Hundreds of visitors from all over the North West were heading for Ashton in July 1999 to enjoy the annual Tameside Canals Festival at Portland Basin.
A weekend of glorious weather ensured a great turnout and a lively atmosphere with live music performances, a festival of dance and the ever popular real ale tent.
Visitors could also see the improvements being made to the canals. Local enthusiasts staged a display showing how they were breathing new life into old, dilapidated narrowboats.
Traction attraction
Nostalgia reader Bernard Wilson was keen to put us back on track after spotting the picture of this enormous traction engine featured on our nostalgia page last week.
From the Chronicle files - Thursday 21st August 2025
When the Chronicle learned that Lord’s Café had bought a new oven in 1950, they sent a news team along to cover the very first bake!
Ancient tradition restored
Gee Cross revived the centuries-old village tradition of well dressing - and not even the heavy rain could dampen the spirits of the crowds who flocked to see the colourful displays.
One RAF career takes off in style
A Hyde teenager was gunning for glory after completing his training with the Royal Air Force.
The M60 walkers
Tamesiders of all ages came together in August 2000 for a charity walk that was strictly a one-off.
