Our first pictures are historic goodies from the golden days of Wharton Rec Bowling Club ranging from the 50's through to the late 60's and although many of the players are no longer with us let alone playing,there are if you look carefully some respected people still holding their own !

    Seen here on the left a legend in his day at Wharton Rec and beyond as you can see by some of his rewards on the table ....Alan Southern.

Unfortunately Alan passed away whilst quite young so never did reach the peak of his ability's further afield and I am told that one thing was sure had he lived longer his achievements would have been remarkable.

Yet another gem this picture above ..Back row. T.Hignett  B.Stott  J.Smith  B.Curzon  G.Hulse.

                         Front....A.Southern  S.Molyneux  K.Burrows   E.Goulding.

The combinations alter a little but the quality still remains in yet another fearsome eight .

                     Back row. B.Curzon  G.Hulse  C.Hulse  T.Hignett

                      Front  A.Southern  T.Challinor  K.Burrows  S.Molyneux.

Here we go again some new faces but many familiar ones and just a mention that Tom Hignett's son Ray is on this one with Sid Moleneux's brother Alan on the top left.

                 Front row..A Molyneux   R Hignett  C Hulse    A McConville  H.Bradshaw

                  Front   ? Goodier  ? Goodier  A.Hough   J.Taylor

We couldn't leave our historic look at Wharton Rec without a mention of a prolific character and the park keeper/greensman and accurate striker Joe "Nip" Bracegirdle holding the bowls above,a great character who lived well into his ninetees and loved nothing more than to tell as many as would listen about his bowling exploits....back left of course is Ken "Toucher" Fleet and bottom front left a gentleman of bowling Cliff Atherton who still bowls for Comberbach.

                       Back row      K.Fleet    ?     C.Pardoe     T.Oakes

                            Front   C.Atherton   H.Taylor   J.Bracegirdle   T.Ellison.

Ok getting away from Wharton Rec to this interesting picture from the year of 1991 which was a very successful one for Wharton Cons and includes the late Jack Wilkinson who being an all round sportsman also played football for Arsenal,Keith Burrows was also involved with a league football team and a very competative player at both.

From the left. Ivan Wilkinson (Cowley Cup)  Jack Wilkinson (Gaurdian Cup)  Glynn Cookson (Spring Waterloo and Cheshire Merit)   Keith Burrows  (Roberts Cup).

Many of you as a child will have on a sunny afternoon enjoyed a Pendleton's "Twicer" (for the benefit of the youth reading this a twicer was a popular ice cream lolly from years ago )....! well one of our well known local characters actually qualifies as a genuine Pendleton Twicer,I am refering to of course Ted who whilst bowling for the Liberal Club at Winsford was in the Deknoop Cup winning team two years on the run in 1983 and 1984.

                   Back row.   T.Pendleton  F.Cooper  R.Sproston   E.Goulding   K.Hulse   R.Egerton

              Front row    B.Threadgold   A.Hough   S.Bailey   B.Goulding   S.Frost   R.Weedall

Ted Pendleton here doing what comes natural in the evenings these days at Wharton Cons with Ivan Wilkinson..

If I mention the name Glynn your mind would most certainly picture a certain Mr Cookson,but on this occasion our gent I am refering to just missed out on bringing the coverted trophy back from Blackpool in his 1980 Waterloo tussle with Vernon Lee only losing by 2 chalks in the final after being in a very commanding position and on course to bringing the trophy back to the Liberal Club and Winsford.It was a very good game and a dvd has survived and hopefully will be shown in the future to those interested.

                     Glynn Vernon shown here proudly displaying his trophy.

And of course here in the two newspaper cuttings Glynn along with many popular yesteryear legends as well as one or two who still play today.Have you spotted Colin Cookson, Keith Birkett Keith Burrows and Stan Frith.Along with Arnold Bebbington who won the All England and Ken Winnington.

More goodies from yesterday as we feature the Burrows..!   and Keith Burrows grandson Michael Morgan who is continuing in Grandads footsteps.

Please email me as to how many faces you recognise on this photo loaned to me by Keith Burrows who of course is included in the middle row.    email to    barry@barrygibson.co.uk

  Michael Morgan winning a youth competition here at Wharton Rec Winsford in the 90's being presented his shield by ICI (Salt Union) representative Mike Walker,Michael now plays along with his grandad Keith at Wharton Cons after cutting his teeth playing for the learning center of crown green locally Wharton Rec.

This old newspaper cutting given to me by Mr Derek Hilditch (former park keeper at Wharton Rec) shows young potential bowlers who had competed in one of the competitions during school holidays organised by Derek ,his late wife Brenda and daughter Nicola.I can see two of them who continued to bowl in Wharton Cons player Ashley Blackburn and Wharton Rec player Brett Dalziel.

  Still on the theme of Wharton Rec this classic oldie with Colin and Barry Cookson along with Joe "Nipper" Bracegirdle and the very respected Alan Southern.The youngster is Robbie Joe,s grandson who I still see quite often in Winsford.