Winter League
Our recent appeal for sponsorship of four new trophies yielded a good response including one from Bob Swan a Cowcliffe veteran and former official of numerous local leagues. Bob is a great collector of bowling memorabilia and statistics especially anything related to his bowling club at Cowcliffe Lieral Club.
Bob rang me to offer to sponsor a trophy for the Winter League and then surprised me by saying that he wanted it to be accepted in memory of Tedbar Tinker. I have heard Bob speak about Tedbar before but talking to him this time made me realise what an impact the exploits of this individual had made on Bob over a prolonged period.
Tedbar was the landlord of the Shepard's Arms at Cowcliffe from the mid-1950's and a bowler of some repute. For a number of years he played for Taylor Hill BC during their glory years, moving on to play for Cowcliffe Lib and over this time he was a highly successful individual and team bowler. On a personal front he won the highly prestigious Waterloo Cup in 1944 as well as being a member of the Taylor Hill team that won the Binns Cup then the Drayton Cup and then the Subscription Cup for three consecutive years. The same team also won the Yorkshire Cup on those three successive years. In addition he was also captain of the Yorkshire County away team for a number of years.
As well as being the landlord at the Shepherd's Arms in Cowcliffe for over 20 years, Tedbar was also a professional bowler for 11 years before retiring in 1960. He died in 1969 at the age of 73. I think the Winter League will be very proud to accept the Tedbar Tinker Cup to add to its collection of honours.
Two more reports from The Huddersfield Examiner from September 1946
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