Updated December 11, 2008 9:36 PM

Photo courtesy of Hindle Gregory
Left Hindle Gregory (assistant Cub Leader) next Scout at the back Dennis Hall, Front middle ? Ainsworth, lady behind Mrs Nuttall (Cub Leader), far right behind flag Roy Prince

2004 View from my album

SM032

St Marks Sermons with the 11th Bolton Scout Group circa 1957

Bobby Heywood's park was the venue for school sports day and things like that. There was a path from the bottom end of there to the school, which was quite steep. I fell off my bike coming down that hill once and did something to my wrist. I still have a small scar today to remind me. The park is now a pretty good adventure playground, with lots of facilities for kids to play on Ian Anthony Edmundson class of 1970

1875 May 17th The inhabitants of, and immediately surrounding, the district once well known as 'Slaterfield', have every year more cause to hold in grateful remembrance the name of the late Mr Robert Heywood.

Owing to that gentleman's beneficence, the Corporation were enabled to set apart the large plot of land which bears the title of Heywood Park and Recreation Ground, the value of which grows daily apparent. Hundreds of houses have sprung up all about it, and their number is being constantly added to, and with this multiplicity of residences there is an increase of population and large manufactories. When the grounds were opened in 1866 there were many open spaces in close vicinity which were made available without scruple as playgrounds, and with very little trouble a walk might have been enjoyed in green fields; but now blocks of buildings cover these spots. Thus the residents of this rapidly increasing part of the town, more especially the juvenile portion, are driven to these pleasure grounds, and any evening, except Sunday, can there be seen hundreds of youths and young men engaged in various games, whilst reclining on the seats or walking about in the park are the adults enjoying themselves in a less demonstrative way. The grounds have been far from fortunate in their establishment. The laying of them was retarded through several causes for some time, and they had only begun to assume a park-like appearance when everything was turned topsy-turvy by the making of the tunnel underneath for the new line to Manchester. Last year the Park had been levelled again, and the walks and plants got into something like order.