Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of Gerry Wolstenholme's books

4363 ratings | 4366 reviews | avg rating:3.81

more photos (20)

#21 top reviewers
#14 top librarians

Gerry’s Year In Books

Gerry’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Gerry’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Gerry’s 2025 Year in Books

Gerry Wolstenholme’s Followers (122)

Gerry’s Bookshelves

to-read (0)
currently-reading (0)
read (4368)
did-not-finish (0)

Gerry’s Friends (49)

Margie

2,710 books | 66 friends

Julie

1,970 books | 783 friends

GoldGato

2,319 books | 103 friends

Ivana - Diary of Difference

2,821 books | 981 friends

Bionic Jean

5,034 books | 904 friends

Terry

385 books | 154 friends

Judith Johnson

4,007 books | 156 friends

Hilary

5,980 books | 96 friends

More friends…

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

edit data

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

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Gerry Wolstenholme questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

What books are on your summer reading list this year?

Gerry Wolstenholme Summer reading list? Any reading list? I pose these questions rhetorically for I am sorry to say I don't have any reading lists. If that sounds odd, j…moreSummer reading list? Any reading list? I pose these questions rhetorically for I am sorry to say I don't have any reading lists. If that sounds odd, just let me explain ...

Like probably most of our goodreads readers, I have a huge collection of books and even though I am rapidly running out of room, I do keep adding to it. For instance my daughter visited a couple of weeks ago and we went on buying sprees to car boot sales and various shops with the result that, during her week's stay, I added a further 86 books to my collection.

And that is the reason I do not have a reading list. Every lot of new books that come in (and believe it or not, hardly a day goes by without at least one purchase - and normally many purchases) I peruse and often decide that there is at least one that I must read next. In addition, when I look over my shelves (sadly some books are in wardrobes and are more difficult to get at) I always see something that I think 'I must read that next' - sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't, it depends on what has come in. Hence no planned reading list!

I realise that perhaps this is an odd way to go about my reading but it seems to suit me and with such a random way of dealing with the problem, I never do know what I am likely to be reading next ... and again that suits me as it probably ensures more variety.

I do know that my book collecting habit is a disease; it comes from all those years of being a secondhand and antiquarian bookseller when, I must confess, when I attended book fairs and my Dad helped me, he used to say, 'I don't know why you are a bookseller for you never want to sell anything' - he was nearly right! I did sell the books, but reluctantly for I considered all the stock mine!

So, as a disease, I realise I do need counselling but I also know that it would do no good for my book buying habits help keep me sane and give me a great interest now that I have lost my beloved wife and in addition my daughter, also a collector, lives 250 miles away. I should mention that I did collect when Linda was alive and what is more, Linda also collected to acerbate the storage problem.

I do hope that this answer gives you an idea of why there is no planned reading list and I should say that I will carry on adding to the collection come what may. Forget that counselling.

If I do change and create a reading list, I will let you know but I doubt that that is going to happen ... it is as likely as me stopping buying books.

Finally, what a joy to be on goodreads and share stories and reviews with other people.(less)

flag

10 likes · like
Comment

What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

Gerry Wolstenholme What a great question but I am probably not the best person to answer it as I do not feel that I have a novel in me. However, should that not be the c…moreWhat a great question but I am probably not the best person to answer it as I do not feel that I have a novel in me. However, should that not be the case (doubtful!) I think I would have to write about spies and spying. And that is because (a) I have always been interested in the subject since Burgess and Maclean days but (b) more relevant to the question is the fact that when I was in Government service I attended an intense three-day security course run by the security services. It was so intense that every night after it ended I walked circuitously back to my office for I imagined that I was being followed by spies who wanted to get into my mind and extract secrets from me. I feel sure that I could work something around that as a beginning ... perhaps it would be like PG Wodehouse's 'Not George Washington', that is 'An Autobiographical Novel'! Ah well, I can dream!(less)

flag

7 likes · like
Comment

See all 8 answers from Gerry Wolstenholme…

Combine Editions
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

More books by Gerry Wolstenholme…

87 posts
Gerry Wolstenholme's Blog

High Hopes For New Winger

Barry Thomas Lowes 1939-2026

Barry Lowes was born in Barrow-in-Furness on 16 March 1939. He was an outside right who had played schoolboy football for Barrow Technical College, who he had also represented at rugby, cricket and athletics, before moving on to senior football with Holker Old Boys. Barrow, then in the Fourth Division of The Football League, spotted his potential and he joined his homet Read more of this blog post »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on August 27, 2026 02:37 • Tags: barrow-fc, barry-lowes, bury-fc, coventry-city-fc, swindon-town-fc, workington-fc

View all 87 posts »

rss
Gerry’s Recent Updates

Gerry rated a book really liked it Death and Mr Pickwick: A Novel by Stephen Jarvis	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
Fact, fiction, conspiracy theory or simply pure enjoyment? 'Death and Mr Pickwick' has it all. Yes, Dickens wrote 'The Pickwick Papers' (to give it the short title), that's a fact; undoubtedly Dickens and the original artist Richard Seymour together w ...more
Sep 23, 2026 06:14AM · 8 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Death and Mr Pickwick by Stephen Jarvis. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Death and Mr Pickwick by Stephen Jarvis <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gerry rated a book it was ok The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill	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
I saw this book and, being the so-called first locked room mystery, I just had to purchase it, especially as I have a signed postcard of Israel Zangwill on my wall, not that that matters much I suppose but I thought it would be good to read something ...more
Sep 23, 2026 06:13AM · 19 likes · like · see review
Gerry rated a book did not like it Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise by Katherine Rundell	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
What a disappointment. When my friend loaned me this book I was quite excited as I looked forward to reading a good debate on the subject, as I am a a regular reader of children's books and junior fiction. Unfortunately for me Katherine Rundell has pi ...more
Sep 23, 2026 06:12AM · 12 likes · like · see review
Gerry rated a book did not like it The Ghost of Christmas Past (Molly Murphy, #17) by Rhys Bowen (Goodreads Author)	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
Having read and enjoyed one of Rhys Bowen's 'Her Royal Spyness Mysteries' I thought I would try a Molly Murphy Mystery, especially as it had a Christmas flavour; just the right time to read a novel of this kind, I thought. Sadly it turned out to be a ...more
Sep 23, 2026 06:12AM · 5 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 Ghost of Christmas Past by Rhys Bowen. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Ghost of Christmas Past by Rhys Bowen <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gerry rated a book really liked it Mr Turner's Sketching Tour: An account of the artist JMW Turner's 1816 excursion to Heysham, Lancaster and the Lune Valley by Peter Wade (Goodreads Author)	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
In the summer of 1816, the year of no summer as it came to be known, the artist JMW Turner, arguably England's greatest painter, spent a few days of a larger northern tour sketching in Lancaster and the surrounding area. His visit was prompted by an ...more
Sep 21, 2026 04:37AM · 6 likes · like · see review
Gerry rated a book really liked it Snoopy Blasts Off! by Jason Cooper	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
Snoopy once more becomes an astronaut as he and Woodstock set off into space. Sally and Charlie Brown look out of the window and see the duo, complete with space helmets heading out for some action. Sally says to Charlie, 'I think that silly dog of yo ...more
Sep 20, 2026 07:59AM · 4 likes · like · see review
Gerry rated a book really liked it How I Became a Cricketer by Alan Oakman	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 is what I would call an old fashioned cricket autobiography; there are no gimmicks, no egotism. no sarcastic comments, no back-stabbing. no boasting, no statistics, just straightforward telling the story of how Alan Oakman became a cricketer. An ...more
Sep 20, 2026 12:54AM · 1 like · like · see review
Gerry made a comment on his review of Three Little Bunnies " Hi Sonali Thanks for your liking my review and I just want to say, having read your profile, that my book collecting began with my Noddy collection. t ...more "
Sep 19, 2026 11:06PM · see review
Gerry rated a book really liked it Three Little Bunnies by Beatrix Potter	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
'Having three baby sisters is going to a lot of fun', thought Peter Rabbit. But Flopsy and Mopsy, the two eldest, both thought Peter playing his 'big, noisy drum' was too much to bear. So much so that they both drifted back off to sleep! At this point ...more
Sep 19, 2026 07:00AM · 3 likes · like · see review
Gerry rated a book it was amazing Buckingham Palace: The Palace and Its Residents in Historical Photographs by Michael Hall	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 book begins with an introduction that details the history of the Palace. And its life really began when in 1609 James I bought some land just to the north of St James's Park where he developed a silkworm farm in an unsuccessful attempt at establ ...more
Sep 19, 2026 03:35AM · 6 likes · like · see review