25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, September 16, 1975

'POP Art' pensioner, Mr Raymond Heaton, has turned part of the Nob End nature trail at Little Lever into a local tourist attraction. Mr Heaton, of Peel Street, Farnworth, has just completed his third painting on a large concrete block at the side of the nature trail. It is a half-size portrait of highwayman Dick Turpin and his horse Black Bess. He has chosen Turpin because local legend has it that 200 years ago he used the nearby Pack Horse Bridge to escape, and hid in a local cottage. 'I have been amazed at the interest the paintings have caused,' he said. 'People have come from miles around to see them.'

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, September 16, 1950

SIR,- This is the latest in conditions of sale. There is a shop near me that has cigarettes any part of the day, good brands too, but when you ask for a particular brand you find there are only eight or nine of that brand, and the others are made up of cigarettes you would never dream of buying. Why is this sort of thing allowed to continue? They know the public won't say anything because they can 'either take 'em or leave 'em', but I would rather leave them. Yours etc., Once Bitten, Twice Shy.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, September 16, 1875

THE cricket season was on Saturday wound up by the Bolton Club in a befitting manner. The weather was simply magnificent, and the attendance on the last day's play in the match for the benefit of W. McIntyre unusually numerous, between three and four thousand persons visiting the ground. Amongst the spectators were to be seen many of the leading gentry, some of whom drove onto the field in their carriages, and the sight presented by the large concourse was such as would have astonished and been the best answer to those ancient personages, could they have been persuaded to gaze upon it, who are everlastingly carping at everything partaking of the form of pleasure in which their narrow souls will not allow them to participate. A better proof that cricket, like other out-door sports, is yearly growing in favour, could not be afforded, a fact that will withstand all the hard words that can be dealt at it by antiquarians - lovers of musty deeds and time eaten documents.