PETER Barnes' Dreaming turned out to be a bit of a nightmare. The play was disjointed and repetitive. It was billed as a "breathtakingly" funny play but a lot of the jokes could have been lifted from a student rag-mag. Supposedly a "life-affirming struggle
WINGER Alan Hadcroft is likely to miss two matches with the shoulder injury he picked up in Leigh Centurions' battling win over Featherstone on Sunday. Medics feared that Hadcroft, a try scorer in the 16-12 win, had cracked a collar bone in a second half
YOU ask for opinions on revising shopping times. As a pensioner and ex-headmaster, I should like to make the following points. Older people, especially pensioners, do not like to go in town at night. It is a time for younger people pubbing and clubbing
I AM writing with reference to your report on the possible change to store opening hours in Bolton Town Centre. What is the matter with everyone? Are the great British public really so disorganised that they are unable to do their shopping during normal
I'M sure Councillor Foster has not tried to get a train from Bolton to Manchester in the morning rush hour. My daughter travels regularly on this route on the 7.56am train - that is, if she can get on it. Sometimes the train is only two carriages long
BOLTON business leaders are about to face the strong arm of the law after falling foul of the Contravention of Barbed Wire Act 1872. A team of uniformed officers from Astley Bridge police station are planning a swoop on firms in the town and arranging
A HORRIFIED Bolton man thought the body of his brother had been dug up when he saw a mound of fresh earth on his grave. Philip Granville, 33, from Farnworth, went to put flowers on his half-brother's grave on Sunday. But he was shocked to see a huge pile
MARK Fish has underlined his commitment to Wanderers, angrily denying rumours that he is threatening to quit if the club doesn't win promotion back to the Premiership. The South African international, who earlier this week launched a Reebok rallying call
ONE man and his dog could be the difference between life and death. Dave Marsh and cross-breed collie Chi have just become a man-and-dog mountain rescue team. Their task will be to search moorland and mountain sides for lost people. The dad-of-two has
ENTERPRISING pupils were swinging from the rafters when they had a go at roofing in a local exhibition. Aspiring roofers from Withins School, Breightmet were keen to see the type of work on offer in the industry. They mingled with roofing contractors
ANGRY traders are demanding the closure of an X-rated sex shop which has opened on a busy town centre street. Last week, the Hot Spot sex shop opened its doors for business on Market Street, Atherton, to the shock of nearby shopkeepers who say they knew
COLIN Todd was back to square one in his search for midfield cover today after ruling out a move for Spaniard Francesco Pirri. The former Atletico Madrid player, currently playing Second Division football with Merida, has spent the last two days' training
SPECULATION is mounting that ANOTHER "super estate" is being planned in Westhoughton. Fears are growing that more than 1,000 homes could be built on the Bowlands Hey site, off Wigan Road. It would be only a mile or so from Lee Hall where a planning application
A NEW general manager has been appointed at the Last Drop Village Hotel and Leisure Club in Bromley Cross - part of Macdonald Hotels plc. Mr Ian Gelling worked previously at the Scottish-based hotel and leisure group's Albrighton Hall Hotel & Leisure
THE North West Development Association starts a series of high-profile public panel hearings on Friday. This important new organisation, which comes into operation on April 1, will have a big say in the allocation of considerable cash resources throughout
BOLTON Planning and Environment are to ask the residents and shoppers their views on the proposals to split Bolton Town Centre into themed districts (BEN, March 16). What a pity they did not seek the views of the residents of Westhoughton before they
Atherton LR 3 Atherton Town 0 ATHERTON LR showed their superior skill to win the inaugural final of the Goldline Trophy. In front of 1,100 spectators at Leigh RMI's Hilton Park ground, the NW Trains division one side always had the upper hand over their
DISABLED and elderly people in the North West can now obtain a new, improved edition of the acclaimed Disability Directory. The directory contains 200 pages of information including Orange Badge parking locations, editorials from local and national disability-related
WE are solidly behind any initiative which improves standards in schools. But paying parents to help out in the classroom is not the way forward. Our story yesterday highlighted the fact that education chiefs are hoping to put a large number of adults
NOTHING can stop the passing of time but there are occasions during a lifetime when reflections are made as to what would have happened if only .... These thoughts, more often than not, occur during a major event of someone's life. JB Priestley's, Time
In Saturday's BEN, the question was asked: "How long will 'life' be for the triple killer?" The answer could be - as short as six years. This is based on what certain members of the legal profession say i.e. two of the life sentences will automatically
YOUNGSTERS at a Farnworth school have dedicated their latest show called "Life" to the memory of a former pupil who was killed by meningitis. Harper Green pupils will devote their dance performances to "perfect son" Richard Armstrong who died from meningoccal
BOLTON schoolchildren are taking a stake in their area's future by helping create a new wood. On Friday up to 100 Bolton schoolchildren will start planting trees to create a 17 acre Millennium wood off Darwen Road at Dunscar. Thousands of trees are due
AN innovative booze-free teenagers' pub has been devastated by vandals - even before it has opened. Volunteers at the Sycamore Project in Farnworth, were sickened when yobs broke in and wrecked everything inside. They are still assessing the cost of the
FORMER Wanderers favourite David Lee will finally make up for the heartache of missing Bolton's Wembley play-off victory over Reading four years ago. The winger missed the memorable 3-2 thriller after breaking his ankle in the play-off semi-final against
A PRIMARY school pupil, struck down with meningitis, is recovering in hospital. The young girl who attends Plodder Lane County Primary School, Farnworth, infants department, is being treated in the Royal Bolton Hospital where she was admitted on Monday
MARK Fish has underlined his commitment to Wanderers, angrily denying rumours that he is threatening to quit if the club doesn't win promotion back to the Premiership. The South African international, who earlier this week launched a Reebok rallying call
REA Brothers Group plc, the banking and financial services group which recently opened an office in Manchester city centre, has announced pre-tax profits of £3,632,000 for the year to December 31, 1998. The group moved its North-west investment management
I AM a great admirer of Brian Iddon and he and Ruth Kelly have a right to their personal thoughts about fluoride being added to our water. But the public of Farnworth and Bolton do not want this poison in the water, as was proved by the past referendum
BOLTON Metro and the BEN are joining forces to provide a series of Millennium activities for the year 2000. The aim is to provide the best possible activities which will bring together every section of the community. With your help, we believe Bolton
In spite of controversy about doggy mess, Dogs are faithful companions, nevertheless. His faithful heart and doggy mind, Are a haven safe when the world's unkind. A daily walk or two, a couple of feeds, Are all it takes to fulfil canine needs. Give him
YOUR front-page article earlier this week referred to the Town Centre Partnership's move to alter retail trading hours. I would like to clarify the Partnership's position and its role in the development of the town centre. The survey currently being conducted
WE wish to protest very strongly against the suggested later opening of shops in Bolton town centre from 9am to 11am, and to open later at the end of the day. You asked for opinions in your Opinion column recently. We are retired people who wish to shop
25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, March 24, 1974 A LABOUR MP complained today that it was bad for the image of the party that the Prime Minister should have five residences. Mr Sidney Bidwell is to ask Mr Wilson what plans he has for the two official
I READ the article about the proposed later opening hours for shops in Bolton town centre. I am against this because of these reasons. Why do we have to follow USA custom? This country is not a sheep - it is a country of its own and should stick to what
THEATRE, MUSIC & DANCE CHARITY Line Dance and tuition for non-dancers with the Barnside Bronco Boots, Barnside Hall, Barnside Avenue, Walkden, 7.30pm-11pm. Admission £3 or £2.50 in advance in aid of the Life Education anti-drugs programme. Tel: Kerris
