25 YEARS AGO

FILM star and war hero Audie Murphy has been killed after his private plane disappeared while he was flying to a business meeting. Murphy, 46, the most decorated American serviceman of the second world war with 24 decorations including the Congressional Medal of Honour was travelling from Atlanta, Virginia. He starred in westerns and war films, including his biographical 'To Hell and Back'.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 31, 1946

CRITICISM by Counc. Connor of the committee's camp school at Somerford Hall received no support at yesterday's meeting of the Bolton Education Committee. He wanted the committee to terminate its agreement with the National Camps Corporation, but as his amendment was not seconded there was no discussion on the subject. Counc. Connor's's criticism was that the accommodation for teachers was insufficient, and did not enable the teaching staff to use their faculties to the full extent. There had been an admission in the Secondary Education Sub-Committee that children were not so far advanced educationally as they would have been if they had remained at their own schools.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 31, 1871

GREAT FIRE IN LONDON

At seven o'clock last evening, a large fire broke out on the Thames. Five or six barges, some supposed to be heavily laden with corn, lying at the wharf of Messrs Seth and Taylor, flour dealers, adjoining Waterloo-bridge, on the Surrey side, were in flames shortly after the hour above-named, and by half past eight the conflagration appeared to be spreading to the newly erected mills on the wharf. So rapid was the conflagration that the men on board the barges had to jump overboard for their lives. It was deep tide, and many sank nearly neck-deep in mud and had to be hauled out with ropes. Mr Langfield's wharf is totally destroyed.

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