No 11. Clifford (Slam) Lambert. A Lad from Featherstone is born.
A bit more about my dad, wiki page even.
Part 1: 1930 – 1953.
Like many surrounding areas, Featherstone grew around coal
mining. Coal had been mined at Featherstone since the 13th century and remains
of bell pits can still be seen to the north of Park Lane at North Featherstone.
In 1848, the opening of the Wakefield, Pontefract and Goole railway line
through Featherstone provided the basis for large scale coal mining in
Featherstone, by opening up new markets in the South of England and Europe.
Featherstone Main Colliery was opened in 1866, followed by Ackton Hall Colliery
in 1873
Wallace Lambert and wife Mary give birth to their first
child, Clifford, on 30th January 1930. In 1937 Wallace joins Acton
Hall Colliery and the family – two younger sisters – move into a two up two
down home at 9 Robins Terrace Featherstone. No hot water, tin bath on the wall outside and a
loo in the yard. It was rough and tough.
Robbins Terrace VE day.
VE day party back of Robbins Terrace featherstone, Cliff Lambert, bottm extream right, Derek lowe just above him, The baby front centre is John Stanley who kindly provided the photo.
Cliff Lambert is my dad.
We chart his early years and the struggle to survive. Bullied and beaten at school. His nickname was. Fishy. Leaving school age 13, joining the Yorkshire Copper Works aged 14, cycling 22 miles daily from home to work in any weather during the war. He completed his National Service 1947-49; first Blanford Forum Dorset where he was asked. 'Can ya drive lad'. 'Yes sir, drive my dad home from pub on weekend sir, sir sir'. He was handed a driving licence and drove the trucks and how to maintained them. He played rugby union at no 10, fly half and had already been spotted by Army scouts. Kicked goal, ran the play and was good yet wafer thin from a lack of food at home. He was transfered to Newark and continued his rise to fame being selected for England at no10. He was out celebrating with mates when he fell into a toilet door, locked to protect the broken pot, shashed the door and elbow hit the broken pot.
He not only missed the Army v Navy game at Twickenham but was restationed to Pontefract Baracks and put on light duties for early discharge six weeks later.
The town of Featherstone is also an icon in the world of Rugby League football as the most famous of giantkillers. Crowds of 15,000 would pack home games, the town’s population 13,000. The players were gods, cult heroes and loved by every girl in town.
Clifford didn't stay long at Pontefract Army camp
Featherstone Rovers were about to call and a new life unfold.
July 1952.
The newly married couple, Betty and Clifford Lambert, South Cliff, Bridlington, East Yorkshire. [Yorkshire Post]
A photographer, Yorkshire Post, asked permission to take this photo. Clifford, second youngest player, Alan Tennant, the baby, on the field, had just taken part in the world’s first, live, televised game of Rugby League; the Cup Final, Featherstone Rover V Workington Town at Wembley. The highlights were transmitted world wide on Pathe News, and now on YouTube. A link is at the end.
Clifford, just turned 22, is flush with a newfound fame, seemingly impossible for a lad in a tiny mining town. He was just one of many, Lad’s from Featherstone, who would become the name of Rugby League throughout the world. Ask any rugby player, an code, union or league, if they have heard of Featherstone Rovers and they nod. They are truly a sporting phenomenon, not just rugby, all sports. If these Lads were racehorses, their sperm would be worth millions.
Newly married Betty and Clifford lived in a bed-sit, 15 Robbins Terrace, three doors up from Cliff’s mum Mary and Wallace his dad. Cliff was the oldest of three, Doreen and Mary his younger sisters. Robbins Terrace would have been built circa 1900 to accommodate the demand for workers down the mines. Wallace, my grandad (mine and my sons middle names), was an electrician at the pit. Home, a rented, two up, two down, brick built terraced house, under a slate pitched roof. A single cold-water supply to a Belfast sink. A gas cooker. At the back of the house was a small yard with patch of muddy coal dust and two brick sheds also with a slate roof. One shed housed coal, for the fires in each room, and one shed a toilet. Across Featherstone lane, a two minute walk, a small allotment with chickens and rabbits, for eggs and meat..
My mum and dad had a bedsit, one room with an outside loo and a tin bath on the wall. The happy couple above, didn't care, life was heaven on earth. Nine months later, 29th April 1953, out I popped at 3pm exactly, kick off time indeed.
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