From the Evening News, August 31, 1904: THROUGH the generosity of Mr Alf Tonge and the Hulton Colliery Company, 100 Clarion cyclists from Bolton and the district, with a sprinkling of friends, had the pleasure of being shown through the workings of the New Pretoria Pits at Atherton on Saturday.

After viewing the powerful winding engines, the shaft was descended a depth of 300 yards to the yard mine, where the officials explained the many interesting items, not the least being a patent hydraulic mining cartridge. The arrangements were ably carried out by Cllr Fletcher of Westhoughton and he earned warm thanks. Tea and a good social at Atherton brought 10 o'clock only too soon.

For permitting children under 10 years of age to sell matches in the street, three Blackpool parents were fined 1s and costs. The penalties were small because these were the first prosecutions of the kind in the borough.

From the Evening News, August 31, 1954: THERE were long queues of prospective students at Bolton Technical College last night when enrolment began for the new session. While most were between 16 and 25, there were many over the 30 mark. One grey-haired enthusiast was searching for a music course to help him with his violin-playing.

WHEN Her Majesty the Queen arrives in Bolton at 10am on Friday, October 22, she will be greeted by troops of the 5th Battalion, the Loyal Regiment (TA). They will form a Guard of Honour for the first time since Her Majesty became Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment. Leaving Great Moor Street Station by road, the Queen will travel to the Town Hall via Great Moor Street and Newport Street.

From the Evening News, August 31, 1979: TIGHT police security surrounded the Prime Minister's visit to the new Carrington Viyella Unit One mill in Atherton. Mrs Thatcher, who was wearing a blue and yellow striped dress, received a red rose from mill employee Mrs Alice Welch. The £6 million spinning factory, which opened in May last year, was the first new textile mill to be built in Lancashire for 50 years.

IMAGINATIVE plans to finish off Bolton's award-winning shopping precinct - by turning the rest of Newport Street into a pedestrian area - will give the town centre even more appeal. The idea is to give the street a Continental air with a specially-commissioned sculpture, an outdoor eating area and a display area for art exhibitions. Greater Manchester Council is expected to foot most of the bill, with cash from Operation Clean-Up as another source.

From the Evening News, August 31, 1994: THE IRA today declared an end to 25 years of bloodshed and terror. A ceasefire, unconditional and open-ended, which begins at midnight tonight, will be a permanent one, the Provisionals promised. Sinn Fein is now looking for seats at any future negotiating table on the future of Northern Ireland, but the party could be involved in official discussions with the Irish government much sooner.

A round-the-clock home care service for the elderly is set to create 60 new jobs in Bolton. The £750,000 scheme will allow more elderly people to carry on living in their own homes. Cllr Mrs Betty Hamer, chairman of Bolton's Social Services Committee, said: "We believe that the weekend service, expanded recently, and the new night and evening services will give elderly people a better quality of life and give carers much-needed support."