LOCAL sporting buff, Terry Church of Wall Heath, has been busily collating data for a book, “Lost Cricket and Football Clubs and Grounds”, in which he looks back at long disappeared works teams and associated facilities that once existed here in the Black Country. Several Bugle readers have helped him in his research, and to his delight a collection of old photographs have been given to him relating to Richard Thomas and Baldwins Limited, of Swindon and Brockmoor.
Terry worked for RTB from 1958-61, in the Electrical Section of the works laboratory, after leaving Brierley Hill Grammar School, hence his added interest in these pictures.
The photograph above (supplied by Alf Robinson), shows the Swindon works football team taken prior to the first match after the club was formed in 1949, pictured at the Waggon and Horses ground, corner of the Mile Flat, Wall Heath.
Back Row: Bill Chambers (welfare officer), Bill Davies (trainer), Alec Piper, Ernie Kirkham, Derek Wellsbury, Eric Colwell, Major Horton, Mr Peters (works manager).
Front Row: Harry Round, George Turner, Bill Kirkham, George Cooper, Alf Robinson, John Graham.
