BILL Imms is again closing his pub on New Year's Day - 'the anniversary of the betrayal of the people of Britain'. The licensee of the Church Inn, Bury New Road, Whitefield, kept his doors closed last New Year's Day in protest against Britain's entry into the Common Market. 'Closing on New Year's Day isn't a business gimmick,' he says. 'I feel so strongly about our going into the Common Market, and this is the only way I can protest.'

From the Evening News, December 29, 1948

ACTS with lions or tigers always provide the thrills at a circus, but the large audience at the Grand Theatre, Bolton, last night, had thrills for which they had not bargained. Marayn Swami, 36-years-old lion tamer from Madras, was attacked by an African lion. Only his valiant efforts to free himself from the clutches of the lion, the screams from the audience, and the efforts of other members of the staff, which distracted the beast's attention, saved his life. He was taken to the Infirmary, where wounds to the neck, chest, shoulder and back were treated.

SIR,- This morning I had the misfortune to be travelling from Farnworth to Bolton by one of Messrs Holden and Co's 'busses. As your readers are aware, the morning was frosty and the roads slippery and dangerous, and everybody knows that unless the horses are well sharpened it is not unlikely that accidents may happen. Well, sir, my complaint is this, and I believe I am right when I say, that none of Messrs Holden and Co's horses running between Farnworth and Bolton were sharpened this morning; and I am told that this is no exception to the rule. Now, as they are public conveyance I think the public have a right to speak on the matter, and I would say that it makes it both inconvenient and annoying to passengers who, like myself and others, rather than be delayed by a break-down, are obliged, before the journey is half-over, to get out and walk. Besides that, it entails on the 'bus drivers no small amount of extra energy to keep up the horses, and produce no little wrenching of the arms and bodily exhaustion long before their work is done. It is, moreover, downright cruelty to animals, which should be brought under the notice of the 'Society' to prevent.

I should like to ask whether the proprietors know about it? For as their own blacksmith is so close at hand, it does seem strange that this should be neglected. Hoping the complaint will suggest and bring about the remedy, I remain, yours, &c., Pro Bono Publico.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.