Archive
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Sometimes shocked
I am writing in response to your article: Crisis at the Octagon. I love the theatre and would happily go to each production. However, over the years, I have been disappointed by the quality of the plays chosen. Surely people go to the Octagon to be entertained
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New Deal response
I am writing in response to your article: Small Firms 'confused' by New Deal (Ben, January 5). The purpose of New Deal is to enable young people to move from welfare into work and to stay in work by helping them find jobs which suit them and for which
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Aren't buses brilliant! Depot visit is a dream come true for Daniel
A YOUNG Bolton bus fanatic had his dream come true when he was made a fleet supervisor - at the age of NINE! Daniel Cheng, of Raikes Way, Darcy Lever, sent a Christmas card to First Manchester bus company because he is so obsessed with buses. Bosses were
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Mum's anger as Jordan bundled over in fracas
A YOUNG mum claims her three-year-old son was pushed into the road when police were involved in a "violent" struggle to arrest a man. Vicky Mulligan, of Birkleigh Walk, Breightmet, says she was an innocent passerby who got caught up in a the fracas when
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World-class airport
MANCHESTER Airport has been voted the second best airport in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The airport received the silver award behind Copenhagen in the OAG Worldwide Airline of the Year Awards 1999. Mr Bill Savage, Business Development Director
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Bolton Institute pioneers training project
BOLTON Institute is one of the participants in a pioneering North-west training project. The £400,000 scheme is aimed at graduates - probably at an early stage in their careers - working in small and medium-sized companies. It provides an individually
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Clamouring for comedy
HOW very sad to read of the Octagon's current financial problems (BEN, January 19). But how can those interviewed, who admit to few visits in the last 12 months, clamour for "more comedy"? Comedy comes in many guises - not necessarily Northern farces.
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Care of elderly praised
A GOVERNMENT watchdog has praised Bolton Social Services for its care of the town's over 75s. The praise follows a review looking in-depth at Bolton's facilities. The report, due to go before Bolton's Social Services Committee on Wednesday, says: "The
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RUGBY: Slips take shine off polished Leigh
Leigh Centurions 34 Oldham 12 IN just 80 minutes Ian Millward saw both sides of the Centurions' make-up. For the best part of an hour the Hilton Park crowd purred with satisfaction as Millward's new-look side systematically took Oldham apart. Then they
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Hammering home the anti-speeding message
A NEW anti-speeding crackdown will target reckless motorists in Bolton. The campaign will hammer home the message that driving just a few miles per hour above the speed limit can have a major impact on the severity of injuries in accidents. Police are
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Small town attitudes
AS a student studying in Bolton, I am amazed at the attitude of your paper with regard to the local Octagon Theatre. Considering that Bolton is eager to prove itself an independent town and not just a backwater of Manchester, the small minded, small town
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Karen puts education on Year 2000 timetable
KAREN Buck has been given the job of putting education on everyone's timetable for the Year 2000. Bolton-born Karen, 37, has been taken on to co-ordinate a year-long Millennium Festival of Education in the town. Her job will be to organise a series of
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Youth central to Octagon future
THOUSANDS of youngsters will continue to benefit from a drama project based at the Octagon if the cash -strapped theatre is saved. Theatre chiefs say their youth and community work is a valuable part of the rescue package to go before arts chiefs. Fears
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From the BEN files
MINERS leaders this afternoon decided to call for a ballot on strike action. And they turned down Mr Heath's latest call today urging them to think again. MORE than two-and-a-quarter million people registered for unemployment benefit in the middle of
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Play It Again Sam. The Forge theatre at Bolton Little Theatre.
Runs until Saturday WOODY Allen's self deprecating humour is not always to my taste, but Play It Again Sam stays the right side of maudlin and is very funny. The play has some superb one-liners, many of them stylishly delivered by Stephen Stubbs playing
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Support the Octagon
IN response to your article on the Octagon's cash crisis, I would like to point out that, although most people in the town claim they would go to the Octagon if a Northern comedy were on, they don't in fact put their money where their mouth is. I go to
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Project gets Millennium cash boost
A PIONEERING scheme providing vital support for parents in Bolton has been given a cash boost from the Millennium Awards fellowship. Naseem Batasi, a full-time volunteer with Bolton's Learning Links project, joined around 200 other award winners from
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Paul has star role in Jesus TV shocker
BOLTON teen heart-throb Paul Nicholls is set to star in his most controversial role to date. The Smithills acting sensation takes the lead role in a powerful three-part drama about the staging of The Passion Plays. But BBC bosses were so concerned that
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MP urges final push to block Red Moss tip
BOLTON West MP Ruth Kelly is urging BEN readers to join her in a final effort to remove the threat of tipping from Red Moss. The move comes after she met officials from Bolton Council who informed her that Bolton Council is considering redesignating the
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Pupils have lessons in life from firemen
THE fire brigade's top brass was out in force to launch a pioneering safety scheme at a Bolton school. Pupils and teachers from Withins High, Breightmet, were joined by fire chiefs and local councillors as their Learn Not To Burn campaign was officially
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Go-ahead for new 'disruptive' unit
BOLTON headteachers are celebrating after being told they can have a new centre to take disruptive children out of the classroom. The Government has given the green light to a specialist unit which will help younger secondary pupils in danger of being
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220 jobs to go in textiles
THE LOCAL textile industry was reeling today after the announcement of more than 220 job losses and factory closures. Workers at Star Vale Ltd, Horwich were told on Friday that the specialist fabric finishers will shut at the end of this week with the
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Outlook is healthy for hospitals going on line
BOLTON hospital bosses are aiming to get on line for the Millennium and deliver a fitter, leaner service. Negotiations are underway to introduce a comprehensive, computerised package which will improve patient care. The Integrated Patient Care Information
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Bosses all out to woo nurses
BOLTON hospital bosses have launched an ambitious package to attract qualified nurses back into the fold. The Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust "Return to Nursing Practice" package is aimed at boosting its nursing ranks. In common with towns and cities across
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Clsoing date for Duke's awards
ENTRIES close on February 26 for the 1999 Duke of Westminster Awards for Business and Industry. Judges will look kindly on companies which can confirm commercial, technical and financial success while demonstrating good employment practices and a caring
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Big Benn set to play 'em again!
A BOLTON club has scored a knockout and signed up former world boxing champ Nigel Benn. He will be appearing as a DJ once a month from March at The Temple nightclub in St George's Street. The Dark Destroyer, as he is known, has signed for the club for
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Flying Fish jets in
MARK Fish is due to return to training with Bolton Wanderers tomorrow after helping South Africa to a 1-1 draw at Mauitius in yesterday's African Nations Cup qualifier. Fish was the only absentee from the Wanderers squad who assembled today to begin preparations
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Family of six escape TV blaze home
A FAMILY of six escaped as a fierce blaze swept through their Bury home. The Madden family, including a teenager daughter and three younger children, were forced to flee the house in Sanderson Street shortly after midnight. The blaze wrecked the front
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OPINION: Price of partying
WE would not be such party-poopers as to suggest that a proposed two and a half day Millennium party in Bolton town centre should be scrapped, but only the short-sighted would not acknowledge any potential problems. No doubt, such an event would be well-planned
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Road rage on agenda
HIGHWAYS bosses are set for a stormy meeting with residents over a controversial road closure. A special public meeting will be held at Horwich RMI club in Ramsbottom Road on February 10 at 7.30pm to discuss traffic management in the area. And the closure
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Daily poem
In days gone by, Things were great, Not all this jealousy, anger and hate. No one afraid to smile and greet Folks as they passed them by on the street. We ran an errand for old Mrs Jones, Not shouted abuse and threw bottles and stones. When parents cared
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Woman dragged into canal as horse bolts
A BOLTON woman was dragged into a canal by her horse when the animal bolted. Josephine Davis, of Ainsdale Road, Great Lever, was still in the saddle as the horse suddenly jumped into the Bridgewater Canal at Boothtown. Mrs Davis managed to free her feet
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Prison's not the answer
I agree with the letter: Bring back the birch in your Letters Page ofJanuary 19. Sending these scumbags to prison does them no good at all. If it made them beter,they wouldn't keep going back inside. They learn more in prison about crime than they do
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In the memory of baby Ellise
FORMER Wanderers hero John McGinlay made a moving presentation to the Special Care Baby Unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital, in memory of a baby who tragically died at just 13 weeks old. John, now with Oldham Athletic, presented a selection of of knitwear
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OPINION: Special unit for troublemakers
DISRUPTIVE children in any classroom are a particular form of hell, for the teacher and for fellow pupils. So, news of a centre to remove such local pupils from the classroom and into a specialist unit is very welcome. The centre is aimed at younger secondary
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It's outstanding!
WE are very fortunate to have Lawrence Till as the Octagon Theatre's Artistic Director. His programme has been outstanding and has considerably enhanced the theatre's reputation. Cllr Bob Howarth's comments and approach are correct. The Octagon is the
