“Just A Bowler From Lancashire”

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 January 1948, Page 4

“Just A Bowler From Lancashire”

It is a small world, and bowla makes it smaller. A member of the British Col-~ umbia bowling team, which has been in Wanganui these last two days and leaves for Napier today, strolled into a shop at Taylorville. “Please can you direct me to your Wanganui East bowling green?” he asked the proprietor. Mr. J. K. Glover, ■ Jnr. Mr. Glover complied, and, noting the accent, asked: “And what part of Lancashire do you come from?" “Place called Bardsley,” said the Canadian, "not far from Manchester.” “Where my people came from,” said Mr. Glover, and hand clasped hand across the counter. It transpired that the visitor from British Columbia (Mr. W. Partridge) had attended the same school as Mr. Glover, senior. More than 47 years ago Mr. Partridge left Bardsley to emigrate to British Columbia. Mr. Glover emigrated later to New Zealand, and now, years afterwards, as the result of a chance meeting in Wanganui, brought about by bowls, the two were able to meet and discuss school days. On Wednesday night Mr. Partridge spent the evening with the Glover family. They could perhaps be forgiven for wishing that beloved Grade Fields could have been" heard singing over the radio “Now is the Hour.” Neither would have argued who wr te it, nor who composed it . "Land, but it’s a fine Lancashire laass t’singing it.” It truly is a small world, and bowls makes it smaller!