Widmerpool
NEW HOUSING. Widmerpool parish councillor Geoff Brooks is leading the way in suggesting his village needs livening up and suggesting it needs some new housing for younger people just starting on married life, saying this will be the only way to bring life to the village.
Coun. Brooks makes his claim after planned surveys were announced by Midlands Rural Housing to find housing needs in Widmerpool and two neighbouring villages, Wysall and Widmerpool with a end result of a small housing scheme for the three parishes and with an offer of land being available in Widmerpool.
Compared to years past, Widmerpool perhaps does deserve the claim that Coun. Brooks makes, that it is a dead village, for hardly anything ever happens there .
Jeff is firmly convinced that it needs new and young residents, but says without new homes t he younger people he wants to see there will never be able to afford to buy property to become Widmerpool residents.
The ‘dead’ clam hasn’t always been a tag that could be directed to be put on the village, because it once boasted being a home for some really high class competitive club cricket and sporting events, which must rank as the highest achievement in the history of the 20th century in Widmerpool, and crowds would ring the playing area in deck chairs at weekends to watch top quality sport.
One of the high points in the cricket era of Roths, whose side consisted of ex County players and top local talent, was playing Notts County C.C. one Sunday afternoon in an overs match and beating them.
This was during the time when Brian Bolus was Captain of Notts. And another big crowd puller was the Widmerpool six a side cricket K.O. Cup. There have been quite a few well-known names that played for Roths - David Murray ( West Indian Test Wicket Keeper), Derrick Randle (Notts and England); Derek Baker (Ex Kent), Keith Gilhoulley ( Yorks & Notts), Maurice Hill (ex Notts), Martin Ashenden (ex Northants) and players from South Africa.
Others who have played there include David Gower (Leics and England) and Nigel Briers the Leicestershire Wicket Keeper, plus many more well known cricketers.
Records show this was a period of time when Widmerpool really buzzed with different events using the sports field and amenities. Notts County Football Club used it as a training ground, Nottingham Forest Football Club played their youth matches on
Sunday mornings there. Brian Clough even brought a team of top Division footballers to play in a charity match.
Other functions held there included events for the Quorn Hunt, Butchers & Bakers and Young Farmers, Riding for the Disabled, Show Jumping, Weddings, Private Parties and as the Local Polling Station.
Local people readily helped with events to ensure they were a success, from those on the sports field to the annual Boogaloo Dance held every June for charity.
From 1980 the cricket ground was used by Keyworth Southwolds Comprehensive School as a sports field until 1983 when their own playing field on Platt Lane was ready for use. The cricket field was finally sold to its present owners, Keyworth Rugby Club in 1983.
Cricket has played a large part in village life and Widmerpool was the home of probablye one of England’s greatest batsman ever. Reg Simpson who was reputed to be the best player of fast bowling in the world and who played 366 times for Notts and won 27 England caps.
He made a career total of 30,546 runs, including a highest score of 259 for the MCO against New South Wales . He took 69 wickets, including two in Tests, and 193 catches.
Simpson hit 1,000 runs in a season 13 times and 2,000, five times. He scored ten double centuries. His highest Test score was 159 not out against Australia in Melbourne in the fifth test of the 1950/51 tour. Reg Simpson died aged 93 in 2013.