BOLTON Amateur Theatre Society (BATS) dates for May are: Call Me Madam (music and lyrics by Irving Berlin) by Walmsley Church AODS at Walmsley Parish Hall, Egerton, from April 30 to May 5, tickets 520334; Broadway Bound (by Neil Simon), presented by Bolton
THERE is a reunion taking place at Rumworth Labour Club, Bolton, in May 2002 for anyone who left Hayward Green School in May, 1982. The exact date will be confirmed soon. Please email haywardgreen82@hotmail.com to register. Everyone, including teachers
I'VE often thought about the times when I used to go the the Derby Hall Dance Hall in Bowkers Row, Bolton, every Friday night with friends from work. The years would be 1947 to 1948, we all were about 16 or 17. We enjoyed dancing very much, and there
THANK God that this Labour Government has shown commonsense in refusing to subsidise the rebuilding of the Wembley Stadium with public money. As one of the millions who have not the slightest interest in our National Game, I am heartily sick of having
THE week of May 13th to 19th is National Breast-feeding Awareness Week, so it is fitting to use the week to promote the health benefits of breast-feeding to both babies and their mothers. The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breast-feeding
CAN anyone explain to me why they are burning animal carcases before burying the remains, during this present outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease? Four centuries ago, during the Great Plague, when more than 400,000 citizens of London died in the course
CAREER women -- including a nursing home worker -- are walking the town's streets offering sex for sale, the BEN can reveal tonight. A woman, who holds a senior post in a Bolton nursing home, is one of the working girls touting for business in the town's
TICKETS for the play-off opener at West Brom on Sunday will be in short-supply after Wanderers were offered an allocation of just 2,300 by the Midlands club. The Baggies, who have been allocated 5,000 South Stand tickets for the second leg on Thursday
FORMER Bolton Wanderers star John McGinlay helped to kick off a fun football competition being run at a Bolton supermarket. Asda's new Kick for a Million Competition, in conjunction with Walkers and Britvic Soft Drinks, gives customers the chance to win
ONE of Bolton's most famous family-owned stores opened up to serve refreshments to police and firemen at the Club fire. Mrs Ida Whitehead, whose son Gordon was managing director of the well-known Whitehead's store which closed only recently, remembers
JACK Breen knows he's a lucky man today. He fell 80 feet from a window of the Top Storey Club -- and lived. Now aged 68 and managing director of estate agency Gran Sol Properties Europe Ltd, Jack spoke to the BEN from Calpe on Spain's Costa Blanca where
FIREMEN who arrived at the Top Storey Club were faced with a terrible dilemma. They couldn't reach the people trapped on the upper floor of the building because the fire had roared up the wooden stairs destroying this exit. And, as they used the turntable
IT numbed Bolton and horrified a Britain where the club culture was just starting to be king in those Swinging Sixties. But exactly why 19 people died at the Top Storey Club has never been discovered. And today, 40 years on, although there were allegations
HOSPITAL staff have been given some crime-fighting tips in the battle against thieves who target the town's carers. A special mobile police roadshow visited the Royal Bolton Hospital last week to pass on the crime prevention advice. Mobile phones were
BOLTON has a new top detective -- and already he's a busy man probing the fatal Moat House hotel fire. Det Supt Dave Jones took charge of Bolton CID at the end of March after his predecessor Mick Gorrill moved on to a new job, heading up another GMP crime
MANCHESTER Dog's Home is looking for a family, who are thinking of adopting a dog, to appear in a TV series on Channel 4. If your dream is to own a dog, contact Kate Kingston at Planet Wild Productions 0151 288 8000.
BURNING rubbish sparked a fire inside a derelict house in Tonge Moor. Firefighters were called to Yates Street at 3pm yesterday. The blaze spread to the first floor causing severe smoke logging and 50 per cent structural damage.
TYLDESLEY Little Theatre's Ian Taylor may be aged only 31 years, but is preparing to notch up 50 roles for the group in its next production, Time Of My Life. Ian has been a member of the company for 14 years, and in addition to preparing for his 50th
STORYTELLING sessions will be held at Bolton Museum, Art Gallery and Aquarium. On May 15, 16 and 17, and June 5 and 6, storyteller Bridget Crowley will work with early years groups, bringing paintings in the Family Fortunes exhibition to life with story
SMALL charities and community groups have been invited to a training day to help them find new ways of fundraising. Six workshops will focus on the basics of fund-raising, detailing the number of organisations which offer cash handouts. It will take place
THE Marco Players present 'Shadowlands', by William Nicholson, at Chorley Old Road Methodist Community Church, Bolton, from June 13 to 16, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £4, concessions £3. Friday and Saturday all tickets will be £4. Tickets are available
A GANG armed with baseball bats had a door slammed in its face by a quick-thinking pub worker. Four or five men wearing balaclavas turned up at closing time at The Watergate, Over Hulton, on Sunday night and tried to get in. But the staff member locked
PEOPLE who care for disabled or seriously ill relatives may be unaware that more benefits are up for grabs. Changes in the law, from April, mean carers may be entitled to extra help from the community. A series of events will be staged in Bolton as part
BOLTON'S rich textile history enters a new and fascinating period with an exhibition at Smithills Hall. Progressive Threads is the name of a group of post City and Guilds students of Bolton Community Education who are staging the exhibition. They meet
A MAN, aged 56, was in a serious condition in hospital today after being beaten unconscious by two men in Horwich last night. The man was confronted by two men in Mason Street who punched him and kicked him repeatedly as he lay on the floor. He received
A FORMER Methodist minister from Bolton has died in Devon. The Rev Dennis Burton, aged 59, was a popular minister in the Bolton Circuit serving the Astley Bridge Theatre Church. He came to Bolton in 1979 and was particularly successful in reaching children
THE Duchess of York visited Bolton today as part of a whirlwind tour of the region. (See also (Miracle tot misses Fergie visit) on the Home Page She cut the first turf at the site of a new parental suite and family rooms at the Princess Anne Maternity
A WESTHOUGHTON comedian received his MBE from the Queen after spending years putting smiles on the faces of hundreds of people. Tommy Newton has been in entertainment for 40 years and was given the prestigious award for helping to raise cash for charities
MANCHESTER Manufacturing Institute is staging a practical hands-on programme to help manufacturers tackle global competition and the strong pound.The "How to...." series will run on June 20, 21 and 27 and July 11. For more information, contact Joanna
The Health and Safety Executive has published two booklets highlighting the dangers of asbestos. Copies of Introduction to Asbestos Essentials and Asbestos Essentials Task Manual are available from the HSE on 0178 881165. THE Health and Safety Executive
FORMER Bolton Wanderers star John McGinlay helped to kick off a fun football competition being run at a Bolton supermarket. Asda's new Kick for a Million Competition, in conjunction with Walkers and Britvic Soft Drinks, gives customers the chance to win
THE Duchess of York visited Bolton today as part of a whirlwind tour of the region. (See also (Miracle tot misses Fergie visit) She cut the first turf at the site of a new parental suite and family rooms at the Princess Anne Maternity Unit to be built
BOLTON people are being urged to do their bit for others in need by making May the month they give blood. The National Blood Service has announced a series of donor sessions across the North-west and are now urging the public to attend. The service say
TUDOR times came to Hall i' th' Wood in a traditional celebration of May Day. Crowds flocked to watch the festivities at Bolton's historic building yesterday. Children donned traditional costumes to dress up as Tudor servants and noble gentry at the annual
IT'S third time lucky for a Horwich nursery school as they celebrate a near-perfect report from Government Education watchdogs. Inspectors from Ofsted recently visited the Moorlands Children's Nursery on Chorley New Road and their report paints a picture
BOLTON Hospice is all set to give away £1,500 a week-- thanks to its new lottery to be launched in September. And the hospice is hoping to be a big winner, too, as the fund-raising initiative helps it cope with an increasingly steep annual bill. It normally
WANDERERS appear to have won the race to sign Gillingham's highly-rated midfielder Nicky Southall. The Middlesbrough-born 29-year-old, who is out of contract at the Priestfield Stadium, has been linked with a string of clubs - including Reading and Everton
OUTRAGED heart-swap grandfather Bernard Dunleavy has voiced fears for his future in the light of threats to close the region's top transplant centre. Mr Dunleavy, a former business studies lecturer at Bolton College, has bitterly attacked moves to shut
BOLTON West MP Ruth Kelly has been accused of involving the town's schools in underhand electioneering. She has come under fire from Liberal Democrats for a letter about the Government's Children's Tax Credit which head teachers were asked to distribute
AN irate mum is calling for an apology after receiving a letter warning she may face prosecution over her daughter's lateness at school. But mum-of-two Elaine Massey says that even though her 13-year-old daughter Michelle has been marked late 31 times
FIRE precautions should prevent another Top Storey disaster today -- as long as clubs and other entertainment venues are well-managed and obey the rules. With a string of preventative measures in place, a repeat of the 1961 fatal club blaze seems impossible
JACKIE Webb believes in miracles. She knows they exist because she should have been in the Top Storey Club on that May night. She had been going there as an impressionable 18-year-old with a few girlfriends each Monday evening since it had opened a few
A KEARSLEY darts team's hopes of winning a dream trip to Las Vegas continues to hang in the balance. The 12-strong Moss Rose team drew the semi-final of a nationwide competition, which also features dominoes, shove ha'penny and quiz questions, over two
DAISY Hill were held to their first scoreless draw of the season at home to Darwen last night. The result leaves Daisy on 49 points in the North West Counties Second Division. Next match is tomorrow at Tetley Walker.
CLIFTON Theatre Workshop is performing its ninetieth production this week -- coinciding with the group's 45th year. The play is a farce -- Love's A Luxury by Guy Paxton and Edward V Hoile. It takes place in the neighbourhood centre next to St Anne's Church
A FEW months ago I touched briefly on the subject of insurance claims and the length of time it takes for them to be settled. The subject was triggered by my wife's experience. Two years ago she was involved in a relatively minor traffic accident, well
I GOT a severe shock when I visited my 92-year-old mum on Mother's Day. She is convinced the 'authorities' have her under surveillance as a possible IRA sympathiser or terrorist. Now you may very well be laughing hysterically at the thought of a frail
WHAT is it about the British that persuades them to accept low-grade standards of public service as the norm? That is something which has puzzled better brains than mine -- and will continue to do so unless there is a radical change in the attitudes of
I SHOULD like to place on record my appreciation and thanks to the staff of Ward F4 of the Royal Bolton Hospital, for the excellent nursing care, service, and first class attention I received during a recent stay on the ward, following major surgery.
I HAVE just read the sickening damage etc to cars in Great Lever. It's about time the police got their act together and sorted these lot out. And it's not just in Great Lever where it's happening, it's everywhere. The way I see it, the only way they will
THE Prime Minister has now made it absolutely clear that he is determined to abolish Community Health Councils, despite enormous opposition from within his own party and the wider public. Nationwide, Community Health Councils employ 700 staff, supported
IT'S the world's oldest profession and it's on the streets of every town and city in the land. Prostitution in 2001, however, takes on a worrying new dimension with our report today that at least one woman holding down a responsible day job in a nursing
I AM sorry that Mr Patel is unhappy with me exposing the hypocrisy of the Bolton Tory candidates' positions on fox hunting, but, thankfully, the BEN is a firm believer in free speech. I would like to set the record straight on the points Mr Patel made
RACISM probably seems very remote for people who've never been on the receiving end. It is the bed-fellow of extreme nationalism, which I witnessed at first hand recently, when I was invited to Spain's Basque country for their regional elections. Spain's
BEN reader 'Name and address Supplied' suggests that Wigan would be the main beneficiary of the A5225 bypass. 'Name and Address supplied' obviously does not reside anywhere near Daisy Hill, else he/she would not come out with such a ridiculous statement
THE Bank Holiday sunshine brought an unusual visitor out to play in Bolton town centre. A wild deer was spotted dashing around by surprised passers-by yesterday. The animal was discovered among the trees and gravestones at Bolton Parish Church. And BEN
MIRACLE baby Tilly-Jo Jepson, who owes her life to the wonder of science, has finally left hospital -- hours before a visit by the Duchess of York. After three months of intensive nursing, the Bolton baby born by emergency Caesarean section at just 28
BIRMINGHAM won the race to be the first of the contenders to book their hotel for the Play off Final in Cardiff. Trevor Francis' side may be accused of tempting fate but it's not unusual in these circumstances and Wanderers also have plans in place for
FIREMEN who arrived at the Top Storey Club were faced with a terrible dilemma. They couldn't reach the people trapped on the upper floor of the building because the fire had roared up the wooden stairs destroying this exit. And, as they used the turntable
IF the Top Storey Club existed today, it would have to comply with the latest national building regulations. Senior Building Surveyor Bernard Carter explained that this applies to newly-built premises and those whose use is changing. Regulations cover
A YOUNG man and woman plundered a pensioners' home after talking their way into the property. The pair struck between 3pm and 4pm on May 1, after distracting the elderly occupants of a house in Pansy Road, Farnworth. After stealing property they pushed
BOLTON police chiefs are on the hunt... to reward deserving youngsters. Nominations are now required for the 2001 GMP's Young Citizen of the Year awards, with some top prizes up for the winner. The annual award acknowledges work carried out by young people
A FORD Mondeo was destroyed by fire early today on Pennington Flash anglers' car park in Slag Lane, Leigh.
MEMBERS of the Farnworth and Kearsley branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution raised more than £1,645 for lifeboats.
BURNING rubbish sparked a fire inside a derelict house in Tonge Moor. Firefighters were called to Yates Street at 3pm yesterday.
IF you are going on a family holiday this year you could be the stars of a new Channel 4 show. Fulcrum Television would like to hear from families who are holidaying together between now and the end of the year. Phone Sue on 0207 689 4286 or Lara on 0207
A FORD Mondeo was destroyed by fire early today on Pennington Flash anglers' car park in Slag Lane, Leigh. A fire service spokesman said the blaze was malicious.
SMITHILLS is currently alive to the sound of music as young musicians limber up for a busy month of May. The full range of orchestras and bands from Smithills School, also incorporating musicians from Bolton Sixth Form college, will be on show at the
FIREMEN spent two hours fighting a blaze at the water treatment works in Kearsley. Two crews from Farnworth were called at 8.30am yesterday, after an electrical vault set fire to a motor inside a pump house. A 415-watt voltage level meant firefighters
VARIETY is the key word for the Rivington Spring Festival 2001 with activities ranging from a step back in time to the Middle Ages, through to an evening of murder. Activities run from May 11 to 13, starting with Dragonsfire. The group's repertoire ranges
VOLUNTEER-run children's groups can share a slice of £3.6 million. The Government has awarded the huge sum to Bolton to help provide services for children at risk of social exclusion. Anybody interested in finding out how their group can get involved
THE Reebok will stage its first international on Sunday, May 27, when England meet Scotland in a warm up to the European Women's Championhsip Finals. The match kicks off at 12 noon; admission will be £3 for adults, free for under 16s and pensioners.
SHARPLES mum Jeanette Morris had a day she'll never forget when she won her way to the catwalk at a top Bolton event. Jeanette won a competition run by the Bolton Town Centre Company and the BEN to join professional models for a fashion show at the Fashion
ARLENE Cochrane has long been the mainstay of the daily running of Fortalice, Bolton's hostel for battered women and their children. So, a surprise bouquet was particularly appropriate. D Sanders from Harwood nominated Arlene for our Bouquet of the Week
BOLTON is educating the world when it comes to preventing pain and suffering. Communicable Disease Consultant for Bolton, Dr Robert Aston, has just returned from a high profile meeting in Brussels. His brief was to give the low down on immunisation making
A CONTROVERSIAL American doctor, described as "like a God" in some medical circles will visit Bolton in a major coup for the town. The pioneering medic, Dr John Lee, will make a rare appearance in the UK, shunning London to top the bill at Bolton's Victoria
A FIRE which burned for two hours at the back of Done Bookmakers in Horwich is believed to have been started deliberately. Firefighters were called to Winter Hey Lane after baking trays were set alight outside the building on Saturday night. The fire,
A WOMAN escaped serious injury in a collision with another car and a motorbike in Westhoughton last night. Claire Carson, aged 20, of Peel Terrace, Westhoughton, was taken to hospital suffering from shock. The crash happened at 7.30pm when a car, believed
A LONG-serving member of a Bolton youth club has retired after 50 years. Alan Watson MBE has given up his place on the board at Bolton Lads' and Girls' Club in Bark Street. He joined the club in the 1940s as a swimming instructor after graduating from
A GROWING local company has decided to transfer all its financial affairs into Lloyds TSB Commercial's specialised Industry Focus banking service. The Bethell Group at Stoneclough has a £50 million order book and the leading infrastructure service provider
A BOLTON consortium has been awarded £30,000 in government money to develop an environmentally friendly travel scheme. The Bolton Perfect Journey Partnership includes organisations such as First Manchester, Bolton Council, Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton
TUDOR times came to Hall i' th' Wood in a traditional celebration of May Day. Crowds flocked to watch the festivities at Bolton's historic building yesterday. Children donned traditional costumes to dress up as Tudor servants and noble gentry at the annual
HALF a million pounds has already been ploughed into the construction of a Bolton youth club's plush new headquarters. And now, nearly six months after work started on the new building for Bolton Lads and Girls Club, contractors are preparing to begin
Their Benson and Hedges Cup campaign ended in suitable style with a crushing seven-wicket defeat by Notts at Trent Bridge - leaving them joint bottom of their group with two points from five matches. Notts, meanwhile, marched into the quarter finals with
ATHERTON have staked an early claim as the side to beat by setting the early pace with a double victory in the Redmayne Bentley Bolton Association. They followed their impressive six wicket win over Elton with an even more comprehensive victory over Clifton
ACOUSTICS experts have been called in at a Bolton company after neighbours complained about noises coming from the premises at night. As reported in the BEN, Bolton Council's environmental health department issued an enforcement notice against Horwich
AN irate mum is calling for an apology after receiving a letter warning she may face prosecution over her daughter's lateness at school. But mum-of-two Elaine Massey says that even though her 13-year-old daughter Michelle has been marked late 31 times
BOLTON medics are fighting young patients' fear of needles -- with strawberry-flavoured oxygen and jokes! And it certainly worked for Deane youngster Rachel George who was terrified when she had to have surgery on her finger -- because she knew she had
IT may be 40 years ago but memories of the Top Storey Club inferno were fresh in many people's minds this week. Certainly, for Mrs Jackie Webb from Harwood, the years rolled back as she read the BEN special series of commemorative features about the inferno
Francis Roylance, 33, Mancroft Avenue, Bolton Billie Hough, 32, Wigan Road, Bolton Robert Michael McKenzie Spence, 27, Grange Road, Bromley Cross Michael Brian Freeman, 20, Barrie Way, Bolton James Taylor, 28, Red Lane, Bolton Dereck William Riddings,
PATRICIA Moran may only have been a girl of eight at the time but she has special cause to remember the fire. Her dad, the late John Heuze, ran Express Taxis on Manor Street parallel to Crown Street, and the family lived on the premises. On the Christmas
THE Top Storey Club was destined for a brief life. The club was started in December 1960 by Mr Stanley Wilcock, who originally rented the building for his business, Gregg Construction Company which made kitchen furniture. Then he had the idea of converting
LAST year's Hospital Cup runners-up Breightmet United went out of this year's competition when they were beaten 1-0 by Blackrod Town. On a bumpy pitch, good football was limited and although there were half chances at each end, the game didn't produce
BOLTON Under 15s completed their Greater Manchester Schools' league programme with a thumping 5-0 win against Wigan at Leigh Bedford High School on Saturday. The local youngsters dominated the first half and they went in front after 15 minutes through
