With Wimbledon being here, I cast my mind back to me and Allan J. slugging it out with a couple of old tatty balls on pit-ridden courts of Cavendish (?) Park, just next to the bowling green. Part of the etiquette of such matches was that the one who smashed the ball out of the court, which happened frequently, would have to go and fetch it. We had matches to equal Federer and Hewitt. So.....what were/are Keighley's parks? What were their distinguishing features? What memories do you have? I remember the brass band on a sunday afternoon in Devonshire(?) park, deckchairs and all. I'd walk there with my parents. I believe I'm getting the names wrong.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-66

The tennis court was in Devonshire Park, Alan - right next to the bowling green which we also occasionally patronised. (We were crap at bowls, so it would be truer to say that it patronised us). Somewhere (another park maybe, or Cliffe Castle grounds?) there was a putting green too. Somewhere I've got a small b'n'w photo of me aged about 6, complete with green belted gabardine (with secret safety pocket!), in front of a frozen and snowy paddling pool in Devonshire Park. Right at the top, Highfield Lane, end of Devonshire Park were swings and roundabouts. There were normal swings, then an exotic one shaped like a tepee with a pole up the middle. On it you could go round and round and side to side. Nobody rode it seated. Everybody climbed as high as they could on the A shaped frame. The roundabout was there to be legged-on and legged-off, preferably at a fast speed. If you got dizzy you climbed onto the middle and just sat there before negotiating the leg-off.

Lund Park was our local park. You should see it today! A 'no-go' area after dark with railings round the bowling greens.

It's tennis courts suffered from the same problems as Devonshire Park - very large holes (everywhere) but at least they were used, mostly around Wimbledon but substantially after also.

Before graduating to it ourselves (through age) we used to watch the older lads - Waddington, and the Bracewells spring to mind, playing rugby on 'the big pitch'whilst in summer we played cricket against the bandstand until we couldn't see the ball. The top side was all 4's and 6's - few runs beacuse of the proximity of the rocks. The 'big pitch' side was a different amtter though.

In the October half-term the 'parkies' used to cut trees down and somehow we semed to 'corner the market' for our bonfires in the allotments next to Taylor's brewery where, on one occasion we burnt through the 'Ramsbottoms radio-relay' aerial.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 59-66

Current location (optional) Embsay

Devonshire Park, yes. We played bowls too? True Corinthians. The brass band was in Cliffe Castle. Cliff Castle grounds also had I seem to remember exotic pets in wired cages? Devonshire Park!! I'm trying to picture it. I can picture the tennis court and the bowling green, a tier lower perhaps. I remember the name Lund Park.Was that at Oakworth? And the parks of all parks was Victoria Park I believe. On Gala Day ( remember those?!) there'd be the processions and the fair would be on in the evening. When in the cubs ( *squirms*) I recall carrying the flag once, but the cubs didn't last long.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-66

Ah! The cubs and gala day. My first gala day in the cubs was to have been my proudest moment. But Willis Walker didn't have a grey scratchy polo neck in my size. I wound up with one that'd've fit most 7 year olds, but which looked like it'd been sprayed on me. It gave so much uplift to the boobs that I decided it best to wear the aforementioned green gabardine (with secret safety pocket) over the top. Wouldn't have looked out of place if it had have rained. It didn't. Most gala days it did, and Victoria Park became a sea of mud. One thing I always looked forward to (apart from the Fats Domino tracks at great volume from the rides) were the chips. Well, they weren't exactly chips, more deep fried new tatties. With salt and loads of vinegar. Wonderful! Unsurprisingly I still can't quite get into my cub uniform...

Good heavens, no, Alan. Lund Park was/is [what's left of it] on Malsis Road, just off Oakworth Road near the bottom of Fell Lane. It had all the features described by David plus a real paddling pool that was perfectly usable on a hot summer's day - though it did rather fall into disrepair in the '60s. There was a fountain that worked surrounded by a little lake [pond?], and some interesting pathways near the parkie's hut - a kind of giant rockery with a bridge and underpass near the cricket venue mentioned by David. We played tennis, putting and bowls. Brian Moate once dropped a wood (I think that's what you call the big bowl) on my head (that explains a lot says my wife) though I expect he's forgotten about that.
Oakworth Park was in the middle of Oakworth, and very small. It was originally a folly attached to an old house that had been demolished and the grounds left to the local authority. It was a wonderful place for hide and seek, and had a bowling green that could be viewed from a kind of first story gallery - or even the second storey if you were an adventurous climber.
No idea what state it's in now.
There was also a park in the middle of Haworth. It was still in a very good state when I last saw it three or four years ago.
One at Crosshills too as I recall.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-65

Current location (optional) Leeds

"Good heavens,no,Alan."?? Inadmissible I should get my parks geography wrong. I still can't place it. I think a map of Keighley should be on this site somewhere for people like me who have long been moved away and whose memories are getting dimmer ( and more selective). So..Devonshire, Lund, Oakworth Parks, Cliffe Castle, Hawoth park, and - is there a Live8 concert there?- Victoria Park. I do recall the deep fried tatties/chips. Lovely.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-66

At first, I misread this as "Keighley's Packs", having switched from the Lions rugby thread to this.

I remember Chris Brereton (wearing 8 in the blue and white hoops of Keighley RLFC)- a huge man and a juggler of the ball and master of the dummy. On match days, I would hang around outside the changing rooms which we all used on games periods at Lawkholme. He would came out in a camel hair overcoat wearing a monocle and talking "posh". He signed my autograph book. I couldn't believe he was the man I put Keighley's hopes on as he ran out to the blaring '78 recording of "The Entry of the Gladiators".

Any other recollections of the Lawkholmelaners from the '50s /'60s?

Len Ward - the winger- was my hero. Elias wore no 5. Any one remember de Lloyd wearing number 6? Jenkins at no 7? Ernie Redman's mother kept a selling out shop at the bottom of Bradford St.He and his brother were painters and decorators. Terry "'olly" Hollindrake was at Eastwood Sec Mod before he put window cleaning behind him to become a favourite at Lawkholme for his massive side-step which he must have picked up from Len Ward. I think he had county and international honours. More prompts please.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60

Current location (optional) Lincoln

Well, whatever you're on Terry, I'll have some.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-66

Lund Park was nearest to me, approached as I remember by an avenue of trees. There were bowling greens and tennis courts and rather well-kept lawns -- but I'm talking of an era long gone and I was sad to read it's a no-go area now.Even in those days naughty things happened in the shelters after dusk (what time did it close I wonder?)and which always remind me of Peter Simple's 'sex-infested Sadcake park'No place now for such innocent dallyings I suppose.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1940-48

Current location (optional) Epsom

Terry------ you must be old to remember so far back !

I think Len Ward was everyones favourite.I think he worked at Darling & Sellars----his sidestep was legendary.Melville de Lloyd at standoff--brilliant,and I think that Chris Brereton was the biggest prop I had ever seen until I saw Frank Whitcombe from Bradford Northern who later became mine host at the Airedale Heifer.I had a soft spot for Jackie Mills,the full back who used to kick the goals easily from the touchline.Fred Barrett,who passed away recently,was also a favourite local lad.Cheers.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 47-51

Current location (optional) Auckland NZ

Lund Park never closed, Tom. The railings were taken away during WW2 to be melted down to make armaments. I guess this happened to all the park railings throughout the country. Despite the lack of lighting in the park (or perhaps because of it) it was, as you say, a popular haunt after dark - and you wouldn't hesitate to walk through in the wee small hours alone in the early '60s.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-65

Current location (optional) Leeds

Still on Keighley's Packs - me dad used to call them the "steam pigs" or "footballers' labourers". They played on wet, muddy pitches without the respite of an escape to the dressing room at half time - they were lucky to get a swig from the water bottle, half an orange or a squeeze from the magic sponge administered by Frank (?) Watson who lived down Lawkholme and had a half decent, much fancied daughter. Bill, please help me with identifying a first XIII -: Jacky Mills; Len Ward,Freddie Barrett,Cumbrian Bill Ivill, Elias; De Lloyd, Jenkins; Chris Brereton; Britton (9 or 10); Mulhall (12 or 13). Local lads Jim Bardgett (who worked for the council) and Bob (?) Flanaghan made appearances. I thought Flanaghan was a big man until he was unceremoniously O'Driscolled by 2 big Fartown forwards before my very eyes. I remember Wigan knocking Keighley out of the 2nd Round of the Cup at Lawkholme with a disputed try by Billy Boston (a bounced touch down) I met Billy recently at Widnes. A lovely friendly - and still big, man.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60

Current location (optional) Lincoln

None too subtle subterfuge here.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-66

Lund Park - now that's really bringing back memories, although a tad removed from KBGS!
I lived in Lawnswood road and thus the hallowed precincts were only 1 minute's walk away. The area near the parkie's huts under the bridge was well used by a group of us lads and our then girlfriends - hours of endless 'heavy petting' as it used to be called.
The bowling greens which, after a particular adventurous Mischief Night, were dug up - my apologies after all these years, what a stupid thing to do!
The winding concrete paths around the park were ideal for roller skating using those early models that had steel wheels, what a racket they made.
The shelter sheds in the vicinity of the duckpond were also good 'spooning' areas. And yes, I remember splashing about in the 'paddling pool', it must have been one heck of a summer's day!
As far as safety, it is good to remember that one could walk through Lund Park at ANY hour and be completely safe, doesn't sound too good now. I did have a stroll through on my visit in 2000 and hardly recognised the place, most of the greenery had disappeared - it just seemed a bit desolate. I was informed later that the walk was probably not a good idea - crazy isn't it?

PS - I'll resend the Marquis of Granby image in the next day or so, when I find it again.

tp

Like several others, I have happy memories of Lund Park,- cricket against the old bandstand (when was it last used for bands??), Putting, Tennis, groping with various girls after Lund Park Meths Youth Club etc.
I recall the Keighley and District Tennis Championships were held there, and I twice worked as a ball boy for 5 shillings the day, and as much orange juice we could manage. My neighbour Philip Cole got us into it (He later became a F.A. football referee), some of you will remember him.
The bowls clubs still thrive, my father at almost 86 still plays occasionally for the Veterans, and Mum 'scores' for ladies matches.
The 'caves' at Oakworth Park were good fun too.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-1964

Current location (optional) Wirral

This thread is attracting interest,even though it's wandering a bit.
Terry--I can't add to your team--but a couple of points---- Ivill took over the left wing AFTER Elias---both big blokes--- and I'm pretty sure that Billy Boston played in a later era-I never saw him play--- I left Keighley in '54.
Parks---Cross Roads was my local and it was there I took my first steps,so the story goes,on the putting green,now a playground.Indeed I have a photo of me toddling on that very green.I also have a photo of me at 18 months with my gran alongside the stone water fountain which disappeared sometime after the war.I also learned to play crown bowls as a teenager at Cross Roads park.We had a fearsome parkie-Ernest Astley who would chase us and threaten us as to what he would do to us if he caught us playing in his beloved bushes.Probably a different story these days---he would be the one being chased! The park is now a mess and I wrote a letter of complaint to the Keighley News after my last visit there in '01.All the shelters have been demolished--no protection from the elements for oldies (or youngies looking for a quiet place)but I suppose nowadays everyone has a car which we didn't have.Haworth park is kept up to speed quite obviously because of the many visitors to Haworth.Which raises another issue--centralised local government is not beneficial to the villages.How can Bradford councillors appreciate the needs of the many villages around Keighley? From what I read in the K.News online-it seems that there is a move afoot to reverse that move.Cheers.
ps. I also have used the facilities in Lund Park as a young man escorting a girl home---also played tennis there.My cousin is a regular bowler there now.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 47-51

Current location (optional) Auckland NZ

Lund Park seems to be the one of mysteries, caves, and young women. I suppose it depended which part of town you came from. Devonshire was my local park, though I doubt I could find my way there now. Can't remember a putting green. I think it did have a small paddling pool. Now Lund makes me think of Guardhouse school : wasn't there a house system? One of them was Lund House? Blue? I think I was in Victoria House whose colour was red. House rounders matches. Devonshire House?

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-66

Lund Park had an excellent, flat playing field that could accommodate at least two games of football - often more if they were less than 11-a-side. The hours we spent must have equated to the total career hours of a professional footballer [with the exception of Stanley Matthews, whom I had the privilege of seeing once before he retired]. One other eminent(?) international footballer who often played in our games was Trevor Hockey - I last saw him in the late sixties in Sheffield - I wonder what happened to him subsequently. [I know he wasn't ex-KBGS but we shouldn't be parochial with our memories.]
Brian mentioned Lund Park Youth Club etc. Yes I recall many pleasant evenings spent after the club in the park with a young lady - discussing social anthropology and modern Central European literature.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-65

Current location (optional) Leeds

Shaun, I believe Trevor Hockey collapsed and died during a 5 aside match ( in the Dutch Barn (!)). In his 40s.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-66

I'd totally forgotten about a house system at Guardhouse....but those names do ring a bell! I think there might well have been, and that the houses might have competed at the school sports day (at Burgess's rec, I think).

Here's a question : why was Burgess' reck(?) so called? That's where we sledged and played cricket (unintentional pun!) right? That's where we went when we said we were going " down the field." With the "res" at the bottom. Wonder when that was last full of water? Here's a memory, which only just came to me : Guardhouse school had this playground and at the top end was a bank, a few feet high, going up from the tarmac playground. I even think we used to wear house armbands, appropriately coloured, at sports functions.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-66

I'd always assumed Burgess to be the guy who owned the field before the water board got their hands on it. Does anybody know when the res last functioned as a reservoir? It was kind of a cinder track inside as I remember, but later was turned into football pitches, I think. I remember Burgess's as being the scene of endless pastimes, from the innocent sledging, cricket and five -a -side rugby league, to games with sheath knives and bows and arrows. The sheath knife game involved two of you starting out with legs spread as widely as possible. Your opponent would throw and you had to place one of your feet where the knife had landed. Then it was your shot. As the legs got closer and closer together the area you had to aim at diminished and the prospect of putting you opponent in hospital increased. Fortunately the Vicky Hospital was at the bottom of the field...

Sheath knives! Risky game. The res was a strange place as I remember it now. Perhaps I didn’t think so then, or perhaps I did. A weird and eerie almost no-go area, desolate, cindered as you say, with a concrete strip somewhere inside which may well have been used for cricket. The res had mounds running round it with dips in each corner and this was sometimes used for biking. But we seldom ventured into the res. Perhaps it was for the bigger lads. The “field” had this dirt path running diagonally, or nearly, through it, ending up running past a bowling green I think. The path was like a borderline for sports. To one side, open field leading up to the steepish bank was for cricket and sledging. There were thrilling sledge tracks down that bank. The open field to the other side of the path was for rugby and practising goal kicking, over soccer posts I think. One older lad was an avid rugby leaguer who got us into it. Sometimes we probably played even 2 a-side! The field!!! Raise a glass.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-66

...glass duly raised! And after the field - the Garages (at the top of your street)! Not exactly a park, but treated like one. Battered metal up-and-over doors that made a fine sound when a ball was kicked agaist them.

That reminds me of a game we used to play called 'Slam' . We took it in turns to kick a football against a defined area, such as a garage door (in our case it was often one of the octagonal sides of the bandstand in Lund Park). If you missed you were out, usually the kicks became more and more 'angular' so the next guy had a smaller target to aim at. On the bandstand the vertical faces had a ripple shape (like a distorting mirror) so the ball could fly off at different heights)

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-1964

Current location (optional) Wirral

I’ve played that game Brian. Perhaps did in the Garages. We used the Garages for football and cricket. It was probably the best surface in the country, in that you could whack a tennis ball off a length and cause many “ oh noooooooooooos” if you smacked the ball straight back, as the ball ran right down a hill. Some poor sod had to fetch it. Hitting out of the Garages probably meant the ball ended up in someone’s back garden. The game was really serious if we graduated from tennis ball to compressed rubber ball, some of which tended to bounce a bit. Moans if a car arrived in a game, but somehow it seldom happened from what I remember. But those garage doors made a heck of a racket when hit by a football. If ever we were there on a Sunday morning, I’d sometimes hear the distant shout from the bottom of my street “ Alan!!!!!!!! Yer dinner’s ready!!” All these memories coming back. Ah the Garages.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-66