Walter Hurst, much loved granddad of Edward Hurst age 6 NPC, died suddenly at his home on March 24th 2009.

Walter was a very special person, one of life’s characters. He was a Lancashire Clogmaker who had a business in Hindley, Wigan, until the demand for clogs and shoe repairs made it no longer a viable proposition and the business closed in 2001. He continued to make clogs at his home until his untimely passing. This unusual occupation meant he was often approached to present talks, Walter always obliged, and asked no fee except for a donation to the NPDG (UK). He would always spend time talking to people about Edward’s condition and this is reflected in the fantastic total of £1360 raised for the Group in his memory.

Walter knew so many people and so many knew him. He had this way of interrogating people when he first met them “ ar’t married? Hast any kids? Which schoo’ did’t go to? What wuz thi mother’s maiden name?etc.” He very often quickly knew more about that person than his or her own family did. And when he found out their details he never forgot them.

It is incredible the number of times, in various places all over the country, when people find out you come from Hindley or Wigan, they say “ do you know Walter Hurst?” I have long since given up being surprised by this and just accept it as fact. We once played a cricket match at Ribblesdale Wanderers, a club stuck up in the hills of nowhere and, during the match were walking round the boundary (anti-clockwise of course) when a chap working in the garden of his cottage at the side of the ground stopped his digging and said “bloomin’ heck - Walter Hurst – what are you doing here?” Complete collapse of the rest of us.

And then, of course, there’s the time he went to Rome and secured an audience with the Pope. When the Pontiff came out on to the balcony to wave to the crowd he had Walter with him and one of the faithful turned to his wife and said “who’s that up there with Walter Hurst?”

Walter was the ultimate quiz man. His speed on the buzzer and his wealth of general knowledge were phenomenal. We won the Bolton League Quiz many times, mainly because of Walter and often felt there was no need for the rest of us on the team. One story is actually about a night when Walter was not playing but was sitting in front of the question master’s table, operating the cut out switch when a player buzzed in. He then had to shout the player’s name to answer the question. The question master, a very straight laced schoolmaster, had to ask a question regarding Fakenham racecourse but his attempt at pronouncing Fakenham had Walter in a fit of hysterics and he couldn’t say the name of the player because he had his hankie stuffed in his mouth. The question master went redder and redder and eventually said “anyone can press a buzzer you know”. At which point the whole room collapsed in laughter and the phrase went into common usage.

In this Bolton League quiz, Walter once answered a question correctly before it was asked! The question master had written a series of questions on a particular theme concerning capital cities and Walter reckoned he had worked out the system. The next time our team appeared, the question came “What is the capital---“ Buzz – Walter – “Ho Chi Minh City” – correct! The whole room was in uproar, accusing skullduggery etc. but what it actually was was Walter’s astute brain and quickness of thought.

Walter’s passion was cricket, and he was president of the Hindley St Peter’s Cricket Club. Edward would often accompany him to matches and Walter would take his turn batting and bowling with Edward. When Edward heard of his Grandad’s passing, his first words were “he won’t get to see me play for the under 9’s now” - this season being Edward’s first competitive season. Indeed Walter would have loved nothing more than to see Edward progress through the ranks of St Peter’s Cricket Club.

Emma Hurst