50 years ago, this Henley gardener became best darts player in country

FIFTY years ago tomorrow a man from Henley became the best darts player in the country.

Peter Chapman, a gardener from Harpsden Road, won the News of the World championship — then the biggest in the country — at the grand finals in front of 12,000 fans at Alexandra Palace in London and a TV audience of millions.

He beat Paul Gosling, from Truro, 2-1 after coming back from losing the first game and was presented with the huge trophy by actress Diana Dors.

Mr Chapman, who was then 47, also received a 22in colour television set and a two-week continental holiday for two.

He played regularly at his local pub, the Bird in Hand, and had previously made it to the Home Counties finals and twice to the national finals but never won.

He had to win a quarter-final and a semi-final as well as the final, beating former champion Eddie Brown and former finalist Mr Gosling in the process.

There was an excited atmosphere at the “Ally Pally”.

The final was delayed because of a strict television timetable but the tension was broken when the audience roared with laughter as a man “streaked” through the auditorium and on to the stage before being “unceremoniously” carried off by ushers.

Following his victory, Mr Chapman won the Swedish Open that same year as well as the pairs with Kim Brown.

He continued to play in a local league as a reserve in the Bird in Hand team but in his later years preferred to watch.

Mr Chapman, who died of cancer in 2009, later inspired documentaries and newspaper articles both here and abroad.

He and his wife, Margaret, had four children, Pauline, Paul, David and Denis, and 11 grandchildren.

Their daughter, Pauline Hayden, who now lives in Twyford with her husband John, said: “I have lots of memories of my dad.

“He was a wonderful man. He loved darts, he loved gardening and fishing — he just loved life. He loved his family and grandkids.

“When he won, it was madness in the house. I can remember jumping with my dad and hugging him. He wasn’t a hugger but this time we hugged and it was lovely.”

She has kept a scrapbook of her father over the years.

She said: “Everyone knew my dad. He used to go to the Bird in Hand every night drinking and on Sundays he would go to the Sun by the river.

“I didn’t play but my brothers Paul and David, who are sadly no longer with us, got into darts but they weren’t as good as my dad.

“He used to be called ‘Chatters’ in the county matches and had to be told to be quiet because he did like to talk.”

Mr Hayden sad Mr Chapman was very humble.

“I met Pauline the following year and it was a long time before I realised he played darts,” he said. “He wouldn’t brag about it.

“He never turned professional. He was old school and he didn’t believe you could make a living out of it — besides, he enjoyed his gardening.”

Mr Chapman’s granddaughter, Sam Fisher, said he had been a “local hero”.

She said: “He loved playing darts. He tended the gardens at the Bird in Hand pub and that’s where he played. His family was originally from Basingstoke and he lived in Mount View in Henley as well.

“If people talk about darts, even now, I say: ‘My granddad used to play darts’ and when they see my maiden name they always ask if I am any relation to Peter. All the locals will know the name.

“I think he played on the England team a bit as well — my aunt wears the badges from that on a jumper.

“I don’t remember any other side to him. In the family, we all know about it and we have all seen the pictures. We all play darts as well.

“My dad, who has unfortunately died, played darts but he very rarely beat granddad. He was very good.” Mrs Fisher, who lives in Gainsborough Hill, Henley, said she felt “extremely proud” watching old TV clips of her grandfather.

She said: “Every so often we get sent a different clip. He was on shows and competitions.

“It was so funny to see one of the more recent ones because he always wore his shirt unbuttoned and had quite a lot of chest hair so was nicknamed ‘Axminster’ by the commentators after the carpet.

“In the clip, the commentators actually refer to him by that name.

“He’d always got a cigarette in his mouth while throwing the darts. It’s a big change to now. It was more relaxed then.

“We have never been able to find a clip of the final. We remember granddad saying they had to wait for the light to go on to show they were live because the horse racing was running late.”

Mrs Fisher, who is manager of the Little Angel in Remenham Lane, plays darts but said she was “nowhere near as good” as her grandfather.

She added: “After he died there was a historian who sent me some magazines that had him in.

“He was like a local hero. I don’t remember him talking about it, he just loved playing.

“I don’t remember him saying anything about meeting Diana Dors but I'm sure he loved it, knowing him. He had a copy of the picture hanging up in his kitchen and there used to be a copy in the Bird in Hand.

“Horse racing, gardening, my nan, his family and darts — they were his passions.”

Additional reporting:
Patrick Chaplin