25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, March 31, 1973

AN American wanted to trace his long-lost cousin in Britain. All Mike Archdale, of Montana, knew was that his grandfather, Lionel Dawson Archdale, emigrated to the United States from Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, at the end of the 19th century.

So Mike, aged 25, wrote to the only address he knew in Britain, the British Tourist Authority in London, asking for help.

The letter was opened at the BTA by a public relations officer named . . . Gilbert Archdale. Gilbert, also 25, did a little research and replied to Mike: 'Hello, I'm your cousin!'

Gilbert is currently showing Mike the sights of London.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, March 30, 1948

A BOLTON hairdresser, Mr R. Russell, told the conference of the National Hairdressers' Federation at Scarborough yesterday that he had doubts about the women of Lancashire being willing to pay more than the minimum charge of 3s 6d for a shampoo and set. Most hairdressers were working on the national minimum price, he said. Those in certain areas thought their services were worth more, and Lancashire hairdressers were among them, but getting more was another matter. There was nothing to stop members charging more if they thought their customers would pay it. The conference called for a minimum charge of 4s 6d.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, March 31, 1873

BOLTON and Farnworth have great reason to complain of bad treatment by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Co. Although it is well known that the Bolton and Manchester line pays better than any other section of the Company's line, they have raised the fares, and the charges between Bolton and Moses Gate, from after tomorrow, will be 4d., 3d., and 2d., the single journey for the respective classes. Very naturally Messrs Holden look to this 'ill-wind' to 'blow' them some 'good' and are accordingly providing additional bus accommodation. Another backward step taken by the Railway Company is to discontinue the special service trains which were established some time ago, in response to appeals from the Bolton Corporation for more convenient and cheaper passenger traffic.

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