MOST of the world’s top golfers will be lining up on the Lancashire coast later this week in a chase for one of sport’s most famous trophies – the Open’s silver claret jug.

MOST of the world’s top golfers will be lining up on the Lancashire coast later this week in a chase for one of sport’s most famous trophies – the Open’s silver claret jug.

The very same bit of silverware that graced the mantelpiece of a modest terrace house up Lynwood for a spell during the Second World War.

Former Darwen weaver Dick Burton won the Open at St Andrews in 1939 as the storm clouds of war gathered over Europe and he never had an opportunity to cash in on his success.

Within a few weeks he was in the RAF and he didn’t pick up a golf club with any enthusiasm for nearly six years although he played when he could.

It never troubled Burton that he made barely a penny from that success. “I was lucky enough,” he recalled.

“A lot of those who watched me up at St Andrews also went off to war and they never came back. Some of my friends didn’t make it either. I did. ”

In the spring of 1946 the Darwen lad wrote to the Royal and Ancient: "Dear Sirs, Please find enclosed my fee of five guineas for this year's Open. I will bring the trophy back when I come."

As I wrote in one of my earlier stories which charted Burton’s career: “It's difficult to imagine one of today's sporting superstars penning something quite so touching.”

And it’s even harder to imagine today’s Open winners such as Tiger Woods and Ernie Els catching a train home and sticking that fine piece of silverware on the mantelpiece of a two-up and two-down cottage.

It was typical of the laid-back Darwen lad who used to practise with his brothers, hitting wooden bobbins from his mum’s sewing basket when they were children and living on a farm close to the golf club.

The family moved into Lynwood Avenue and young Dick went to work as a weaver down the road at Cobden Mill before getting an opportunity to work at the golf club as a greensman.

He worked on the course for a few years during which time brother John became the club professional.

Dick was appointed professional at the prestigious Sale Golf Club in 1937 and he was 32 when he won the Open by two strokes from the powerful American John Bulla.

After the war he became pro at Coombe Hill in Surrey for several years.

I was reminded of Dick Burton as I drove up Belgrave Road at the weekend.

On the left I saw the street sign for “Burton Close” on the new Belgrave Heights development.

It’s one of several roads and apartment blocks being named in honour of Darwen sportsmen and heroes.

And I couldn’t resist a smile as the naming of roads such as Burton Close was down to my initiative – and former councillor Dave Smith’s dogged persistence.

Dick Burton held the Open title – and the silver claret jug – for seven consecutive years; a record that will never be broken.

A pity it took nearly 60 years for his home town of Darwen to mark his singular achievement.