Archive
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Pitch battle in mudbath
FARSLEY CELTIC FC 0 CHORLEY FC 1 CHORLEY gained sweet revenge for their 4-1 defeat at Victory Park by Farsley a few weeks ago. On that day the Magpies had two players sent off but Farsley found it much more difficult against a full complement. There was
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Is this rise justified?
I HAVE seen in a paper where the average cost of 'D' council tax is to go up to £697, it is currently in Bolton £924, with the possibility of a further increase of over 6pc. How can other councils charge so much less? Do we need a new team to manage Bolton's
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Breakfast with Santa
IWOULD just like to say a big 'Thank You' to the staff at Morellis and the Market Place staff, and Santa too, for making the 'Breakfast with Santa' such an enjoyable event. It was lovely seeing all the children having a great time. My little girl really
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Youth's kind gesture
AT a time when one reads so much that is critical of the younger end of our society, I felt obliged to write regarding my experience on the 501 bus leaving town this morning (Dec 1). Having insufficient change, I embarrassed the driver by offering a £10
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Ice rink leaves me cold
WHILE I appreciate that the town centre shops are doing their best to attract people into Bolton for Christmas shopping, I feel that many adults will be put off by the 'carbuncle' that is now blighting our smart new (and expensive) Town Hall Square. The
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We're letting our children down
AS a campaigner for the NSPCC, I wish to draw your readers' attention to the need for a Children's Commissioner in England to stop cruelty to children -- FULL STOP. The National Assembly for Wales has already created a Commissioner for Children in Wales
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This show should never have got on stage
I WOULD like to support the BEN for its stand in the Opinion column (Nov 9) regarding the ex-drug baron Howard Marks and his one-man show appearing at Bolton's Albert Halls. I am informed that this man was once one of the largest distributors of cannabis
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Selfish drivers add to chaos of A666 roadworks
IT is my misfortune to have to travel from Bolton to Manchester via the A666 to work every day. Yes, the roadworks, as has been said many times on these pages before, are horrendous. But, what makes it even worse is the band of vigilante drivers who drive
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Beat a path to town centre
CHORLEY shoppers can do it to music tomorrow night! Locals can enjoy their late-night shopping in the town centre on Thursday, December 7 with music courtesy of Kush Music Development Group. KMDG are putting on a roadshow featuring DJs Sandro, Steve Spang
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Green light for new village
A NEW community is set to spring up in Chorley following an announcement over the £400 million redevelopment of one of the largest brownfield sites in the North West. The 395-acre Buckshaw Village will not only create hundreds of new homes when it is
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Hague pays town a visit
CHORLEY'S traders and police chiefs got the chance to air their views to Tory leader William Hague during his visit to the town. Mr Hague -- and Parliamentary private secretary Sebastian Coe -- chatted to market stallholders and town centre shopkeepers
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Family's tragic Christmas
A BOLTON family are facing a heartbreak Christmas after the death of their precious 11-week-old baby girl. Tiny Abbie Leigh Jones died in Royal Manchester Children's Hospital after her mother Kerry, aged 16, and grandmother Sue had kept a daily vigil
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Future's bright for Lynx despite defeat
Chorley Lynx 12 Swinton Lions 30 DESPITE this opening day defeat in the Northern Ford Premiership there were clear signs that the new Chorley Lynx have a brighter future. Under new coach, former Wigan star Graeme West, Lynx battled throughout against
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Robertclicks on to a new career
A FORMER administrative officer at Bolton Council has started work as a trainee computer programmer after taking a distance learning course. Robert Allen, aged 26, decided on a career change after seven years working for the council in financial assessment
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Your futures are in their hands
BOLTON has two high-profile representatives on the new Learning and Skills Council for Greater Manchester. They are the Principal and Chief Executive of Bolton Institute, Mollie Temple and Mr Richard Hurst, Chairman of the Richard Threlfall Group Ltd
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Rail ID wait
A MAN killed after being hit by a train near Horwich Parkway station has still to be formally identified. British Transport Police confirmed they are still trying to trace relatives of the dead man, believed to be in his 20s. A spokesman said: "We're
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Judy the missing pet
A FARNWORTH mum is appealing for help from BEN readers after her dog disappeared from outside a supermarket. Joan Hall was devastated to discover her 13-year-old Yorkshire Terrier was missing after she did her weekly shop at Asda in the town. The dog,
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Comedian's sadness for 'genius' Dudley
BOLTON comedian Mike Lancaster was one of the last people to work live in Britain with Dudley Moore, whose moving story was told on TV this week. He says he could not hold back the tears as he watched Monday's heart rending Omnibus programme as Moore
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New surface boost for Wanderers
THE pitch Wanderers will play on next season is already looking good ... down in deepest Lincolnshire. Turf specialists in Grantham have been commissioned to grow the new grass. Next June it will be lifted, loaded on the back of lorries, transported across
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Brave Rhodri's cancer battle
CHRISTMAS should be a time for children -- when families celebrate. But for Whittle-le-Woods couple Janet and Andrew Davies, their Christmas means waiting and hoping as their sick toddler battles for his life. Little Rhodri Davies, aged two, is suffering
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Choir's capital day out at No 10
IT is the most important front door in the country -- and a group of youngsters from Bolton have sung outside it! Members of Bolton's Junior Choir enjoyed a fantastic day out when they sang Christmas carols outside the Prime Minister's residence -- Number
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Call to speed up ex miners' payout
A BOLTON councillor and former miner is stepping up the pressure to get a quicker compensation deal for former pit workers. Daubhill councillor Dennis Barlow is one of dozens of Bolton ex-miners whose health was damaged working for years at the coal face
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No heart left in our dying town
IT'S official, Farnworth is dying. Why? Because Bolton Council allowed ASDA to build a store right in the heart of the town. It's completely taken the heart out of Farnworth. Shops have closed down, there is no spirit any more. In my opinion people come
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Music in a sad state
I FEEL very strongly in favour of all the points in M Gibbons letter, (BEN, Nov 30). I have enjoyed many bands at Oscars Cafe. It is very sad that Bolton cannot have an arts venue for musicians and artists who are not superstars and world famous, but
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A CHRISTMAS POEM
IT'S the month of December Excitement on the way Preparations and decorations Ready for the 25th -- Christmas Day Have we got a turkey? Whose bought the tree? Lots of cards and presents All for you and me. Carol singers at the door Singing for all their
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Help needed to find long lost brother
I AM writing to inform you of a most happy event on November 28. I had my first ever contact with a blood-relation since I became an orphan at the age of eight months in the year 1934. My mother Elsie Owen had been taken seriously ill, and died soon after
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I would like to write in 'Your Views' column.
I drive regularly into Farnworth from Kearsley. As one enters Farnworth off the A666 on the left hand side, you come across this huge derelict building situated in a very prominent part of Farnworth. All the windows on this building have been broken,
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Who needs to be a millionaire
When you are one already I ALWAYS enjoy watching the controversial 'Who Wants To Be a Millionaire', but I think it farcical if a contestant is already a millionaire! Granted, the programme is very exciting, and I am happy for the not too well-off contestants
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Royal Mail call for post haste
CHORLEY people are being urged to post early this Christmas as a result of rail service disruption. Royal Mail says it is putting into place alternative posting arrangements to ensure Christmas mail arrives on time. More than 200 million cards were posted
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How could you sink so low?
A LITTLE girl is too frightened to sleep in her own bed because heartless criminals burgled her home as she visited her critically ill grandfather in hospital. The eight-year-old youngster was so upset she needed professional counselling. David Gibbons
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Beware bogus taxi drivers
REVELLERS in Chorley are being warned about using rogue taxi drivers this festive period. Council chiefs are keen to get the safety message across -- as passengers could be driven without insurance cover by unlicensed operators. Chorley Borough Council
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Make a splash for charity!
THE 11th BT Swimathon -- now Europe's largest annual swimming event -- has just been launched, with Chorley again involved. BT Swimathon 2001 aims to raise £2 million to help the fight against cancer in the UK. All Seasons Leisure Centre, Chorley, and
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Sam priced out of Hendry deal
SAM Allardyce has finally been priced out of a move for Colin Hendry. The Wanderers' boss admitted today that he can't come up with the financial package to sign the former Scotland captain on an extended loan from Coventry City. He has also ruled out
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Gold chip...
EURODIS HB Electronics Ltd, which is based in Lever Street, Bolton, has received new recognition from software giants Microsoft. The company -- a pan-European distributor of electronic components -- is the inaugural winner of Microsoft's UK Embedded Distributor
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Boom time ahead for professional groups
Professional groups set to soar by halTHE professional and financial services communities in Manchester and Birmingham are expected to grow by almost 50 per cent by 2010, a new report claims. But it reveals that the greatest challenge facing both centres
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Tribunal shake-up wins approval
BOLTON and Bury Chamber has praised government proposals designed to create a ''fairer and more efficient'' employment tribunal system. The Chief Executive, Mr Richard Bindless, said: ''We are very pleased that the Government has listened to what the
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Searching for a locomotive
CAN anyone help in the search for an old locomotive? Members of Horwich Town Council are appealing for help in finding an engine to take pride of place next to the famous Horwich Loco site in Chorley New Road. Cllr Barbara Ronson said: "We really want
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Comic's rock record bid
COMEDIAN Peter Kay is aiming to smash the world record for making the largest stick of rock. The TV comic will be in Blackpool to make a stick which is 10ft long and weighs 440 kg. If successful, it will be 10 per cent bigger than the current record holder
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Last post dates for Christmas
CHRISTMAS cards and letters for friends and relatives overseas must be sent within the next few days, Royal Mail bosses have warned. The last recommended posting date for air mail to destinations outside Europe is tomorrow and mail to people in Europe
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One-man fundraiser's flood of compassion
ONE man fund-raising machine Alf Hales has raised £400 to help victims of flooding in York. The Little Lever pensioner is well known for being first with his collection tin in a crisis. Mr Hales, aged 79, was touched by TV pictures and newspaper reports
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Man stabbed in street
A MAN was dragged from a house, stabbed and beaten up in a daylight attack. The 24-year-old victim was set upon by three men outside his girlfriend's house on Winster Drive, Breightmet, just after 3pm yesterday. It is understood three men arrived outside
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Queen honours fire chief with special award
A TOP Bolton firefighter, with more than 30 years in service, has been honoured by the Queen. John Judd, assistant county fire officer with Greater Manchester Fire Service, was presented with a special award at a glittering Buckingham Palace reception
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Package plea
A HORWICH pensioner is calling on Royal Mail bosses to help the community by restoring the parcel-collection point at the town's post office. Muriel Angus, of Lee Lane, has always collected parcels which could not be delivered to her home from the Crown
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Making headway in the cancer battle
HEALTH chiefs in Bolton are making headway in the battle against breast cancer. They are ensuring everyone referred for specialist treatment by their GP has no more than a two week wait. But Bolton Hospitals Trust fared less well in terms of overall waiting
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Ten pin challenge for dogs charity
A BOWLER from Bolton who describes himself as "a nutcase in a bandana" hopes his ten-pin toppling marathon will be a striking success. Neil Kennedy plans to bowl consecutive games in all 26 lanes of the Hollywood Bowl at Middlebrook. But while bosses
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Police in clamp oncrime
CHRISTMAS shoppers and festive revellers are to get extra police protection in Bolton town centre. As part of a special operation, uniformed and undercover officers will crackdown on town centre robbery. Illegal street traders, bogus charity collectors
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Royal appointment?
THE Queen could visit Bolton as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations during the Commonwealth Games. The eyes of the world will be on the town when part of the Commonwealth Games are held in Manchester in 2002. At least four events are to be held in
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Round of applause!
HUGE debts, which nearly brought the curtain down on Bolton's Octagon Theatre, have been cleared. Nearly two years ago the town's major arts forum faced closure as it battled debts of £ million, prompting an emergency rescue package to keep the theatre's
