From the Evening News, April 25, 1992

BOLTON carries the shame of having one of the worst pet cruelty records in the country.

But are people still surprised by this brutal fact, considering that the country seems to have become "battled hardened" towards the scale of pet cruelty?

A Bolton alliance between the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals, vets and charities has led to a logical approach to the problem - cut price neutering. Kathy Kay, branch secretary of the Bolton RSPCA said: "There should now be no need for anyone to say that they cannot afford this vital operation for their pets. We must reduce the number of animals if we are to cut down on the cruelty."

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 26, 1977

THE prices of most foods will go up by an average of 3p in the pound as a result of the new EEC farm deal decided today in Luxembourg. But not butter, where the subsidy will remain the same. The deal will put about 8p a pound on cheese, 10p on beef, 5p on bacon, 2p on a dozen eggs, and 1p on a large loaf.

THEY were drinking bitter and pints of mixed in the Wheatsheaf yesterday. And they were furious.

So angry, in fact, that they launched a petition protesting about the withdrawal of "Bolton's traditional drink". Regulars at the Great Moor Street pub are up in arms over a brewery decision to phase out best mild and increase the price of other drinks. Best mild, they say, has been the town's favourite pint for more than 60 years. They do not see why they should switch to "posh drinks" like bitter so that the brewery can make more money.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 26, 1952

ALTHOUGH entries were fewer than usual for the 23rd annual hedging competition organized by the Bolton and District Agricultural Discussion Society yesterday, the judges were of the opinion that the work was of a high standard. Each competitor completed an 8yd. stretch of hedge on land just off the main road at Dunscar. Working with axe and saw, the men took about six hours each to prove that the old art of hedging and trimming still exists in Bolton and district.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 26, 1902

SIR,- Along with a few comrades, I would like to let our friends in Bolton know how we are getting on here in Kandia, Crete. During the cold season and long nights, efforts have been made to drive away dull care, and to relieve the monotony of everyday life.

It may be said for those who have worked hard and untiringly to gain this end that they have been thoroughly successful.

Concerts have been arranged from time to time, in which a few Boltonians have taken a prominent part. On the 20th of December, a splendid programme was gone through. It would be hard to particularise any of the performers beyond Private Davies, who is well-known in Bolton as "Wright Davies, boy ventriloquist". He fairly brought the house down with a comic song, and his recitation of "The Charge of the Light Brigade".

There is a great amount of sickness in the battalion at present, over 200 men in hospital out of 500. There have also been a few deaths. - Yours etc. 5909 Private J. Moss, Kandia.