Sporting past revisited (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Sporting past revisited

8:38am Tuesday 18th March 2008 in Your Say By James Beal

A PIECE of Bridgwater's sporting history has been revisited thanks to a Wiltshire resident with family ties rooted in the town.

Tim Bale, from Salisbury, sent in a photograph of Bridgwater and Albion Rugby Club from the 1901-1902 season, which included his grandfather (James Bale) and his grandfather's brother (Captain William Bale).

The Mercury tracked down the same picture sent in by Tim in Bridgwater and Albion's Centenary Handbook - published in 1975.

The team played in by his grandfather and his grandfather's brother also contained Robert Dibble (first left of middle row), who went on to become England captain.

Another picture sent in by Tim shows his grandfather James (second left) and William (third left) in a family photograph taken in Bridgwater around 1905.

In the photograph Tim is particularly interested in trying to discover more about four of his grandfather's brothers - George, Charles, William and Henry Bale, who were all living in Bridgwater around this time.

He told the Mercury how he got hold of the photographs and what he wanted to find out about.

Tim said: "They belonged to my aunt who lived in Taunton. My grandfather lived in Bridgwater - and his family worked in various brickworks around the town.

"What I'm really interested in is the family group, to see if anyone knows anything about my grandfather's brothers in the picture - George, Charles, William or Henry Bale."

Do you recognise anyone in the photograph? Are they a friend or relative? To get in touch with Tim you can write to: Tim Bale, 16 Queensberry Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 3PJ, call 01722-326480 or email tim.bale@ntlworld.com.

Alternatively you can send in any of your memories to the Mercury by writing to: Bridgwater Mercury, Royal Clarence House, York Buildings, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3AT or email newsdesk@bridgwatermercury.co.uk.