Wigan Album

A lot of Wiganers (even the WRLFC supporters) dont even know that Lance is buried in Ince.

Just think what a change of life it must have been in the early 1900s for him by coming from the unspoilt countryside of New Zealand to industrial muck Lancashire

So pleased to see reference to one of "our" Rugby League greats. Yes the contrast between New Zealand and England, never mind Wigan, is considerable, however, Manchester surely isn't much better and look at the professionals from all parts of the world that it attracts to its teams. Nothing to do with "beauty" only the beautiful game, the best in the world, Rugby League.

Just read the inscription again It appears he was a Captain in the army. As the inscription says 'CAPTAIN LANCELOT BLAYLOCK TODD'

Indeed he was in the Army - and is listed on the Commonwealth War Grave Commission's website as - although his death in a car accident was, as far as I understand, not directly connected with anything military - he was in the forces at the time. He fought with NZ forces in WW1 and was mentioned in despatches.

i think when he died he had been to a rugby match so hecould write a report for a newspaper

He was returning from Salford's game at Oldham in 1942 when he had the accident. He'd been Secretary of Blackpool Golf Club before taking charge of Salford with whom he won 3 Championships, 4 Lancashire Cups and a win in the Cup Final at Wembley in 1938. Became the first Rugby League expert behind the BBC radio microphones - he was some achiever!

Hi Ron, Lance's full name was Lancelot Beaumont Todd.

I understand his wife's parents had been the Licensees of the Crofters Arms in Wigan. Richard Blaylock, her father had died, believed from violence, while still landlord in the 1890's.

Hi Keith, I satnd corrected. That's what you get by not reading the inscription properly<g>