10 years ago

EAST Lancs public health director Dr Stephen Morton dropped a bombshell by announcing the areas' 500,000 residents could be served by just one hospital. Dr Morton revealed hospital managers were thinking of closing one of the two major hospitals. Despite large investment in Queen's Park Hospital, it was thought Burnley General Hospital would be geographically favourable should an 'out-and-out battle' develop.

25 years ago

THE Engineers Union threw a lifeline to disabled people suffering hardship through the Oswaldtwistle wheelchair firm strike. They returned an electric wheelchair to 83-year-old Tom Leeming, of Hazel Grove, Clitheroe, who was suffering from multiple sclerosis and a bronchial complaint. He had been housebound for three weeks. The chair had been at Fred Miller Ltd, Paddock Mill, Oswaldtwistle where 30 men were on strike over the sacking of a shop steward.

50 years ago

BURNLEY student Kathleen Crossley was forced to put off her marriage plans for three years so she could continue to receive her university grant. The 19-year-old, of Rosehill Road, was engaged to medical student Harry Bailey, 24, from Rotherham, who she met at Sheffield University but Burnley Education Committee said her exhibition grant would be stopped if she tied the knot.