25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, November 12, 1975

THE Ratepayers' Action Group in Bolton has demanded a detailed breakdown of the finances of both Greater Manchester Council and the North West Water Authority.

The group has warned that any unjustifiable increase in the rate precept of the two authorities, born, they say, of an 'idiot's dream', will be fully resisted. Last year Bolton Council returned one of the lowest increases in general rate in the UK at only 6 per cent over the previous year. But this was neutralised, claim the group, by the 'unrealistic precepts imposed by the mandarins of the GMC and the water authority.'

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, November 13, 1950

SIR,- How much longer have the residents of Bradford-rd., Townleys area, to tolerate the nuisance that has been so long in our midst? I refer to the casual (tramp) ward at Townleys Annex. Why was the ward removed from Queen-st., Bolton, a non-residential area within a stone's throw of the Central Police Office, to a residential area where a policeman is a very rare sight?

Are we to have another winter of door-trying, door cadging, squatting in the vicinity of Townleys and in the bus shelter, etc., Yours, etc., Back to Queen-st.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, November 13, 1875

AT Torquay, on Saturday, there was a fashionable assemblage to hear readings by Mr Hussey, an elocutionist. Occupying one of the front seats was a fine, portly gentleman, the father of the Rev. Mr Salisbury, vicar of Newquay. While one of the first selections, the 'Death of Paul Dombey', was being read, Mr Hussey noticed that Mr Salisbury was gazing at him fixedly in a peculiar attitude, sitting upright. Towards the close of the second part the concluding words of Tennyson's 'May Queen' were being spoken, when at the references to death Mr Hussey glanced towards Mr Salisbury and observed him still in the same position, his arms still folded across his breast and his gaze intent, but his face livid. The reader stopped, the persons around Mr Salisbury saw the pallor of his face, and instinctively retreated. Two doctors quickly arrived, and, on examining the motionless gentleman, they pronounced that although he had sat upright like a living man he had been dead for a considerable time.