THE political world in which the Evening News first saw the light of day was very different from that of today.

Internationally Britain was still Great, had an Empire and could settle most problems by sending a gunboat.

At home people were far more interested in politics. In 1867 the Earl of Derby was First Minister (the office of Prime Minister was not officially established until 1905) but the Disraeli/Gladstone sparring matches were already well underway.

Gladstone was MP for a constituency that included Leigh, which made him almost local and Bolton itself was staunchly Liberal which suited the Tillotson's, Liberal to a man, very well.

However, when in 1868 the Liberal MPs were routed in the town, followed by a similar disaster on the town council, the Evening news had already established a reputation for fairness and impartiality in its news coverage.

This undoubtedly helped establish the Evening News as did the partnership of Mr Tillotson and his first editor, William Brimelow.

Tough and uncompromising when necessary, yet with humour when needed and, perhaps most importantly, open and sincere at all times, the two men published the newspaper that they would have wished to read -- and the people of Bolton agreed.

Circulation increased steadily to a point where often demand outstripped supply and the purchase of newer and better printing machines became a regular occurrence.