The day Westhoughton stood still: remembering the Pretoria Pit disaster
How one of Britain’s worst mining disasters shaped the town forever
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Hold Me Close: A quietly powerful play that lingers long after the final scene
Hold Me Close is a quietly powerful northern comedy-drama that explores a fractured mother–son relationship with honesty, balancing humour and heartbreak through natural performances and stripped-back staging. It lingers long after the final scene, leaving a lasting emotional impact.
Where recovery begins: Westhoughton clinic offers new path for chronic illness patients
A new specialist clinic in Westhoughton is offering support for people living with long Covid, ME and chronic fatigue, combining clinical expertise with a whole-person approach to recovery. The service is shaped by both professional practice and the lived experience of post-viral illness.
Leigh Welcomes Hold Me Close
Hold Me Close brings a powerful northern story to the stage at Leigh Spinners Mill, with Joe Walsh and Sue McArdle leading a passionate local cast.
'We are still failing ordinary people': councillor warns of risks of repeating Bolton's regeneration failures
Councillor David Wilkinson told Place Scrutiny Committee that without better transport links and support for smaller businesses, West of Wingates risks leaving workers behind — just as Middlebrook and Logistics North did before it.