» Sport has been a big part of life in the county Nostalgia

DESPITE the lack of a Premier League football club in the county (for the moment anyway), sports of all kinds thrive in Gloucestershire and always have.

You name the sport and it will be played somewhere in these environs as these pictures from back issues of the Citizen and Echo remind us.

1. QUEEN MOTHER

The Queen Mother was a familiar face at the Cheltenham Festival for many years. One of her traditions was to stop at Philip Delany’s grocery shop, first in Bath Road, Cheltenham, later in Prestbury where they swopped racing tips and he would present her with a box of chocolates.

Here the Queen Mum is seen presenting the Gold Cup to the owner of that year’s winner The Thinker in 1987.

2. FOREST GREEN

Forest Green Rovers number nine Andy Leitch was snapped having just scored a goal in the Southern League derby against Cheltenham Town on September 11, 1982.

Rovers won the game 5 – 3, but Cheltenham had the last laugh winning 2 – 0 at the end of the season at Whaddon Road to secure promotion to the Premier Division as Rovers slipped to third place.

3. TREDWORTH ROAD RACE

For many years a feature of Gloucester’s sporting calendar, the annual Tredworth Road race saw city streets lined with spectators to cheer on participants.

The Citizen photo shows Roy Fowlke and Colin Teague putting their best feet forward at the start of a race in the early 1960s. No nonsense about trainers in those days you’ll notice. A sturdy pair of brogues did the job nicely thank you.

4. BARNWOOD BOWLS

Showing off the silverware at the end of the 1961 season, the ladies of Barnwood Bowling Club were all smiles (well almost) following success in three county cups. They won the County Pairs, County Triples and County Rink. Pictured left to right are R Barnes, E W Fisher, J Ward, F Meek and R Jones, all Mrs.

5. JOE DAVIS

Joe Davis was the biggest celebrity name in snooker and billiards when he took part in an exhibition match at Gloucester’s St James’s club in 1950.

The Citizen photographer was there to snap the scene when the great man’s opponent, club member Mr H V Newcombe, looked on in admiration. In a career that spanned five decades, Joe

Davis was world snooker champion 15 times and was billiards champ four times.

6. ROLLER SKATING

Roller skating enjoyed a boom in popularity in Edwardian times. Local people flocked in droves to rinks such as the one pictured here in India Road, Gloucester.

Sportswear, of course, hadn’t been in invented. So the men zoomed round in heavy three piece tweed suits complete with collar and tie, while the women wore full length skirts, embroidered jackets and some kept their hats on too. No doubt everyone glowed.

7. CELEBRITY FOOTBALLERS

Six thousand spectators turned out to watch an all-star football team play Stroud District X1 in October 1962. Celebs

included pop singer Jess Conrad in the dark shirt, Carry-on star Bernard Bresslaw in bowler hat and Stan Stennett (kneeling fourth from left), actor, comedian and later manager of the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury.

8. LAURIE LEE-PAT SMYTHE

Slad author of “Cider with Rosie” Laurie Lee opened Miserden church fete in 1965 and was photographed with local sporting celebrity Pat Koechlin-smythe and her husband who lived in the village.

They appear to be sharing a cocktail of light ale and coconut milk. Why we’ll never know.

Pat Smythe was Britain’s best known and most successful show jumper and won an Olympic medal with the GB team in Oslo.