his Director of Football role at the Crilly Park Club. Steve said: "The closing date

  • SHAKERS: We're in good Nick, insists confident skipper

    BURY skipper Nick Daws has set his Shakers team-mates a Christmas target. He wants 35 points by mid-December to keep Bury on the trail to promotion glory. The same number of points in the second half of the campaign would give the Shakers a total of 70

  • From the BEN files

    25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, November 9, 1975 CASUALTY departments at hospitals in Bolton will close down at five o'clock tonight until 9am tomorrow. The 'outside office hours' shut-down will go on until the end of the junior hospital doctors'

  • OUT OF TOWN

    BLACKPOOL OPERA HOUSE, Blackpool. Sunday November 26, Tom Jones. Ring 01253 292029. WINTER GARDENS, The Spanish Hall, Blackpool. Tel 01253 292029. TOWER BALLROOM, Blackpool. Live music and dancing to the sounds of the Wurlitzer Organ throughout the day

  • MUSIC AND DANCE VENUES

    ALBERT HALLS, Bolton. The Syd Lawrence Orchestra. Thursday, November 9. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £12.50 and £11 for concessions. Ring 334400. VICTORIA HALL, Knowsley Street, Bolton. Bolton Choral Union present A Remembrance Concert for the Millennium including

  • 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. Live music every

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

    LEISURE, SPORT AND KEEP FIT BOLTON Excel, Lower Bridgeman Street, tel: 334456: 7.30am-10.30pm. DEANE Leisure Centre, Junction Road, Deane, tel: 334432: swimming lessons, 5.30pm-7.30pm; basketball drop-in coaching, 5.30pm-6.30pm. FARNWORTH Leisure Centre

  • Hospital security stepped up after theft

    PLANS to introduce security patrols and install CCTV cameras at Chorley Hospital have been made following the theft of a potentially-lethal heart resuscitator. The machine, stolen from the outside the Accident and Emergency unit on Monday, sparked off

  • Teenage Indie trio in town

    A TRIO of teenage indie darlings are heading for Bolton town centre for a live date with some big-name back-up. Chorley-based fi-lo radio will be playing at the Baroc Cafe, Halliwell Road, on Saturday, November 25. Formed in 1998, the band -- Jon Lee,

  • Race is on to find another wedding date!

    A BOLTON couple have put business before pleasure and postponed their wedding plans because of a round-the-world-yacht-race. Andrew Harris and his business partner, Jacqui Matthews, who are joint managing directors of Bolton executive search and selection

  • Model's mum is a catwalk copycat

    IT'S not often that mums follow in their son's footsteps .... but here Lostock mum Gladys Kay is happy to do just that. She's copying her son, Vernon Kay -- international model turned TV presenter -- to take to the catwalk for a spot of modelling next

  • Chrissie wants to know about coffin brides

    A BURY-born woman is trying to research a bizarre story dating back 60 years -- about a starving Bolton bride in a coffin on Blackpool Promenade! Chrissie Gittings, a poet who now lives in London, is trying to find out more about the amazing stories of

  • Strongman Mike is world champ

    WEIGHTLIFTER Mike Pyke is feeling just champion -- world champion! The Leigh-born wheelchair wonder arrived back from Las Vegas on Tuesday night as newly-crowned international champ. "I still can't believe it. I'm over the moon," said spina bifida sufferer

  • Take time to remember our war heroes

    BOLTON'S civic leaders and war veterans have appealed for townsfolk to think of our war heroes by marking a two minutes silence on Saturday. They hope busy shoppers will stand in tribute to the fallen for the silence at 11am on the 11th day in November