Fun times at Gornal Carnival

I WAS interested to read the recent letter from my old friend Derek Haden (Bugle 1558) giving information on Gornal Carnival and identifying the three gentlemen leading the parade as Jack Brooks, Ernie Hemmings and Jack Timmins.

Derek correctly recalls that the parade always terminated at Lower Gornal Athletic FC’S ground in Garden Walk, but neither he nor the accompanying letter from Ned Williams mention that, at the time, the ground was known as “Timmins Stadium”, an acknowledgement of the money Jack put into reviving and re-establishing the club after the war.

Subsequently, however, there was a parting of the ways and the ground reverted to its original name of Garden Walk Stadium, the name it still bears today. It was about this time too that the team acquired the nickname of “The Peacocks” as a result of their frequent changes of playing colours and, of course, some years ago they dropped the “Lower” from their name in order to quite rightly include all three Gornals in their catchment area.

In addition to the attractions Derek mentions, I also recall the traditional ox-roast, provided by Messrs Turner’s butchers with Alec and “Young” Ted under the supervision of Sergeant Turner. What a treat that was in prebarbecue days!

While this was going on in a corner of the ground the everpopular whippet racing would be taking place on the pitch. Owners came from far and wide for this event – yes, even from Tip’n – and I believe fortunes were made and lost in an afternoon!

Another novelty in those days was a ladies’ football match (eat your heart out, Lucy Bronze!) and I clearly remember Herbert Bate, Gornal’s gammy-legged team trainer, hobbling out amidst raucous applause and whistles to apply the magic sponge to the anatomy of one unfortunate young lady. The standing joke was always that by the time Herbert got to the afflicted player “there wor no wairter lef’ in the bucket!”

Furthermore, I don’t remember this myself – other readers may well do so – I have recently learned from a current Club Committee member that at one notable carnival there was a demonstration of all-in wrestling by none other than Jackie Pallo, Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks, all of whom were household names at the time but were happy to share a pint with Gornalites in the bar afterwards

Simple times, simple pleasures. I doubt we shall see them again. Tempus doh arf fugit !