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Gerry Wolstenholme

Goodreads Author

Born

in Blackpool, The United Kingdom

Genre

Sports, Literature & Fiction, Poetry

Member Since

September 2008

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/gerryw

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Gerry Wolstenholme was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, and attended Northlands private school from the age of three to five because his Dad wanted him to have a better education than he had managed. He then attended Devonshire Road School, infants and juniors, and finally went to Baines Grammar School in nearby Poulton.

He did not know what he wanted to do while at school and, seeing an advertisement for Civil Service examinations he took them. Having passed, he chose to go to London and entered Her Majesty’s Treasury, Whitehall, where he gained promotion and eventually worked in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s office.

He married Linda ('the love of my life') in 1968 and in 1972 they decided to move to Gerry’s hometown and relocated in Black Gerry Wolstenholme was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, and attended Northlands private school from the age of three to five because his Dad wanted him to have a better education than he had managed. He then attended Devonshire Road School, infants and juniors, and finally went to Baines Grammar School in nearby Poulton.

He did not know what he wanted to do while at school and, seeing an advertisement for Civil Service examinations he took them. Having passed, he chose to go to London and entered Her Majesty’s Treasury, Whitehall, where he gained promotion and eventually worked in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s office.

He married Linda ('the love of my life') in 1968 and in 1972 they decided to move to Gerry’s hometown and relocated in Blackpool where Gerry had arranged a transfer to the Department for National Savings. He became ERNIE’s (Premium Bonds) prize draw manager before he took early retirement.

During his Civil Service career he ran a successful secondhand and antiquarian bookselling business, attending book fairs and producing catalogues with a speciality in 19th century English literature. He also wrote his first book, ‘The West Indian Tour of England, 1906’ while still continuing his professional career.

Also a fanatical cricket watcher he produced ‘The Cheltenham Spectator and Festival News’, a day-by-day summary of the Cheltenham cricket festival, for six years. He then produced his own magazine for about the same length of time and there were many disappointed readers when he decided to call it a day for ‘The Cricket Postcard Collectors’ Journal’ magazine that ran to 24 issues. In addition he did radio ball-by-ball commentary on the County Championship and one-day games at the Cheltenham Cricket Festival.

On final retirement he turned to writing more often and contributed many articles to various magazines as well as writing his own books, mainly on sporting themes ('because that was what people wanted me to write'). He was also a regular contributor to the Blackpool Football Club matchday programme, sometimes writing as many as six articles in one issue. And he did match commentary on Blackpool Football Club's Premier League and Football League games for many seasons.

When his wife sadly passed away in 2004 he was devastated and, following a breakdown, he wrote a book of poetry expressing his feelings on the two incidents. He did not expect ‘The Lost-Love Poems of a Madman’ to sell well as he was not known as a poet but the book surpassed expectations and since then he has written occasional poetry on various themes. He says of his poetry book, 'I think it was the title that helped market it for readers were curious as to what it was about!'

In addition to writing his books, he also produces a short run, 10 copies only, of essays on various subjects, ranging from cricket and football to Noel Coward, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini and these have proved to be very popular.

He says that he doubts whether he will ever produce a novel, ‘I don’t have the imagination to do so’ is his view, but he intends to continue writing, God willing, for some time to come.

After his wife's death he was also drawn into another sphere when he was asked to do an after-dinner talk; he says, 'A friend of mine thought I was not eating well and invited me to his Rotary Club for a meal with the proviso that I would do a talk. I asked him how he thought I could do such a talk and he simply said that he had known me long enough and knew that I could do it - so I did!' After that engagements poured in, even without any advertising - 'and certainly not any self-promoting' for he confesses to be extremely nervous prior to each engagement. Initially he did the talks without charging a fee but then decided that he would raise funds for Trinity Hospice, where his beloved wife was treated, and he has continued to do that over the years. ...more

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Gerry Wolstenholme’s books

Average rating: 4.96 · 26 ratings · 3 reviews · 43 distinct works

	The West Indian Tour of England 1906 by Gerry Wolstenholme (Goodreads Author), Deborah Wolstenholme (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 1992	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Lost-Love Poems of a Madman it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2008	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Blackpool FC Miscellany Seasiders Trivia, History, Facts & Stats it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2011 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Blackpool Finally Conquered ... as Manchester United triumph at Wembley, 1948 it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2016	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Phoenix from the Ashes: The Rise and Rise of Blackpool Football Club 1887 - 1888 it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2019	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	From Peak to Pool A Short History of Lancashire versus Derbyshire Matches at Blackpool by Gerry Wolstenholme (Goodreads Author), Deborah Wolstenholme (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1994	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Towering Success The Eighth Australians in Blackpool August 1893 it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2007	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Harold Larwood Blackpool Cricket Club professional it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2003	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fleetwood Cricket Club: Northern Premier League Champions 2004 The Story of the Season it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2004	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	By Bus to Wollongong Blackpool Football Club's World Tour 1958 it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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An interesting fact that I have recently become aware of is certainly one of interest to us goodreads readers!

Film star Bette Davis' first husband, musician Harmon Nelson, brought up some fascinating comments about the state of their marriage when they were going through a divorce.

The most amusing was perhaps that she 'reads books to an unnecessary degree'! I wonder, is there really an unnecessary Read more of this blog post »

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Published on September 25, 2025 09:37 • Tags: bette-davis, divorce, happy-marriages, harmon-nelson, movie-stars

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Gerry rated a book liked it Something on the Line: Tram Tales of the Manx Electric Railway by Sara Goodwins	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Rather like Thomas the Tank and his other engine chums, the trams on the Manx Electric Railway (which is still running today after over 130 years, connecting Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey) all have names. And it is the junior tram, Twain, who takes centr ...more
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Gerry rated a book liked it The Hanging in the Hotel (Fethering, #5) by Simon Brett	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Fethering is as much a place one doesn't want to live as is Agatha Raisin's Carsely; murder takes place far too often in them both! 'The Hanging in the Hotel' is no different in that the delightfully named Pillars of Sussex meet at the Hopwicke Countr ...more
Jan 08, 2026 07:27AM · like · see review
Gerry rated a book did not like it The History of the Green Bay Packers And 30 Iconic Personalities of the Franchise by Taylor K. Reade	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This was a Christmas present this year and I was excited to have a Packers book to read and add to my collection. However, it did not turn out so good, as, without a shadow of doubt, this was the worst constructed and written book that I have ever ha ...more
Jan 08, 2026 06:47AM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The History of the Green Bay Packers And 30 Iconic Personalities of the Franchise by Taylor K. Reade. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The History of the Green Bay Packers And 30 Iconic Personalities of the Franchise by Taylor K. Reade <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gerry and 15 other people liked Julie's review of False Impression: "1⭐️= Not For Me. In the past, JA books have either been a hit or a miss for me - with very little in between. I think it was the plethora of characters that ruined this one for me. Mind blowing for my tiny brain at this present time."
Jan 08, 2026 03:34AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of False Impression by Jeffrey Archer. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — False Impression by Jeffrey Archer <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gerry and 18 other people liked Julie's review of A Rising Man (Sam Wyndham, #1): "4⭐️= Good. Paperback. #1 in this series. Now, I’ve never been to India and I’m not a huge lover of travelling- but through books I experience my own form of travel. This book was a classic example of this- taking me to the smells and sights of India. I r" Read more of this review »
Jan 08, 2026 03:33AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gerry rated a book really liked it Blackpool Highlights by Steve Palmer	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Steve Palmer's excellent portrait of Blackpool certainly picks out the highlights very well and shows the town off to a very good advantage, the miles of sand, the lengthy promenade, the trams, the three piers, the Winter Gardens, the Pleasure Beach, ...more
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Gerry rated a book it was amazing Catching a Serial Killer: My hunt for murderer Christopher Halliwell by Stephen Fulcher	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher was experiencing a quiet weekend when he was the senior officer on call in March 2011. But mid-evening on Saturday 19 March he received a call that changed his whole life. It concerned a missing 22-year-old girl ...more
Jan 08, 2026 12:02AM · 16 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Catching a Serial Killer by Stephen Fulcher. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Catching a Serial Killer by Stephen Fulcher <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gerry rated a book really liked it The Assassination of JFK: Minute by Minute by Jonathan Mayo	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
No conspiracy theories here; this is, as the title tells us, a minute-by-minute account of what happened on that fateful day, and the three following days, when President Kennedy was killed in Dallas. It captures practically everyone, if not everyone ...more
Jan 07, 2026 07:27AM · 8 likes · like · see review
Gerry rated a book did not like it The History of the Green Bay Packers And 30 Iconic Personalities of the Franchise by Taylor K. Reade	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This was a Christmas present this year and I was excited to have a Packers book to read and add to my collection. However, it did not turn out so good, as, without a shadow of doubt, this was the worst constructed and written book that I have ever ha ...more
Jan 07, 2026 07:26AM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The History of the Green Bay Packers And 30 Iconic Personalities of the Franchise by Taylor K. Reade. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The History of the Green Bay Packers And 30 Iconic Personalities of the Franchise by Taylor K. Reade <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gerry made a comment on Donna’s review of Shadow Warriors of World War II: The Daring Women of the OSS and SOE " I enjoyed your review Donna. You used the word incredible and I can only support that for, when I worked in Downing Street I went on an MI5 training c ...more "
Jan 07, 2026 05:30AM · see review