"THERE'S an international 'situation' again and it is right bang in holiday week, too."

It could have been written today, but in fact this was a story from the early 1950s.

"The Korean trouble" had added a slight impetus to local Civil Defence recruitment, but many more volunteers were needed. The article went on: "One reason for the small number of recruits so far may be that people think of the next war in terms of atom bombs.

"But it has to be realised that although elementary training in atomic warfare is included in the syllabus, recruits have also to be well trained to deal with other aspects of civil defence."

There were six sections open to recruits - headquarters, warden, rescue, ambulance, pioneer and welfare.

Women were needed just as much as men - for ambulance driving, first-aid duties and welfare work.

And a civil defence course was available at the De Havilland Works in Lostock.

The reporter added: "Employers who encourage their workpeople to go for instruction will benefit in the long run because in an emergency those workpeople would, within reason, be allowed to take up civil defence duty at their own works."

Pictures

Top - Ready for an emergency: Volunteers were trained in operating their gas masks.

Left - Impressive: A massive flats and shops complex is rising on the corner of Deansgate and Marsden Road at the moment. This shot of Bolton's rather splendid fire station, which used to occupy the site, was taken in February, 1962.

Right - Latest design: Members of the Bolton Watch Committee braved a chilly January day in 1952 to inspect a new pump-salvage tender which had just been delivered to the Borough Fire Brigade. It had been locally built to the department's specifications.