25 YEARS AGO

BOLTON 'kart star' Derek Price has just helped the British racing team come second in the European karting seniors' championship in Sweden. And when Derek, aged 19, got back to his home in Walnut Street, he found that he was one of six Britons invited to race in the world karting championships in France.

SCHOOL pupils should have greater freedom in choosing their own teachers, Labour leaders in Scotland said today. The report said: 'Adults have likes and dislikes, and there is nothing inherently threatening in some pupils needing, and being allowed, greater choice in subject or teacher.'

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, August 24, 1950

IT was not intended that the present Bolton Cross should be erected on the actual site of the scaffold where the seventh Earl of Derby was executed. Old writings state that the scaffold was built 'at the cross', and an old print shows it standing a short distance on the south side. It is quite likely the present cross, however, stands on the exact spot where its predecessor - there may have been more than one - was erected in 1486.

The handsome monument we know today was given to the town by the late Mr George Harwood, MP, 'to be erected on the site of the older cross'. It was unveiled without ceremony on October 16th, 1909. In Stuart times, it seems, the Lecturer at the Parish Church delivered his message, and marriage banns were announced at the cross on market days. John Wesley also preached from the steps of the old cross on August 28th, 1748.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, August 24, 1875

SIR,- Among the many complaints constantly cropping up against local 'Home Rule', as a ratepayer within the Borough, I will embrace this opportunity of adding one more to the long list, with a hope the intrusion may answer its purpose by drawing attention in the proper quarter to a modern practice of the police force, which can be called by no other name than a public nuisance; I allude to the officers being nightly marched off from their barracks, Town Hall-square, in batches of 4s and 6s, or higher numbers, as the case may be, to various parts of the town, and taking the middle of the footways, with a commanding officer alongside, I suppose to general them within an inch of the destined point.

This practice of detaching our 'peace makers' is being nightly felt and remarked upon. It matters not what may be in the track, whether it be an infant 'mewling and puking in the nurse's arms', or a 'whining schoolboy', the 'lover, sighing like a furnace', - never mind, clear the way, the 'bobbies' are coming, and they of all others must have room, and that, too, the choicest room.

Instead of monopolising the footpaths, would it not be better, even for themselves, that they seek the centre. Therefore their fine proportions, gloved, and fashioned cap-a-pie, would show to more advantage by this suggested line of march. I am, &c., H.J.