25 YEARS AGO

WITH banners, slogans and the skirl of Scottish pipes, the people of Irlam showed their determination to see that their steel works remain open when they paraded through the town to a mass rally. The threatened closure of the British Steel Corporation's works will mean that 4,353 jobs will be lost by 1973. The demonstration halted yesterday's rush-hour traffic. 50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 23, 1946

THE Coroner (Mr J. Hopwood Sayer) today returned a verdict of accidental death at the conclusion of the inquest on the 33 victims of the Burnden Park disaster on March 9th. The jury took only five minutes to arrive at their verdict after the Coroner had suggested three possible decisions - manslaughter, open verdict and accidental death.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 23, 1871

MOST of our readers, we presume, like a good cup of tea. Even those who don't care much about it have an objection to the little they take being brewed from some rubbish; they would prefer to go without altogether rather than punish their stomachs with vile decoction more worthy to be placed in the category of poisons than of cheering beverages. As our readers are no doubt aware, the matter was referred to in the House of Commons on Thursday last, when the startling announcement was made that a quantity of abominable stuff called 'tea' had been sold in Mincing-lane at from five to seven farthings per pound; and it is conjectured that it will be offered to a discriminating public as the genuine article, at about twenty times that amount. It is reported to be "broken down and rotten leaves of tea and other plants, mixed with earthy matter and iron filings."

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