From the Bury Times, Saturday, September 24, 1966

A QUICK-thinking mum came to the rescue with a tub of margarine.

Eight-year-old Howard Carr, of Massey Street, Bury, went to post a letter for his grandma but got his arm stuck in the letter box.

Passers-by tried to help the boy and called the police, but could not free him from the pillar box at the corner of Chesham Crescent and Bell Lane.

But along came the boy’s mum, Brenda Carr, with a packet of margarine. She smeared it around the mouth of the post box and out came Howard’s arm. His only injury was a bruised elbow.

A BURY woman showed her skill behind the wheel to gain an advanced driving certificate.

Two-and-a-half years after failing the driving test, Mrs Jean Openshaw, of 85 Newington Drive, became one of the first women in the area to pass the League of Safe Drivers’ advanced test, class one.

Mrs Openshaw, who took down her L-plates at the second attempt, used the family car to gain more experience then decided on the advanced test – a 50 minutes session in Bolton – after which she received the League certificate and membership card.

On the possibility of qualifying as a driving instructor, she said: “I don’t think so, I have a family to look after.”

BURY air cadets had to get used to the water as they took part in canoeing and swimming exercises.

The water-based activities became part of the training for Squadron 1036 of the Air Training Corps.

Eleven of the cadets went on to obtain the RAF swimming certificates at the annual swimming camps at St Mawgan, near Newquay, and at Wildenrath in Germany.

And Cadet Robinson won the 50-yards back-stroke event at the East Lancashire Wing swimming gala, at Moss Street Baths, Bolton.

BURY stations were given the all clear but secondary rail routes in the area were to be axed, it was announced.

Transport bosses said Bury would keep its train services to Bolton and Rochdale on the Knowsley Street line as well as a direct link with Rawtenstall, but lines between Ramsbottom and Accrington and beyond Rawtenstall to Bacop would be cut, along with two Bury-to-Manchester secondary services via Heywood and Clifton Junction.