Archive

  • Bolton Music Centre Presents at the Albert Halls, Bolton

    ON a night when millions of people stayed at home to discover who shot Eastender Phil Mitchell, it was perhaps surprising that hundreds turned up at the Albert Halls last night. But there was just as much excitement to be gained on the final night of

  • CONCERTS

    MONACO BALLROOM, Hindley. Houghton Weavers. Saturday April 14. Ring 01942 255138. MELBOURNE ROAD METHODIST CHURCH, Bolton. Bolton Male Voice Choir. Saturday April 7. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £3 including light refreshments. Ring 62779. ALBERT HALL, Bolton

  • COMEDY NIGHTS

    QUAYS THEATRE, The Lowry, Salford Quays. Ring 0161 876 2000. THE MET, Market Street, Bury. Ring 0161 761 2216. BLUE CAT CAFE, Shaw Rd, Heaton Moor, Stockport, 0161 432 2117. FROG AND BUCKET, Oldham St, Manchester. 0161 236 9805. QUAY BAR, Deansgate Quay

  • THEATRES

    OCTAGON THEATRE, Bolton. Ring 520661. THE LOWRY, Salford Quays. The Sunshine Boys. Runs to Saturday April 7. Performances 7.30pm evenings and Saturday matinee 2.30pm. Tickets £6 to £17. Ring 0161 876 2000. LANCASTRIAN HALLS, Chorley Road, Swinton. Ring

  • PLACES TO VISIT

    REEBOK STADIUM AND TOUR CENTRE, Middlebrook Leisure and Retail Park, Bolton. Take a look behind the scenes at the home of Bolton Wanderers. The tour begins at the new interactive Museum and Tour Centre and includes a visit to the players' dressing and

  • Rose wins success by degrees

    A FORMER unemployed single mother is scaling the dizzy heights of corporate success in Preston -- and she puts it all down to the Open University. Rose de Carteret, from Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, has enjoyed a meteoric rise to business analyst for the

  • Phone mast rejection welcomed by headmaster

    PLANS for a mobile phone mast close to a 1,500-pupil Bolton school's playing fields have been scrapped after teachers raised health fears. Councillors overwhelmingly rejected proposals for a 15-metre mast in Great Oak Farm, off Oaks Lane in Bradshaw,

  • Bolt from the blue as head quits

    THE chairman of governors at a Breightmet primary school has spoken of her shock at the headteacher's resignation. But Anne Hickson says the main priority for everyone at Crompton Fold Primary School is now to look to the future and improve standards.

  • Farmer angry over site for carcasses

    ANIMALS culled to combat the foot and mouth epidemic could be dumped within a mile of one of Britain's top dairy herds. The Whitehead tip at Astley, which is less than a mile from farmer Ian Patrick's Garrett Hall herd at Tyldesley, is on stand-by to

  • Plans to alter historic mill

    ALTERATIONS will be carried out to two historic Bolton mills if councillors approve. Changes to the Beehive Mills, Crescent Road, will include extending the canopies over loading bays and improving an external fire escape. The Littlewoods Group also wants

  • May end?

    THE Asda Logic West Lancs League this week announced that the current season could well extend until the end of May. Next season plans are for the league to have Premier and First Division of 16 teams each and hopefully the same in Division Two for which

  • George Mutch dies, aged 88

    FORMER Bury inside forward and Scottish international George Mutch died this week of pneumonia in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, he was 88. Mutch made his name in the successful Preston North End side of the 1930s, scoring the dramatic extra time winning goal

  • Right to put Princess as main news

    I THINK that John Evans is missing the point. By definition news is 'new events'. The illness of Princess Margaret was a new event and 'broke' just before the midday news, therefore it was the lead story. By 1pm it was the second item, and by 10pm the

  • An Edwardian Traffic Warden?

    BEING an interested reader of Les Gent's 'Looking Back' pages, it was with surprise I saw the picture of 'The Old Grammar School' at Moon Street, dated 1907. Not one car is seen to be parked. On closer look I noted a uniformed figure in the bottom right

  • BEN OPINION: Major food operation...

    ANYONE who has catered for large numbers knows the problems involved. Most of us, however, are used to meal provision on a much smaller scale. It is easy, therefore, to knock catering at large institutions like hospitals. Some members of Bolton Community

  • Turton verse

    FROM 1924 to 1928 I lived in Dene Bank, Bradshaw -- with views over the Bradshaw Cricket Ground and Affetside. I attended Bradshaw School. From those days a few lines of 'verse' have lingered in my mind, and I would like to know if any of your readers

  • Planners please observe

    A GOOD letter from Mrs Haydock (Saturday, March 3)1, and a few points I think our planners should observe. A. A look into Pilkington/Springfield Road plans and speak to residents. B. With the closure of Fletcher Paper Mill shortly, and the loss of many

  • BEN OPINION: Defeating violence in our homes

    DOMESTIC violence is something that happens in other people's homes. Unfortunately, it is surprisingly common, and is likely to be occurring even as you read these words, possibly nearby. Shock figures show that Bolton has the third highest domestic violence

  • Community signs really are positive

    "NO One Cares" -- as stated by your un-named correspondent (Your Views, March 26) may be a personal view, but certainly does not reflect the amount of 'community concern' currently evidenced by the establishment of six residents/tenants associations during

  • Meat menu is full of misery

    I AM writing in response to Mr McNulty's letter (BEN: March 30) concerning vegetarianism. Can I first say that, as a Vegan, I must be an 'extreme vegetarian', and, at the same time, I'm certainly not malnourished, neither are any of the other 'veggies

  • KAREN'S COLUMN

    I RECENTLY heard a rumour (I hope it wasn't a vicious one!) that we are in for a hot summer. I have to say that I am keeping everything crossed because, after the miserable winter and spring we have had, we are due some hot weather. There is a slightly

  • History comes to life

    PUPILS at St Mary's Primary School took a step back in time to get a feel for life during the depression in England in the 1930s. It was all part of a history project to teach children about life in the North East when many people lost their liveliehoods

  • Lucky couple in fire drama

    A COUPLE were dramatically brought to safety down firefighters' ladders following an early morning blaze at a Chorley town centre flat. Carl Kershaw and Helen Robinson, both aged 31, had to be rescued from their first floor flat on Parsons Brow at the

  • Tom's an example to us all

    A WAR veteran who was shot in the head and left for dead by the Japanese has written a book about his experiences. Pensioner Tom Taylor, 78, of Fox Lane, Leyland, suffered horrendous head injuries while defending his country in Burma during the World

  • New station is a joke

    CHORLEY FM -- comin' in yer ears! Anyone who's heard of Bolton-born comedian Peter Kay will no doubt have heard of Chorley FM, the fictional radio station he created as a joke. And would you believe it, Peter's comic creation could well become a reality

  • Clampdown on home violence

    BOLTON today declared war on domestic violence as shocking figures revealed 4,500 reported incidents over the last 12 months. And experts are convinced the true scale of the problem is even greater, with up to one in four women being victims of abuse.

  • Gresty Road Fact File

    CREWE ALEXANDRA Ground: Gresty Road. Nickname: Railwaymen. Manager: Dario Gradi. Current position: 16th. Last time out: Crystal Palace 1, Crewe 0. How they lined up: Bankole; Wright, Macauley, Foster, Smith; Lunt, Sorvel, Street (sub Navarro); Jack, Ashton

  • Gradi keeps Crewe on the right track

    DARIO Gradi has no intention of letting his Railwaymen take their foot off the pedal. Four wins from their last six games (if only Wanderers could say the same!) have hauled Crewe out of the relegation zone and almost into the mid-table comfort zone.

  • Changing rooms

    AFTER television's "Changing Rooms" Bolton Community Education Service is offering a free two-day course called "Changing Your Own Rooms". So if you want to learn how to hang wallpaper, put up straight shelves or need help with colour co-ordinating, the

  • Fun time at library

    SURE Start Bolton Books for Babies present Tickle Bounce and Fun Rhyme Time at Halliwell Library, Shepherd Cross Street, on Tuesday and on May 15. Babies and toddlers, their mums and dads can come and have fun with rhymes. Parents can have a coffee and

  • Shoppers can meet experts

    SHOPPERS in Walkden can meet a team of British Gas energy saving experts at the Ellesmere Shopping Centre from Monday, April 16 to April 22.

  • Heritage group meet

    HORWICH Heritage Group meets on April 10 at the Resource Centre, Beaumont Road at 7.30pm, when Glen Atkinson will be giving a talk on the Underground Canals at Worsley.

  • Donations will help sick animals

    SECONDHAND clothing, toys, books and jewellery are required by the Bolton and Bury branches of the publicly-funded People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). Residents are asked to donate the items to boost funds. Volunteers are also needed. The PDSA

  • Children bowled over

    MEGABOWL on Pilsworth Industrial Estate in Bury will next week raise money for Fairfield Hospital's Children's Ward. A chocolate egg will be donated to the cause every time a child aged 16 or under purchases a game of ten pin bowling. It is hoped the

  • Conman alert

    A BOGUS gas board official conned his way into a pensioner's home and stole a wallet. The conman struck at midday on Wednesday, talking his way into the 79-year-old man's house in Red Rose Gardens, Little Hulton, before fleeing with the wallet containing

  • Coastal rambles

    AS the foot and mouth crisis continues, Bolton's Ramblers' Association Group are keeping away from farmland and their next outing will be a coach ramble along the Lancashire coastal path tomorrow. Seats available by contacting 01204 699737. On Sunday,

  • Dawn of a new era for 'super college'

    A GOVERNMENT minister will herald the dawn of a new era for adult education in Bolton with the official launch of the town's own "super college" today. Under Secretary of State for Employment and Equal Opportunities Margaret Hodge, MBE, will be guest

  • Rural volunteers needed

    THE Lancashire Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) is holding a meeting to set up a committee of local CPRE volunteers. The group will respond to development issues in the Bolton district and be committed to dealing with issues impacting

  • A spot of bother for little Connor

    A MISCHIEVOUS schoolboy got into a spot of bother during his lunchtime break -- and had to be rescued by the fire brigade. Little Connor Greenhalgh, aged five, had to be cut free by firemen after he became lodged between a bench and a wall during school

  • Plummeting markets on the rails?

    By Rob Arkwright, Hargreave Hale Ltd THE Markets have undergone further suffering this week with the US issuing another spate of profit warnings. Wall Street has taken a battering following increasing rumours that the US economy is moving closer to a

  • Major asset in public arena

    THE man in charge of the £15 million Bolton Arena project is understandably upbeat about a major new boost to community life. "I think it is absolutely fantastic," Chief Executive Mike Barlow said this week. "The philosophy is that 90 per cent of its

  • Page 2

    Good Friday trek cancelled PEOPLE will not be able to continue the long-standing tradition of walking up Rivington Pike on Good Friday this year because of the Foot and Mouth outbreak. The whole area, including the Chinese Gardens and Lever Park, will

  • MP urges groups to name 'heroes'

    MP BRIAN Iddon is calling on local organisations to identify older people in Bolton who are the "heroes" of local volunteering. And those identified will be presented with a certificate and an invitation to visit the House of Commons. The initiative is

  • Crime aware pupils beat off the opposition

    PUPILS at a Bolton school took to the stage in the Greater Manchester Police 'On the Beat' competition. Youngsters aged 11 to 16 from Canon Slade competed against 10 other schools at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall. They took part in a variety of crime-related

  • Police praise gunman chase neighbours

    BRAVE neighbours who tried to catch a gunman who attacked a disabled war veteran have been praised by police officers. As revealed in the BEN last night John Berry, 79, was left bruised and battered after a man - wielding a hand gun - and woman forced

  • Knife man's jail term is halved

    A MAN, who embedded a knife in a Big Issue salesman's chest, had his four-year prison sentence halved by top judges yesterday. The Appeal Court judges showed mercy to Mark Kershaw, 25, of Links Way, Swinton, after hearing he had lashed out with the knife

  • Ricketts ready to return

    MICHAEL Ricketts is expected to get the nod when Wanderers go all out to revive their automatic promotion ambitions at Crewe tomorrow ... and equal a 96-year club record into the bargain. The 20-goal top scorer, available again after a two-match suspension

  • Our votes

    THE news that more than 10,000 residents have signed up for postal votes is good news for the forthcoming General Election. The need to attract more people to vote will have been a major consideration in the recent changes in electoral law -- and postal

  • Tories who are keeping quiet

    THE logistical exercise currently being undertaken in order to control the foot and mouth disease has never been attempted or was even necessary before and it is guesswork as to what manpower will be needed should the epidemic escalate. The army of workers

  • Blighting lives of decent folk

    IN response to 'One Irate Tenant' (Your Views: Tuesday, April 3). Let's get one thing straight for starters. I did not call all the residents of De Lacy Drive, cretins and morons. As far as I know, only one person, other than yourself, has put that interpretation

  • It seems that the dog owners just can't win

    IT seems the dog owners of Bolton can't do right for doing wrong. We think we are doing the right thing picking up our dog mess, but then we are wrong expecting a bin to put it in. Is it our fault that the bins are not emptied often enough? Obviously,

  • Residents hand in petition

    RESIDENTS fighting controversial plans for a massive sand quarry in Euxton stepped up their attempts to block the move this week when they presented a petition to Lancashire County Council. Members of Euxton Residents Against Sand Extraction (ERASE) have

  • Town to wage war on TB

    THOUSANDS of pupils are to be vaccinated against tuberculosis to prevent a major outbreak in Bolton. A mass programme will target 15 to 16 year olds after the town was pinpointed as a high risk area following a major outbreak of the potentially fatal

  • Sullivan writes off automatic promotion

    BIRMINGHAM'S co-owner David Sullivan has conceded defeat in the race for automatic promotion. The controversial Blues' supremo says a disastrous run of results - they have taken just one point from their last five games - has left the way clear for Wanderers

  • Cyclist hurt

    A CYCLIST needed treatment after a collision with a car during the morning rush hour near Horwich Golf Club in Chorley Old Road , was blocked for a short time, after the accident at 7.55am, but the cyclist suffered only minor injuries.

  • Afternoon tea

    AN afternoon tea and social event will be held at Somerset Road United Reformed Church on May 12 for the retirement of the Rev Richard and Mrs Hambly when a presentation will be made. The Rev Hambly's last service will be on May 13 at a Sermons Sunday

  • All the fun of the carnival

    A FUN day out is promised for all the family at this year's Boothstown festival. The event will begin at the Standfield Centre at 12.30pm on Saturday, June 17. The parade, featuring Morris dancers, bands, clowns and floats, will take in Garret Hall, Mosley

  • Rotarians brighten up ward

    MEMBERS of Bolton-le-Moors Rotary Club have brightened up the lives of young patients at the Royal Bolton Hospital. The club has handed £335 to the eye unit's children's ward to buy toys and equipment for its new play area. Members have also raised £468

  • Museum open day

    HALL i'th' Wood Museum holds a fun day on Easter Sunday, April 15, from 2pm to 4pm. The event will include a wide range of Easter activities including the chance to make paper flowers and design Easter bonnets. In addition, there will be the opportunity

  • Transfer cheer

    AN outsourcing decision by Scottish Amicable is good news for a company with an office in Bolton. The transfer of 600 Small Self-Administered Schemes to Salisbury-based James Hay Pension Trustees Ltd started at the beginning of April. James Hay, which

  • Celebrating a century

    IT was the year in which Queen Victoria died, the Cadillac was built in America and the first Nobel prizes were awarded. But 1901 has extra significance for a Bolton grandma -- it was the year she was born. Mary Bannister, received a card from The Queen

  • Tourist Board phoneline advice

    IN order to boost flagging tourism the North West Tourist Board has set up a special telephone hotline to offer advice for the public. The foot and mouth outbreak is continuing to effect the region's tourist industry - with losses estimated at £8million

  • Lisa's quick off the mark for charity plunge

    A DAREDEVIL from Little Hulton was the first person to register for a 90ft abseil for The British Lung Foundation. Plucky Lisa McCadden, aged 21, was quick to sign up for the exciting feat, which will take place inside the Manchester Velodrome. Lisa,

  • Crush injury victim gives generous gift to hospital

    AN accident victim has donated a £3,000 state-of-the-art home physiotherapy kit to Withington Hospital. Anthony Coote, aged 33 suffered a crush injury to his arm last year while working for Exide Batteries in Bolton. He had plastic surgery at Withington

  • No to mayor

    BURY people have rejected an American-style elected mayor. More than 4,300 residents responded to the consultation, with almost half backing the cabinet and leader model favoured by the council. Some 49 per cent called for that system, while 33pc backed

  • Janet in plea for Andes charity trek

    A WOMAN who comes from Westhoughton will be hiking across one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world to raise money for needy youngsters. Janet Jones will be following the Inca Trail across the Andes on a 10-day trip to raise money for "The

  • Lib-Dem election cheer

    THE Liberal Democrats were celebrating today after winning the traditional Labour safe seat of Atherton. The Labour strangle hold was broken last night when Bob Splaine narrowly defeated Mark Aldred and Conservative Rosina Oxley to win a seat on Wigan

  • Garry's Himalaya hike helps Cancer Research

    DAREDEVIL Garry Seddon has returned from a gruelling overseas trek to Nepal to raise cash for The Cancer Research Campaign. Gary, aged 27, a former Turton High School pupil, was one of 33 people who spent 10 days trekking through the Himalayas. He said

  • JAZZ DATES

    HORWICH RMI CLUB, Chorley New Road, Horwich. 2001 The Concert with Erick Delaney, Paul Rigby and the Northern Jazz Orchestra. Sunday April 8. Admission by ticket only at £7 and £6 concessions. Ring 468911. BAR COAST, St Mary's Street, Manchester. Live

  • LIVE MUSIC

    VENUES AND EVENTS FARMERS ARMS, Chorley Street, Bolton. Badger. Rock Band. Saturday April 7. Starts 9pm. PIGEON CLUB, Bridgeman Street, off Manchester Road, Bolton. Reggae Music with Ebony and Ivory. Saturday April 7. Starts 8pm. Admission £2.50. HALLIWELL

  • EVENTS

    BOLTON DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY, Lecture Theatre, Central Library, Le Mans Crescent, Bolton. All meetings held at 10.45am, subscription for year £22, single lectures £4, pay at the door.Ring Bolton 301969. RACE NIGHT, Bradshaw Bowling Club. Tonight

  • MUSIC AND DANCE VENUES

    COTTON TREE, Prince Street, Bolton. Cabaret to celebrate Basset's 1st birthday. Monday April 9. Starts 8pm. Tickets £3 including supper. Ring 604154 or the Cotton Tree. ACCRINGTON TOWN HALL, Accrington. Friday Night is Music Night with Janet Lancaster

  • DANCE CLUBS

    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

  • Pool of blood led to burglar

    A TRAIL of blood left around a house that had been burgled eventually led police to Leslie Molyneux, a court was told. Molyneux had cut himself when smashing a glass panel in the back door of a house in Leigh and left spots of blood all over the property

  • Hi-tech bid to cut out council house red tape

    HOUSING chiefs have declared war on "red tape" by going hi-tech in a bid to make renting Bolton homes hassle-free. Bolton has won a bid to be one of only 27 authorities nationwide to take part in a Government sponsored Choice-based Lettings Scheme. The

  • Probe after dog left to rot in house

    THE RSPCA has launched an investigation after an emaciated Rottweiler was found dead in a council house. A council bailiff discovered the dog's wasted body, so decomposed it was stuck to the floor. The bailiff had called at the house in Myrtle Avenue,

  • Club's first birthday remembers Lynette

    A CHILDREN'S club set up in memory of a mother of three who died just days before her wedding will celebrate its first birthday next week. The Kidz Klub was formed last March, days after the tragic death of bride-to-be Lynette Mulenga. Mrs Mulenga, aged

  • Hospital hotline helped ease families' fears

    NEARLY 100 worried people have called a help-line set-up at the Royal Bolton Hospital in the wake of the Alder Hey organ retention scandal. Families concerned about whether their loved ones could have been affected in the past, dialled the special number

  • Stablegirls race to rescue stranded horse

    STABLEHANDS jumped into a flooded ditch to save a horse which slipped into the water while grazing in a field. The owner of the horse, Trish Goodwin, from Bolton, and other livery hands were then involved in a race against time to keep the stricken animal's

  • CINEMA

    FILMS for the week until Thursday April 12. UGC CINEMA, The Valley, Centertainment, Bolton. Bridget Jones's Diary (15); Spy Kids (U); Rugrats in Paris (U); The Wedding Planner (PG); Men of Honour (15); Save The Last Dance (12); 15 Minutes (18); Enemy

  • Shakers Res still need a point

    Bury's reserve side still need a point to clinch promotion from Avon Insurance League Division Two. A mistake by the league's press office put Mansfield Town on fewer points than they actually had therefore the champagne will have to be put on ice!

  • Hardy Gigg hope

    NEILL HARDY starts a two-week trial with Bury on Monday -- and he couldn't be going to Gigg Lane at a better time. Striker Hardy hit his 20th goal of the season for Radcliffe Borough in their highly impressive 1-0 win over UniBond Division One leaders

  • Boro bid to build on top triumph

    THE games continue to come thick and fast for Radcliffe Boro with Lincoln United the visitors to Stainton Park tomorrow. Having just one midweek game this week has been almost a relief for the club after two in the previous seven day period. And what