Archive

  • EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Boxing Day.

    A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Hyndburn Ramblers meet Plantation Street/Eastgate car park, Accrington, 10am. (Eight miles). 'Echoes of War' -- painting exhibition by Robert Perry, Blackburn Art Gallery

  • Go easy on the booze

    IN A festive message with a difference today, accident and emergency consultant Habib Dardouri asks readers to take it easy during the Christmas and New Year period. Our doctors and nurses are being put under increasing pressures, he says, and it's all

  • Probe into death after treatment

    A WOMAN who underwent treatment for cancer died after developing another tumour as a result of radiotherapy, an inquest was told. Selina Margaret Guest, 75, of Whitby Drive, Higher Croft, Blackburn, developed angiosarcoma which was caused by radiotherapy

  • Stage Whispers. . .

    n FOLLOWING their successful performance of Handel's Messiah at Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn Music Society will start rehearsals for Hayden's Creation on January 5 at 7.30 pm. Practice begins at Leamington Road Baptist Church, for performance in the

  • Give honours to the deserving

    I AGREE entirely with F Kimberley's letter 'Give honours to the really deserving.' Like the New Year's Honours list they are no longer special and mean nothing. How can you give The Order of the British Empire when you don't have an empire any more. GLADYS

  • Grotto needs a touch of magic

    REGARDING Santa's grotto in the five-day market. If you blink you will miss it. There's not enough room to swing a cat and it costs £2.50 for a ticket. Surely the council can do better than this. Look at all the money wasted on stupid sculptures. Christmas

  • Tory councillor who voted 'No'

    I WAS one of the councillors who sat on the Licensing Sub Committee on Wednesday night, which granted a license to a sex superstore in a residential area. Your article failed to mention that it was granted on a two to one vote and that I personally voted

  • Kiddies had wonderful time at town's panto

    I HAD just had coffee at Blakey's in Blackburn and when I was leaving got caught up with school parties leaving King George's Hall after watching the Christmas panto. What an experience! There were hundreds of happy, smiling and excited children, all

  • Cut services and council officers

    THERE'S no way we should have a 10 per cent council tax hike in Hyndburn. Cut services certainly and let's have fewer councillors and paid officers. Also, the Mayor and her entourage can go. All these people knew last September there were serious problems

  • Paying through the nose for our council tax

    REGARDING the disgraceful state of Hyndburn's finances as in the LET's recent articles, I would like to make a few observations as one of those who actually pay council tax in Hyndburn. Firstly, we have in the blue corner the council leader to whom we

  • Collapsed at wheel

    A MOTORIST died after passing out at the wheel of his car on the M60 at the weekend. Mr Brian Walton (69), of Ainsworth Hall Road, Ainsworth, regained consciousness as he was being taken to hospital following Saturday night's crash. However, it is believed

  • Outlook now warmer for town's homeless

    HELPING the homeless enjoy a warm Christmas is Bury Lions club. While most people will enjoy the festive period by the fireside, many rough sleepers face a distinctly bleak Christmas. But the Lions club is bringing festive warmth by providing Bury Housing

  • Bank manager confronted by robber with sword

    POLICE are appealing for help after an attempted armed bank robbery in Bury on Monday morning. The 39-year-old manageress of the Barclays Bank branch in Crostons Road was opening shortly after 9am when she was confronted by the masked raide rcarrying

  • Town hall leads way for the organ donor register

    TOWN Hall bosses are asking every resident in the borough to consider signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register. The council hopes its Christmas call-up will help shorten the waiting list for operations and ultimately save lives. Bury has teamed up with

  • New defence can cure derby hangover

    DON'T worry if some of your friends are looking a little worn out today - it won't be because of last minute Christmas shopping. It won't even be because of a seasonal over-indulgence. The fact is they are probably still recovering from Saturday's humdinger

  • Blackburn in Belgium link-up

    BLACKBURN Rovers are considering a possible link-up with Belgian First Division outfit Cercle Burges. An agent working on behalf of the Belgian club has contacted Rovers about a partnership which would give manager Graeme Souness first option on Cercle's

  • Souey set to gamble

    GRAEME Souness today admitted he may have to take a gamble on another foreign import as he attempts to bolster his squad during the January transfer window. Souness has already had his fingers burnt in the foreign market after paying £6.75 million for

  • Pupils bring cheer early

    CARING pupils from Derby High School have been busy collecting goods to make Christmas hampers for the elderly. Youngsters from Year 10 brought packets and tins from home, packaged the hampers, and then decorated the boxes for people using the Grundy

  • Back to school to help charity

    PARRENTHORN High School pupils had a celebrity Christmas visit that was right up their street! Coronation Street favourite Samia Ghadie, who plays hairdresser Maria in the soap, visited the Heywood Road school on Thursday to meet the youngsters. The surprise

  • Name and shame call

    BIKERS in East Lancashire are being urged to 'name and shame' the worst roads in the region as part of a 'Stop the Rough Ride' campaign. A survey by motorcycle insurers Bennetts, has revealed that 95 per cent of bikers have a problem with roads -- with

  • Pickpockets alert after three shop purse thefts

    POLICE in Burnley have warned people to be on the look out for town centre pickpockets. Officers have appealed for witnesses to three incidents where shoppers had their purses stolen at the weekend. They believe all were committed by the same people.

  • Warden service for safer, cleaner areas

    BURNLEY'S community warden service could be improved, following a review by council bosses. Changes could include increasing the number of high visibility patrols, with wardens also calling into schools, community centres and other community buildings

  • Carlisle bid to play Preece

    CARLISLE are considering taking legal action against Bury in a bid to play Andy Preece in the Boxing Day clash at Gigg Lane writes Mike Whalley Preece joined the Cumbrians last Friday after being sacked as player-manager by Bury as part of cost-cutting

  • Judge ends ban for drunken crash driver

    A QUANTITY surveyor banned from driving for five years after a drunken smash has been told he can get his licence back. Neil Shepherd, 31, had now got an offer of permanent work, conditional on being able to drive, Burnley Crown Court heard. Shepherd,

  • 50 years ago

    THE bodies of a man and a woman were found in a house on Alexandria Street, Rawtenstall. And as the Christmas rush mounted in East Lancashire weathermen said: "You can forget about a white Christmas. "The mild weather will continue."

  • Bright spark Julie takes up new post

    NATIONWIDE furniture and electrical retailer BrightHouse has appointed Julie Dennison as manager of its new Bury store located in The Rock. Before joining the company, Julie gained more than 15 years experience in electrical retailing with large companies

  • Firms urged to enter Digital Big Chip Awards

    COMPANIES in Bury are being invited to submit their entries for this year's Manchester Digital Big Chip Awards. The call for entries is going out not only to digital sector companies but also to businesses, creative agencies and organisations in other

  • Kilby gives Clarets a boost

    BURNLEY have been handed a massive financial boost after Barry Kilby's near-£1m proposal to buy the club's Leisure Centre was given the green light. Shareholders at last night's annual general meeting at Turf Moor voted unanimously to back the venture

  • Shopping spree

    BOSSES at Burnley brewery Moorhouse's have set out a New Year pledge -- to buy pubs in every major town within 150 miles of Burnley. The award winning brewer, based in Moorhouse Street already supplies many free houses and pub company outlets throughout

  • Pub pair want to be part of community

    A CLAYTON-le-Moors pub has adopted a new look in more ways than one. Not only has the Hare and Hounds received an internal facelift, it also has new hosts. John and Ellen Ritchie, both 47, have moved into the Blackburn Road pub to coincide with its reopening

  • A garden for everyone

    THE COMMUNITY of Topping Fold and Fairfield will soon be awash with colour and wildlife, thanks to a grant of £25,000. Residents living in the area decided to turn individual gardens, to the rear of the community centre and library on Topping Fold Road

  • Vandalised buses back on the road

    VANDAL-hit night bus services in Prestwich are up and running again after crisis talks. The 92 and 98 services resumed at the weekend after earlier being withdrawn by bus company First in the wake of vandal attacks near St Mary's Park in Bury New Road

  • Council tax crisis

    SERVICE cuts could be on the way as town hall bosses try to avoid imposing a double-digit rise in council tax. Despite a late funding boost from the Government, leaders say they need to find £2.7 million to balance the budget. They are also putting pressure

  • Back to school to help charity

    PARRENTHORN High School pupils had a celebrity Christmas visit that was right up their street! Coronation Street favourite Samia Ghadie, who plays hairdresser Maria in the soap, visited the Heywood Road school on Thursday to meet the youngsters. The surprise

  • Kilby gives Clarets a boost

    BURNLEY have been handed a massive financial boost after Barry Kilby's near-£1m proposal to buy the club's Leisure Centre was given the green light. Shareholders at last night's annual general meeting at Turf Moor voted unanimously to back the venture

  • Bogus collector warning

    DARWEN police are warning people to be on their guard against a teenage boy who has been posing as a money collector for the local milkman or window cleaner. People in the Duchess Street area of Lower Darwen have reported a boy knocking on their doors

  • Hand crafted handloom on offer to local group

    A PIECE of local history is on offer...if someone can find the space to store it. Jack Moss, 86, of Tockholes, started building a handloom in his Whalley Terrace home several years ago after he had finished renovating his home. Now Jack is offering a

  • Tributes paid to popular councillor

    THE funeral has been held of a respected councillor affectionately known as Ramsbottom's answer to Margaret Thatcher. Councillors and council chiefs yesterday paid their respects to long-standing Rossendale councillor Evelyn Waite. Throughout her life

  • Hundreds in church to mourn tragic fan

    MORE than 500 mourners packed the funeral of a popular football fan nearly six months after he was found collapsed in a Rawtenstall street. The Rev Ron Phillips paid tribute to David James Taylor at the funeral but slammed the judicial system for making

  • Hall to make way for £12m revamp

    PLANS to turn Rawtenstall town centre into a £12million state-of-the-art retail complex have been unveiled. Under the scheme, Rossendale Town Hall will be demolished to make way for a new shopping centre and bus station. Revealed at a special meeting

  • Comedy treat for Frank fans

    A RARE treat for comedy fans is in store in the New Year when a film starring Lancashire comedy legend Frank Randle is shown at the Museum of Lancashire. The 1953 film will be shown for the first time in years on a big screen as part of Lancashire County

  • Work to start on 'gateway feature' to town

    BLACKBURN with Darwen Council has said work to improve a town centre road will be ready before Christmas. The work in Darwen Street runs from its junction with Church Street down to the railway bridge traffic light junction. The council said trees are

  • Jailed for trying to strangle former girlfriend

    A MAN has been jailed for four years after trying to strangle his former girlfriend. Victim Lesley Keirby woke to find Andrew Proctor sitting on her bed before he tied a strap round her neck, leaving her struggling for breath. Later, Procter, of Winward

  • Yule never guess who visited me today!

    FOOTBALLING superstars brought smiles to the faces of poorly children by delivering presents at their hospital bedsides. Blackburn Rovers players visited the children's wards at Queen's Park Hospital and Blackburn Infirmary and their generosity impressed

  • Parents' card protest after child tragedies

    THREE families who claim their children died after being let down by social services delivered Christmas cards to council bosses to raise awareness of their plight. The three handmade cards featured photographs of Melissa Strickson, Shane Cook and Carry-Ann

  • Gouck has sights set on goal

    ACCRINGTON Stanley midfielder Andy Gouck knows exactly what he wants for Christmas - at least four points from two games against his former employers Morecambe. The Reds face the Shrimps at home on Boxing Day and then at Christie Park on New Year's Day

  • I hope my tax didn't pay for it

    I AM interested to know who sanctioned the building of the new fish market and the covering of outside stalls. Because now the whole lot seems certain to be pulled down I just hope that it was paid for out of his own pocket and not from my council tax

  • I expect our views will be ignored

    I READ Debbie Pierce's letter (December 11) and totally agree with her about the threat facing Bury Market. The market is the heart of the town and should stay where it is but I suppose that my views, along with those of 25,000 other people, will fall

  • Is Tag Wood the next Nuttall Lane?

    IS the planning department in Bury turning Ramsbottom into an NCP car park? The roads are gridlocked. And the remedy to this problem? Well, it seems it is to build another 80 houses at Tag Wood Works in Regent Street. There's nothing like town planning

  • Youngsters put on a great show

    SO often I hear the older generation criticising youngsters for not caring and being selfish. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we were once young and full of energy. I wish these grumblers could have been in Minden Parade, Bury, on Monday, December

  • Support work undermined

    BURY Diabetes Parents' Support Group is affiliated to Diabetes UK and exists to provide advice to the parents of children with diabetes. In conjunction with consistently excellent support from the paediatric team at Fairfield Hospital, the group is able

  • Another 30 years of pollution

    IF ever anyone was inappropriately named it is Transport Secretary Alistair Darling. For many years now we have had to put up with the massive hypocrisy of successive governments proudly boasting of the signing of the Non-Proliferation Treaty whilst still

  • What WILL the police turn out for?

    I SEE that Greater Manchester Police are asking for yet another inflation-busting contribution from local residents. May I respectfully suggest that Bury Council refuse any more money unless there is a drastic increase in police activity in the town.

  • Panto's are fun - oh yes they are!

    CHRISTMAS is not my favourite time of year -- purely because of the commerical silliness. However I have attended an old folk's party and this week I sat through the traditional panto "Snow White" in the company of 200 Cubs and Brownies. My ears are still

  • Getting fitted up in the kitchen

    I WAS looking forward to a nice relaxing break away from the office. It was, of course, not to be. I spent three days trying to trace a slimline washing machine to replace my old faithful Service which died a death, fusing with two loud bangs and blue

  • Peter the great...

    I WATCHED Leigh's long distance runner Peter Riley run the race of his life in the televised European Cross Country championships in Edinburgh. Despite runners being called back for a false start in the 10,000m plus race Peter, 24, running in his first

  • Star's secret wedding on Welsh cliff top

    EAST Lancashire actress Julie Hesmondhalgh has refused to have her head turned by the bright lights and big bucks that celebrity can bring. In the final part of out three-part series looking at her life story, she tells DONNA McKENZIE about how she shunned

  • Club looks back over 60 years

    MEMORABILIA is being sought from six decades of Blackburn Drama Club productions as the group gets ready to celebrate its 60th anniversary on January 30. This event will take place at the Astley Bank Hotel, Darwen. There will be a sit-down buffet and

  • Soccer: Last gasp winner sees Heys go joint top

    PRESTWICH HEYS...1 DUKINFIELD TOWN...0: HEYS extended their unbeaten run to 12 games, and with Royton Town losing at Wythenshawe the Prestwich club found itself joint leaders of the division. Heys deserved the victory but the winning goal did not arrive

  • Dad, 31, dies in M62 horror

    A 31-year-old man from Leigh died after he was hit by a car while walking along the Liverpool-bound carriageway of the M62. Anthony Williamson, of Hooten Lane, collided with a white Nissan Micra near to junction seven at Rainhill, at about 4.40am on Saturday

  • Still in dispute

    BUS company First has reached a pay deal with its Manchester-based engineering staff, although its drivers in Bury are currently in dispute over working rotas. Engineers on shift rotas have received a pay increase up to £9.60 per hour, which is set to

  • Lorry leak chaos

    A CHEMICAL leak forced the closure of a main road in Radcliffe on Friday, causing traffic chaos. Shortly after 2pm, firefighters were called to a lorry in Pilkington Way when a 45 gallon drum of liquid ammonia nitrate started leaking. Crews donned full

  • Pupils bring cheer early

    CARING pupils from Derby High School have been busy collecting goods to make Christmas hampers for the elderly. Youngsters from Year 10 brought packets and tins from home, packaged the hampers, and then decorated the boxes for people using the Grundy

  • Family use CCTV to catch vandal ex-lover

    A DETERMINED mother today revealed how she fitted her own CCTV to catch the former boyfriend who targeted her daughter. Kim Welding fitted the hi-tech system to the front of her house to catch a man she believed had been harassing teenage daughter Kelly

  • Town drafts in creative guru for future

    AN ideas guru of "international standing" is to be brought to Nelson provide a creative vision for the town's future. The move was announced as a timetable for regeneration in Nelson was unveiled amid hopes the town could become a flagship for East Lancashire

  • Management move gets the council OK

    A POTENTIAL £27 million windfall for Bury's 9,000 council houses is another step closer to becoming reality. Town hall leaders are asking the Government to approve setting up an Arm's Length Management Organisation (ALMO) to take daily charge of the housing

  • New stars shine for Martyn

    Leigh Centurions 40 St Helens 22 by Mike Hulme: TOMMY Martyn's Testimonial game against the club he served for 10 years went off perfectly. But within minutes of Leigh's 40-22 success over St Helens, assistant coach was looking to the future. Martyn wasn't

  • Mystery of the kiln

    GIRLS at Bury Grammar were fired up to find out what professional artist Don McKinlay was producing in their school pottery kiln. And after pupils spent weeks puzzling over a series of instructions left in one of their art rooms, the answer was finally

  • Ladies spot on in cup

    ROVERS Ladies won through to the final of the Lancashire Cup after a penalty shoot-out success over Blackpool Wren Rovers. Rovers had the lion's share of possession and territorial advantage in the first half however couldn't find a way through the host's

  • Mystery of the kiln

    GIRLS at Bury Grammar were fired up to find out what professional artist Don McKinlay was producing in their school pottery kiln. And after pupils spent weeks puzzling over a series of instructions left in one of their art rooms, the answer was finally

  • A bleak mid-winter facing Shakers

    ORIENT 2, SHAKERS 0: IF this was supposed to be the dawn of a new era for the Shakers, then the next few months promise to be awfully bleak. Statistics can be manipulated many ways but those involving Bury tell a simple truth -- the club is in big trouble

  • Town drafts in creative guru for future

    AN ideas guru of "international standing" is to be brought to Nelson provide a creative vision for the town's future. The move was announced as a timetable for regeneration in Nelson was unveiled amid hopes the town could become a flagship for East Lancashire

  • Council backs pensions plea

    PENDLE councillors are backing a campaign to allow pensioners to continue collecting money from Post Offices. A motion tabled by Councillor David Whipp, calling on the Government to shelve plans to scrap pension books, was passed at a full council meeting

  • Order for sobbing footballer after assault

    A FOOTBALLER who injured a rival player from a Colne pub team has been described by a judge as otherwise a "fine member of the community". Judge Barbara Watson told Mark Westfall, who struck victim Michael Lord and injured his ear, she was satisfied his

  • 10 years ago

    A HUGE Christmas card astounded milkman Jim Parkinson and his wife Bridget. Bridget's brother Chris O'Donnell paid for a big advertising hoarding on a main road to plug the couple's milk round and shout his own Christmas message to them. A 14-year-old

  • 25 years ago

    THE McCarthy family from Cambridge Street, Blackburn, held a big party. It included their eight children, 33 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren plus all their wives and husbands, making a huge total of 75 people altogether. And Blackburn Rovers' game

  • Rovers have taken their eye off the ball

    THERE is one burning question that I can't answer. Was the punishment given to Rio Ferdinand as severe as that given to Rovers fans on Saturday? If his was severe, surely ours was inhumane. I doubt that the inmates of camp X-ray would have to put up with

  • Petrol bomb terror attack on family

    A WOMAN and two children were terrified when a petrol bomb was thrown through the window of their home. Police said the incident, at 2.15am on Monday, could have killed someone and have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Police and fire crews were

  • Breaking new rules?

    EMPLOYERS who operate a shut down policy over Christmas, expecting all workers to take annual leave, could be breaking new employment equality rules which have come into force. Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations now make it unlawful

  • Guide leader's farewell after 30 years

    GUIDE leader Yvonne White is hanging up her uniform after 30 years' dedicated service to the 3rd Langho St Mary's troupe. Mrs White, 65, began her guiding career in 1948 at the age of 10 when she joined the Holy Trinity troupe in Darwen. During her time

  • Company relocates

    COSMETICS company L'Oreal is to relocate one of its principal divisions to Pilsworth in Bury after announcing its Greengate site in Middleton is to close next year. The current 275-strong workforce will be offered jobs at the new site and at another major

  • Amsterdam package

    A BURY firm could be among ten north west chemical companies who are being offered a special exhibitor package at Europe's most renowned fine and speciality chemicals event. ChemSpec Europe is being staged in Amsterdam next June and the invitation for

  • His team are in driving seat!

    NO wonder Bury man and garage bodyshop manager Kevin Simpson is wearing a gleaming smile on his face lately. For he and his colleagues at Williams BMW in Bolton are well and truly in the "front seat" when it comes to winning top industry honours. The

  • Blake is Cats' target

    SUNDERLAND are believed to be ready to swoop for Burnley talisman Robbie Blake. The Black Cats are putting together a £600,000 bid for the Clarets top scorer to solve their own goalscoring problems. But I understand Burnley have not yet heard anything

  • Project's dramatic response

    SCHOOLS have been racing to sign up for Green Theatre, a new drama project designed to help the environment. More than 20 applications have been made for the 12 school places available in the drama workshops, which will seek to teach children about recycling

  • Transplant teen meets idol Blair

    A BRAVE teenager who underwent two kidney transplants was given a festive present he will never forget: a meeting with his idol, Tony Blair. Fourteen-year-old William Ackerley enjoyed tea with Cherie Blair, was given a tour of Number 10 Downing Street

  • Souey set to gamble

    GRAEME Souness today admitted he may have to take a gamble on another foreign import as he attempts to bolster his squad during the January transfer window. Souness has already had his fingers burnt in the foreign market after paying £6.75 million for

  • Parking assault mum walks free

    A YOUNG mum who assaulted and injured a pensioner in a parking row has walked free from court. Burnley Crown Court had earlier heard how Emma McIntyre, 31, pushed Hilda Law to the ground after the victim complained about the defendant parking on the pavement

  • Festive freeze on taxi charges

    TEN East Lancashire taxi firms are offering their passengers an early Christmas present. The firms have joined forces to charge normal rates for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Most taxi firms usually charge time-and-a-half for the festive

  • Death crash driver faces ban charge

    A BANNED driver jailed for four months after a collision which killed a 12-year-old girl has made a further appearance before Blackburn magistrates. Aso Mohammed Ibrahim, 25, of St James Road, Blackburn, was brought before the court from custody for sentence

  • Cruel 'scum' pinch family's festive gifts

    A FATHER-of-two today condemned the "heartless and unbelievable scum" who stole his family's Christmas presents during a burglary. Stuart Foster, 38, of Bonsall Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn, said the festive period had been ruined as he did not have the

  • 'Have a heart' plea to presents thieves

    A SINGLE mum today appealed to the burglars who stole her three-year-old son's Christmas presents to find it in their hearts to return them. Clare King, 24, said she could not afford to replace the gifts following the burglary at her home in Parklands

  • Family use CCTV to catch vandal ex-lover

    A DETERMINED mother today revealed how she fitted her own CCTV to catch the former boyfriend who targeted her daughter. Kim Welding fitted the hi-tech system to the front of her house to catch a man she believed had been harassing teenage daughter Kelly

  • Tigers show of power grabs glory

    SEDGLEY PARK............ 46, RUGBY LIONS............... 27: IN the battle of the big cats it was the high-flying Tigers that gave the Lions a thorough mauling to record their eleventh win in 12 games to remain four points clear at the top of the National

  • Peace came too late for these fallen heroes

    I WRITE in reply to the letter (December 16) from Elizabeth Tebbs regarding the removal of a white dove from the Radcliffe Cenotaph. I did put the white dove to one side so that it would not be covered up, but I am not responsible for its removal. We

  • Project's dramatic response

    SCHOOLS have been racing to sign up for Green Theatre, a new drama project designed to help the environment. More than 20 applications have been made for the 12 school places available in the drama workshops, which will seek to teach children about recycling

  • Browned off over cooking sausages

    COOKING sausages on an old-style grill pan is an absolute pain. No matter how many times I turn the breakfast bangers over they roll back to the same position where they have already browned. If someone invested a square sausage that stayed still they'd

  • Serious message behind new ad

    THE latest weapon in the battle to make young people aware of sexually transmitted diseases has been unveiled -- and it's a load of old pants. Underpants to be exact, four pairs which will form a striking advert on Greater Manchester Buses until mid January

  • Scrooge? Not Roy

    CHARITABLE Mosley Commoner Roy Lilly could hardly be called Scrooge but the candid ex-farmer is concerned that his friends might be thinking he's cutting back. As a way of saying thanks to friends and business associates Roy posted over two dozen personalised

  • Spiked drinks alert

    A WOMAN collapsed in a Bury pub after her glass of wine was spiked with drugs. Just 24 hours later, a customer at a nearby bar had a lucky escape when she caught a man dropping a tablet into her drink. Door staff at the Chicago Rock Cafe, in The Haymarket