FIFTY years have passed since four pals left Bury and Bolton for a new life Down Under.

But they still have fond memories of their former home — from nights out at the Palais to watching Bolton Wanderers at Burnden Park.

Don Walshe, from Bury, and Denis Norris, Kevan Openshaw, Barrie Roberts, from Bolton, left for Australia on April 6, 1965.

They sailed on the P&O Orcades, via the Suez Canal, and arrived in Sydney on May 5, 1965.

Over the years, they have returned to England on numerous occasions, visiting family and friends and touring their homeland, and are now all enjoying their retirement.

Mr Walshe, aged 72, has been married to Judy Costello, from Sydney, for 45 years and his 30 year career — from junior fire fighter to forensics — was with the New South Wales Fire Brigade.

The father-of-four and grandfather-of-seven said: "I was born during World War Two and have fond family memories of growing up in Bury.

"I lived in a council house and there was not a lot of money and everything was in short supply.

"There were not the opportunities and everyone was in the same situation after the war.

"I left school and got a trade and loved living in England in the '60s, there was plenty of work, good social life, lots of mates.

"I had my own Morris Minor so I travelled to Liverpool, London and Ireland.

"Manchester was alive with rock & roll, The Beatles, night life was the best."

He remembers seeing the likes of Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Dave Brubeck and Count Basie at the Free Trade Hall, paying £2 pound a ticket.

He said: "Friday night I would travel from Bury to Bolton to meet my mates at The Commercial Hotel before we went out.

"Dance halls were very popular. Bury Markets and Kay Gardens were the heart of Bury.

"Brandleshome and Ramsbottom were very rural and beautiful countryside. Even though we were enjoying a good lifestyle in Lancashire, myself and three mates emigrated to Australia for adventure."

Mr Norris, aged 70, lived in Wapping Street, Halliwell, as a child and went to school at St Peter & St Pauls, then St Joseph's and spent his final five years at Thornleigh.

He has been married for 45 years to Maureen Shipperbottom — who is also from Bolton — but they met in Sydney.

The grandfather-of-four, who was financial controller of a large multinational company, said: "My early childhood was spent at Wapping Street, up Halliwell Road.

"The street lamps were lit by gas and in the street behind us, Raglan Street, the lighting in the houses was provided by gas lights.

"My Dad, Jack, worked down the pit at Brackley Colliery and had an early start each morning, but was never late, as the knocker-up came round knocking on the window at around 5 o’clock.

"No bathroom at the house in Wapping Street but we had a big tin bath that was strategically placed in front of the fire on bath nights."

In 1951, they moved from Halliwell to Mancroft Avenue, up Swan Lane, in Great Lever.

He remembers: "This was in the early days of television and I remember watching the 1953 Blackpool Cup Final in high definition black and white at one of my rich friend’s place round the corner from where we lived.

"My mother worked in the card room at the Swan Lane Mill and dad continued on in the pit."

In 1955, the family moved to Long Lane, Darcy Lever — opposite the Leverhulme Park Athletics Track.

Mr Norris said: "I have fond memories of football in the park where, when the dark nights came in, the temporary goals were set-up close to the street lights on Long Lane.

"The weather in Bolton during the colder months of the year was a real turn-off.

"I remember going to the cinema up Daubhill, sitting in a warm, cosy space, knowing that it was absolutely freezing outside, with a gale force easterly wind coming in from Russia and knowing that we had a 20 minute walk home to Mancroft Avenue when the movie finished."

The father-of-three remains an avid Bolton Wanderers fan and remembers watching many great games at Burnden Park.

He said: "I will never forget 1958, when Nat’s boys lifted the cup and I lined-up opposite the Town Hall on the night the team returned to Bolton.

"In my formative teenage years, Tuesday night down the Palais at the bottom of Bridge Street was mandatory, with the night kicking-off in the American Bar in the Pack Horse or in The Commercial, with a brief stop in Yates’s Wine Lodge on the way to The Palais.

"The 50 years have flown since we left Bolton. My wife Maureen and I have made numerous visits back there and always have a great time.

"Lots of the infrastructure around town has changed over the years but one thing that hasn’t changed in Bolton are the warm, friendly people that reside there."

Mr Openshaw was born in Townley's Hospital 1943, and then lived in Beechcroft Avenue, Darcey Lever.

He has been married to Margaret Miller, from Sydney, for 39 years and they have one son and two grandsons.

The 72-year-old, who had his own business as a painter and decorator, said: "I enjoyed my education years at Haulgh school, then to Crompton Fold and lastly at Tonge Fold.

"Football was my main sport, playing for the Lads’ Club and then Daubhill Athletic Club."