25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, December 11, 1976

BOLTON'S Royal Infirmary is to be "run down" - and the General is to be the town's main hospital. Within the next 10 years the Bolton area health chiefs will draw up plans to develop emergency and acute facilities at the General. And when this expansion happens, the Infirmary will no longer be the major hospital it now is - although its future is assured for at least 20-25 years.

The report states that Hulton hospital will be retained and upgraded to provide a geriatric rehabilitation centre.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, December 12, 1951

RADIO'S Wilfred Pickles and his wife Mabel were given a warm welcome when they stepped from their car in Newport-st., Bolton, today. Shoppers in a street immediately recognised the famous couple.

As soon as their car turned up - Wilfred had driven over from Manchester - passers-by stopped to have a close look at the creator of "Have-a-go", and soon Wilfred and Mabel were in the centre of a crowd of women and children.

There was a typical exchange of good natured banter - "Ow are yer?" asked Wilfred. The Pickles's are to visit the Hippodrome tonight to see Armitage Owen's comedy "Once a Gentleman". They will sit with the author in the circle, and Mabel will appear on the stage. Afterwards they will meet Mr T.C. Williamson and the cast.

Mr Pickles is interest in presenting the play in other areas.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, December 12, 1876

SEVERAL persons were summoned before the Borough Magistrates on Thursday, for practising as medical men, their names not appearing on the medical register. In one case the defendant was fined £10 and costs, in another a fine of 40s and costs.

THE old maxim that "man proposes" is contradicted by certain spinsters who only wish he did.

A WEALTHY man lately gave the church which he attends two tablets of stone, with the Ten Commandments engraved upon the; whereupon a witty lady member of the church remarked that his reason for giving away the Commandments was that he couldn't keep them.