From the Evening News, April 15, 1904: A FREE tea was given on Wednesday evening to women attending mothers and mission meetings in connection with the work of the Bolton Women's Temperance Society.

At the Coffee Tavern, Bradshawgate, Mrs Brimelow presided and said women, mothers especially, ought to be a living example of all that was pure, taking a safe course in which their children could follow. A total-abstaining Christian mother was an influence in her home which might shield them in the many temptations they might be subjected to.

ALMOST every phase of the public life of Farnworth was represented at a social gathering in the Moor Hall last night when Mr A Topp JP, chairman of the District Council, retired after 40 years' service. A notable feature of the display was a series of portraits of past worthies of the town and district, lent by Mr Joseph Leach and several other gentlemen.

From the Evening News, April 15, 1954: TWO sea lions, which include in their act walking a tight rope and playing a musical instrument, will be seen on the stage of the Grand Theatre, Bolton, next week. Tommy, who is three-and-a-half years old, and Lottos, two-and-a-half, have been trained by Mr Arthur Scott, whose home town is Northampton.

MISS Florrie Hilton, Thorns Avenue, Bolton, was elected president of Bolton Soroptimist Club at the 15th annual meeting on Tuesday evening. A founder member of the club, Miss Hilton was for four years its secretary and has been a very active member. music and drama are her great interests outside her club and her work - she is a registrar of births, deaths and marriages.

From the Evening News, April 15, 1979: DESPITE opinion polls showing the Tories out in front, the bookies have made Labour favourites to hold the crucial Bolton East seat in the General Election. Sitting MP David Young is quoted as 2-1 on favourite to hold his seat, which traditionally produces an MP from the party which forms a government. However, in Bolton West, where Labour MP Ann Taylor is defending a slim majority of 906, the Tories are clear favourites at 3-1 on.

BOLTON'S £1.7 million Princess Anne maternity unit is undergoing an operation in a bid to stop rain from seeping into the building. The unit, opened last June by Princess Anne, has suffered from the seepage problem during periods of high winds and heavy rain.

From the Evening News, April 15, 1994: A MULTI-million pound shopping complex is set to be built on the site of a major Bolton firm - creating around 150 jobs. Councillors have given the go-ahead for a massive non-food retail development on Bolton Brady's Turton Street site. But full permission will only be given if the industrial door-making firm signs an agreement that it will move to another site in the town.

THE demolition of four 312-foot cooling towers has been thrown into turmoil - by a pair of love-struck peregrine falcons. The towers, on the Agecroft Power Station site, are owned by National Power and earmarked for demolition next month. Discussions are taking place with the RSPB and other wildlife organisations.