Friday Folk

TAKE one step into pensioner Harold Bale's house and it is not difficult to work out what his favourite animal is.

His passion for horses has taken over the walls and floors at his home in Blackburn Road, Great Harwood.

More than 60 pottery horses have been put out to pasture on the carpet in one room.

Paintings of horses hang from walls, while cushions emblazoned with the animals are scattered across seats around the house.

Harold's interest in horses - particularly shire horses - goes back to his childhood.

The 77-year-old, who worked as a deputy production manager at a Great Harwood crisp factory, said: "I am originally from Somerset and my father worked as a coalman.

"He had a shire horse and I started with him on his rounds when I was about 10.

"I always liked looking after the horse and this was when my interest really started.

"It was about 25 years ago that I started collecting, after my sister gave me my first pottery horse. "I have been given a few over the years and go to car boot sales looking for them."

Many of his pottery horses are pulling carts and one of his favourites is a coal cart horse.

His affection for horses has spilled on to canvas.

He has a collection of paintings by the late comedian Charlie Chester.

A friend heard about his interest and gave him the pictures, which the comedian had painted in his spare time.

Harold, who moved to Great Harwood in 1950, added: "I have ridden horses but I am bit too old to get on one now.

"However, age does not stop me taking an interest in them and I intend to carry on collecting for as long as I can."

Arthur recalls boxing years

BOXING has been in the blood of Arthur Walsh since he was a teenager and he is still actively involved in the sport more than 30 years later.

Retired police sergeant Arthur, who lives in Haslingden, has many happy boxing memories and will always remember the night he was on the same bill as Cassius Clay and Henry Cooper.

That was the famous occasion at Wembley Stadium in 1963 when Henry caused a sensation by dumping the boxer - later known as Mohammed Ali - on his backside before unluckily losing the fight.

Arthur, who won his fight by a knockout that famous night, was a professional boxer as a heavyweight between the ages of 19 and 24 and won nine and lost nine of his 18 fights. He said: "I had to make a decision whether to carry on boxing professionally or to pack it in and join the police force. I wasn't getting any younger so I plumped for a police career. He still vividly recalls the Wembley event in which he took part.

He said:"All the boxers on the bill had to weigh in at the London Palladium and about 2,000 people turned up to see Cassius Clay.

"In the audience were many celebrities, including Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra, and the red carpet was out.

"What a contrast to my situation when the return fight took place at Highbury Stadium. I was pounding the beat at Haslingden as a police constable, being chased by my chief inspector."

Arthur fought under the name of Steve Walsh, of Southport. A national newspaper got his name wrong early in his career and it stuck.

He joined the police force in 1964 and served for 29 years at Haslingden, Rawtenstall and Waterfoot, before retiring in September 1993.

For the last 15 years he has organised police boxing tournaments throughout East Lancashire and been a matchmaker. He has also organised boxing evenings for organisations like Rotary, Round Table and the Lions. He is a qualified boxing coach and, over the years, has encouraged many youngsters to take part in the sport.

Appeal for lost brother

A WOMAN who only discovered she had a step-brother six months ago is appealing for anyone with information about him to contact her.

Karen Steward, ne Spear, 35, lives in the Gannow area of Burnley with her eight-year-old son Thomas. Six months ago her father Jack Spear told her she had a brother, Ian John, who was born on January 27, 1959 at Bank Hall Maternity Home, Burnley.

When Jack and Ian's mother Joyce Atkinson divorced she remarried and moved to Australia.

Ian was adopted and is now probably known by the name of Ian John Lord.

Karen believes he may have returned to East Lancashire.

She is appealing for anyone who knows anything about her step-brother to contact her on 01282 719897.

Dracula 'bride puzzle'

A WRITER and artist is appealing for people to help him with his research into the strange story of a Blackburn woman branded "Dracula's Bride". Frederick Henstock, of Westhoughton, wants to know more about the life and times of Sarah Ellen Roberts. Sarah is said to have been killed in Blackburn in 1913 after she was accused of witchcraft and murder.

Her body was later transported to Peru by her family and locals became convinced she would rise from the dead and wreak her revenge. Frederick is planning a book based around the hair-raising tale and is desperate to collect more information.

He is also keen to get his hands on a photograph of the dead woman. Anyone who can help can contact him on 01942 840994.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.