Les Gent looks back on a life of headlines

KAREN Stephen talks to Les Gent, former editor of the Bolton Evening News and creator of the newspaper's Looking Back column.

IT'S a face that really needs no introduction, but I'll make a formal one anyway.

It is Les Gent, former editor, associate editor and Looking Back stalwart of the Bolton Evening News, and he is arguing that "nobody will want to read about me".

For once Mr Gent -- also Honorary Fellowship of The Bolton Institute and a non-director of the Bolton Hospitals Trust -- is about to be proved wrong because everyone wants to know if he's really decided to put down his pen and paper this time -- he first retired in December 1995.

And, if he has, what on earth is he going to do with all this time on his usually very busy hands?

"Well," he says, "I play tennis a lot, so I'm looking forward to be able to play even more, although I can't see it at this time of year.

"I'd certainly like to indulge in my passion for travel though."

Les's love of Greece is legendary among his Bolton Evening News colleagues and says he'll spend a lot of his retirement trying to persuade his wife, Barbara (affectionately known as Her Ladyship), to embark on an adventure of backpacking trips around the islands.

"I think it will take quite a bit of persuasion," says Les. "She likes a bit of luxury. I'll keep trying, however."

Les Gent's connection with the Bolton Evening News spans almost half a century.

Born in Adlington, his hopes of becoming a doctor never came to anything -- "academia wasn't my strong point" -- and so, when he left school, he decided to become a journalist.

"My uncle on my mother's side was a journalist," he says, "so I did have some sort of connection with the profession."

He joined the then Tillotson Newspapers in 1955 as a junior reporter and worked for the Farnworth and Worsley, Bolton, and Horwich and Westhoughton Journals -- also branch offices for the Bolton Evening News.

National Service in the RAF interrupted his career -- he spent 14 months in Cyprus during the troubles -- resuming journalism in Rhodesia in 1962 where he worked on the Bulawayo Chronicle and Sunday News.

He returned to Bolton in 1965 as a sub-editor on the Bolton Evening News when the paper's main office was in Mealhouse Lane in the town centre.

"It was, and always has been, a wonderful paper to be part of -- the readers and of course my colleagues, some of whom I worked with for almost 40 years," says Les.

Les became features editor of the Evening News before becoming assistant editor, deputy editor and, in 1979, editor. It was during his time as editor that he started the hugely popular Looking Back series.

"It began as a column in 1981," he says, "and just grew from there.

"It was always great to get such a fantastic response from Looking Back. I would like to think that it's also one of the reasons why there is such a passion in Bolton for nostalgia, far more than in many other places I have visited.

"I consider history to be a very important part of life -- it's what shaped how we are today, and what we do today will shape the world our children and grandchildren inherit."

He adds: "At times that thought makes me shudder!"

Ask Les what he considers to be his biggest story during his reign as editor, and he tells you it was the Town Hall fire in 1981.

However, he did not hear the news from an Evening News reporter -- it came via a TV news programme in Northampton.

"Barbara and I were spending a weekend at a friend's house in Northampton and this particular night the TV was on in the background," he says.

"Suddenly we all noticed a large fire flash up on to the screen and everyone commented how bad it looked.

"I soon realised the building looked very familiar and then discovered it was Bolton Town Hall.

"My heart sank. Here was probably one of the biggest stories of my career, and there I was Northampton."

However, professionalism and experience won the day and Les led his news team successfully through the story -- albeit by proxy.

He oversaw the Bolton Evening News turning tabloid in 1984 and, in 1987, he expanded Looking Back into what it is today. This led to the publication of his first local history book, Bolton Past, in 1995.

So now his time is his own. And what will he do?

"I shall thrive to become the Victor Meldrew of Bolton -- although looking at the letters page I think I've already been beaten to that by a number of readers!"

MY STYLE: Q: How do you spend your spare time?

A: I play tennis (or my excuse for tennis) three times a week. I also enjoy walking and gardening. Many years ago I did some oil painting, so perhaps now that I'm properly retired I will take that, or watercolour painting, up again.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: No. I had a dog when I was young but I find animals tying, especially when it comes to holidays. However, next door there are a couple of dogs, Ollie and Lucy, who visit us regularly for treats.

Q: What is your favourite meal?

A: Her Ladyship's fish pie is the best I've ever tasted. But I like most things from black pudding and tripe through to Chinese, Indian and Greek food.

Q: What is your favourite piece of music?

A: Anything by Shirley Bassey, I'm a great fan. As I get older though, I appreciate classical music more and more.

Q: Where is your favourite holiday destination?

A: The Greek islands. We go there every year, sometimes twice a year. They are so laid back. Many years ago I also visited Barbados, Kenya and Florida. They were fantastic holidays as well.

Q: Which person has influenced you the most?

A: Her Ladyship. She's kept my feet firmly on the ground and anyone who can put up with me for 35 years must have had some influence. When I was writing the Gent on Thursday column I was told that some people thought I was a bit harsh on Her Ladyship. However, she approved every word -- sometimes helped me write them!

Q: What was the last book you read?

A: Great Expectations -- not for the first time. I also like Thomas Hardy and, of more modern writers, I think Wilbur Smith, Patricia Cornwell and John Grisham are superb storytellers.

Q: What was your last major buy?

A: A car. And in January a holiday in Gran Canaria.

Q: What is your favourite TV programme?

A: I always watch the news, but I also like Question Time. I enjoy Corrie and Holby City and wish someone would bring back the likes of Sunday Night at The London Palladium.

Q: If your home was on fire, which possession would you ensure you grabbed?

A: Presuming the family was out safely, perhaps my bottle of Ouzo to drown my sorrows and remind me of Greece.

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