From the Evening News, November 20, 1992 - FIREFIGHTERS were this afternoon tackling a major fire at Windsor Castle, where the Duke of York is believed to be staying.

Smoke was spotted billowing from the state apartments at approximately 11.40am. More than 100 firemen are currently fighting the flames, which can be seen for miles around.

BOLTON'S controversial Burnthwaite children's home is to shut. Councillors voted a a social services meeting this week to sell off the crisis and respite care centre, and transfer its young occupants to the refurbished former elderly persons home The Woodlands at Manchester Road, Bolton.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

November 19, 1977

TERRIFIED shoppers ran for their lives as a double-deck bus bounced into a Bolton town centre store. The bus crashed into railings, hit two cars, smashed into a shop's windows and ploughed into the entrance of the store next door. The terrifying tea-time crash left Knowsley Street littered with broken glass. Two youths were seen leaping from the bus and running away. Two women waiting in a bus queue needed hospital treatment for shock.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

November 20, 1952

FOR years many of the housewives of Bolton have been accustomed to having their knives and scissors sharpened by a cheerful little man who spoke with a rather attractive Italian accent.

He was Mr Guiseppe Maestri (52), 20, Sydney Street, Bolton, who was frequently to be seen trundling his knife-grinding machine along the streets of the town.

But no longer will he ply his trade, for last night, whilst wheeling his machine along Crescent-road, he was knocked down by a bus. He was taken to Bolton Royal Infirmary, suffering from multiple injuries, and early this morning he died.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

November 20, 1902

TO most of us the term "Bachelor Women" suggests the single woman who has imbibed enough of the spirit of the "New Woman" to be able to discard all resemblance to the "unprotected female" known as the "old maid."

When the New Woman made her debut she was hailed with shrieks and groans. Now that she has come to stay we treat her very politely and never sneer at her - in her presence. The Bachelor Woman is truly the friend of man, for he is not afraid of her. Nay, he seeks her society, walks with her, cycles with her, talks with her, drinks tea with her, in the true spirit of comradeship.

If he is a bachelor, he has no fear of being snapped up by his single lady friend who calls herself a bachelor woman. He is not afraid of being found alone with her, for he observed that she has already consigned Mrs Grundy to oblivion, and he manfully resolves to do the same.

The old maid was a purposeless creature. The bachelor woman is a worker, her lifework absorbing most of her thought and time.