25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, April 3, 1976

THE go-ahead has been given for plans to convert a Salvation Army hall at Farnworth into a storage warehouse despite claims that the move would create a "stigma for posterity". Planning permission was approved for the conversion of the hall in Albert Road, but will be reviewed again in three years' time.

THE last of the old "ladies" of Bolton's transport fleet rolled into the Bridgeman Street bus depot for the last time this week. After a full day's service on the Bank Top route, Bolton's last remaining Leyland "Titan" front engine bus retired after 13 years in the fleet. The Titans, which during the late 1950s made up the bulk of Bolton's bus fleet have gradually been replaced by rear-engined Atlanteans and Daimler Fleet Line buses.

50 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, April 4, 1951

BOLTON may have, in the future, a new general hospital with 800 beds, and there will be extensive extensions to the Wilkinson Sanatorium. The Corporation is to be asked to allocate 45.1 acres of land north of Chorley New-rd. and opening into Stapleton-ave., Old Hall-lane, and Old Kiln-lane, for building purposes for the new hospital. Land required for extensions to the Wilkinson Sanatorium includes 20.9 acres west of the sanatorium and north of Oldham's Farm.

SIR, - Why is there a fuss about disclosing intimate details on the census form? If there are any facts that are likely to cause embarrassment, it is odds on that they are already well-known in the immediate locality. E. Holt, 88, Green Fold-ave, Farnworth.

125 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, April 4, 1876

Westhoughton OLD TIMES

Westhoughton affairs they say are bad, why you should hear my grand old dad,

Say how they were when he was a lad, and fudge to the Local Board, mon.

They built their houses in and out, set tubs on't road for't water spout,

And privies was neither in nor out, but terrible handy in't neet, mon.

We kept our hens and poots in't shop, some pearche'd in't looms and some on't top,

And every now and then a flop, dropped on my feayther's yarn, mon.

We'd howler on our clogs as thick, like standing on a nine inch brick,

For't roads as sure as you are wick, were up to knees and nave, mon.

They talk about macadam roads, and breaking bovldets scores of loads,

And fill all't ruts, the ornary toads, do they want out roads 'be used, mon.

And as for water, why our wells, as stood in't "bonk" and other dells,

Were plagued in summer with some queer smells, like fever or cholera morbus.

To be sure they're dry one-half their time, and tother half was nought but slime,

Ditch bottom flavour was rather prime, and helped small gruel down, mon.

Here doctors couldn't live a day, but back to Horwich took theirn way,

Folks ne'er was ill, so he couldn't stay, for he had no reports to write, mon.

New board has streets (its true bith mark), lit up with gas, O, dear, such wark,

And if God a purpose didn't make dark, and "dips" for use at neet, mon.

And now with their blacking one another, with squibs, lampoons and such like pother;

But so which gets in, you'll wish you had tother, before you are twelve months older.

So talk about the trade being bad, you should hear my grand old dad,

Say how they were when he was a lad, and none of your Local Board, mon.