From the Guide files of Friday, March 28, 1980: After 10 years of preparation by the Manchester Transport Museum of Transport Society, the Heaton Park tram rolled back into action.

In 1967, the Society submitted a report to the parks committee of the City Council asking for support to establish a working electric tramway in Heaton Park. Previously, the tramline had closed in 1937 due to economic measures and the cost of replacing the miniature engines.

TWO police officers were celebrating promotion to Inspector. Richard Walker (43), of Prestwich, had been in the force 21 years and Thomas Cross (41), who worked at Whitefield Station, had been an officer for 15 years.

FOUR hundred workers at Cussons Soap Factory in Kersal Vale were to lose their jobs by the end of June. The redundancies were announced after negotiations between management and the various unions involved, and blamed on a recession in the home and export markets. At the time, Cussons had a total workforce of 1,200.

A FIRE-EATER set a world record in St Mary's Playing Fields. Floyd Grace (18), a performer with Gandey's Circus, attempted to set up the world first for the number of times he could rekindle a torch in his mouth. He did so by rekindling the torch 100 times in 18 minutes, 38 seconds.

EASTER eggs were given as reward to 85 children who took part in a fancy dress and Easter bonnet parade. The youngsters of Mersey Drive Primary School, Hillock, performed the parade in front of parents.