10 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 2, 1992

HUNDREDS of local folk have been enjoying themselves- supporting the Bolton Evening News' Breath of Life campaign.

Their enjoyable efforts have raised hundreds of pounds, too, to buy vital equipment for the children's asthma clinic at Bolton General Hospital and towards a £30,000 Ultra Sound Scanner for local youngsters with heart and lung problems. Now the fund stands at £17,589, and is still growing.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 3, 1977

A WEEKEND drink ended in a 2 hour ordeal for a Farnworth teenager . . . stuck in a pub lavatory. Late on Saturday night, in the Rawsons Arms in Peel Street, Farnworth, landlord Colin Rushton and his wife Mavis were clearing glasses when they got the call. They heard shouts and knocking coming from the men's lavatories. Mr Rushton went to the rescue of the unfortunate youth, but found the door well and truly jammed. He took the handle off and managed to pass a screwdriver through to the trapped youth, but still they could not open the door.

There was only one thing for it . . . a 999 call. At 1.30am, five laughing firemen arrived, unscrewed the door lock and freed the flushed regular.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 3, 1952

THE annual May show and judging of horses and vehicles belonging to Magee Marshall & Co., Ltd., was held today near the brewery before the horses paraded through the streets of Bolton.

There were 11 horse-drawn vehicles and 12 motor vehicles entered. The company was established in 1888, and it seems probably that a show on the first Saturday in May has been held ever since that date.

THERE was an unemployment average of 42 per cent among operatives in Bolton area mule spinning mills in the period March 1st to April 26th. Mr R. Gregson, secretary of the Bolton Operative Spinners' Association said today that "something serious has happened, whether you call it a slump, a recession, or a buyers' strike."

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 3, 1902

IN accordance with the custom which has now prevailed in Bolton for some years past, the Corporation and traders' May Day procession took place this afternoon, but for some reason, probably the unprepitious state of the weather in the early part of the day, the traders' section, with one or two exceptions, showed a very considerable falling off in numbers and effectiveness of display.

In these matter-of-fact days the procession is shorn of a good deal of its ancient character, and is mainly utilised as a medium for advertisement, and from this standpoint it is no doubt a big success. For many years now, the large brewing firms have refrained from taking part, and many of the interesting mechanical exhibits formerly forwarded by local engineering concerns have also for some time past been conspicuous by their absence. Those absentees considerably reduced the length of the procession, and whereas on many previous occasions fully an hour has been occupied in passing a given point, today little more than half this time was occupied.