25 YEARS AGO

A HUGE traffic scheme to restrict street parking in Farnworth town centre is to be reconsidered, following claims that it would hit local traders badly. The scheme, covering the main Market Street, Albert Road and Egerton Street, plus more than 30 other town centre roads and streets, will be looked at again by the Council.

50 YEARS AGO

DARK, wiry little Leslie Cheetham, one of Bolton United Harriers' main hopes in the British Amateur Wrestling championships, held in Bolton Technical College on Saturday, was surrounded by cheering colleagues as he defeated Robert Petersen of Denmark to win the British Amateur Bantamweight Crown.

SIR,- Railway fares are going up, bus fares have already gone up, and private cars are costly to run. Soon we will have to walk to work - and even then, shoe repairs are expensive, and clogs are out of fashion. We could revert to horse-drawn buses, and stage coaches, but there is a scarcity of horses. They have been killed off for food. Or we could cycle to work - that is, if we had the energy we seldom get from our present day diet. I give up. We will either have to stay at work or stay at home - if we have a home. E. Holt, Greenfold-ave., Farnworth.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 17, 1876

ON Saturday afternoon, shortly before one o'clock, Mr William Cleary, photographer and newsagent, Bradshawgate and Deansgate, was found dead on a sofa at his residence, 31, Bury-st., Little Bolton. It appears that on Friday the deceased was in Manchester, with Mr Waton, photographer of that city, engaged in taking photographs at Knot Mill Fair.

He was then engaged until seven o'clock in the evening, when it is supposed that he left for Bolton by the train. The next that was known of him is that two men who are altogether unknown hailed the cab of Philip Toole, at the Trinity-street station, and the deceased, who then appeared in a helpless condition, and was foaming at the mouth, was placed in a cab, the cabman having directions to take him to his house in Bury-street. The cabman did so, and there left him. Mrs Cleary at once attended to him, and he lay down on the sofa, where he remained the whole of the night. He seemed to recover after a time, but he does not appear to have made any complaint to any of his family.

Mrs Cleary rose about half past six o'clock in the morning, and at that time he was still on the sofa. They had some conversation about domestic affairs, and she left him to attend to the shop. At one o'clock she returned, and then found him lying dead, where she had left him. The deceased has several bruises on the head and face, and there is also a bruise on the back of his neck. The case is being investigated.