John Hayward

Son of Richard Hayward, Chairman of Little Lever Local Board 1879-91 and Chairman of Little Lever UDC 1896-97.

Father of Richard Hayward, Chairman of Little Lever UDC 1937-38, 1946-47.

Began working life as a clerk/bookkeeper at Ladyshore Colliery, Little Lever. He eventually succeeded his father as general manager of the colliery, retiring in 1924.

He lived at Ladyshore House, Little Lever for 76 years, the family playing a prominent part in the public life of Little Lever with three generations serving as Chairman.

Represented Ladyshore Ward from 1904. JP from 1916.

When he was Chairman, he and his wife were presented to King George V and Queen Mary on the occasion of their visit to Bury.

Chairman of Little Lever Conservative Club.

President of Little Lever Cricket Club and later Life President.

He helped found Little Lever Football Club and a rugby club in the village.

He was Chairman of Bolton Wanderers FC from 1933 when he succeeded Henry Warburton until his death in 1939. His association with the club went back a long way and he was described by "The Tramp" - the Bolton Evening News Wanderers Correspondent - as one of the 'old timers'. He became a shareholder in 1896 and was a regular spectator at Pikes Lane. Ultimately he became the biggest shareholder and joined the Board of Directors when James Roocroft resigned.

His last view of Wanderers senior team was against Sunderland on 8 April 1939. He watched the reserves on 15 April and attended a junior match at Burnden Park in the week before his death.

He held many high offices in the homing pigeon world and at one time his loft housed some of the finest racers in the country. During the First World War he gave over 100 birds for government service and one of these carried a warning message from the North Sea to the headquarters of the service at Hull, that Zeppelins were on their way to England on the night one of them visited Bolton.

Freemason - member of Boltonian Lodge 3716.

Anglican - he had a lifelong connection with St Matthew's Church and was volunteer organist and Choirmaster for 19 years and a Sidesman and Churchwarden for 20 years.

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