Take a look at these fabulous pictures from our archives …
See also: Wiganers on the town in 2002 and The Verve in Wigan: It's 25 years ago this month since The Verve played Haigh Hall
1. 1986
Steeplejack, steam enthusiast and cult television personality Fred Dibnah gets a bit steamed up as he meets the Ashton Carnival Queen Diane Galvin on Saturday 14th of June 1986. Photo: Frank Orrell
2. 1986
The Red Barrows in formation in the Ashton Carnival parade on Saturday 14th of June 1986. Photo: Frank Orrell
3. 1986
Princess Diana accepts a posy of flowers from Stephen Hooton of Orrell watched by proud dad Jim at Wigan North Western station as she and Prince Charles made their way to open a factory in Skelmersdale on Wednesday 23rd of April 1986. Photo: Frank Orrell
4. 1986
Ashton beat bobby Dave Butler always joked he would have his retirement party in a telephone box. Little did he know fellow officers took it seriously and arranged his do in one. He was told to go to a telephone box in Bryn Street in late December 1986 to recover some 'suspicious property' which turned out to be his retirement cake. Out of the shadows jumped his colleagues and squeezed into the phonebox for a party at 5am. Dave had been in the force for 30 years. Photo: Frank Orrell