25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, September 18, 1975

THE employment position for school leavers in Bolton is serious, Mr R. Hummer, Bolton's Principal Careers Officer, said today. Local statistics issued today show that there were 1,080 young people on the unemployment register on Sept. 8. At this time last year the figure was 131.

CONSERVATIVES in the North-west, worried about the decline in law and order, want the death penalty restored for certain acts of murder. Their fears are expressed in many motions published today in the agenda for the Conservative Party's annual conference in October.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, September 18, 1950

SIR,- As a clean food campaign enthusiast, may I comment on the unsavoury appearance of the abattoirs in Thynne-st., Bolton. Surely, the best material for floors, walls and ceilings in the rooms where the carcases are skinned and dressed would be stainless steel, or some form of smooth, plastic material with flush joints. All corners of these rooms should be rounded so that no inaccessible spots would harbour germs.

As they now stand, these rooms appear to have concrete floors, tiled walls (most certainly not white), and as for ceilings - I can only make a grim guess at the condition of these.

Handling of meat also leaves much to be desired. The clothing of the men who load the meat into the vans (which don't look at all suitable) does not give one the impression of even reasonable cleanliness. For example, some of the aprons worn by these men consist of sacking, and the only redeeming feature seems to be that a hat is worn. - Yours etc., Observer.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, September 17, 1875

THIS morning an accident happened to the six o'clock train from Bolton to Blackburn. Just after crossing the viaduct at Craddock-lane, the engine broke down, and the upline was blocked in consequence for about five hours. The passengers in the train received no injury, but had to submit to the inconvenience of waiting for another engine.

THE annual show of the Westhoughton Floral and Horticultural Society took place on Saturday in the Church Schoolroom, Wingates. There were upwards of 40 prizes, in sums varying from 1s to 10s, and there was a good competition. Indeed, the show on Saturday may be reckoned as the best ever held under the society's auspices, judged either by the quantity of excellence of the exhibits. Several gentlemen in the neighbourhood furnished, through their gardeners, grapes, flowers, &c. of hot house culture, which, added to the beautiful stocks of dahlias, gave the exhibition an attractive appearance.