From the Evening News, September 20, 1904: AT a meeting held in the Horwich Co-operative Hall on Monday night it was decided to form a mutual improvement society, to be named the Horwich Literary and Debating Society.

The attendance was but moderate, but the meeting was animated by a right spirit and conducted on neutral lines so far as politics and religion are concerned. During the evening reference was made to, and regret expressed at, the fact that the political clubs in the town made no effort to provide for the educational and intellectual advancement of their members, existing almost exclusively for the provision of recreational exercises.

From the Evening News, September 20, 1954: THE largest towel mill in the British Empire - W.T. Taylor and Co Ltd in Horwich - celebrated its golden jubilee on Friday. "My father founded the firm when he was 53 years old - an act of great courage at his age," said the chairman, Mr John Taylor. Long service representatives of management, staff and workers all paid tribute to the friendly atmosphere at the mill and to the excellent relations between workers and management.

LEN Hutton, the English Test captain, today drove to Caserta, about 40 miles north-east of Naples, to visit the grave of Hedley Verity, the former England bowler. Verity was killed during the war and was buried in the British military cemetery at Caserta.

From the Evening News, September 20, 1979: THERE is little chance of Britain remaining successful and prosperous unless it sorts out its industrial problems, a Minister said today. But Mr James Prior, Employment Secretary, told a CBI conference on worker involvement that the government did not believe that intervening in industrial relations and passing legislation was the best or wisest way of giving a lead. Apart from limited reforms on picketing and closed shops, there were no plans for major law changes.

A mystery virus has hit more than 30 handicapped holidaymakers on a Bolton Social Services Department holiday in Wales. They are in a group of 50 mentally handicapped people and 10 staff from Smithills Hall Hostel and Cotton Street Day Centre. Medical experts have been called in to inspect the Rhos-on-Sea hotel where the group is staying.

From the Evening News, September 20, 1994: DOCTORS are still being forced to rush women in labour and new born babies to hospitals outside Bolton because of a shortage of intensive care cots - almost a year after the scandal was first highlighted. So far this year 34 pregnant women or babies have been transferred because the two special care cots at the Princess Anne maternity unit at Bolton General Hospital were full. Health chiefs say they will not be able to fund a promised third cot until some time in the 1995/96 financial year.

A train was de-railed as it crossed Tonge Bridge viaduct over St Peter's Way yesterday morning. Police are checking local schools after vandals built a make-shift barricade out of heavy metal drain covers and two large stone blocks.