From the Evening News, August 2, 1976

25 YEARS AGO

PARENTS wept openly as Bolton's smallest school closed down, a victim of the squeeze on public spending. They had lost their fight to save Tonge Fold Infants' School from the accountants' axe. And many were still bitter when the school's 34 pupils went home for the last time yesterday.

A YOUNG Montreal musician was being detained by police in Montreal today after dancing naked at the Olympic Games' closing ceremony. He was charged with indecent exposure after stripping off in from of more than 70,000 people in the Olympic Stadium and millions of television viewers and prancing happily among a troop of 200 young girls dancing in the centre.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

August 2, 1951

TWO French nurses have this week joined the cosmopolitan staff of Ukrainian, German, Nigerian, West Indian and Irish, as well as English nurses, at the Bolton District General Hospital.

In its efforts to obtain nurses, Bolton Hospital Management Committee recently advertised in a French newspaper, and as the result of the overwhelming response a number of French male as well as female nurses is expected to swell the nursing staffs of both the District General Hospital and Bolton Royal Infirmary shortly,

Seven more French nurses are expected to arrive any day.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

August 2, 1876

A VERY funny story is being told of the second son of the Prince of Wales, Prince George Frederic. He is a merry scamp, fond of tricks, and no more awed by the majesty of his Sovereign than most lads are by their grandmother. He was even less amenable to discipline a few years ago than he is now, and on one occasion when staying with the Queen at the castle, played her a pretty prank.

She had a solemn dinner, at which a Grand Duke, Mr Gladstone, and Dean Stanley assisted. At dessert, the children were sent for. When they came in, George was riotous. Grandmamma reproved him. He went on heedlessly. Grandmamma was again obliged to interfere.

At last the youngster became very obstreperous, and he had to be sent under the table, from whence he was not to emerge until he had confessed his sin and promised amendment. He was very quiet, to everybody's surprise; but, when challenged, assured his imperturbable grandmamma that he was not yet quite good, but would be soon.

At last he was satisfied with his own condition, and emerged as naked as when he was born. He thought that he would not be better than his first parents, and returned, therefore, to a state of Paradisaical innocence.