25 YEARS AGO

SIR, - Mr Laurance Reed, MP for Bolton East, has stated that he is 'disappointed' that Mr Peter Walker has named the county in which we will be living in two years' time as 'The Greater Manchester Area'.

I cannot think of anything less inviting than to be known as a 'Greater Mancunian', a title which not only sounds shallow, but which immediately severs all connection for thousands of people who I am sure still feel pride in belonging to a great historical county.

If the county has to be split, the the names North and South Lancashire would seem to serve the purpose ideally.

John of Gaunt, Bolton.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, November 8, 1946

DURING the next few years, juvenile labour is going to be difficult to obtain in Bolton due to two factors. The first, that the birth-rate declined during the years 1922-1932, and the second, that from next Easter, when the school-leaving age goes up, there will be practically no boys or girls leaving school for a year. At present, the Employment Exchange could absorb about 2,000 juveniles. The most popular industries for boys are building and engineering, and the most popular for girls book-binding and jobs in shops and offices.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, November 8, 1871

ABOUT half-past-four o'clock yesterday afternoon the family of Mr Robert Allen, of the Volunteer Inn, Bradshawgate, were astonished and much alarmed by the sudden appearance in the house of a customer as unlooked for as it was unwelcome. A cow was being driven to the slaughter house of Mr Brown, butcher, of Bradshawgate, which is situate at the top of Chantler's Court. The animal, not appearing to relish either the look or the odour of the locality, became very restive, and instead of entering the slaughter house, turned down an adjoining passage into the Volunteer by the back door, and passed into the bar parlour, creating considerable havoc amongst glasses and other loose articles. It was at length got out of the parlour and into the passage, but the middle door leading to Bradshawgate was unfortunately closed, and the animal bolted upstairs and into the concert room, where it broke off a corner of the mantel piece, and threw all the seats and tables into confusion.

At length the animal got itself jammed among the debris, and Mr Brown and assistants having in the meantime appeared upon the scene, the beast was with great difficulty ejected from the premises, and the inmates were relieved from the dismay into which they had naturally been thrown by so untoward an incident.

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