Village says goodbye to cricket hero and friend.

TUESDAY 10th August marked the passing of one of Hayfield’s most well liked characters, Ronnie Herron after losing his battle with Parkinson’s.

I asked Hayfield local Bill Higginbottom and long term
friend about Ron’s contribution to his beloved Hayfield CC over the many years
he played for the club.

“Ron was originally from Burnage and originally started off
playing cricket for Manchester. He moved to Hayfield in the early 60’s, and
when I first saw him play, I thought I was watching the slowest slow bowler the
world had ever seen but the lad was keen! He eventually became 2^nd
team Captain and genuinely loved the sport and everything associated with it.”

Bill went on to tell me that Ron was an avid Francophile and
fluent in the French language; he liked nothing more than setting out on one of
his many gastronomic excursions to France, in search of fine wines and
excellent cuisine, even keeping several gastronomic diary’s of what he and his
wife ate and drank at the various hostelries they’d visit throughout their
travels.

Ron was also a keen member of Hayfield’s eponymous ‘Nomads’
team, taking part in many fund raising functions and events throughout the
region and was still playing cricket for the team in his 69^th year.

Summing up, Bill described his friend as “A lovely, lovely
man; loved his food, his wine, loved the game. I remember on a Saturday
afternoon, when lady’s used to set up the tea, it wouldn’t be unusual to see
Ronnie polish off a whole Victoria sponge all to himself!”

Judging by the huge turnout at both the church and later on
at The Royal, Ron was indeed a very well loved and respected person and will be
greatly missed by the village and its cricket club.

Allen Fairhurst  

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Blue Plaque for Captain Mainwaring

Almost 30 years after the death of actor Arthur Lowe, the village of Hayfield is to receive a prestigious blue plaque to mark his entry into the world in a small terrace on Church Street way back in 1915.

He was one of the leading British character actors during 1970’s, emmortalized by his portrayal of Captain George Mainwaring in the hit TV and film comedy Dad’s Army. 

Born to a railway worker who specialised in the transport of theatre actors, stage sets and production crews, Arthur Lowe’s first ambition was far from the heady delights of centre stage, instead it was centred around his father’s beloved game of cricket. To this day, photographs of both Arthur and his dad can be seen hanging on the walls of Hayfield Cricket Club along with a plaque marking his father’s 20 year long chairmanship. 

As a schoolboy, Arthur and his family left his maternal grandparents house and moved to Manchester but that didn’t stop Arthur from visiting his grandparents on a regular basis, often turning up to keep wicket for Hayfield CC.

Having failed the entry test to join the Merchant Navy due to poor eyesight, Arthur took a job in a factory making parts for aeroplanes. He eventually joined the army and served in the Middle East during World War II, where his natural ability to entertain became increasingly apparent.

After demob, Arthur embarked on a full time acting career, taking parts in countless stage productions as well as appearing in over 50 films. But it wasn’t until his portrayal as the pious Leonard Swindley in the hugely popular TV soap, Coronation Street (A show which also has links to Hayfield) that Arthur was lined up for the role that would make him a household name.

Arthur went on to play Captain Mainwaring in Dad’s Army for the next nine years, whilst simultaneously making numerous appearances on the London stage. 

On the 9^th of May 1976, Arthur brought the entire cast of Dad’s Army to Hayfield to take part in a fundraising match for the cricket club – the event was attended by over 5,000 people and raised thousands of pounds.

On April 15^th 1982, whilst appearing on stage at the Alexandria Theatre, Birmingham, Arthur collapsed and died of a stroke in his dressing room aged 66. Arthur’s widow Joan, later returned to his grandparents house and was to live there a further seven years until her death in 1989.

It is yet to be decided where the blue plaque, largely championed by the Hayfield Civic Trust, will be placed. We’ll keep you posted.

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Hayfield’s very own Guitar Man!

Over the last 40 years, Ken Allcroft of Kinder Road has collected a staggering 34 guitars. Hayfield's new reporter, Allen Fairhurst went to meet Ken and strum a few chords

Born in the village in the summer of 1947, Ken has lived in Hayfield ever since, leaving to travel the world as head of security to stellar acts such as Barry Manilow and The Chippendales back in the late eighties.

Ken’s interest in guitars began when he first bought a Fender Telecaster in the 70’s and was instantly hooked! “Tele’s are still one of my favourite guitars,” said Ken, "I own quite a few. There’s something so tactile about them; the curves, the colours and of course the sound they make. That’s what’s great about all guitars, they all have their individual tones, sounds and characteristics.

And with 34 around the house that’s a lot of personality!

“At the last count I think it was 34 but I keep finding more dotted around the house. It’s a bit like bumping into an old friend you’ve not seen in a while – it’s a good feeling.”

So which is Ken’s favourite guitar?

“I love them all! They all have their own uniqueness, but if push came to shove, it would have to be the Gretsch White Falcon, there’s something so Americana about it. It’s the one everyone is drawn to.

“Apart from it being one of the great iconic guitars of the last fifty plus years, I just love the way it sounds; that crystal clear rockabilly tone, so recognisable from bands such as The Stray Cats and The Cult”

Ken’s eclectic mix of musical tastes runs from Buddy Holly to James Taylor, from The Georgia Satellites to BB King. 

“I have many hero’s but special mention must go out to the likes of Albert Lee – a great speed player, the late, great Chet Atkins, a true idol of mine, Rory Gallagher, Jeff Beck and even Hank Marvin. There are a lot of great players in the village too: Neil Cossar of The Cheaters lives here and he taught me a lot. Then there’s the great Phil ‘The Maestro’ Strange, who I’ve known since we were lads. He’s played all over the world including China, where he was broadcast to millions. He still comes round every Tuesday night for a strum.”

Ken is fighting an ongoing battle with a rare form of cancer known as Waldenström Macroglobulinemia, so playing gigs for charity with his band, The Ken Allcroft All Stars, is something that is of strong personal interest to him. He recently organised a charity gig for a young lady in the village who is suffering from cancer and the night was a runaway success, raising triple figures for the cause and leaving music fans yelling for more.

Ken has many other such plans for musical events in the near future. Keep checking the Hayfield Village events page for further updates.

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