25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, July 1, 1976

LITTER louts have transformed Bolton town centre in to a landscape of waste paper, drink cans and broken bottles. It's charm has been destroyed by rubbish left daily by scores of thoughtless sun-seekers.

Not only have the Town Hall steps and the open areas of the precinct been disfigured, but the two fountains have become special targets for beer and soft drink cans. Bolton precinct has 36 conveniently-placed litter bins. They are rarely used. A spot check by the Evening News found few more than a third full, while the benches and pavements near the bins were overrun with rubbish.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

July 2, 1951

THE sudden change in the weather this morning did not alter many holiday-makers' plans. Thousands of stay-at-homers streamed out of the town by bus and rail, hoping to find the sun that has deserted Bolton. Trinity-st. station was busy all morning with trippers leaving for Blackpool, Southport and Morecambe.

At Moor-lane bus station a representative of the Ribble Company said that they had 51 day excursions to places as far afield as Gretna Green.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

July 2, 1876

ON Tuesday morning, an inquest was held before Mr Rowland Taylor, coroner, on the body of John Hart, aged 56, painter, of 32 Soho-street, who died at the Infirmary from injuries received through falling downstairs whilst in a state of intoxication. John Hart, of 3 Cowill-street, Farnworth, said the deceased was his father. He saw deceased in the Infirmary on Saturday morning, about half past nine o'clock, when he was insensible. Deceased had been drinking for four or five weeks. He believed that the deceased had been neglected by Infirmary nurses, for he was left three hours sitting in a chair, and was then put to bed and given some tea. Dr Garstang said he had only a cut on his head and would soon be well.

Mary Ann Feeney, Soho-street, said the deceased lodged with her. He had been drinking for five weeks past. He went out on Friday, and came home at night hopelessly drunk. He sat in a chair, and witness saw him in bed safe. At half-past one o'clock, witness heard a bump, and on getting up she found deceased laying at the bottom of some steps. He was bleeding from the head, and complained of his back.

A doctor was sent for, and Mr Stephenson, surgeon, came, who ordered his removal to the Infirmary. The nurse at the Infirmary told witness's husband to fetch a priest for him, but he returned without one. Edward Morgan Garstang, house surgeon at the Infirmary, said he remembered deceased being brought into the institution. He had a small contused wound at the back of the head, which he dressed. The deceased was in a helpless state of intoxication. No other injury was apparent.

Witness ascribed the greater portion of his misfortune to intoxication. He told one of the persons in attendance on the deceased to get a cab, but he never returned. Several jurymen expressed an opinion that no blame attached to the Infirmary officials. A verdict of accidental death, while in a state of intoxication, was returned.