TOWN twinning was always intended as an opportunity for ordinary people across the world to get to know and appreciate each other better. Useful off-shoots included an exchange of knowledge, facilities and business. Unfortunately, original intentions
I HAVE read with great interest, articles in the BEN about shops closing in Bolton Town Centre. A lot is mentioned about the lack of parking facilities in the town centre, with the result that many motorists choose to visit places such as Middlebrook,
THE BRITISH people are being sold down the river to the bureaucrats of Brussels. They have almost full control of our legal system, costing the tax payers millions. We have been continually bombarded with ridiculous proposals, which have been pushed forward
I READ with growing dismay your report last night (November 15) 'Disabled drivers' fury...', about the changes to parking facilities for disabled drivers at the Ashburner Street Market. It seems to me to be particularly mean and uncaring to change the
EVERYONE'S hearts must surely go out to families who have lost homes and who have lost businesses as a result of the recent floods -- some for the second or third time in the last few months. The finger of blame for such events could be pointed at governments
LOCAL companies are reported to be queuing up to enter a prestigious business competition which culminates in a glittering presentation ceremony in Chorley. Lancashire Area West Training and Enterprise Council (LAWTEC) and Business Link North and Western
PEOPLE around the country are now just a fingertip away from vital health information -- following a new initiative piloted in Chorley. The successful NHS Direct telephone helpline has been extended nationwide, enabling the public to receive advice from
IRRESPONSIBLE mobile phone users could be putting lives at risk in Chorley. The startling claim comes from Lancashire Police, who say the number of 999 calls they receive has 'dramatically increased' because of an explosion in mobile phone use. Most emergency
A GROUP of Chorley workers sowed the seeds of success and earned themselves a special day out at the Millennium Dome. The BAE Systems staff were recognised for their brainy ideas under a scheme, known as the Chairman's Awards For Innovation. Each year
TRADERS have appealed to the government to help resolve the decline of Market Street. Jos Hampson, secretary of Chorley and District Chamber of Trade, has written to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) appealing for an
DETECTIVES today (FRIDAY) issued details of a man they want to trace after two men were gunned down outside a Bolton nightclub. Last night one of the gun shot victims, a 27-year-old Bolton man, was recovering following five hours of surgery at the Royal
OF all the individual duels that could be a feature of tomorrow's Roses battle at Bramall Lane, the clash between Robbie Elliott and Paul Devlin has the potential to be the most hotly-contested of the lot. If Anthony Barness is not fit enough to continue
Manager: Neil Warnock. Ground: Bramall Lane. Nickname: Blades. Position: 10th. Players in: Patrick Suffo £150,000 from Nantes, Keith Curle free from Wolves, George Santos free from West Brom, David Kelly free from Tranmere. Players out: Kevin Davies to
Weather also hampered the Chorley Alliance. Matches to be played on Saturday: Northern Electrical Consultants Trophy -- Second round: George v Eagle, Top Spinners v Clayton Brook, Ley Inn v White Horse, Market Tavern v Gregson Lane S&S. League --
DUE to the weather no games were played this week. Fixtures for Sunday: Supplementary Cup First Round, Bridge Celtic v Adlington Rovers. Mitre Trophy First Round -- Eagle FC v Crown FC. Guardian Shield First Round -- Brookes Arms v Chicago Town. Premier
Lostock 2nd ... 5 Chorley A ... 24 CHORLEY A took the honours with a fine victory in spite of poor playing conditions at Lostock. They dictated play throughout and ran out worthy winners after a good team performance in which young scrum half Chris Highton
BRAD IBBISON starred for Chorley Panthers under7 team, running in five tries in the 48-24 win over Westbank from Widnes. The Chorley youngsters started very strongly with Nathan Crawford scoring the first of his two tries in the opening minute while Patrick
Chorley ... 0 Stocksbridge ... 1 CHORLEY have no game on Saturday but next Tuesday entertain Droylsden in the Unibond League Cup. It's going to be Chorley's last chance of winning anything this season as they are struggling in the Unibond First Division
A DRUGS drama presented by Golborne High pupils will help to guide younger children. Members of Year Six will benefit from a Steps to the Future booklet compiled by Wigan's drug education team relaunched yesterday at Robin Park. Bullying, drugs and making
SAM Allardyce today slapped a £7 million valuation on Michael Ricketts - then insisted Wanderers would be committing suicide if they considered selling their top scorer. On the day Leeds United were tying up the £18 million transfer of Rio Ferdinand from
AROUND 400 trees are being planted by the Green Centre, Eccleston, as part of National Tree Week which began yesterday (November 22). The centre has teamed up with Eccleston's two primary schools, the Women's Institute and a local scout group for the
CHORLEY'S festive season got under way with a wet -- but jolly -- lights switch-on. As with the recent street fair, the rain threatened to make the whole event a wash-out, but hardy Chorley folk turned out in their hundreds to make sure it went with a
AGE is no barrier for Peggy Carter who has been awarded Student of the Month by Mutlipart's Open Learning Centre for her hard work and determination in getting to grips with the electronic age. Peggy, aged 88, who lives in Croston, visited the learning
A CHORLEY Nobel Prize winner has been honoured with a special weekend. Students joined professional chemists for events dedicated to the late Nobel Laureate Sir Walter Norman Haworth -- who discovered the structure of Vitamin C. Runshaw College in Chorley
'IN the Mix 2000' is back. The popular music event -- held at Chorley Town Hall -- has been attracting hundreds of dancers and music fans. And the next night -- Friday, December 22 -- will showcase local musical and DJ talent for the fourth time. A taster
RADCLIFFE Boro, still on the crest of a wave after a top drawer showing in the 2-1 FA Umbro Trophy extra time replay win over Leek Town on Tuesday, travel to Farsley Celtic tomorrow. Goalkeeper Danny Hurst is manager Kevin Glendon's only fitness worry
A WESTHOUGHTON school is set to enter Manchester United's Theatre of Dreams tomorrow - as a curtain-raiser to one of this year's biggest sporting events. Fourgates County Primary School rugby league team will be pitched against a school from Salford before
BARBARA Taylor from Heaton is an inspirational slimming club leader whose encouragement is appreciated by many local people. And today, she gets recognition through our Bouquet of the Week. Her daughter Jeanette writes: "My mum has been a Weight Watchers
TV comic and presenter Les Dennis is best known to local fans as a cheery chap. But he intends to pile on the "Misery" when he comes to Oldham next year. The popular game show host and comedian says he intends to wipe the smile off audience's faces on
25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, November 24, 1975 SCOTTISH Highlanders were today getting used to the idea that the Loch Ness monster, a source of wonder, argument and profit for generations, may soon be proved to exist. But their approach was still
I SEEM to be surrounded by rats at the moment. Nothing personal, of course! You will recall that on Wednesday I once again referred to my previous story of the rats moving en masse from the Fish Market in Bridge Street in 1932 to the new Ashburner Street
NATIONAL EXHIBITION CENTRE, Birmingham. Festive Gift Fair. A variety of Christmas gifts and ideas. Runs until Sunday. Ring 020 8742 2020. Also, Antiques for Everyone. Thursday November 23 to Sunday November 26. Ring 0121 767 2760. LOWTHER PAVILION, Lytham
BOLTON RECORDED MUSIC SOCIETY. Just bear with the sound with Gordon Lumb. Thursday, November 30. Lecture Theatre, Central Library, Bolton. Starts 7.15pm. ALBERT HALLS, Bolton. Saturday Dance Night with Enid and Rick. Saturday, November 25. Tickets £3.
OCTAGON THEATRE, Bolton. The Owl and the Pussycat Went To See... Runs from Thursday, November 30, to January 13. Ring Bolton 520661. OPERA HOUSE, Manchester. Aid and Tosca. Runs until to Saturday November 25. Tickets £8 to £39.50. Performanches 7.15pm
I REFER to the article in The Citizen (Nov 16) entitled "Super rats: It's a myth". The last paragraph of this article read, "don't feed birds by leaving food in your garden". I agree wholeheartedly. It's certainly no way to feed a bird. I always fed them
HOW much longer will the season be allowed to decline before something is done at Chorley Football Club? It's mid-November and we're out of the FA Cup, FA Trophy, Marsden Challenge Cup, and destined to stay in Unibond Division One again unless something
I WAS amazed at the recent reported statement by Nicola Turner, economic development and tourism chief, Chorley Borough Council, praising the owners of Botany Bay on their proposed development plan. Does she not realise that this is to be predominantly
HOW patronising can some people be? The previous letters, it seems to me, are directed really at the management of the hospital, who refuse to listen to the very real concerns of patients and also from the point of view of visitors to the increasingly
THE Government plans to announce their decision on whether they will include animal experiments under any future Freedom of Information Act before the end of the year. Experiments on animals have been shrouded by a cloak of secrecy for over a hundred
CHORLEY firms have snubbed an invitation to appear on a new version of one of the most famous board games in the world. The game -- a Lancashire version of Monopoly -- was launched by the town's very own Olympic hero Jason Queally! But businesses and
A NINE-year-old Bolton girl is recovering today from a huge electric shock which catapulted her across her room. Lydia Power was hurled into the air and knocked out by the force of the 240 volt surge when she tried to plug in a lamp which had loose wiring
MILLIONS of pounds earmarked for Leigh are staying in the bank because of the uncertainty over Xanadu, it has been revealed. A decision has still to be made on whether the town's share of the £100m coalfields hand-out will be spent on leisure facilities
TAXI drivers in Bury have become the first in the country to be issued with personal attack alarms by police. And yesterday's move, in the wake of the death of cabbie Tariq Javed, comes as dozens of drivers have quit because of fears surrounding their
A DRUNKEN madman who went on a violent rampage and wrecked the life of a mild-mannered pensioner, has been jailed for eight years. Peter Derbyshire of Bolton, fuelled by a cocktail of drink and drugs, targeted 74-year-old Joseph Casey when he spotted
BLUE CAT CAFE, Shaw Rd, Heaton Moor, Stockport. Second Thurs in the month 8.00pm. Ring 0161 432 2117.
GREAT LEVER COMMUNITY CENTRE, Bradford Road, Bolton. Thai Boxing Tuesday eves 7pm to 8pm. Thai Boxing for children Saturdays, noon to 1pm. Ring Bolton 522568. EAGLEY SPORTS AND LEISURE CLUB, Hough Lane, Bromley Cross. Yoga classes, Thursdays, 8pm to 9.30pm
HILLTOPS SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB, Blackrod. HORWICH CONSERVATIVE, Church Street, Horwich. Open weekdays after 5pm and weekends 2pm. BRADFORD WARD LABOUR, Bridgeman Street, Bolton, Mon-Sat 11.30am to 3pm and 6.30pm to 11pm. Sunday noon-10.30pm. Bar, rounders
FILMS for the week until Thursday November30. UGC CINEMA, The Valley, Centertainment, Bolton. Charlie's Angels (15); Ready To Rumble (15); Bedazzled (12); Little Nicky (12); The Skulls (15); Dinosaur (U); Billy Elliot (15); Way Of The Gun (18); Purely
BLACKPOOL OPERA HOUSE, Blackpool. Sunday, November 26, Tom Jones. Ring 01253 292029. BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH ARENA, Tel 0870 444 5566. WINTER GARDENS, The Spanish Hall, Blackpool. Tel 01253 292029. TOWER BALLROOM, Blackpool. Live music and dancing to
QUAYS THEATRE, The Lowry, Salford. Tickets £10. Ring 0161 876 2000. THE MET, Market Street, Bury. The Laff Caf with Kevin Haynes, James Murgatroyd and Daniel Cassiel. Wednesday November 29. Starts 8.45pm. Tickets £4. Ring 0161 761 2216. BLUE CAT CAFE,
REGARDING recent road crashes. Ninety five per cent of crashes are caused by the driver, a few by mechanical defects, and maybe the odd one related to the road layout. Most drivers drive on their reactions, only responding to hazards when they happen,
MR Ken Bromley is quite right to draw attention to the 'second class status' attitude towards the annual exhibition by the members of the Bolton Art Circle (BEN: November 14). I made a similar point some years ago to the Gallery personnel regarding the
MY heart goes out to the shopkeepers of Bolton Town Centre, with many shops and quality products which are second to none, also very good presentation. So why are there so many shops folding up? The answer in my mind is such extortionate charges on car
IN reply to S Musa's letter printed on Saturday, November 18. Surely, to be a 'fair and concerned human being', don't you need to consider both sides of an argument or dispute, and present a conciliatory humanitarian solution? Are there not people from
SNEAKY pickpockets stole money after approaching a woman in the R and B Bar, Mealhouse Lane, Chorley, on November 10. The men took her purse, containing £50, from her pocket at around 9.30pm. One is described as white, medium build, with short, dark hair
CHORLEY teachers praised this year's GCSE candidates -- as national league tables showed the town's students are top class. Pupils at the borough's six high schools turned in excellent performances this summer, with almost all beating the Lancashire average
HALL'S well . . . a recent survey of young visitors has given Chorley's Astley Hall top marks. Of those who responded from local schools, 100 per cent rated their visit as 'good or very good' and almost half confirmed their reasons for visiting were because
TALES of horrible hospital food may soon be a thing of the past -- when a new national NHS menu is introduced. Still in the design stages, the menu aims to cut the £45 million wasted every year on uneaten hospital food. And Chorley patients may be among
A CARING Chorley rose queen is hoping her fund-raising efforts hit the right note. For Jemma Crossen has organised a concert to drum up cash for two health charities. The young music lover who attends St Michael's High School, wanted to arrange a fund-raiser
THREE key players will undergo fitness checks tomorrow morning before Sam Allardyce musters his troops for a full-blooded Roses battle with Neil Warnock's Sheffield United. Anthony Barness, Gareth Farrelly and Dean Holdsworth will all come under the closest
LOCAL author Jack Smith booked into WH Smith's, in Chorley, to sign copies of his latest work -- Memory Lane Chorley -- The Fifties and Sixties. The fascinating book includes some 300 photographs showing how life was in the town 40 years ago and more.
PUPILS at a Chorley school were wide awake and raring to go for a charity run -- even though it started at 7am! Youngsters at Abbey Village Primary, Bolton Road, were keen to start their run around the school field to raise money for Children in Need,
A CHORLEY pensioner has died after falling 10 foot from a ladder in a churchyard. Gerald Taylor, 75, a retired district judge of Wigan Lane, Heath Charnock, suffered suspected head and spinal injuries after falling from the ladder as he worked in Rivington
STEVE Waywell has several major injuries doubts ahead of tomorrow's Nationwide Conference clash with Morecambe at Hilton Park. Midfielder Ged Kielty and forwards Ian Monk and Steve Jones have joined long-term casualty Jamie Udall on Leigh RMI's injured
THE extreme weather conditions experienced since the end of September have played havoc with the Council's plans for maintaining outdoor sports facilities. Programmed re-instatement works on bowling greens have had to be deferred until early next year
SHAKERS chairman Terry Robinson has warned fans to ignore takeover hype and to turn up to watch matches. Though Bury may be bought in the next two weeks - as the BEN revealed - nothing is certain and the Shakers remain in dire financial trouble. And today
THEY "guarded" the old Bolton Royal Infirmary for well over 100 years -- and now they're set to become historic monuments in the Millennium. The stone pillars at the entrance to the old hospital off Chorley New Road are scheduled for a facelift. Four
MY colleague Alan Calvert tells me he enjoyed a chat with the BBC's Michael Buerk at a dinner in Manchester last week. The affable newscaster, who has carved out a distinguished journalistic career all round the world, revealed rather unexpectedly that
IT's going to be fun. Lee Beagley, director of the Octagon Theatre's Festive production The Owl and the Pussycat Went to See, is determined about that. "There is no real story," he said. "It is just a lot of fun. The sort of fun that children have." Lee
MONTON VILLAGE, M30. Village Victorian Day and Christmas Lights Switch On. A fun day out for all the family with stalls, music, tombola and raffle. Saturday November 25. Starts 10.30am to 5pm. SALFORD MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY, Peel Park The Crescent, Salford
LEISURE, SPORT & KEEP FIT BOLTON Excel, Lower Bridgeman Street, tel: 334456: junior fitness, 10am-11am, 11am-12 noon and 12 noon-1pm; basketball drop in, 10am-12 noon. DEANE Leisure Centre, Junction Road, Deane, tel: 334432: trampoline, 10.15am-1.30pm
ST STEPHEN AND ALL MARTYRS, Lever Bridge, Bolton. Organ recital by Lisa Needham. Saturday November 25. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £3 and £1 for under 16s. Ring 840741. KING GEORGES HALL, Blackburn. What A Feeling! A feel-good 80s show with Gwen Dickey and
HOWCROFT INN, Pool Street, Bolton. Singers' Night. Tuesday November 28. Starts 8.30pm. HILLTOPS SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB, Hill Lane, Blackrod. Budding musicians come and play your own arrangements and compositions, Wednesday evenings from 7.30pm. For more
ATLANTIS, Eagley Brook Way, Bolton. Ring Bolton 529922. Friday: Extreme, dance night, Saturday: Desire, mainstream chart and dance music. BAR PERU, Bank St, Bolton. Ring Bolton 521321. BENNIES NIGHT CLUB, Warthfold Rd, Radcliffe. Ring 0161 764 3501. CLUB
ARC GALLERY STORE, Oldham Street, Manchester. Thomas Barwick exhibition. From November 30 to January 21.Mon to Sat 10am to 6pm. Sun noon to 5pm. Adm free. Ring 0161 831 7454. ASTLEY CHEETHAM ART GALLERY , Trinity Street, Stalybridge. Open Mon to Fri (
WITH reference to the letter printed in The Citizen (November 9) by J Ashton on the subject of Hallowe'en. The idea that witchcraft and paganism is evil, is, I am afraid, a common ignorant attitude, usually given by people who know nothing of either subject
CHORLEY'S duty chemist between noon and 1pm on Sunday, November 26, will be Cohens Chemist, 180 Devonshire Road, Chorley. Weekday out of hours services in the Chorley area are: M D Rimmer, 22 Runshaw Lane, Euxton (Mon-Fri 5.30-6.30pm). S P & D B Fishlock
A SPOTTY teenager was part of a gang who robbed a teenage youth in the street. Detectives are hunting three muggers who grabbed the 17-year-old from behind and forced him to hand over all his money. The gang claimed they had a knife when they pounced
A FORMER Bolton district judge has died after falling 10 feet from a ladder in a churchyard. The funeral of Gerald Taylor, aged 75, was due to take place at Rivington Parish Church today. Mr Taylor suffered head and spinal injuries after the fall as he
A BOLTON Council worker has become the first town hall employee in the country to win a prestigious customer service award for her services to the public. Julie Sandiford, customer services manager in the council's environmental management unit, won the
A PIONEERING bail support scheme has won national acclaim for its work in helping to divert teenage Bolton criminals away from a life of crime. The scheme is designed to keep repeated offenders charged with crimes out of jail and give them an opportunity
ECO-friendly schoolgirl Kathryn Walker put politicians to shame when she summed up what action needs to be take to save our plant in a single sentence -- "Give the world the kiss of life". Kathryn, aged 10, of St Andrew's RC Primary School, Breightmet
ON the surface, museums and art galleries are very calm -- some would say dull -- places. So some believe those who work in them have an easy life. After all, once the paintings and artefacts are on display, what else can staff do beside leisurely wander
LYRIC THEATRE, The Lowry, Salford. Ring 0161 876 2000. BAND ON THE WALL, Manchester. THE MET ARTS CENTRE, Market St, Bury. Ring 0161 761 2216. PLANET K, Oldham St, Manchester. PEMBROKE HALL, High St, Walkden 0161 790 4584. HASLINGDEN PUBLIC HALL, Regent
CORNERHOUSE CINEMA, Manchester. Exposures: Student Film Festival. Runs to November 30. Ring 0161 200 1500. THE MET ARTS CENTRE, Market Street, Bury. 19th Bury Beer Festival presented by the Rochdale Oldham and Bury Branch of Camra. November 24 and 25.
BOLTON MARKET, Ashburner Street. adjacent to Moor Lane Bus Station. Open Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat. Sunday fleamarket. Ring 336825. FARNWORTH MARKET, King Street. Open Mon, Fri & Sat. Ring 336840. HORWICH MARKET, Curteis Street. Open Tue & Fri
ANCHOR INN, Bolton. Friday and Saturday. SHARMAN ARMS, Halliwell Rd, Bolton. Monday. THE RAILWAY, Bridge St, Ramsbottom. Saturday. THE GREENWOOD, Chorley New Rd, Horwich. Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday. THE LAMB, Blackburn Rd, Bolton. Sunday. THE ANTELOPE
MEN ARENA, Manchester. Nov 25, Tom Jones, tickets £25.50 and £22, starts 8pm. December 1, AC/DC. Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16, Five, tickets £18.50; Monday December 18, Chris De Burgh, tickets £25 and £22.50. Tuesday, December 19, and
