10 YEARS AGO From the Evening News March 24, 1995:The fate of Bolton Wanderers' new superstadium will lie in the hands of Environment Secretary John Gummer.

Planning councillors were told yesterday that Mr Gummer will be personally responsible for deciding whether the move to Horwich should go ahead.

MANCHESTER Airport has pledged to ensure that as many local people as possible will be employed in its planned £500 million building programme over the next 10 years.

Chief Executive Mr Geoff Muirhead said: "We estimate the building programme will mean an additional 1,000 jobs in any one year and we want as many of those as possible to go to people in the North-west."

25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News March 24, 1980

MORE than 600 old people living in Little Lever may get their own community centre if enough people come forward tomorrow to help run it.

The day centre, in a mobile double classroom unit on Seddon Street, could be in line for a £1,000 a year grant for lighting, heating and rates.

A spectacular Press Ball, the first in four years, is being organised by local journalists - and someone will win a foreign holiday.

The special Press gala night will be held at Rockerfellas Club in Bridge Street, Bolton, on May 20, and is expected to raise hundreds of pounds for local handicapped children and the journalists' Widows and Orphans Fund.

A trip abroad is also top prize in the Miss Press Queen of Bolton 1980 competition, the finals of which will take place at the Ball.

50 YEARS AGO From the Evening News March 24, 1955

BOLTON'S general rate for the financial year which begins on April 1 is to be reduced by 9d in the pound to 25s 6d (25s 3d in Astley Bridge).

The general body of ratepayers will be agreeably surprised at the reduction and, not looking gift horses in the mouth, will accept gratefully what the local gods (in this case the Labour members of Bolton Council) send them.

ALTHOUGH Bolton is an industrial centre, there is no little interest in agriculture and the Harwood Agricultural Society is well-known for its annual sheep dog trials and show.

The Society has this year chosen for its chairman Mr W. Heys (senior) of Dearden Fold Farm, Ainsworth, who has farmed all his life and knows the local farming problems and difficulties.

100 YEARS AGO From the Evening News March 24, 1905

THE well-known and respected occupant of Rivington Hall, Mr J. W. Crompton JP, passed away suddenly last night, death being attributable to heart failure.

In private circles, and as a Justice of the Peace, he was noted for his kindly disposition, with a marked tendency to leniency.

A Liberal in politics, he was ever staunch to the programme of progress and reform and was president of the Westhoughton Division Liberal Association for the years 1891 and 1892.

His business interests included ownership of property at Little Lever, a part of which is now occupied by Messrs Potter's chemical works.