Kinnock in quit row

NEIL Kinnock was this afternoon preparing to quit the Labour leadership as a fierce row blew up over whether the job was being handed on a plate to shadow chancellor John Smith.

A seemingly unstoppable momentum has now built up behind Mr Smith to take over the reins with senior colleagues and powerful trade union leaders throwing their weight behind the affable colleague. But in a letter to The Guardian newspaper today, Labour's former chief press and broadcasting officer Colin Byrne, said that union leaders and "their dining companions on the shadow cabinet" seemed already to have taken the decision.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

April 13, 1977

BRITISH Airways cancelled all flights from Manchester Airport because of the engineers' dispute. Altogether about 50 flights were axed. Despite advanced warning that all morning flights were off, scores of passengers turned up at the airport in the hope of a last-minute settlement.

BOLTON Wanderers' commercial manager, Mr Alf Davies, was taken to hospital in Bolton last night after a window on the team coach was shattered by a brick following the match against Burnley. He was allowed home, but suffered from shock and concussion. The incident occurred near Rawtenstall.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

April 12, 1952

ALTHOUGH the sun shone little in the afternoon and record crowds were not to be seen at the local beauty spots, many people got out to Rivington Pike, Belmont and Anglezarke yesterday. Barrow Bridge was one of the most popular rendezvous, and 150 extra buses were used on this service. While there were queues for the boats, the children kept the roundabouts in full swing. Cafe proprietors, although quite busy, found that most people had either taken their tea with them or were going home. The re-opening of Hoghton Tower to the public also attracted many visitors.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

April 13, 1902

THE remains of the late Dr G.H. Doman, of Westhoughton, have been laid to rest in the churchyard attached to Christ Church, Harwood, amidst manifestations of sympathy and regret. Throughout the township of Westhoughton, where he had enjoyed an extensive practice, the deceased gentleman was very well known and highly respected, and a large number of the inhabitants assembled at his late residence to witness the departure of the cortege.

On every hand were displayed evidences of the respect in which the deceased gentleman was held, flags floating at half-mast from the tower of St Bartholomew's Church, where he had worshipped, from the Vicarage, and also from the Conservative Club, of which he was a member, whilst the blinds at many of the houses in the neighbourhood were drawn. The cortege left the residence of the deceased gentleman, Mount Pleasant, Market-st., and proceeded to Harwood by road, the body, encased in an outer coffin of panelled oak, with brass mountings, and bearing two brass crosses, being conveyed in a closed hearse. The coffin also bore a brass plate inscribed with the words, "George Herbert Doman, died April 7th, 1902, aged 34".