Bert Harwood (1972) Bert at Hollins Grove School, 1919.
IT WAS chaos as the Second World War drew to a close in the summer months of 1945. The hell that had engulfed every continent was finally cooling and it was time, finally, for the soldiers, sailors and airmen to relax a little and once again take up sporting endeavours which had taken a back seat for nearly six years.
The cricketers were especially raring to go and among them was all-rounder Bert Harwood who had played for and captained Darwen CC in their successful Ribblesdale League campaigns during the Thirties. That summer of 1945 found him in Cairo playing for various RAF sides – when he found some spare time – and it was from there that he wrote home to say that he had come across a promising young off-spinner playing for a couple of Army teams.
Bert wrote: “He might become a very useful professional after the war.” Good spot, Bert! The lad’s name? Jim Laker who is acknowledged as one of the finest off-spinners in the history of the game.
His 19 wickets at Old Trafford in 1956 against the Australians is now enshrined in cricket legend. In all, that season, he had 63 Aussie wickets for less than 10 apiece. Laker was also one of the principle architects of Surrey’s seven consecutive county championships in the 1950s.
It was in the late 70s that Bert Harwood, then a retired bank manager and living in Surrey, met up again with his old pal Jim Laker. Former Darwen cricketer and national newspaper journalist Crawford White arranged lunch during a Test match at Lord’s. “We recalled those days in Cairo and had a good laugh about my talent-spotting,” Bert recalled in an interview with another local reporter, Norman Bentley, a few years later.
Crawford White was one of the Darwen stars back in 1934 when young Harwood had his first full season with the Birch Hall First XI. White was a big man and a demon fast bowler. “He was a bit quick,” recalled Bert.
It was a happy time for young Bert who made three consecutive 50s that July, two of them against a strong Blackpool side. Bert always treasured the half century he hammered over on the coast against Aussie Ted McDonald who, as he recalled, “was bouncing ‘em down a bit!” McDonald was certainly tough and is remembered for taking nine Read wickets for just four runs.
That season Darwen won their second Ribblesdale League title in a desperate finish with Leyland.
Bert was leading amateur batsman for seven years at Darwen and for five years with Tonge over in Bolton in the 50’s – except for 1956 when he had a season with Accrington. He had always worked in banking and had been promoted to assistant manager at the District Bank there. His boss thought it would be a good PR move to play with the Accy outfit.
He did – and he enjoyed a great season, coming second in the batting averages and scoring what he always reckoned was his finest innings – 66 against the dazzling spin of “SP” Gupte, the little Indian magician. Together with Les Carter, Bert put on 136 for the second wicket at Rishton. As Bert recalled: “It gave me great pleasure.”
Bert had left Darwen in 1951 after “a difference of opinion about the club’s internal affairs” and had a season with Blackburn Northern before going to Tonge. But while he was at Darwen he played alongside some of the club’s finest players, among them White, wicket-keeper Harry Round, Edwin Crompton, Alec Gill who took 89 wickets in 1949 for just over 10 apiece, and professionals George Hargreaves and George Hudson.
Bert, who lived in Earnsdale Avenue, became chief cashier at Bolton in 1951, and, after the spell at Accrington, he was appointed manager at Kingston-upon-Thames in 1962. He took early retirement in 1971 and lived in Cranleigh. He and his wife Zora had two daughters, Sandra and Wendy who recalled that, as children, Dad would train them to catch and throw cricket balls as good as any of the lads,
Wendy told me: “Even though Mum and Dad settled well in the South and made lots of new friends his heart was always in Darwen. I think the only thing he preferred in the south was the weather.
“During his last months, when he was very frail and a little confused, we would talk about Darwen and his eyes would light up and the years would fall away. That’s what Darwen meant to him.”
Bert used to recall, as a youngster, travelling by “horse-trap” into Darwen town centre or into Blackburn. Occasionally they would go ten or 15 miles into the country to visit friends and for these special occasions would use a special “light horse” that could easily trot the distance.
He attended Hollins Grove school and won a scholarship in 1924 to the Grammar School. He married the former Zora Shorrock, a Darwen girl who worked at the Walpamur, in 1939.
As Wendy says: “They were always so proud of their Darwen roots and culture as are we.” The sisters visited Darwen a few years ago and had ”a wonderful time.” They walked up to the tower and strolled through Sunnyhurst Woods. “But, my, how it’s changed since 1962,” she smiled. Yes, the town certainly has changed. But, once a Darwener, always a Darwener!
Bert Harwood, born at Greenlands Farm, Darwen in 1913, keen sportsman and a real Darwener, was 88 when he died a few years ago. His widow recently moved into a lovely nursing home near Guildford, supported by her loving daughters and their families – and many happy memories of Darwen.
© Harold Heys
Bert & Zora (seated) with family celebrating their Diamond Wedding 1999 Presentations at Darwen CC 1937.
DLHS would like to thank Wendy Keeler and her family for donating items belonging to her father, Bert Harwood (1913-2002) Former Darwen Cricket Club Captain. Mr Harwood was very well respected in Darwen and well known for his contribution to Darwen Cricket Club and other sports.
Mrs Keeler stated ‘I am just so pleased they may be useful to the History Society and I know my father would have been delighted’
