May 22, 1968

THE borough welcomed a very special royal visitor on Friday as The Queen visited Radcliffe on a two-day tour of the North West.

Her Royal Highness' first stop was at Radcliffe County Secondary School, where she spoke to three pupils about their role in the town's Operation Springclean, including 15-year-old schoolboy, Gordon Boyes, from Ainsworth.

Gordon said: "She asked me what I had done and I told her we had been cleaning up sites around Radcliffe."

The Queen then made a visit to Dobson and Barlow Ltd engineering works in Bradley Fold, and the playing fields, club house and community centre provided by the firm.

Across the town housewives, pensioners, and factory and office workers filled the streets to give The Queen a rousing reception as she travelled through the borough before heading off to Ashton-in-Makerfield.

THE MP for Bury and Radcliffe, Mr David Ensor, has announced that he will not contest his seat again.

A former lawyer, author, farmer, television actor and soldier who saw service at Dunkirk and the Far East, Mr Ensor MP became the constituency's first Labour MP in 1964, when he took the seat from the Conservatives with a 1,226 majority.

He has now told the party he is stepping aside to make way for a younger candidate.

He said: "I believe with the stresses and strains in Parliament today the job of an MP is for a young man."

PUPILS at St Chad's Junior School surprised parents and spectators on Wednesday when they produced a goat to perform the kick-off in their annual fathers' football match.

Named Jonas, the goat is one of four animals at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary whose upkeep is supported by the school.

In a match packed with thrills and spills the pupils battled it out against their dads, eventually triumphing by 11 goals to 10 — with more emphasis on comedy than fancy footwork.

The event raised £58 of which £42 was sent to Bleakholt and the rest to other animal charities.

Mr G Southern, St Chad's deputy headteacher, said: "Our match was originally planned for Tuesday, but owing to the Manchester City-Bury game we postponed it until Wednesday evening.

"As it rained on Tuesday and was fine on Wednesday, the big match really helped our spectator attendance."