Birthday boys

Photo: Darren Robinson

Four generations of Barlows . . . (from left) Andy, his son Lewis, Arthur and John.

A FAMOUS Oldham family is celebrating a 150 year milestone.

Arthur Barlow reached 100 today, while his Latics legend-grandson Andy, who played during the club’s glory days under Joe Royle, marked half a century as he turned 50 last Tuesday.

Andy joined his grandad and the rest of the family for a big birthday bash at Werneth Golf Club yesterday followed by celebrations at Treetops Nursing Home.

Arthur — who has lived there for four years — is the current owners’ first centenarian, so they pulled out all the stops to mark his special day.

According to Arthur’s son, John, he is one of the Oldham Chronicle’s longest-standing readers: “The Chronicle has been part of his life for as long as he can remember,” John (69) said. “Even now he has one delivered every day and he’s not happy if he can’t read the Chronicle!”

Arthur was born in Eldon Street and grew up in nearby Morris Street, leaving school at 14 to become a bakery and confectionery apprentice.

He worked in several town-centre bakeries before being called up to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps where he became a cook, helping to feed frontline troops in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. until his demob in 1946.

On leave during the war he married his sweetheart, Joyce. They moved into a house in Brookfield Street in which Arthur lived until he was 96. The couple set up Barlow’s Confectioners, in Hollins Road, which they ran for many years.

Arthur was his famous footballing grandson’s biggest fan and spent years ferrying his grandchildren to football training and many hours on the terraces when Andy played left-back for Latics. Andy is now a regional coach for The PFA.

“He went to all the matches,” said John. “He was very well known in the stand.

Arthur was joined by all his children, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren for his birthday party.