| Aldridge Bernard 2010 ~ passed away
on January 13th aged 88. After the war he bought a bike from his close
friend Jimmy Grant who taught him to ride during the winter of 1947/8. He
signed for Harringay in 1949 and then on to Oxford and New Cross ending up
at Hastings but the track closed down and Bernie retired. The speedway bug
returned in 1967 where he got rides wherever he could. He lied about his
age and found himself at Ipswich where the crowd loved him for his whole
hearted trying. He had a neat style and a very pleasant nature. He lost
his team jplace there in the early seventies and managed to still find a
few rides in second halves and challenge matches before going to
Sunderland with Len Silver for a season or so, which is where he had his
last league rides. Bernie was never a star but one or the riders who was
part of the backbone of speedway.
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| Carlo Biagi,
there
can be few people connected or involved with speedway who do not know
the name of Carlo Biagi and who have reason to think of him with
gratitude. They will I know be sad to hear of Carlo's death following a
long fight with cancer and recently a stroke. Carlo,
Speedway’s Miracle Doctor started his connection with speedway at
Southampton and continued with may years as track doctor at Scottish
tracks. There
are countless number of speedway riders who owe their continued riding
career to the Miracle Doctor who over the years has ‘persuaded’ many
a riders bones to heal quicker and better enabling them to get back to
the track. Ove Fundin won the 1963 World Championship wearing one of
Carlo’s plasters. This
popular and talented Scottish born doctor was awarded a Testimonial
Meeting at the Powderhall Stadium in Edinburgh and was presented with a
new Rover Car. His pleasure in speedway and rugby never waned and he
continued to visit both sports. Our thoughts are with his immediate family, and we would like them to know that his speedway family will miss this man who played such a big part in so many speedway peoples life. Vic White (secretary)
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| Gil Blake 1916 ~2010
One of Harold "Tiger" Stevenson's bright young men who helped launch the new Third Division in 1947, Gill Blake has died aged 93. Born in Coventry in 1916 he flew 32 wartime missions in Lancaster bombers with the rank of Warrant Officer. After demobilisation he learned his speedway at the 1946-7 winter training school run by Stevenson, the former West Ham and England captain. Stoke signed him and he made his debut in the Potters' first meeting in May 1947, rising from the reserve berth into the main body of the team by mid-season. A ten point haul against Wombwell in September was a sign of things to come and a year later he had progressed to become the number one rider at Sun Street. He played a major role in bringing the Third Division title to the Potteries in 1949 and stayed with the club when they entered the Second Division the following year. He started his first Division Two season in superb form with a run of six successive maximums in the Kemsley Shield competition prior to the league matches getting under way, and although he couldn't maintain his scoring he was always a capable rider at this level. After six years with Stoke, which brought almost 1,500 points in official matches alone, Gil moved to Liverpool in 1953 but drifted out of the sport when the Chads closed their doors to league racing in mid season.
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| Craig George 1915 - 2010
who, in his speedway career, rode for New Cross, Bristol, Hull, Swindon
and Plymouth has died in Perth, Western Australia where he has lived for
some years. George was born in Deptford, London in 1915 and became
interested in speedway watching the pre war New Cross team in action. He
began his career at the old Dagenham track and at New Cross in 1938. The
following year George was associated with Bristol where he remained until
the start of World War Two. He found the going hard at Bristol and was
transferred to Third Division Hull where he became a sound scorer with 280
league points. After Hull closed down George moved to Swindon but he was
not retained for 1951. He then moved to Plymouth and retired at he end of
1951, moving to Australia. George was a larger than life character who
always believed that the public should be entertained.
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| Hugh Geddes
- 2006 - We
have news from Australia that Hugh Geddes, who rode for Swindon, Cardiff
and Exeter when his riding career brought him to England, passed
peacefully away at his home in Wagstaff, New South Wales recently at the
age of 87.
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| Levai Sandor 2009 ~ The
popular former Stoke, Belle Vue, Newport, Ipswich and Cradley Heath rider
died in his native Hungary in September, he was 74.
Sandor worked his way to stardom and established himself as the Newport No. 1 in the early 1970's. He fled to Britain following the uprising in Budapest in 1956. He was known as one of the strongest riders in World speedway and he was certainly one of the bravest in civvy street, having been a member of the underground resistance in Hungary where he was known to have attacked the enemy by throwing hand grenades at their artillery. Sandor raced as a freelancer at Liverpool in Australia in 1969 where he was a backmarker in the handicaps and a hugely popular rider and personality. Peter White.
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| Les Hewitt,
it is with sadness that I announce the passing of ex Coventry Bee, Les
Hewitt, in Australia on Tuesday 12th July 2005. Les made a good name for
himself riding in the U.K. in the 1950s with Coventry and was also
selected as a Test rider for Australia. He was President of the Veteran
Speedway Riders Association of Australia for the years 1996 and 1997.
Les was a gentleman and was highly respected by his peers.
Rest in Peace Les Brian
Darby.
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| Jack (Red) Monteith ~
Scottish WSRA member, Jack "Red" Monteith sadly passed away in The Royal
Alexandra Hospital in Paisley following a heart attack and stroke, aged
78. Nicknamed, "Red" by Ian Hoskins on account of his red hair, former Glasgow Cycle Speedway rider, Jack rode motorcycle Speedway in the 1950s and 60s at Glasgow White City, Motherwell and Edinburgh and was a popular figure with the Scottish Supporters owing to his all-action style of riding. Jack's father had ridden Speedway, or "Dirt Track" as it was then known, way back in 1928, so he was destined to follow in his father's footsteps, or tyretracks. In many ways, he was the unsung hero of Glasgow Speedway, helping to gain sponsorship for the team when the Tigers almost folded in 1997. Jack was a very keen supporter of our WSRA and was always present at the Scottish Reunion Lunch at Ashfield and also the main Scottish Dinner Dance at Livingstone. He will be sadly missed by his friends in the WSRA and there will be an empty chair at the Scottish Dinner this year. We won't forget him. R.I.P. Red Monteith. Bert Harkins |
| Alan Morrey
~ "Mr Belle Vue", "
Speedway
lost another one of its legends last week when, "Mr. Belle Vue",
Alan Morrey died in hospital after falling and suffering head injuries. Alan, who was approaching his 80th birthday at the same time as his beloved Belle Vue Aces, was an important part of the fabric of the old Belle Vue team at Hyde Road and kept everything running like clockwork. As a rider, you would sometimes find that you hardly had time to refuel your bike and clean your goggles before Alan was shouting that you were on two minutes and had to get onto the track...... fast,....and his word was LAW!. He ran a tight ship at Belle Vue with riders from one heat coming in by one pit gate whilst the riders for the next heat went out of the other. The meetings had to be slickly run to allow the fans (and some riders), to get out into the Belle Vue Fairground and spend their hard-earned cash on the various rides and sideshows..(and for Ivan Mauger to get some extra sleep before his early morning flight to Germany the next day). In March of this year, Alan had been our Guest of Honour at the annual World Speedway Riders' Association Dinner (previously the VSRA) when his fellow Belle Vue legend, Ivan Mauger, took over as President of the Association. Alan was very nervous as he gave his speech in front of almost 300 Speedway folk, most of whom had been given the "Hurry Up" by Alan in the Belle Vue pits when racing at Hyde Road during their careers. Later, once the nerves had calmed down, Alan remarked just how proud and pleased he was to have been asked to be Guest of Honour at this prestigeous event. Although never having been a rider, he never forgot his Belle Vue Aces team mates. He was a great friend and helper to the injured Aces' skipper, Alan Wilkinson and his wife, Jean and, only a few days before his untimely death, we had spoken on the telephone about his desire to stage a benefit meeting for Wilkie. In 2008 Belle Vue Speedway celebrates it's 80th Anniversary and in 2008,Alan Morrey would also have celebrated his 80th birthday and in 2008, itwill be 30 years since the accident which left Alan Wilkinson in a wheelchair, and Alan Morrey had plans to try to bring all three anniversaries together and do something special for Wilkie. He was that kind of person, tough when he was the Pit Marshal and you were the rider, but friendly and helpful when a rider was in trouble. Every rider who ever rode at Belle Vue will remember Alan Morrey and the WSRA sends its condolences to Alan's family and friends. RIP Alan Morrey Bert Harkins - 19th December 2007
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| Fred Martin,
the speedway world lost one of it’s greatest characters when life long
speedway fan Fred Martin died last week aged 82 years. The
“larger than life” Fred, first watched speedway perched on his
fathers shoulders at the tender age of four.
In his younger days he rode speedway at West Ham and New Cross. In
his later years he could be seen at Belle Vue, Swindon, Sheffield and
Scunthorpe, indeed he would drive anywhere to watch speedway, always
accompanied by his beloved wife Eunice, she was always by his side. Fred
was a Burma war veteran, and spent two years as a POW in Japan during
his many years in the armed forces. Fred
and Eunice visited many speedway reunions, including the Sunderland
Reunion last November, one of many visits to Wearside.
He will be sadly missed by his many friends in speedway.
To Eunice and family we send our deepest sympathy. In
his best “Geordie” accent (which he always used when greeting us) he
would say. “why aye bonny lad”.
We will miss you very much with your cheery greeting and smiling
face. Good night and God bless you “Bonny lad”Bob Ferry - 10th March 2008
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| Chris
Paterson, 1940
to 2007
We
have to report the passing of one of the backroom boys of Speedway the
sort of person the sport has to have to run smoothly. Chris Paterson
could be found offering support in the Pits at Rayliegh, Hackney and has
been the Pits Liaison Officer for many years at Arena Essex. He even sampled a speedway bike at one point and loved the
experience. He leaves many friends at Arena and Hackney.
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| Peter
Redfern - Peter, an Associate member died in June 2007. Over
many years he sponsored many riders including Craig Boyce up to the time
of his death. He was part of a consortium who tried to bring back
speedway to Southampton. He also had connections with Plymouth, Poole,
Oxford, Rye House and the Isle of Wight.
Vic White (secretary)
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| Eric Salmon,
following
a lengthy period of ill health Eric died peacefully in hospital on March
the 9th at Bath. Eric was a member of the Bristol Bulldogs after the war
as was his Brother-in-Law, Billy Hole who was the captain at that time. He
had to call an end to his riding when a broken arm did not heal in the
expected time. He turned to a career in the motor trade running several
successful garages before he retired at the comparative early age of 53
due to high blood pressure. Eric used his now free time to fulfill a long held dream, messing about in boats. His first year of 'retirement' saw him building a 40 foot motor cruiser in his back yard, having it craned over his house on completion so it could be transported to the sea. He later spend much time travelling the world visiting many of his old speedway colleagues, he will be sadly missed and remembered with pleasure.
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| Ron Sharp,
former Stoke rider passed away after quite a long illness with Non
Hodgkinsons Lymphoma at the end of June. Ron was able to attend lunches
at The Paradise Wildlife Park and at Bournemouth in May and June during
a spell when he felt better but unfortunately his health quickly
deteriorated and he succumbed to the disease.
Vic White (secretary)
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| Bill Stovin ,
"Edinburgh's
Bill Stovin died suddenly at his home in Malaga, Spain on New Year's
Eve, 2006. Bill was one of the band of novices hanging around the pits at Edinburgh's Old Meadowbank Stadium in the hope of getting a ride in the Novice Race or after the meeting before the Caretaker put out the track floodlights,...usually when the novices were tearing into the pit corner! Despite his enthusiasm for the sport, Bill never made the grade into the full Monarchs team but did have the honour of outgating Ivan Mauger TWICE in a Second Half race in Scotland's capital city. Although he had moved to Spain many years ago, Bill kept in touch with the UK and Scottish Speedway scenes and often travelled over for the Grand Prix at Cardiff. At the time of his death, he was arranging a to have a get-together of his Scottish Speedway friends in Malaga this Spring. Scottish Speedway and the WSRA send their condolences to Bill's wife, Pat and family. Bert Harkins
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| Roy Williams
- real name Bernie Lagrosse passed away in Christchurch, New Zealand on
June 30th after a short illness. He was 67 years old. He joined Berwick
in their first season and rode for them from 1968 to 1970, often top
scoring.
Vic White (secretary)
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|
Albert (Archie) Windmill, our president in 2001 - was the oldest active member of the World Speedway Riders' Association. Sadly he was too ill to attend the last annual dinner and, a few days later, came the news that he had passed away a few months short of his 92nd birthday. And with him went one of our few remaining links with pre-war dirt-track racing as Archie's racing career straddled the last war when he spent six years with the Royal Air Force. Having started his riding career at High Beech and the Barnet grass speedway in 1935, he quickly caught the eye of Hackney Wick and one of his first outings at The Wick was in a special match race against new Australian signing, one Vic Duggan! But it was when Hackney dropped down into the Second Division in 1938 that Archie's career took off and he was one of the top scorers at that level until the outbreak of the Second World War. When league racing resumed in 1946 he moved to National League Wimbledon and after three seasons with the Dons was transferred to Division Two newcomers Walthamstow early in 1949 and stayed there until their closure at the end of 1951. As far as we know Archie, always a keen supporter of the Association and a regular at our functions, never officially retired and he certainly couldn't remember his final meeting. But our records suggest that his last-ever league match was in the old Southern League (Third Division) for Aldershot at Southampton on September 23 1952 and he top scored! Vic White (secretary)
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| Rob Woffinden Rob rode for a number of clubs including Middlesbrough, Rye House, Birmingham, Boston and Berwick but his heart was always with his home town of Scunthorpe. Rob had been diagnosed with terminal cancer just before he left Australia for England in January last year, 2009, and was told that he would be lucky to see Christmas, but Rob was a determined character and ensured that he saw Christmas with his family. He lost his battle against cancer on Saturday January 30th at his home in Scunthorpe. Rob played a huge part in the success of his son Tai and worked tirelessly to ensure that Tai had a great chance of becoming such a sensation as a rider in all leagues including Poland and Sweden. Making a big sacrifice selling up his business in Perth and concentrate on helping son Tai's career in England which he did with a lot of hard work for both but it certainly paid off with Tai getting better every year. Tai will see the Woffinden name will be about for a long time and we will all remember Rob with great affection. |
| Norman Young
- A
Tribute to a New Recruit
It's always sad to chronicle the recent passing of an individual, especially one so well known in our great family down here at Wimborne Road. For more than 50 years Norman 'Tich' Young has been a vital cog in the Pirates Team, machine examiner, spanner man, F.I.M. approved, and his death last week, after a short by serious illness ends a unique association with Poole Speedway. His work keeping aircraft engines going aboard a carrier in the Pacific in World War 2 led to a keen interest in Motorcycle engines - he was no mean performer on the Isle of Man T.T. Race Course - and when speedway arrived in Dorset in 1948 he built a bike especially to suit the requirements of the diminutive Brian 'Nipper' Crutcher (on which the legendary Pirate achieved so much success) and he was a very close friend of the Middleditch family, spending hours of this time on Ken's equipment. Tich's passing was particularly sad in that only a matter of a couple of months had elapsed since his dear wife Rosemary died from the dreaded Motor Neurone Disease. For me, I have lost two very near neighbours, great friends, and in Norman a close mate since that opening date in 1948. With respect, condolences go to his son, Danny, and the remainder of his family for everyone in the V.S.R.A. and me, C. J. Hart.
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