25 YEARS AGO

THE authority of Bolton Metropolitan Borough is under attack. Someone in Blackrod, on the outskirts of the Authority, has made a defiant gesture of independence. The 'UDI' notice hangs plain for all to see on the Wigan boundary line at Scott Lane, Blackrod. Trouble has been brewing since the Blackrod sign was removed over a month ago and replaced with a Bolton District boundary sign.

WORK began today on the long-awaited first purpose-built secondary school and sports complex for Little Lever.

BURY swimmer Tony Heaton, who conquered the Channel in 13 hours 6 minutes on Saturday vowed today - 'never again'.

50 YEARS AGO

THOSE who claim that last month was the wettest August in memory are wrong, for records show that in 1930 we had a slightly wetter August than this year. The total rainfall for the month was seven and a half inches, and there were 11 rain free days. Eight days of storms were recorded.

BRIGHTER weather today encouraged Bolton holidaymakers to hope that the last break of the year will remain fine. Blackpool and Morecambe are again popular, particularly the latter, where the illuminations are a big attraction.

125 YEARS AGO

AN odd difficulty, and what may be termed a church scandal, is likely to be heard of again in Southport. Some time ago there was much stir over the sale of pews at Christ Church, and in order to preserve peace, Mr W. Atkinson, JP, came forward and bought up a great number of pews, and handed them over to the vicar. Messrs Parry and Gammon, solicitors to the Bishop of Chester, have given the decide opinion that these pews cannot legally be sold, the church is a parish church, and as the original pew owners under the consecration died, the pews lapsed, and became parish property. Notwithstanding that, the pews have been sold, and on Wednesday in a sale of property, by order of the Court of Chancery, at a hotel in Southport, two pews were offered, and a bid of £40 was made for them which advanced to £60, when one of the churchwardens stated that the pews could not be sold, and that if disposed of, he and his brother churchwarden would at once take possession of them, but to avoid unpleasantness, they were empowered to offer £65 for them. These announcements were met with applause, and the auctioneer said he had nothing to do with the churchwardens but to sell the property, and the district registrar added that intending purchasers would find it a great consolation that the churchwardens had made a bid for the property. An advance upon the £65 was at once made, and the pews ultimately sold for £68. The churchwardens will give notice to the purchaser of their intention to take possession of the pews.