PLAYTIME: In 1974, a mobile play centre was moved into Noble Street, Bolton, following complaints from parents that there were no play facilities for the children.

On a more permanent basis, Bolton Planning Committee had approved a tree-lined play area with equipment in Noble Street - half of an area formerly used as a car park was to be made into a playground. The picture shows Darren Grundy, aged seven, of Knutshaw Crescent, Bolton, trying out the mobile play centre trampoline.

Proud to be at celebration

WHEN the Bridgewater Canal celebrated its bi-centenary at Worsley in July, 1961, it included a sail past of working vessels.

When I printed a photograph of the occasion (in Looking Back, August 31) it was of particular interest to Mr John Parkinson, of Half Acre Lane, Blackrod, who tells me that the boat shown, the Iris Abbot, had taken first prize in the inspection of the commercial boat section of the rally, and was leading a sail-past of the Worsley vessels," he writes.

"The rally was attended by all the leading boat owners on the Bridgewater Canal, ie Abbotts of Salford, Blundells of Chorley, Monks of Adlington, Wells of Wigan and Stretford, Waddingtons of Bolton. The NCB had tugs and vessels in the show; this firm traced its heritage to the Duke of Bridgewater.

"The Ship Canal, Bridgewater Dept. (Dukers) had two vessels in attendance, and three tugs. The two Dukers were the Parcastle and Flaxmore, but they took no part in the competition.

"The boatmen who worked this array of vessels were representative of all the great boating families, and my family were proud to take part in what turned out to be the last gathering of canal and river craft of this magnitude."