Rushden Research Group: Thurston Cup

Transcribed from the Cup and Honours Boards at Rushden Mueseum, 2008

Thurston Cup

Spencer Park Bowls Club

Mr Charles Thurston used to bring his fairground to Rushden and origianlly set up on land opposite the Queen Victoria Hotel in 1904.

Charles had married Charlotte Barker in Suffolk in 1893. Their younger son, Charles became president of the Showmen’s Guild.

Later the Feast was moved to Spencer Park and Charles presented the Bowls Club that played there with a cup to be presented annually to winners of a competition.

In 1997 a Blue Plaque was erected to his memory, and has recently been moved to inside Asda's store.

Thurston Cup
Presented by
Mr Charles Thurston
to
The Rushden Urban District Council
For Annual Competition of
Spencer Park Bowling Club
25th Sept. 1923

The Cup
Courtesy of Rushden Museum

The competition ceased in 1993.

1923	W	FULLER	1948	W	SHORLEY	1971	E	LACK
1924	J	BUGBY	1949	L	HART	1972	S	WRIGHT
1925	W	GRIFFIN	1950	W	HILLS	1973	E	LACK
1926	J	PANTER	1951	"no competition"		1974	Mrs G	NEWMAN
1927	J	PANTER	1952	H	CLIPSTONE	1975	R	BRITTEN
1928	J	PANTER	1953	G	GREEN	1977	R	BRITTEN
1929	R	TWELVETREE	1954	C	THACKER	1978	B	SNAREY
1930	E	PARTRIDGE	1955	A	BETTS	1979	D	MOSS
1931	J	PANTER	1956	F	RICE	1980	D	MOSS
1932	W	KNIGHT	1957	P	THOMPSON	1981	B	SNAREY
1933	S	HARBOUR	1958	C	THACKER	1982	C E	THACKER
1935	S	HARBOUR	1959	R	SANDERS	1983	L	WILMOTT
1937	R	TWELVETREE	1960	C	PINNOCK	1984	D	MOSS
1938	S	HARBOUR	1961	B	RICE	1985	R	DANBY
1939	B	BAYES	1962	R	CLAYTON	1986	C E	THACKER
1940	R	TWELVETREE	1963	C	PINNOCK	1987	R C	BAYES
1941	R	TWELVETREE	1964	A	RICHARDSON	1988	I	ROBERTS
1942	L	HART	1965	C	PINNOCK	1989	D	MOSS
1943	F	RICE	1966	A	RICHARDSON	1990	I	ROBERTS
1944	W	FULLER	1967	E	LACK	1991	K	KNIGHT
1945	W	FULLER	1968	J	COOPER	1992	N	CHANDLER
1946	F	RICE	1969	F	RICE	1993	D	MOSS
1947	G	WARD	1970	E	LACK

Rushden Echo, August 24th 1923, transcribed by Kay Collins

Bowls—The Thurston Cup competition caused great interest and, at the last, intense excitement. Some excellent games had been played throughout the season, the semi-final being played on Tuesday between Mr. G. Rodwell and Mr. Parker versus Mr. W. Fuller and Mr. Middleton. Messrs. Rodwell and Fuller came out winners, and would have competed the next evening for the final, but the rain made play impossible. Last evening, before a large crowd of spectators, the finalists met, and a most keenly contested game resulted in a win for Mr. W. Fuller by one shot. There was an exciting finish, both standing at 20 shots. Fuller gained the winning shot by about half-an-inch. The Thurston Cup will be presented at the first annual smoking concert of the Spencer Park Bowls Club, at the Queen Victoria Hotel, on Sept. 27th.

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