25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, July 20, 1974

BITTER fighting was raging on Cyprus today after the dawn invasion by Turkish troops. More than 2,000 paratroops dropped in and around Nicosia. The air-land-sea invasion was preceded by bomb attacks on Nicosia Airport, Kyrenia harbour and National Guard troops. Fears of a full-scale war between Turkey and Greece are growing.

CRISIS-hit Edgworth Cricket Club has been granted a reprieve. The club that faced closure after 79 years successfully re-applied for membership of the Bolton and District Cricket Association last night. Members unanimously agreed to retain the membership after receiving an assurance that improvements to the club's ground at the Barlow Memorial Institute would begin as soon as permission had been given.

50 YEARS AGO

BRITISH stars again take the lead in the 'Picturegoer' gold medal award - the oldest British film recognition of merit. An award is made to both the film actor and actress voted by the public to have given the best screen performance of the previous year. At the top of the list of actors for 1948 is Sir Laurence Olivier for his rendering of 'Hamlet'. This is the fourth time he has won the award. Anna Neagle leads the list of actresses. Her winning performance was in 'Spring on Park Lane'.

125 YEARS AGO

FIFTEEN lives have been lost by another terrible colliery explosion in the Wigan District. It appears that after the regular workmen at the Ince Hall Colliery Co's Sawmill Pits had left work on Saturday night, a fireman and several assistants were engaged in firing the shots prepared during the day. An explosion of gas followed, killing fifteen men, many of whom were married and had large families. This pit is believed to be on fire.

THE memorial stone of a New Jerusalem Church School was laid, at Kearsley on Saturday. The building, when erected, will accommodate 1,000 scholars.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.