November 25-26

And if the Marsden house Project takes off it will mean a special £2.5 million landlord/tenant relationship between the trade union Nalgo and the town's Institute of Higher Education. Nalgo wants a sports and social club for its 4,500 members in the area. It now seems likely that the union will get planning permission to demolish its existing Marsden house offices and build a new plush building, including a gymnasium, bar, restaurant, shops, offices, sauna and jacuzzi. But to pay for the branch club, a modern complex to house at least 100 rent-paying students will also have to be erected.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

November 25, 1977

A WOMAN of 71 was recovering from shock today after a seven-ton runaway coal lorry smashed into the front of her Bolton home, showering her living room with masonry and glass. Miss Gertie Taylor was in her back yard - getting a shovel of coal - when the lorry embedded itself in the house in Burnaby Street, Deane. The lorry also damaged the next door home of Mr Harry Price and his wife Sheila.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

November 26, 1952

BOLTON will go gay during Coronation Tear - and in permanent memory of the crowning of Queen Elizabeth 11, the Cenotaph on Victoria-sq. is to be surrounded by lawns. The biggest event in Bolton of a year which is to be full of events, will be an historic and dramatic production depicting scenes from the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth to the present time, which for the most part has been written by the Mayor (Ald. Vickers) himself. The production is to be presented in Moss Bank Park, in an open-air theatre which is to be constructed at a cost of £2,000, and which will be a permanent feature of the park.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

November 26, 1902

A DISTRESSING suicide was this afternoon reported to the Borough Coroner, the victim being Matilda Dorning (28), 68, Hennon-st., Halliwell. Deceased was a factory operative. This morning, at 10.30, whilst PC Ashworth was on duty in Church-rd. he was informed by a woman that she had seen a hat and shawl on the banks of the lodge off Moss-lane.

The officer proceeded thither, and found in the hat a note bearing the name and address of the deceased. There was also a further note, the contents of which will be disclosed at the inquest to be held at the Town Hall tomorrow morning.

The constable obtained grappling irons from Messrs Ainsworth's bleachworks, and in about a quarter of an hour discovered the body in the water. The body was then removed to the School Hill Mortuary.

The occurrence caused a sensation in the neighbourhood and also occasioned deep regret, Miss Dorning being well known and much esteemed.