From the Evening News, October 19, 1992 - OFFICIALS judging the competition to find Europe's top organist decided not to award a first prize - because the competitors weren't good enough.

Nine organists from all over Europe pulled out all the stops in an attempt to win the top £2,500 award at Bolton's prestigious festival, but were stunned when a jury decided to withhold the top prize. A French organist was given the second prize, while an English and German tied for third place.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

October 19, 1977

ILLICIT tipping in a Harwood quarry could create an environmental time-bomb, polluting streams for years to come, say residents. They claim that an official ban on waste paper in the quarry off Tottington Road is being flouted on a massive scale. They fear that rotting paper will in time pollute the nearby steam, which flows into Bradshaw Brook, the cleanest water course in the Bolton area. Dumping of hard core and other solid waste in the Top o'th' Knotts quarry started two years ago, although waste paper and other substances of rotting down were specifically excluded from the permission.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

October 18, 1952

SIR,- I am delighted to see that shopkeepers are displaying the Health Department notices asking customers not to bring their dogs into food shops in the interests of health.

It is high time action was taken against dogs in general, and fouled pavements are a typical example of their filthy habits.

There is little doubt that hydatid disease is contracted through fondling dogs, and an outside kennel is no protection in this respect. The argument is often heard "We had a dog for years without ill effects." I would remind such people that thousands lived through the plague without contracting it, but that does not make it a good thing. Yours, A Votre Sante

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

October 18, 1902

LAST night the Houston liner Haraclides left the Herculaneum Dock for Glasgow, but went ashore on Taylor's Bank in the channel of Liverpool Bay. The vessel sent up rockets, and the New Brighton steam lifeboat went out and took the crew of 34 off. Two lifeboats are alongside the steamer, which is in a most dangerous position.

A FIERCE storm from the west raged throughout the night at Southport. At high water last night and this morning the sea presented a magificent spectacle, showing miles of whte crested mountainous waves, which in places came over the promenade.