JOIN the Bury Times as we travel back 50 years to the headlines on May 21, 1969, when a Co-operative Society merger, Rammy Carnival and a St John's Ambulance Brigade inspection were the talk of the town. BRAD MARSHALL takes a look back in the archives...

BURY'S thriving Co-operative society is on the way to another merger ­— this time with the 104-year-old Woolfold Society.

A special meeting of Bury members on Monday voted unanimously in favour of the link-up and the Woolfold Society has called a meeting for May 29.

If there is a majority vote in favour, the merger will take effect on June 8.

The Woolfold Society, which has 1,683 members, is headquartered in Green Street along with grocery, butcher's, draper's and fruit shops.

There is also a branch grocery shop in Tottington Road.

The Bury Society has already been involved in several successful mergers ­— with the Tottington and District Society and those in Ainsworth and Ramsbottom.

It now has 26,000 members and its sales for last year totalled almost £2.5 million.

However plans for a merger with the Rawtenstall District Co-operative Society fell through earlier this year, when Rawtenstall members pull out of the scheme.

The first shop of the Woolfold Co-operative society was next door to the Post Office in Tottington Road, and it began trading on January 18, 1865.

As the society's business grew the original store became inadequate.

At a meeting in 1868 plans were discussed for new premises in Green Street, where the society's present offices are.

The new premises opened for business in 1869 and the total cost, including fixtures, was £700.

SOME 6,000 people turned out in the sunshine to visit Ramsbottom Carnival on Saturday.

The event has been revived in the town after a break of more than 50 years thanks to members of Ramsbottom Youth Centre.

Activities started on the afternoon with a procession from Holcombe Brook to Nuttall Park.

Leading the parade was Rossendale MP and minister of local government and housing, Mr Anthony Greenwood, in a vintage Bentley.

Splashes of colour were also brought to the procession by 13 floats from local industries and organisations.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the baby show which attracted 86 entries.

A race between local coalmen also aroused great interest as each carried a half cwt. sack of coal through the streets of the town.

The afternoon's events were followed by a carnival ball in the evening in the town's Civic Hall.

A SPLENDID display of the town's compassion and helpful spirit was at the fore in Bury on Saturday for the St John Ambulance Brigade annual inspection.

Around 200 members ­— including officers, nurses, and nursing and ambulance cadets ­— gathered for the parade and review on the Wellington Secondary Modern School playing fields.

The inspection was carried out by Colonel Robert Ollerenshaw, the new district commissioner for the Duke of Lancaster's District of the brigade.

Col. Ollerenshaw is the present district surgeon for the Duke of Lancaster's District, as well as Knight of the Order of St John, and is an honorary surgeon to The Queen.

Addressing the crown Col. Ollerenshaw called for it to be ensured that cadets were being trained properly and brought up in the tradition of St John.

He also urged the cadets to carry on with their St John activities after they left school.

The parade was preceded by a march from Bury Grammar School to the playing fields led by the Bury Military Band, before the inspection came to a general salute.