From the Evening News, July 21, 1904: THE attendance at the weekly band performance in Queen's Park on Wednesday evening did not reach its usual dimensions.

The Halliwell Prize Brass Band occupied the kiosk and the programme was gone through with great credit to themselves. A melancholy interest was attached to the performance owing to the death of Bandmaster Range, late musical director of the concerts, and out of respect to the deceased's memory the band played the "Dead March."

From the Evening News, July 21, 1954: THE father of a 17-year-old youth said at Acton, West London, today: "He was never in trouble before he bought his Edwardian suit." The boy was bound over for using insulting behaviour and fined £2 for a similar offence. The chairman, Ald K. A. Cleland, told him: "Get rid of that suit and try to become a decent member of society."

MR Harold Houghton CBE, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare in Jamaica and an Old Boltonian, presented the prizes at Bolton School. He said that coming back to the country after eight years abroad, he felt that the determination that the best education should be made available to the best brains had "weakened considerably." Educational opportunity, particularly for the boy with ability, should be increased and not lessened.

From the Evening News, July 21, 1979: OPPOSITION leader James Callaghan launched a strong attack on the "disastrous" first three months of Tory government when he spoke at the annual Durham Miners' Gala. He said he could not recall any time in post-war years when a government elected by such a large majority had forfeited the confidence of the people so early in its lifetime. Mr Callaghan said: "The tax cuts in the Budget were so arranged that they gave the biggest benefit to the richest. "For the average family the decrease in taxation is being more than eaten up by the increase in Value Added Tax and higher prices."

ROCK star Ian Dury's European tour was halted last night when violence broke out at the Yorkshire resort of Bridlington. Punk rock fans and leather-jacketed rockers battled as security men stood by helplessly in the 3,000-seater Spa Royal Hall.

From the Evening News, July 21, 1994: TONY Blair was today being declared Labour's new leader. And as the results were being prepared for the announcement this afternoon it looked certain that John Prescott would be his deputy. This opens the way to a "dream ticket" for Labour of a smart, smooth-talking, new-style leader to woo Tory votes in the South and an old-fashioned Socialist tub-thumper No 2 to keep the heartlands of the North, Wales and Scotland happy.

AN exotic choice of 35 guest beers and ciders will be on tap for tipplers at a town centre ale festival. The Malt and Hops bar, an extension of the Swan Hotel on Bradshawgate, aims to celebrate its second anniversary with a three-day beer festival starting today. Among the colourfully-named drinks will be Sedgley Surprise, Pendle Witches Brew and Gnu's Brew.