From the Evening News, 1993: Horwich Town Councillor Bob Ronson says lives could be lost if the threatened closure of Bolton Royal Infirmary is given the go-ahead.

Both he and his wife Cllr. Barbara Ronson are so incensed by the proposed closure that they have submitted objections to the draft Unitary Development Plan - Bolton's planning blueprint for the future - on grounds that Horwich people could be put at risk by the move.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

January 30, 1978

THIRTY firemen fought for an hour to control a serious blaze in car auction rooms in Hanover Street, Bolton, last night. The fire destroyed a canteen, offices and a car under repair, but 12 other cars and the converted mill building were saved. Twice-weekly sales nights at the Bolton Car Auctions are likely to be cancelled for at least a fortnight.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

January 30, 1953

MOVING the second reading of his Sunday Observance Bill in the House of Commons today, Mr John Parker, the Labour Member for Dagenham, said he did not think if the Bill were passed any important football club would play matches on both Saturday and Sunday. Most would tend to play on Saturdays.

Referring to cricket, Mr Parker said that if first-class cricket fixtures were allowed on Sunday, there was not likely to be more cricket, but merely a spreading of fixtures over different dates.

Mr Parker pointed out that in his Bill he sought to give permission to theatres to open on Sundays on the same terms as cinemas.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

January 30, 1903

YESTERDAY, the famous John Philip Sousa, the American conductor and composer, with his equally famous band, appeared at the Temperance Hall to give one of his concerts, the excellence of which has taken the musical world by storm.

His well-known marches have been for some time now the talk of musical professionals and amateurs, his "Washington Post" especially catching on equally with the performer in the drawing-room and the boy in the street. Mr Sousa has been commanded by the King to give a concert on Saturday night at Windsor Castle. On that date the band had been engaged to appear at Manchester, and no less than £600 worth of tickets had been purchased by music lovers in that city. The King's commands, however, cancel all private engagements, but arrangements are being made for the band to visit Manchester in the early spring.