From the Evening News, December 6, 1976

s\25 YEARS AGO

A QUARRY in Harwood and a dry reservoir in Bury may be used as rubbish dumps. Greater Manchester Council, desperately short of tipping space, wants to turn Harwood Quarry, off Tottington Road, and Gin Hall Reservoir, on Walmsley Road, into public tips.

EQUIPMENT worth hundreds of pounds was destroyed when fire wrecked a Bolton Scout group's storage hut today. The blaze broke out at a hut belonging to the Delph Scouts, by Doffcocker Lodge, off Chorley Old Road.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, December 6, 1951

IN a gap in a terrace of houses in Russell-st., Bolton, stands what was once a horse-drawn "fitting wagon". Strangers to the district are apt to stare in amazement when they pass by and see a cheerful little man tending his garden or carrying water from the house next door. The story? Once upon a time - nine years ago last March to be precise - a Bolton property demolisher and steeplejack, Robert Crompton, decided that the Union-rd. house in which he had lived was too big for one.

So he sold it and bought the wagon, and has lived in it ever since.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, December 6, 1876

SIR,- Kindly allow me space to give outline of the trials the relatives and friends of the late Adam Helme, who met with his death on Sunday last at Dunscar, have had to contend this week. The deceased was called a good, honest, sober workman.

He took another's duty on Sunday morning last, and met with his death in a mysterious manner. No-one can fully explain how it occurred. He was not drunk, but strictly sober.

The constable was soon apprised of the circumstances. He, as far as I can learn, let the Coroner know on Monday morning as soon as he could. Monday and Tuesday passed over, and no intimation from the Coroner arrived as to when the inquest was to be held, and even up to late Tuesday night it was not known.

Suddenly, about noon on Wednesday, a jury was summoned for three o'clock pm, the time the relations and friends had arranged for interment in Walmsley churchyard.

The Coroner opened his inquest at four o'clock, and it was at 5pm on a dark winter's night that the kind, sympathetic minister of Walmsley called for a candle that he might read over the beautiful funeral service, so full of pathos and comfort for the mourners.

But who should tell the heart burnings that their relative could not be buried by day light?

What is more repugnant to a man's feelings than to have their dead slighted even by accident? But the Coroner somehow contrives of late to either have the inquest on the day arranged for burial, or the funeral must be put off for a day for his convenience.

One person, an old friend, came to the funeral from a distance, and was so hurt that he could neither eat nor drink, but had only time when they got to the "house of mourning" to say good-bye to catch his train.

Should there not be a little sympathy shown for the feeling of the poor? I do hope this may be the last of such cases, and remain, sir, A Working Man, Turton.