A JOURNEY back 50 years shows some of the stories covered by the Radcliffe Times on April 19, 1968, including a 16-hour fire, the growth of DIY and the town prepares for the Queen's visit.

FIREMEN fought throughout Wednesday night to control a blaze at a rubber dump off Ainsworth Road, and yesterday morning — more than 16 hours after the alarm was sounded — the stack of rubber was still burning.

Fire crews raced to the rubber dump of Edward Gornall Ltd near St Andrew's Church shortly after 5am.

Brian Harrison, aged 17 of Ainsworth Road, had dialled 999 after his mother said she could see smoke coming from the stacked rubber.

Three fire engines - two from the county brigade stationed at Whitefield and one from Bury - fought the fire.

Fire crews fighting the blaze were shrouded in thick black smoke which billowed up and could be seen for miles around.

A spokesman for the fire brigade said the cost of the blaze was not yet known.

'IF you can't beat 'em, join 'em' goes the old army adage. One man who built a successful business on that practical philosophy is Derek Bowley whose 'do-it-yourself' business moved into Radcliffe recently and took over premises in Stand Lane near the town centre.

A joiner by trade, Mr Bowley founded the business with a friend, James Wolfenden, in Whitefield around four years ago.

The men foresaw the do-it-yourself boom, and the firm has grown steadily over the years as do-it-yourself enthusiasts increased in number.

Explaining his decision to start the business Mr Bowley said: "I was in the trade and saw that more and more people were doing jobs for themselves.

"So I thought 'if you can't beat them, join them' so we started the business."

The new shop in Radcliffe extends the firm's interests by including an additional range; motor accessories.

Mr Bowley said that with the scope of the range of goods - from paint brushes and screwdrivers to tents and motor accessories - he was optimistic about the future of the Radcliffe shop.

HER Majesty the Queen is to visit Radcliffe during her two-day tour of Lancashire and Cheshire as part of the Operation Springclean campaign.

This was formally announced at a press conference held by the central office of information in Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, on Wednesday afternoon.

Her Majesty will arrive from Bolton by car but will travel only through the northern portion of the town and will be within the limits of the borough only for about half an hour.

During that time she will visit the Bradley Fold Works of Dobson and Barlow Ltd and will meet civic dignitaries and public representatives.

The tour is to begin on Thursday, May 16, when Her Majesty arrives at Stockport by rail, and after visiting a number of towns she will move on in the Royal train to Darwen and will then go on to Blackburn, Clayton-le-Moors and Burnley.