THE Duke of Gloucester will visit one of Bolton's most historic buildings for the grand opening of the town's £1 million Probation Centre.

He will be visiting St Helena Mill - Bolton's first cotton spinning mill - to officially open the plush new offices.

Former mill owners, twin brothers Robert and Harold Walker now aged 82, will be guest of honour at the ceremony on October 22.

During the Royal Visit, members of Bolton's Civic Trust will be presenting a blue plaque to the Greater Manchester Probation Service in recognition of the mill's historic interest to the town.

The former cotton spinning mill, dating back to 1777, owed its survival to the ownership of Robert Walker who ran the mill through five generations until 1979.

St Helena Mill is now the new home to Bolton's probation service and houses 70 staff dealing with 1,100 offenders each year.

The Duke will also be shown a special exhibition depicting the mill's history to its present day transformation.

Probation staff, who moved to the mill last summer, prepare almost 2,000 court reports each year.

Cash to renovate the old mill came from the Home Office and grants from English Heritage.

Chief Probation Officer, Mr Cedric Fullwood, said: "We are honoured to have a Royal opening of our new Bolton office.

"This is a building which is important to the community and we are very pleased that its opening will be an event for the community to share."

Representatives from Bolton's various community groups will also be present at the ceremony and the Duke will be greeted by Deputy Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Alan Rushton and his wife Audrey.

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