Whether you’re after live music, comedy, community events, or maybe a little bit of magic, here are five things happening in Bolton this week that are worth adding to your diary.

A Night to Remember: Motown Show

This Friday (July 3) Bolton hosts The Voice UK finalist Bizzi Dixon, along with his backing vocalists, the Motown Divas, and their “soulful vocal dynamics” as their high-energy show takes us back to 1960s Detroit.

With tickets priced at £35, the show is said to include a night of high-energy dancing and feel-good songs in two 50-minute extravaganzas featuring 38 hits from the Motown and soul era.

With an estimated run time of 2 hours and 20 minutes (not including an interval), the event will start at around 7pm and will be taking place at the Octagon Theatre.

The event organisers ensure that the throwbacks of Motown, as well as the nationally celebrated vocals of Dixon, are guaranteed to have you dancing in the aisles, stalls, and even down the streets!

Tickets are selling quickly, so make sure to head over to The Octagon Theatre website to grab yourself one if you can see you and your loved ones enjoying this guaranteed night of retro tunes.

Ben Hart (Image: Matt Crockett)

Ben Hart: The Labyrinth

If you’re in the mood for some magic, mystery, and wonder this Saturday, July 4, The Octagon Theatre has just the show for you as they present Britain’s Got Talent finalist and internationally acclaimed magician Ben Hart’s brand-new theatrical magic show.

The show, which is being promoted as a “funny, dark, and baffling” experience, promises that Hart will “read minds, manipulate reality, and blow your mind,” and we’re told that the production focuses on the themes of human choices, hidden patterns, and finding a route through chaos.

The show will run for 65 minutes with no interval and will begin at 8pm. A fair number of tickets are still available to purchase from The Octagon Theatre website and are all priced at £20, regardless of where they are seated.

However, please be aware that this show should only be attended by people aged 12 or older, according to The Octagon Theatre’s guidelines.

(Image: Newsquest)

Smithills Hall Garden Party

If you and your family are in the mood for a sense of community, a range of activities, as well as delicious food, all while experiencing a historic site, the annual Smithills Hall Garden Party is just the thing for you on Sunday, July 5.

The event organisers promise that the garden party will offer “fabulous family fun”, stalls offering artisan goods, games, face painting, children’s workshops such as circus skills, as well as live music and much more entertainment for the whole family.

This year, the party is collaborating with local tearoom Bake & Roast, who are said to be offering a “special summer handmade afternoon tea”, which you are able to book on their website. The afternoon tea costs £28.50 per adult and £16.50 per child; however, a £10 deposit per head is required.

The garden party’s special afternoon tea will include finger sandwiches, mini sausage rolls, canapés, a selection of homemade cakes, and a mini cream tea with a choice of tea, coffee, or a soft drink.

Entry to the event is free; however, charges may apply for certain activities, rides, and amenities. It will be running from noon until 4pm.

Abba – Thank You for The Music (Image: Agency)

4 – Thank You for the Music – ABBA

If you’re a fan of classics such as Waterloo, Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, and more, then you’ll want to get down to The Octagon Theatre on Thursday, July 9th to see the iconic ABBA tribute.

The international smash hit has been performing for 22 years and says that it combines the unmistakable harmonies, colourful costumes, and dazzling performances of its all-star cast to present a show like no other.

The event organisers prompt fans to join them for the “party of the year”, saying that you can dance, you can jive, and overall have the time of your life as they bring you all the hits.

The show, taking place at The Octagon Theatre, is set to begin at 7pm and tickets, available online, are £34 per seat.

5 – Music of James Bond by Candlelight

On Friday the 10th of July, Bolton’s very own Victoria Hall will be transformed into an atmospheric deep dive into the world of James Bond.

Starting at 7:30pm, the show is described as “more than a concert” and is said to bring together the music of Adele, Billie Eilish, Dame Shirley Bassey, Sam Smith, and more to explore the unmistakable sound of Bond.

Performed by world-class musicians and vocalists, every note is said to echo the sophistication of the James Bond universe and present the vast and unequivocal talent of The Great British Orchestra.

Tickets are available to purchase at xperiencelive.co.uk, varying from £45–£50 depending on the seating area.

Be aware, though, that last entry is at 7:15pm in preparation for the show to begin, so don’t miss out!

Multiple GMP cars and ambulances were seen in attendance

Officers descended on a Trafford street after a ‘disturbance’ left a man injured. Emergency services were called out to Aimson Road East, in Timperley, at around 5.20pm on Thursday evening (July 2).

Greater Manchester Police says it received reports of a disturbance at a property on the street. A man suffered a ‘minor’ injury, according to the force.

Officers arrested a woman in her 60s on suspicion of assault. The investigation remains ongoing today (Friday). An image from the scene showed at least four GMP cars and two ambulances in attendance on Aimson Road East.

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A GMP spokesperson said: “At around 5.20pm yesterday (July 2), officers responded to reports of a disturbance at a property on Aimson Road East, Timperley. One man suffered minor, non life-threatening injuries.

“A woman in her 60s was arrested on suspicion of assault. Enquiries are ongoing.”

The 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence has become yet another flashpoint in a politically divided America. There are even two different government organisations overseeing the celebrations.

The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was set up by the US Congress in 2016 as a bipartisan body to oversee the semiquincentennial celebration and signed into law by Barack Obama. They branded the celebration as America250 and set to work to plan the national jamboree.

Freedom 250, meanwhile, was set up by the Trump administration under the supervision of the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday. Federal funds were diverted from the congressional commission towards the events planned by the Trump-aligned celebration.

But more important than the squabbles over who owns the celebrations, the boycotts of the Great American State Fair or the controversies surrounding celebratory monuments such as the 250-foot triumphal arch, dubbed by its critics the “Arc de Trump”, are the battles being fought over whose interpretation of history will be presented as the nation looks back over its first 250 years.

The commemorative celebrations are being run through the National Park Service, part of the Department of the Interior. One of its most important monuments, the President’s House memorial in Philadelphia – where the first two presidents, George Washington and John Adams, lived and worked when the city served as America’s capital in the 1790s – has been at the centre of a controversy over competing interpretations of history.

This goes back to the early weeks of Trump’s second term. In March 2025 he issued executive order 14253: Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. The order requires the Department of the Interior to ensure that the educational materials in its jurisdiction – including the national parks – do not “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living (including persons living in colonial times), and instead focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people”.

It also ordered the restoration of sites removed or changed since 2020, when Confederate monuments had been removed in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. Finally, it charged vice president J.D. Vance with implementing the same policies at the Smithsonian Museum.

In November 2025 an administration official, Jeffrey Anderson, published an essay alleging that “woke orthodoxy” had hijacked America’s story. This was circulated to members of the Trump administration. The President’s House, he wrote, focused too much on the evils of slavery. There was not enough information about the achievements of the men who lived and worked there.

Working under the Secretary of State for the Interior’s order implementing the president’s executive order, the national park service began the removal of historical panels in places of national significance early in 2026. This included the President’s House memorial in Philadelphia.

Washington had infamously brought his slaves with him to the house and had moved them every six months to avoid Pennsylvania’s emancipation laws. The President’s House exhibit had told this story, something that Anderson’s essay had particularly objected to. This and other explanations of US history deemed to “inappropriately disparage Americans past” were removed.

Legal battle

The City of Philadelphia, which had been instrumental in the development of the President’s House site, took the administration to court over the decision. The administration’s lawyers argued that: “Ultimately, the government gets to choose the message it wants to convey.”

Presiding judge, Cynthia M. Rufe, disagreed. In a decision comparing the administration’s actions to the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s novel 1984, Rufe held that the US government does not have the power to “dissemble and disassemble historical truths when it has some domain over historical facts”. She ordered the removals stopped and anything removed under the order to be replaced.

On June 18, her decision was unanimously overturned by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. In a decision written by prominent conservative judge, Thomas M. Hardiman, the court held that the city had no “statutory, property, or contractual rights that
empower it to curate the exhibits in the President’s House”. His judgment praised the historical context provided by the replacement panels.

Activists and government officials disagree with Judge Hardiman, and so do Philadelphia’s tour guides. At the open-air site, volunteers share copies and read aloud from the removed intepretative panels.

The legal battle to oppose Trump’s executive order is not over. A coalition of interest groups sued the Department of the Interior, challenging the lawfulness of the removal of hundreds of exhibits and markers across the US, including the President’s House.

Less than a week before Philadelphia lost on appeal, federal judge Angel Kelley found that the government was seeking “to rewrite the Nation’s history with a white-out pen”. She ordered the government to stop removing the signs, exhibits and artefacts and return those that had already had been removed by July 3. In her view, the government had rushed to remove the items in time for July 4 and “it is equally important that our shared history be honestly told and fully restored by the 250th Anniversary”.

That order has now been paused by the First Circuit Court of Appeals until the full case can be heard. But the First Circuit is not bound by the decision in the Philadelphia case and is dominated by Democratic appointees. Split decisions by the federal circuit courts can lead the US Supreme Court to take up a case on appeal. Ultimately it might fall to America’s top court to decide whether the order to remove and replace exhibits is lawful.

The executive order states that museums “should be places where individuals go to learn – not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history”. Many critics believe that is exactly what the executive order does.

Now – as with so many of the contested decisions taken during the second Trump administration – it will be down to the courts. At stake, as the US prepares to commemorate and celebrate its 250th anniversary, is the nature of America’s story about itself.

Next, there’s nothing like a hot chocolate under the stars or a warm coffee while you listen to the dawn chorus, and for that you need a mug. It’s expensive, but I love the classic Kuksa, a hand-carved wooden mug made by the Sámi, an indigenous group who live nomadically in Scandinavia. I’d choose this every time over a metal cup, which I find leaves the liquid too hot and burns my tongue, whereas wood is perfect and water drunk from it tastes divine.

To keep my phone running, I always take a powerbank. My cheap and cheerful Belkin model does the job and doesn’t weigh much.

Everyone should take a water bottle to camp, but I always take a Sigg Traveller, because it conducts heat rather than contains it. Before I go to bed I boil water, fill the bottle, wrap it in a fleece and use it as a hot water bottle. Then by morning, it’s cooled down so I can drink it.

The camping kit you can live without

As long as camping has been mainstream, there have been manufacturers trying to sell you “must-have” items. Ignore them. They will take up space in your bag, and eventually, in landfill.

Examples that spring to mind include lamps (a headtorch strung from the roof of your tent works just as well) and French presses. For me, cowboy coffee – boiling the ground up beans and letting them settle in the bottom – is where it’s at. Camping kettles are also redundant; your stove will do this job and nearly all have pouring lids now. Another bugbear of mine is portable radios with torches, they are unwieldy, unnecessary and will annoy your neighbours. And don’t get me started on tent heaters. Finally, I’d veto marshmallow toasting sticks (find a stick – they are free).

Phoebe Smith is host of the multi-award-winning Wander Woman Podcast.

A GP shares four crucial warning signs of dementia that can appear before memory loss begins – here’s what to look for, and the importance of early detection

A GP has revealed that certain early indicators of dementia might become apparent even before memory loss sets in. Dementia is a progressive condition affecting brain function, resulting in a deterioration of cognitive abilities including memory and reasoning, alongside speech and emotional changes over time.

Studies indicate that more than 944,000 people in the UK are living with dementia. One in 11 people aged over 65 in the UK have dementia.

The prevalence of dementia is rising as life expectancy increases. While there’s no cure available, swift diagnosis is vital so that a treatment strategy and medications can be implemented to manage symptoms effectively.

Dr Johannes Uys, from Broadgate General Practice, has identified several early warning signs that might signal the beginning of dementia. Though many associate memory difficulties with dementia, Dr Uys points out that physical symptoms can sometimes emerge before memory loss occurs.

He outlined four early signs to watch for, which are more frequently associated with particular forms of dementia, such as Parkinson’s disease dementia.

The expert further stressed that symptoms differ from one person to another, with each individual experiencing dementia uniquely.

“However, if you notice any of these early signs in yourself or a loved one, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional for a thorough evaluation. Early detection and intervention can help manage symptoms and provide the necessary support”, he added. Risk factors for dementia vary considerably, with some being unavoidable such as age, while others can be controlled through lifestyle adjustments in our earlier years.

Physical activity and a nutritious diet are recognised as reducing the risk.

Additional positive modifications include keeping a healthy weight, stopping smoking, lowering alcohol intake and cholesterol levels. The NHS recommends that reducing saturated fats, salt, and sugar, while boosting fibre consumption could also prove helpful.

The GP proceeded to outline these four early warning signs to watch for:.

Prompt diagnosis of dementia enables swift support for patients. Yet, a recent Alzheimer’s Society survey discloses that just one in three people visits a doctor within the initial month of spotting dementia symptoms in themselves or a family member.

A survey of 1,100 people demonstrated that most individuals delay seeking assistance due to doubt about whether the symptoms are connected to the condition or simply indicators of getting older. It’s vital to understand that dementia isn’t a normal aspect of ageing, and if you’re growing progressively forgetful, particularly if you’re aged over 65, it’s recommended to see your GP.

Specialists forecast that by 2050, an alarming 150 million people globally will be impacted by the condition, based on research published in the Lancet Public Health. Presently, approximately 900,000 people in the UK are living with it.

A spokesperson said: “Firefighters are working extremely hard to bring this fire under control. The amount of smoke being produced by this fire has been significant, and though the level of smoke has greatly reduced since our arrival, we advise people, particularly within the Haringey borough area, to continue to keep their windows and doors closed at this time.

The prehistoric cave dates back to the Lower Paleolithic era and was likely populated between 400,000 and 250,000 years ago, offering a rare glimpse into ancient daily life that archaeologists know very little about

A trailblazing archaeological find has unearthed a ‘time capsule’ showcasing the everyday life of an ancient population, remarkably preserved for millennia.

Archaeologists have made the extraordinary discovery of a prehistoric cave in Israel, which lay undisturbed for thousands of years, providing a snapshot of human life dating back between 400,000 and 250,000 years. This groundbreaking find, remarkably intact, is a treasure trove of information about an era of which archaeologists had hitherto known very little.

The cave, thought to have been inhabited towards the end of the Lower Paleolithic or Old Stone Age, offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of early hunter-gatherers.

This period, predating the advent of agriculture, urban settlements, monarchies, and written records, was marked by the use of basic stone tools for everyday tasks such as processing game, woodworking, and crafting simple garments.

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What makes this discovery even more remarkable is that relics found within the cave remain precisely where their long-forgotten users left them, affording scientists a rare opportunity to piece together an authentic account of the daily lives of these ancient people.

Researchers attribute the findings to the Acheulo-Yabrudian culture, not a specific ethnic group or civilization, but rather an archaeological label for sites that exhibit comparable technological developments and daily patterns.

As these people were unable to read or write, archaeologists identify the Acheulo-Yabrudian culture through the stone tools discovered across sites in the Levant, including handaxes, scrapers, and blades, reports the Express.

These artefacts enable archaeologists to categorise sites and determine which groups were exchanging which technologies, before dating the areas using geological and radiometric techniques.

The cave appears to be a snapshot in time with flint tools found alongside the bones of animals such as gazelles, deer, and horses, as well as indications that water was accessible nearby.

These findings imply the cave was an appealing spot for prehistoric hunter-gatherers to set up camp and return to repeatedly.

Researchers aim to determine how long people lived there and whether the tools and bones might indicate longer stays at campsites and more intricate social interactions.

The researchers also characterise the Acheulo-Yabrudian culture as existing during a significant transitional period in prehistory.

During this epoch, people crafted increasingly advanced stone tools, utilised caves more frequently, and left increasing evidence of the controlled use of fire.

Archaeologist Ron Shimelmitz from the University of Haifa said: “This time capsule belongs to a unique period at the end of the Lower Paleolithic era, just before Neanderthals and modern humans became dominant and spread across many regions. Only a handful of sites from this important phase have been uncovered in Israel and the wider Levant, and most of them are inaccessible for research.”

There are few surviving sites from this prehistoric chapter and it could offer a revolutionary new insight into the lives of prehistoric hunter-gatherers.

Pop superstar Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce are set to marry, concluding a three-year, intensely public romance that has consistently captivated global audiences. Their journey, from an initial podcast shoutout to this anticipated wedding, has unfolded in the public eye, becoming a modern celebrity fairytale.

‘Calling on the megaphone’

The high-profile romance between pop superstar Taylor Swift and NFL tight end Travis Kelce reportedly began with a charmingly thwarted attempt at connection. In July 2023, Kelce attended Swift’s Eras Tour concert at Arrowhead Stadium, home of his team, the Kansas City Chiefs. The 250-pound athlete tried to give Swift a friendship bracelet bearing his phone number, but security prevented the exchange.

He later confessed on his “New Heights” podcast with brother Jason Kelce that he felt “a little butthurt” about not meeting her. The “Love Story” singer was reportedly charmed by his comments and subsequently called him. They began dating shortly thereafter.

‘On the bleachers’

Taylor Swift’s public appearances at Kansas City Chiefs games commenced in September 2023. She first attended a game, seated beside Travis Kelce’s mother, Donna Kelce; the couple later departed Arrowhead Stadium. A newcomer, Swift became a regular fixture, cheering on Kelce at several subsequent matchups. During a Christmas Day contest, she notably wore a Santa hat featuring Kelce’s jersey number, 87. Swift later remarked, “Football is awesome, it turns out. I’ve been missing out my whole life.”

‘Karma’

The pair’s courtship takes on a globe-trotting flavor in November 2023, when Kelce attends a Swift Eras Tour concert in Buenos Aires. “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me,” Swift sings on stage.

‘Running over to me’

February 2024 saw Taylor Swift fly over 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) from her Tokyo Eras Tour concerts to Las Vegas. She attended the Super Bowl to watch Travis Kelce’s Chiefs. After the Chiefs’ overtime win, Swift joined the post-game celebration, sharing a kiss with Kelce.

‘So high school’

Swift releases her 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” in April 2024. Fans hear references to Kelce in lyrics such as “You know how to ball, I know Aristotle.”

‘Crowds in the stands went wild’

Kelce attends a dozen Eras Tour shows in Sydney, Singapore, Paris and other cities in February through July 2024. In London, he makes a surprise appearance on stage wearing a black tuxedo and top hat during “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.”

‘Saw the scoreboard’

In February 2025, two months after wrapping up the Eras Tour, Swift attends her second Super Bowl. This time the Chiefs lose.

‘Love story’

August 2025 is set to feature Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift side-by-side on the “New Heights” podcast, where Swift will announce her forthcoming pop album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” As the pair record, a lush flower garden will be created in the backyard of Kelce’s Kansas City mansion, amid pink and white roses, for his proposal. Thirteen days later, the couple will announce their engagement on social media with a photo captioned: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”

Richard Ayoade, a comedian and actor who is best known for playing Moss in sitcom The IT Crowd, visited Little Apple Bookshop in York to sign copies of his books whilst in the city last week.

He was visiting York last Wednesday (June 24) as part of his Afterthoughts tour at The Grand Opera House, which was inspired by his book of the same name.

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Philippa Morris – who started the bookshop with Tim Curtis – said that they had invited Richard to the shop to sign books, after previous signed copies had ‘flown out’ around Christmas time.

She said: “Basically, we knew he was performing at the theatre, so we asked his publisher if he’d mind popping in to sign a few books. We were all so pleased that he came – it was a baking hot day and his train was delayed, but he still popped in before his soundcheck.

“He was really sweet, humble, and softly spoken. Just a lovely and quiet man, which was so nice considering all of his achievements.

“He made us laugh too – after taking the photo, Tim said that he looked a bit startled and Richard replied saying that was how he tends to look.”

Little Apple Bookshop still has signed copies of Richard Ayoade’s books for fans pick up.

The burglary took place in Poppleton Road in the early hours of June 25, between 3am and 5am.

North Yorkshire Police said two bicycles, a chainsaw, a bike trailer, a blue Makita drill in a blue case and other small tools were stolen.

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The force has released images of some of the stolen property and a person the force said could have information which could assist its investigation.

A force spokesperson said: “We are sharing images of the stolen property and are asking members of the local community to remain vigilant and keep an eye out for these items.

“Please be particularly mindful of anyone attempting to sell these items online, through social media marketplaces, or at local car boot sales.

“We would also ask residents to report any suspicious activity involving these items to the police immediately.”

Officers are appealing for information and are urging people to check their CCTV, dashcam, or doorbell footage from the area during the time of the incident.

Anyone who has seen the stolen items or has information can contact nabiel.galab@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101, quoting reference 12260117981.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.