A MAIN railway line threatened with closure and the opening of the first Society-run care home in the North West were among the articles published in The Radcliffe Times 50 years ago.

ONLY two years after the granting of a 'last minute' reprieve by the then Minister of Transport, Barbara Castle, the Rochdale, Bury and Bolton railway line is again threatened with closure.

This would mean the axing of two of Radcliffe's last three stations, for both Black Lane and Bradley Fold would be automatically closed. In a town that once boasted seven busy railway stations, only Radcliffe Central would then remain.

Advance notification of British Rail's intention to axe the service was given earlier this week, but so far no date has been announced for the publication of the notice of formal closure.

A spokesman for British Rail said that the closure may not be for several months and that the regulation six weeks will in any case be allowed for any complaints which may go before the Transport Users' Consultative Council.

Besides the two in Radcliffe, stations at Bury, Heywood and Broadfield would shut down.

When the reprieve was granted in 1966, the Minister of Transport, then Barbara Castle, stated that it would not necessarily be permanent. The Minister did not feel justified at that time in agreeing to a closure.

The present Minister, Bernard Marsh, has agreed that the Railway Board should publish a proposal to discontinue the service.

ONLY two years after the scheme to build a new Abbeyfield Society Home in Radcliffe had been launched, the first residents moved in and on Saturday the Turks Road house, the first of its kind in the North West, was officially opened while the full quota of seven residents looked on.

Members of the Radcliffe Abbeyfield Society, made up from members of many Radcliffe groups, clubs and societies were present, along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Radcliffe.

R. Kernohan, chairman of the society, and Sidney Ormerod, committee member, welcomed visitors to the house on Saturday.

TO avoid a clash of date with Bury Lions Carnival — and to improve the chance of getting better weather — Radcliffe Carnival Committee has brought forward the date of next year's event by one week, to Saturday, June 7.