Horwich Heritage is one of our most active local history groups, and this is reflected in their latest programme from now until June of next year.

July 23 - evening visit to Bolton Parish Church, with a tour of the ring room and bell tower (Alan Forrester) and a visit to the top of the tower, and a talk on the history of Bolton by Peter Nightingale; August 6 - walk round Bottom-o'th'-Moor; August 13 - Rivington Family History by David Owen; September 10 - My life in Horwich, Wilf Tomkinson; September 21 - Trip to York; October 8 - Talk on Rockhaven Castle, M. Brownlow; October 26 - Gift Fair; November 12 - A stroll through Bolton past, with Mike Cresswell; December 3 - Lancashire Witches, with Lizzie Jones; January 14 - Lord Leverhulme, by A. Hornby; February 11 - Smells, Smoke and Smallpox, some problems of Victorian Bolton, by Mike Cresswell; March 11 - History of Mill Engines, David Lewis; April 8 - 130 years history of Wingates Band, David Kay; May 13 - History of Horwich Prize Morris Men, Roland Higson; June 13 - A.G.M.

A very varied programme, as I am sure you will agree. Meetings are held at the Heritage Centre in Beaumont Road, Horwich. There is also an exhibition of Horwich in the Fifties, open free on Saturday mornings from 10am until noon, and Wednesdays 2pm until 4pm. Special openings for groups can be arranged through Norman Pendlebury, on 01204 692930.