From the Evening News, January 2, 1977

25 YEARS AGO

PRINCE Charles discloses today he thinks it is his sense of humour that keeps him sane. He says that if politicians could only laugh at themselves occasionally, the world would be a better place. "I would probably have been committed to an institution long ago were it not for the ability to see the funny side of life," he says.

A LABOUR MP for a mining community, Joe Ashton, warns today that retirement for everyone at 60 - the age favoured by the miners - could be "disastrous" for Britain's economy.

Instead, we should raise the age from 65 to 70, he says, because of the cost to the country.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

\January 2, 1952

HOW many feet do our Rivers Croal and Irwell fall on their journey between Bolton and Manchester, asks a reader.

It has been stated that Bolton is 240ft. higher than Manchester, but that figure is misleading. Victoria-sq. at the foot of the Town Hall steps is 300ft above sea level, and Albert-sq., in front of Manchester's Town Hall, is 134ft above the sea.

The Croal passes through Bolton at approximately 258-268 feet. The Irwell flows through Manchester at about 100-120 feet.

Another question is what kind of fish was there in the old days in the Croal. Whittle's "History of Bolton-le-Moors" says: "In former times the Croal was well stocked with trout and salmon, but it is no longer a purling limpid stream.

"It is said that in spite of growing pollution of the waters, some fishing could be had around 1840. In 1877, a writer in the Bolton Journal said: "The other day a young man says he observed fish in the water near the Market Hall."

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

January 2, 1877

THE recent rains have made a wonderful alteration in the Rivington Lakes. The new one way filled to the level of the stone work of the bye-wash about three o'clock on New Year's Day, at which time it might be said that water for the first time flowed over. Nearly at the same time, the water commenced to flow over the Yarrow bye-wash, thence passing down the river, and was forever lost to the Liverpool Corporation. All the lakes are full, and the new one impounding 1,000,000,000 gallons there is that quantity more stored in the Rivington district than on any previous occasion.

LIEUTENANT-General Sir Edward Holdich writes to the Times: "I observe my name among the list of Knights and Generals deceased. I should feel obliged if you would kindly contradict this, as I am happy to inform you that I am still existing, and, thankful to say, in good health."