From the Evening News, May 23, 1903: NOTWITHSTANDING the fact that a host of workers for the Horwich May Festival were up at an early hour this morning, Old Sol had preceded them and had partially completed his task - that of dispelling the shimmering mists that o'erhung the summit of the Pike, and of transforming the chilly atmosphere into a perfect May morning.

Some anxiety was caused last night by the ominous appearance of the sky, but this morning broke with a splendour that defies description, and all trace of threatened rain had vanished. The sun's rays beat down with congenial warmth and inspiring freshness, and the dewdrops which hung in myriads on the blades of grass and the leaves of the trees sparkled and scintillated like so many diamonds in some enchanted land. Truly an ideal day for a May Festival!

As the morning wore on, crowds of visitors flocked to the town, which wore a holiday appearance. For an hour before the procession the town presented an animated appearance, crowds of spectators being astir, every window, doorway and porch being made use of by eager sightseers.

Meanwhile,the scene on the ground was one of activity and the huge pageant by degrees assumed definite shape.

From the Evening News, May 22, 1993

BOLTON magistrates have handed out jail sentences to 55 poll tax defaulters in less than two months. Over 45,000 Boltonians still owe poll tax, and 415 of those have appeared in the special Tuesday sessions at the Magistrates' Court since the new Council Tax came in on April 1.

THE Queen Mother, aged 92, has been released from hospital after having an operation to take out a piece of fish bone lodged in her throat.

From the Evening News, May 24, 1978

FIREMEN battled through smoke and heat to save most of a blazing Bolton primary school last night. It was the second fire in three months at the Bishop Bridgeman C. of E. School, Rupert Street, Great Lever, causing £20,000 damage.

PRINCESS Margaret ended her 18-year-old marriage to Lord Snowdon at the Law Courts in London this morning in a no-fuss, Mrs Jones-style divorce -- in under two minutes.

From the Evening News, May 23, 1953

IT was a proud moment for Ald Mrs Ashworth, chairman of the Children's Committee, when she officially laid the commemoration stone of the new £32,000 children's residential nursery in Chorley New-rd., Bolton, yesterday.

The nursery, which will accommodate 35 children under five years of age, and a residential staff of nine, is expected to be ready for occupation in 18 months' time.

Ald Mrs Ashmore said she was pleased to be performing the ceremony, as she was one of the persons responsible for the children being removed from the old workhouse 14 or 15 years ago. At present, there are 70 children under the age of five in the Committee's care, and of these 22 were at Hollins Cottage Homes and 12 in Park house Nursery.