OLD papers seem to fascinate readers, and every so often, when someone comes across one - very often they've been lining drawers, or under the lino, for years! - they send it to me.

Usually, they are not of great interest, for the simple reason that every edition of the Evening News, since its foundation in 1867, are now on microfilm, as are also, for instance, the Bolton Journal. However, Mrs Rita Lilley, of Crompton Way, Bolton, has forwarded to me copies of the Horwich and Westhoughton Gazette, printed in 1935. It is a paper I have not heard of before, and because it says on the front 'Guaranteed circulation 7,000 copies weekly', I presume that it was a free paper.

Mrs Lilley tells me that she found them at a Canopy Sale on the Precinct recently, so presumably someone else has kept them all this time, and has suddenly decided to get rid of them.

They are not, I must say, in good condition, and were virtually falling to pieces as I tried to study them. Nevertheless, they do include some interesting advertisements: Frances Anne's at the Picture House Buildings, Horwich, where frocks were available at 3/11 (20p) and 5/11 (30p). You could even buy a cycle for 2/- (10p) weekly, from Joe Trembles in Lee Lane, Horwich. Where to go this weekend? At the Palace, Westhoughton, John Stuart and Aileen Marson were starring in 'The Green Pack', at the Empire, Westhoughton, Vivienne Segal was in 'Viennese Nights'. 'Charlie Chan in London' was showing at the Picture House, Horwich, with James Cagney and Patricia Ellis in 'A Perfect Weekend' at the Palace, Horwich.

In a 'Jottings' column, it was reported that the Horwich Conservatives Annual Trip had been to Southport. 'The party consisted of 200 adults and 250 children, who left Horwich by express train at 1.26pm, returning from Southport at 8pm, arriving at Horwich before 9pm. Quite a good run!'

And on the back page was an appeal. 'Please give of your best this week in aid of the Horwich Tuberculous Poor.

'The Committee has done 21 years' service and raised and expended £3,000 on these poor folk. No allowances or salaries of any kind are paid to any worker for the cause. Give them a Bumper Collection, per envelope, and encourage the Committee to keep on keeping on'.

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