25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, August 9, 1975

homes and property were damaged in a spectacular thunderstorm which swept the Bolton area early today. An estimated £1,000 worth of clothing was burned in a fire which started when lightning struck a Kearsley house at about 5am. A car was overturned in floodwater on Tonge Bridge, Breightmet, and water swept down Monks Lane, Bolton, marooning some families in their homes.

BOLTON Precinct . . . one of the old Borough Council's happiest ideas. Few things it did could have brought more pleasure to more people. When the weather is fine, its many benches are in day-long demand. There are frequent free entertainments, and during lunch hours Town Hall loudspeakers flood the area with piped music for all tastes from 'Oklahoma!' to Gilbert and Sullivan

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, August 10, 1950

PEOPLE passing along Bradshawgate last night watched with interest the mass release of about 100 pigeons from the roof of the Lido cinema. The release had been arranged by Mr A. McDougall, president of the Lancashire Central Federation, and Mr W. Rogers, manager of the Lido, to stimulate interest in pigeon flying among local people, since in this week's film there, 'Morning Departure', a pigeon features in the story. Members of the various clubs in the Federation, Moses Gate, Bolton Central, Halliwell and Great Lever, brought their pigeons to be released, and some of these birds will take part in a 146 miles race from Swindon tomorrow. Over 700 birds will take part, and in the evening, prizes will be presented on the stage of the cinema.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, August 10, 1875

JAMES Winward, piecer, 71 Union-street, was charged at the Borough Court on Monday, with maliciously setting fire to some straw in the bedroom in the house, 71, Union-street, thereby endangering the property, on the 7th inst. - Police-constable Goulburn said that at twenty minutes past three on Saturday afternoon, he was summoned to the prisoner's house, where he saw smoke coming out of an upstairs window. He entered the house, where he encountered prisoner, who, on being asked what was causing the smoke, said that he (the officer) would see the reason if he went upstairs. He proceeded upstairs and discovered some straw on fire, which he endeavoured to extinguish, but prisoner threw some more straw on fire, remarking that 'he would burn the house down before he would have his mother-in-law in it.' - On Thursday Winward was brought up on remand. The defendant declared that he was drunk when he set fire to the straw and had no malicious intention. The Bench believed this statement, and discharged the defendant.