From the Evening News, August 27, 1904: THE army's training season this year has revealed a marked deficiency in the number of men fit for the field.

Several brigadiers are reporting that not one half of their men are serviceable. Battalions of infantry which should be 800-strong are unable to muster more than half strength and in two cases under 300 soldiers answer to the qualifications. The physical standard of some battalions is stated to be the lowest recorded.

THE practice amongst cyclists of using motor horns to give notice of their approach is rapidly on the increase. Recently a club of about 20 young riders, each of whose machines were provided with horns of various sizes, created a fearful noise by frequent and unnecessary use of the same.

From the Evening News, August 27, 1954: THE idea of a local helicopter station is not new, for in 1952 it was suggested in the Development Plan for Bolton that improvements in design and carrying capacity might well create a demand for helicopter services to give inter-town communications, provide services to the nearest aerodrome or to give cross-country services.

There is no case, of course, for establishing an airport in Bolton, with Ringway only 20 miles away, but as this is the centre of a large industrial and heavily populated area a helicopter station might easily become a commercial proposition.

THE Grand Theatre of Varieties, Bolton's homely centre of song and laughter, celebrates its diamond jubilee today. On its 60th birthday it remains firmly established in the affections of the people of Bolton and district. It is indeed a permanent feature in our social life.

From the Evening News, August 27, 1979: THE Queen's uncle, Lord Mountbatten of Burma, was killed today in an explosion on his boat during a holiday in the Irish Republic. The explosion happened five minutes after Lord Mountbatten and his party had set off from Mullaghmore harbour, County Sligo, in a small boat. Earl Mountbatten was once described in Parliament as "one of the really great Englishmen of our time".

THE Grand Festival parade had the crowds flocking to Bolton town centre yesterday as it headed for Harper Green, Farnworth, in one of the colourful highlights of the week's Crompton celebrations. Thousands of people - happy to see the sunshine again - lined the route to cheer on more than 50 floats accompanied by morris dancers, brass bands and a host of others. The day started with a special festival service held at Bolton Parish Church, which had to be delayed while extra chairs were brought for the unexpected numbers wanting to attend.

From the Evening News, August 27, 1994: GET-tough housing chiefs are set to throw Bolton's drug dealers out of their homes. They have had enough of the traders who are making the lives of other estate residents a misery. From next April anyone with a conviction for selling drugs will no longer be allowed to live in a council house.

MEMBERS of the public are being invited to visit the home of Mr Frank Smith in Turton for a walk around his gardens.

It is the 17th time that "Stonestack" in Chapeltown Road has been opened to the public. Since 1977 it has been visited by 28,165 people and £20,554 has been raised for charity.