Archive
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Who can you trust? It's a lottery
I, LIKE many folk, thought Richard Branson would be the ideal person to run the lottery. I had forgotten his escapade with Customs and Excise in the early '70s. And this certainly isn't a case of a few fags and some booze. It involved a carefully planned
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Play the game, you people!
I AM ashamed to say I am a Lostock resident Who are these people who have formed themselves into an 'action group' blocking any planning applications that come this way? But to try to block the Ladybridge football club from building a clubhouse on 'woodland
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Nuts to these squirrels
WITH regard to your article concerning "Cyril the Squirrel," (Sat Sept 2). While I found the article humorous, I have a more positive and permanent approach. Quite simply, I shoot them! When will people realise that these creatures are vermin that carry
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Pure truth
WHY does Sheila Jones insist in using emotive language about the plight of children's teeth in Bolton but not take note of the many letters from people who are telling her the reason for this state of affairs? If Bolton's water was the cause of children
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Unhealthy attitude to CHCs
I AM writing to express my great concern about the Government's plans to abolish Bolton Community Health Council, our local NHS watchdog, as part of the NHS 10-year plan. Having worked closely with CHC staff and committee members for many years in Bolton
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Super trooper passes with flying colours
YOU'RE in the army now . . . Proud soldier trooper Jason Redford has joined the King's Royal Hussars after successfully completing his full military training. Jason, aged 21, who comes from Coniston Road, Chorley, is a former pupil of Southlands High
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Help give a child a break
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to attract more people from Chorley to look after disabled children for short breaks. Barnardo's Chorley Families Project says it is desperate to recruit people of all ages and backgrounds who will lend a helping hand to the
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15 minutes of flame
A CHORLEY man has been granted his fifteen minutes of fame as the Millennium Olympic Games gets well and truly under way. For Simon Toulson, 29, an ex-pupil of Parklands High School, Chorley, was handed the coveted prize of carrying the official Olympic
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Banned for seven years
A CHORLEY businessman has been banned from being a company director for seven years following the crash of three firms. Brian Miller was found guilty of unfit conduct by Bury County Court. The Insolvency Service -- an executive agency of the Department
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Changing face of Chorley
CHORLEY'S political landscape looks set for major change following new electoral arrangements overseen by the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. The recommendations from the Local Government Commission for England mark the end of a year-long review
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Hoax blamed for new fuel panic
RUMOURS of another fuel crisis swept Chorley this week -- just as the town was recovering from last week's crippling protest. It is understood a hoax put out over the internet caused the panic on Tuesday. Queues reformed at filling stations -- including
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Cash theft misery for housebound pensioner
TWO callous thieves have stolen £3,300 which a housebound penisoner had saved for 10 years to buy herself a wheelchair. The conmen escaped with the cash after targeting the 77-year-old grandmother at her home in Great Lever, claiming to be an electric
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Soccer's most civil servant
AS Wanderers' chief executive Des McBain prepares to step down, his place taken by Simon Marland, he reflects on his 34 years in football with BEN chief soccer writer Gordon Sharrock. THE lecturer who couldn't understand why one of his students was giving
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Brinscall land amazing double
BRINSCALL landed a marvellous Millennium double, landing both Division One and Two titles in the Red Arrow Services Chorley and District Amateur Cricket League. In Division One, they finished 30 points clear of second-placed Hoghton with Withnell in third
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Faulkner Motors Alliance League
Eagle land up with no points EAGLE and George had a close game at Wigan Lane in the Chorley and District Faulkner Motors Alliance Football League. George took the three points by the odd goal in seven. The game was always very close and could have gone
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Impressive victory for tennis club
CHORLEY Tennis Club's A team entertained Broughton B for their last match of the summer. Some good attacking play by Geoff Barrie and Martin Tattersall enabled them to win two sets, each 6-3, and Stephanie Drinkall and Jenny Burridge won a set 6-4, but
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Firms merge
TWO local chartered accountancy firms are to merge. Thompson Jones & Co of Bury and Radcliffe-based Gortons will next month become Thompson Gorton Jones. The new firm will operate out of expanded offices at Heap Bridge, Bury and Radcliffe. The two
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David takes to the skies in a career change
WOULD-BE flier David Morrison is putting his cash flow problems on the table for television viewers to see. The Bolton-born computer analyst is planning a major career change which would see him taking to the skies as a helicopter pilot, offering flying
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New deal leads to £300,000 investment
A MAJOR Rolls-Royce contract led to a £300,000 investment on the Wingates Industrial Park. APPH (Bolton) Ltd has established a new Filter Division as a result of continuing growth in its aerospace filtration business. The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Alan Wilkinson
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Staff loyalty leads firm to remain local
A BOOMING Bolton law firm remained loyal to its staff and its roots when it made a big re-location decision. Keoghs Solicitors (Keogh Ritson until a recent name change) considered various out of town options, including Salford Quays, when it became evident
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Crime is their business
AN innovative Bolton scheme to tackle business crime is attracting interest from towns throughout the country. The borough-wide Business Security Initiative, launched last year, has a team of multi-skilled project officers dedicated to reducing crime
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Shelter wreckers strike again
BUS shelter wreckers have struck again in Bolton town centre leaving splinters of sharp glass strewn across a busy street. Shoppers and town centre workers had to tread carefully around the broken glass at the damaged shelter in Deansgate. Bus shelter
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Shelter holds annual Flag Day
BOLTON'S Destitute Animal Shelter is holding its annual Flag Day this Saturday, September 23. Always a popular event, the last few raised have seen supporters raise over £2000 and the shelter's Neil Martin says: "This is always gratefully received and
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Development group no-confidence vote
THE directors of Bolton's Neighbourhood Economic Development Association were given a vote of no-confidence at a crunch secret meeting last night. Mystery today surrounded the future of the organisation after members of the body, which is based at Deane
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Workman got stuck behind boiler
A 29-YEAR-OLD workman rang for help from his mobile phone after getting stuck behind a boiler. No one even knew the man was in the basement servicing the boiler in a Bolton town centre church when he plunged off his ladders. The serviceman, from Bolton
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Sea rescue drama brings back memories
A BEN story of a dramatic sea rescue during the Second World War stirred memories for two Bolton navy veterans. Last Friday the BEN told how Farnworth man Alfred Hedley, now 82, helped to save 800 men, women and children when the Duchess of Atholl was
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Jasper parrot is a real copycat!
JASPER the African Grey parrot has become so popular since he arrived at a Bolton garden centre five years ago that he now gets his own Christmas cards! But Jasper's no ordinary bird. He leads an aristocratic life in the summer house of the Barton Grange
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Fish bombshell as he talks of quitting soccer
MARK Fish dropped a bombshell today when he revealed he is considering quitting football to launch a business venture in South Africa reveals BEN Chief Soccer Writer Gordon Sharrock. The Wanderers' defender, currently contemplating the offer of a three-year
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Pete Farrow: Who Said there's no Beach in Stockport? CD album
ALTHOUGH he doesn't know it, Pete Farrow had a big influence on my life. I could have been a brain surgeon, airline pilot . . . even editor of this newspaper. 'What happened?' I hear you ask. Well in those wacky days of the mid-seventies I was rambling
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'Don't quit' message to silver hero
THE man responsible for coaching canoeist Paul Ratcliffe to Olympic silver today urged him to go for gold next time. Alan Edge, from Radcliffe, a former member of Bolton Canoe Club, is the British Canoe Team's National Coach and it was his advice and
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Music and dance venues
VARIOUS BOLTON PARKS, Sounds on Sunday Brass Band Concerts. All bands will play between 2pm and 4pm. Admission free. Sunday September 24, Radcliffe and Prestwich Band will play in Moss Bank Park. For further details ring Bolton 334093. Seats are available
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What's On at local galleries and exhibitions
ARC GALLERY STORE, Oldham Street, Manchester. Mon to Sat 10am to 6pm. Sun noon to 5pm. Adm free. Ring 0161 831 7454. ASTLEY CHEETHAM ART GALLERY , Trinity Street, Stalybridge. Open Mon to Fri (not Thurs) 1pm to 7.30pm, Sat 9am to 4pm. Tel 0161 338 2708
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Battle against bullying takes to the stage
MEMBERS of a project designed to combat bullying across Bolton will present a first performance of a new play written and directed by teenagers tonight The Bolton Bully Free Zone team is inviting the public to watch the drama, called A Different Gravey
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Resident claims estate has gone to the weeds
Mrs Jean Brookes claims the estate she has lived on for 24 years is now overgrown with weeds A RESIDENT has accused council chiefs of letting a Farnworth estate go to . . . "seed." Mrs Jean Brookes of Lonsdale Grove, Farnworth, claims the estate she has
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New court options are no empty threat
THE spectre of two council-owned Le Mans Crescent buildings becoming empty has been averted in a funding bid. Bolton council is putting the finishing touches to a business plan for a new court to replace the down-at-heel Magistrates Court in the showpiece
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Soccer legends united for sale
FOOTBALL legends Nat Lofthouse and Alan Ball are helping boost the bidding in a unique sale of World Cup hero Geoff Hurst's memorabilia. Sir Geoff who scored the winning hat trick in England's 1966 World Cup victory, has decided to sell off around 200
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Invasion of the angry eggs!
PLAYWRIGHT Gareth Preston is under Doctor's orders after joining an elite Who's Who of science fiction scribes. The 31-year-old of Curzon Road, Heaton, has seen a lifelong ambition realised after one of his scripts was published and released as a radio-style
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'Scrooge' bosses in illegal wage scandal
BOLTON'S low paid workers still earn well under the minimum legal wage according to the town's Citizens' Advice Bureau. Unscrupulous bosses in the town have been trying to find loopholes in the law, or are simply failing to bother to pay their staff the
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Cases before special council tax court
Key: P = Paid; WWB: = Warrant with bail; WNB: = Warrant no bail; WD: = Withdrawn; A: = Adjourned to another date; ASD: = Adjourned Sine Die (no date fixed) AROUND 228 people who have not paid or defaulted on paying council tax or community charge bills
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Smythe scythes out late winner
Chorley FC 3 Trafford Borough FC 2 A THUNDEROUS afternoon's entertainment at Victory Park saw Chorley book their place in the next round of the FA Cup thanks to Peter Smythe's late, late winner. Moneychester Utd might have deemed the competition to be
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SO James Stevens, Prospective Conservative Candidate for Bolton West, thinks that Labour won the las
B W Tyas Cooper Breckland Drive Heaton
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I can't face tap water
RE putting fluoride in our water. I am 76 and suffer from osteo-arthritis of the spine and hips and also diverticulitis. My tap water already stinks of chlorine as it's coming out of the tap. It would help me to drink plenty but as I can't face drinking
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Truckers got fuel moving
WHILE understanding Mrs Jean Robinson's feelings concerning the death of her husband 10 years ago, I must remind her that it was the farmers and truckers who got the fuel moving last week and not the Prime Minister. Those gentlemen knew that they had
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Lorry men left me in a jam
THE complete disruption caused by the fuel crisis last week was totally unacceptable. I was stuck in a traffic jam on my way home from work, deliberately caused by lorry drivers and taxi drivers. I was unable to visit relatives and friends because they
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OPINION: Roof dangers
CORONER Simon Nelson, commenting on the death of 16-year-old Jamie Young-Patel who fell through a roof skylight, said there is a tendency for young men of this age to ignore warnings. Sadly, he's right. Teenage boys are adventurous and sometimes act before
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Spelling cannot save lives
AFTER reading in the paper about the open verdict into the death of fireman Paul Metcalf I felt I really had to put pen to paper. It came to light that these firefighters, who do a wonderful job, have never had any training in water rescue and yet my
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Tony Blair is the new Maggie Thatcher
THE BEN was right in supporting the fuel demo. It was democratic and peaceful. It is sad how politically ignorant some people are and only look at their own self-interest. Sacrifices always have to be made to improve the quality of life for all. Tony
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OPINION: Our verdict for town's new court
FOR years many people have commented about the disreputable state of Bolton Magistrates' Court. This newspaper has been among the critics of the building which is wholly unsuitable for the volume of work that goes through it. The court was built in the
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To all you serial Labour letter writers: Under this Government we are all paying more in taxation
I WRITE in response to the letters which have appeared in the BEN over the past few weeks written by the serial Labour Party letter writers in this town who are trying, once again, to pull the wool over the eyes of the people of Bolton regarding this
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Stars out for music night
THE stars will be coming out for a superb Millennium musical celebration in aid of Chorley's Derian House Children's Hospice this weekend. An exciting programme of music has been compiled by international conductor Ed Warren. Along with the Royal Liverpool
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Marina is clawed in
BRITISH Waterways has taken over a popular Adlington canal-side landmark. The company has clawed in the White Bear Marina on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal following an approach by former owners ALG Investments (Wigan) who operated the premises since 1987
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New ward boost...
CHORLEY Hospital received a real boost this week with news that it is to get a new £1.6m medical ward. The ward -- providing an additional 30 beds -- will be staffed by 28 full-time nurses plus support staff. It will be built next year adjacent to Rookwood
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Wheel-y great deal refused
AN eagle-eyed motorist thought he was going to drive away a great bargain car -- when he read a comma as a decimal point. Paul Smith, of Rangletts Avenue, Chorley, saw the E-reg car on the forecourt of SGL Rover, Bengal Street, Chorley, with a price in
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Sam snaps up French star
SAM Allardyce strengthened his defensive hand today when he signed Nantes centre-back John Gope-Fenepej on a three month loan. The Wanderers' boss first spotted the 22-year-old playing for the French club at Arsenal in last season's UEFA Cup, when he'd
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St Bede's knock Minstral for seven
Chorley Nissan Sunday League IN the Chorley Nissan Sunday Football League, Whittle-based St Bede's played host to Minstral FC. St Bede's hadn't played for two weeks and totally dominated this match as goals form Helme (3), Williams, Roberts, Draper and
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Panthers lose their bite
Wigan St. Jude's ARLFC U8 34 Panthers ARLFC U8 4 CHORLEY started slowly, in fact it was only in the second-half, with the score already 24-0 in Wigan's favour, that they began to do themselves justice. There was some strong and determined running from
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Paul's Vatican showcase
BOLTON-born Paul Johnson found himself featured on Vatican Radio as part of the Vatican's Jubilee Year of the Elderly. Mr Johnson, originally from Tonge Fold, is now Corporate Development Director of Anchor Trust. Retirement housing schemes across the
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African issues on the agenda
ISSUES affecting African and Caribbean businesses will be on the agenda at Manchester Town Hall on Tuesday, September 26. The African Caribbean Westminster Initiative is holding a North-west meeting hosted by Manchester City Council. It will feature an
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Keep going shell - store's MoT for tortoises
A FREE examination and weigh-in of a particular kind of pet proved a popular draw at a Bury pet store at the weekend. It's a new one on us, but the Northern region of the British Chellonia Group organised the event -- for tortoises and turtles. (Chellonia
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Sally's dance with a vampire
IT could be a pain in the neck -- but little Sally Rennison can hardly wait to get her teeth into a prestigious role in the ballet version of Dracula. The seven-year-old will be lured away by a vampire as she makes her stage debut in the Northern Ballet's
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Awards for students
PUPILS from a Chorley school have received awards for their outstanding attendance records. Star former pupils -- Antonia Reid, now studying 'A' levels at Winstanley College and Frank Charnock, on an engineering course at Preston College -- returned to
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Doris lands 32nd trophy triumph
WHEN it comes to record-breaking then surely Doris Williams is in a league of her own. The Dunscar Lady Captain capped her year in office by landing the Ladies Club Championship for an unbelievable 32nd time. "It was particulatly pleasing to win it this
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SOCCER: Shakers signing spree
BURY boss Andy Preece reckons any more signings this season will be loan deals only. Preece snapped up two youngsters earlier this week both on six-month contracts but they are likely to be the last long-term additions to the squad. Any other new faces
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From the BEN files
25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, September 21, 1975 ENVIRONMENTALISTS and such worthy bodies as the Council for the Protection of Rural England are currently expressing concern over the future of the English village. Fears have been expressed that
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Medal duo are pride of town
PROUD Chorley has well and truly secured its place on the world sporting map -- after two competitors clinched three Olympic medals between them at Sydney 2000. And not only that -- before the Games even began a thrilled Chorley man had the amazing honour
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Computer engineer takes his robot into battle
A LEIGH man is preparing to go to war with a robot -- built from scrap computer parts. Don Weir will roll his robot into the battle arena on Friday as BBC2's favourite slice of remote control carnage hits the screens again. Medusa 2000, built by Don and
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Helping your pet take the medicine
I'M often asked, and usually by cat owners, as to the best way to administer the medicines that I prescribe, writes Doerte Boahle, based at Pets at Home, at Middlebrook. Few cats take pills happily, so the best way is to ensure they don't know they're
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Taking it one day at a time
SCOTT Kaneen has a rare disease and there is no known cure. On May 12 last year, Gina Kaneen gave birth to their longed-for son. She and husband Jon have a daughter, Sasha, now seven, and Scott completed their family. Gina, aged 32, said: "Everything
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Comedy nights
THE MET, Market Street, Bury. Ring 0161 761 2216. BLUE CAT CAFE, Shaw Rd, Heaton Moor, Stockport, 0161 432 2117. FROG AND BUCKET, Oldham St, Mcr, 0161 236 9805. QUAY BAR, Deansgate Quay, Bridgewater Viaduct, Mcr. Ring 0161 839 8803. ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE
