From the Evening News, August 26, 1976

25 YEARS AGO

A LOCAL area has to cut its use of water by 50 per cent or jobs will be threatened and stand pipes brought in.

The drought situation in the Rossendale Valley and parts of Ramsbottom and Tottington is critical. Unless every householder makes a more determined effort, rationing will almost certainly be introduced in 14 days' time.

In a bid to save water, Bolton Council is now using recycled water from the sewage works to flush out drains and gulleys. The two town centre fountains are to be switched off, and the council is saving a further 3,000 gallons a week by halting washing its vehicle fleet.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, August 27, 1951

SOME excellent shooting under conditions of considerable difficulty marked the competition for the Tillotson Cup on the Bolton Home Guard Rifle Club's range at Scout-rd. yesterday.

Variations in light and drenching showers were extremely trying notwithstanding which the winner of the cup, Mr John Winnard, of the Home Guard Club, returned the excellent score of 194 out of a possible 200 points. Local cadets gave enthusiastic and efficient assistance as "runners". Some of the cadets, after having an enjoyable shoot, expressed a wish to become regular club members in due course.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, August 26, 1876

THE annual exhibition of our local floral and horticultural society was held on Wednesday and Thursday in a spacious field on Chorley New-road, Heaton, in the occupation of Mr Holgate, farmer.

Perhaps the chief requirement for the success of a flower show, not excluding the excellence of the exhibition itself, is fine weather. On Wednesday the clouds had a very suspicious appearance, looking dark and lowering, and unfortunately as the day progressed they broke and discharged their contents in a continuous pour, whilst on Thursday the exhibition was brought to an abrupt conclusion by the gale.

The exhibition was on the whole nothing inferior to previous shows, but one important item to which the committee would do well to attend in future shows is the time at which the specimens are to be staged.

The seventh rule enacts that all specimens are to be staged by eleven o'clock, but this rule was lamentably broken through. At the hour named the word confusion is perhaps the best which can be used to denote the state of progress the show had arrived, especially in the smaller tent, and the consequence was the judges were unable to commence their labours until close upon twelve o'clock.

The committee should rigidly enforce the regulation referred to in order to avoid the unsightly spectacle of gardeners' assistants careering round the field with armfuls of cut flowers at a time when every specimen should be in its proper place in the tents awaiting the inspection of the judges.