I AM writing in reply to Mrs B Willets' poem 'Name the Clown', featured in the BEN on Monday, June 25. As the subject of the poem was "yours truly", I would just like to offer a huge thank you to the poet in question. It is every poet's intention to not
AS A Bradshaw resident, I was interested in your article on the effect of roadworks on drive times to the town centre. However, I suspect that the statistics you presented are highly flawed. It is not correct to compare off-peak travel times with peak
ONE of my hobbies is cabinet making. I really enjoy designing and making a piece of furniture. I find that planing a piece of wood and seeing the beauty of its grain revealed is very satisfying indeed. For the most part in my woodwork I use timber from
FOUR children a week are being admitted to hospital in Bolton after drinking themselves unconscious. Medical experts say the children, as young as 13, are mainly girls. A&E Consultant Dr Chris Moulton said the Royal Bolton Hospital casualty unit had
A NOISY crowd of Bolton Wanderers fans gathered at the Reebok Stadium to cheer for their favourite football team. More than 300 supporters chanted, waved their arms and swayed from side-to-side for around two hours. And while the sight may not have looked
A NOISY crowd of Bolton Wanderers fans gathered at the Reebok Stadium over the weekend to cheer for their favourite football team. More than 300 supporters chanted, waved their arms and swayed from side-to-side for around two hours. And while the sight
A TEENAGER called firefighters after smelling smoke at home. The 15-year-old boy, who was babysitting in Moorfield Close, Tonge Moor, was worried after he could not trace the source of the smell. Firefighters searched the house and found faulty wiring
ROYLE Family star Ralf Little stamped his way into the quarter-finals of the World Toe Wrestling Championships. The Bury actor and MTV presenter was in a happy mood after he managed to wrestle his opponent's foot to the floor to grab a spot in the last
A MAN dragged his semi-conscious neighbour from his smoke-filled home. John Calderbank, aged 51, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital suffering from the effects of smoke after fire broke out in his kitchen at Burnmore Road, Breightmet, early on Sunday
ROBBIE Elliott revealed today why he turned his back on the Reebok, just five weeks after helping Wanderers reach the Premiership. "I'm getting a better contract, a longer contract and I'm going back to my home club," the Geordie explained as he started
UNBEATEN Horwich RMI lost their record when they took on struggling Chorley Ladies in E Section. The first half went to form with RMI leading 104-53. Hazel Pennington was the top-scorer with 37 runs. Chorley batted a second time and lost six batters quickly
LANCASHIRE faced a stiff target of 293 from a minimum of 77 overs to beat champions Surrey at The Oval this afternoon. And they made a bad start when opener Jamie Haynes was caught by Butcher off Tudor's bowling for just nine. At lunch Lancas were 41-
SHOCK of the day was the paltry 46 runs that champions and runaway leaders Kearsley could only muster against Tonge. Kearsley have swept all before them this season and are well on their way to retaining their title, but the decision to cover the wicket
Leigh Centurions 84 York Wasps 1 THE Centurions ended their NFP programme just as they started - in total domination writes Mike Hulme Poor York, rooted at the foot of the table and with only one win all season, were taken to the cleaners as Leigh posted
BAND ON THE WALL, Swan St, Manchester. The Tommy Smith Group with special guest David Liebman perform a tribute to John Coltrane. Thursday July 5. Starts 8pm. Admission £8.50. Ring 0161 833 0682, or 0161 832 6625. JERIATRIC JAZZ featuring Vinnie Parker
OCTAGON THEATRE, Bolton. Ring 520661. FARNWORTH LITTLE THEATRE, Cross Street, Farnworth. Ring 527092. ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, Manchester. Ring 0161 907 5278. LOWTON CIVIC HALL. Ring 01925 764793. LANCASTRIAN HALLS, Chorley Road, Swinton. Ring
BLACKLEACH COUNTRY PARK, Hill Top Road, off Bolton Road, Walkden, Worsley. A beautiful 100 acre park with walking and angling, a bird sanctuary and Visitor Centre. Open dawn to dusk. Ring 0161 790 7746. CLIFTON COUNTRY PARK AND WET EARTH COLLIERY, Clifton
LIFE CAFE, Peter Street, Manchester. Ring 0161 832 1111. FAMILY TREE, Nelson Suite, Swallow Hotel, Samlesbury, nr Preston. Ring 01772 324562. BURNLEY MECHANICS, Manchester Road, Burnley. Ring 01282 664400. HORWICH LEISURE CENTRE, Victoria Road, Horwich
A MAN dragged his semi-conscious neighbour from his smoke-filled home. John Calderbank, aged 51, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital suffering from the effects of smoke after fire broke out in his kitchen at Burnmore Road, Breightmet, early on Sunday
HUNDREDS of people signed a petition against possible council plans to sell off parks. As previously reported in the BEN, the council has launched a review of Bolton's 408 parks and other green spaces. A report to Cllr John Byrne, executive member for
HUNDREDS of people signed a petition against possible council plans to sell off parks. As previously reported in the BEN, the council has launched a review of Bolton's 408 parks and other green spaces. A report to Cllr John Byrne, executive member for
A NOISY crowd of Bolton Wanderers fans gathered at the Reebok Stadium over the weekend to cheer for their favourite football team. More than 300 supporters chanted, waved their arms and swayed from side-to-side for around two hours. And while the sight
A NOISY crowd of Bolton Wanderers fans gathered at the Reebok Stadium over the weekend to cheer for their favourite football team. More than 300 supporters chanted, waved their arms and swayed from side-to-side for around two hours. And while the sight
A BOLTON Breast Unit has benefited from £800, thanks to the kindness of a well-loved dance teacher who died in March. Ron Smith, who suffered a heart attack at the age of 67, ran dances for several years with his partner, Anne Worsley . The money was
PUB landlord Kevin Connor missed out on a £100,000 jackpot after his winning streak on the horses finally ran out of steam. Mr Connor, who runs the Rose Hill Tavern in Westhoughton had hoped to scoop the jackpot following a bet placed on four horses on
RESIDENTS in one of Bolton's most sought-after suburbs are preparing to count the cost of a bridge closure which has split it in two from today. The Railtrack-owned Rumworth Road bridge in Lostock has been closed because experts believe it is not strong
FRIDAY's winner of the Halliwell Cony KO was Ian Roe who took £32 first place. Ian showed why he is the best left-handed thrower in Lancashire. He beat Mark Aspinall 3-0 in 16, 16 and 17 dart legs. Mark took £16 runner-up spot. Mark beat an unlucky (King
THE BEN is right to highlight the reduction in the number of accidents on St Peter's Way, Bolton. Any reduction in the number of people injured is to be commended. I suspect, however, that the reduction is due to the lengthened slip road from Raikes Lane
I WOULD like to say a big thank you to two couples for their help on Saturday night between 5.40-6pm, when my son was knocked over on his bike on Slack Fold Lane, Morris Green. The first thank you is to the couple who came to let me know about the accident
I READ your article on June 27 entitled "Roadside spies limit accidents" with great interest. The statistics appear to show a 30 per cent drop in accidents following (we are told) the introduction of a new lower speed limit and cameras to enforce this
ON behalf of Speakability, the national charity for people with aphasia, I would like to thank everyone who made possible our charity concert at Bolton Parish Church on Saturday, June 16. These include the artistes Kathryn Harries, Jean Tredaway, Melissa
IT is a horrifying to learn that each week three or four young teenagers are admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital unconscious from drinking alcohol. Some are as young as 13, and A & E consultant Dr Chris Moulton says that there is a noticeable rise
A FORMER Bolton fire officer convicted of a string of sex attacks on lone women was today beginning a life sentence. George Heyes was responsible for a series of terrifying sex attacks on young women during an 18 months reign of terror between 1996-1997
A TEENAGER who suffered horrific injuries in a road accident 17 months ago has made an amazing recovery. Joshua Kane was 12 years old when he was involved in a collision with two vehicles in Bury Road, Breightmet, as he was on his way to school during
Which are the nicest ices? IT is a tough job -- but somebody has to do it... This week's hot spell turns people's thoughts to ice creams to tempt the tastebuds once again. But which ices are the nicest? Feature writer Irma Heger got together a panel of
A WOMAN was killed when she was hit by a tram in a tunnel at Whitefield. Police are not treating the death of Audrey Davis as suspicious. The 38-year-old woman's body was recovered by police and paramedics from a tunnel close to the Whitefield's Metrolink
THE Neighbour Dispute Service is looking for volunteer mediators to help sort out neighbour disputes in Bolton. It is a chance to make new friends, develop new skills, help your community, build self-confidence and improve job prospects. Full training
THE owner of a missing dog has made a heartfelt plea for his safe return. Tracy Grimes, aged 31, of Dove Walk, Farnworth, said her four children, Darren, aged 12, Gillian, 10, Peter and Patricia, both nine, have been in tears since the dog went missing
LESSONS will be learned from Japan in how to provide arts facilities and opportunities in Bolton. The Able Arts Forum: A Symposium on Disability Arts in Japan, is being held on Saturday July 14 between 10am and 2pm at the lecture theatre in Bolton Museum
THE average person eats more than 900 animals in their lifetime. But the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease has turned many Bolton people turn away from meat. Tom Bridge, the BEN's expert chef who has been working non-stop for various vegetarian companies
ESSEX'S Australian star Stuart Law, who scored three centuries in as many days against Lancashire at Old Trafford the week before last, has effectively issued a come and get me message to the Red Rose county. Law told BBC Radio Essex after pulling out
ALBERT HALLS, Bolton. Bolton. Ring 334400. THE MET, Market Street, Bury. Ring 0161 761 2216. BRIDGEWATER HALL, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester. BB King with special guest Keb Mo. Tuesday July 3. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £24.50, £32.50 and £39.50. Also,
CHARITY LINE DANCE. An evening of dance with Dee Jay, Kamikazi Cowgirl and her Hot Country Sounds Disco. Beesley Green Community Centre, of Greenleach Lane, Roe Green, Worsley. Friday July 27. Starts 8pm-11pm. Tickets £3.50 including supper. Ring Kerris
ATLANTIS, Eagley Brook Way, Bolton. Ring Bolton 529922. Friday: Extreme, dance night, Saturday: Desire, mainstream chart and dance music. BAR COAST DUO, St Mary's Street, Manchester. DJs Phat Pete and The Nice play commercial dance music. Every Friday
A FORMER Bolton man whose family moved to Ireland 20 years ago is trying to track down a school sweetheart - with his wife's approval. Miguel Artiguez, aged 31, recently married but he still thinks about a girl called Christina Haslem whom he met while
