norbold

Couldn't agree more. Jack Parker, of course, also won the Riders' Championship in 1947.

I don't know where I got Dagenham v Rye House result. I think I may have made a mistake there. I'll have to check further on that one. The match was due to take place on 7 August but I don't think it was ever ridden. Thanks for pointing it out. Rye House 44 Smallford 39 took place on 19 June. The match on Aug 14 definitely wasn't staged. I'm not sure about the other three you mention, but I haven't found any trace of the results either. The date I have for Smallford v Dagenham is 10 July. That may have been the second meeting of course. I need to check my records on all this further. I'll get back to you later.

Just to let everyone know I have now taken receipt of copies of "Tom Farndon The Greatest Speedway Rider of Them All". It is being officially launched at the Celebration of Speedway on 21 February, but if anyone is desperate to have one now please contact me. I'm off to have a good read now!

You won't be disappointed, speedyguy!

Absolutely right, Ian. When I complained to the Speedway Star about Brian Burford's statement that Johnnie Hoskins had introduced speedway to Britain, the editor asked me if I would like to write an article about the origins of speedway in this country. I wrote the article which also included my thoughts on how/where/why speedway started worldwide as well. This article has been in his in-tray for several weeks now. I am ever hopeful that it will see the light of day soon! I hope it will move the discussion forward and once and for all dispel the myth that Johnnie Hoskins both "invented" speedway in 1923 and that he was responsible for bringing it to this country in 1928.

Neither.

Yes, yes, speedyguy. I heard you the first time!

I believe they already have by a well-known Australian historian.

I don't think anyone here is blaming Hoskins over High Beech, just lazy historians who can't be bothered to do the proper research. However, it is the case that Hoskins several times claimed to have "invented" speedway, which is not true either. Though once again the real fault lies with lazy research.

The problem is, Ian, is that it does a real disservice to the people who REALLY brought speedway to this country.

It certainly is one of life's mysteries how this story continues to do the rounds in spite of being completely incorrect.

What things are those then, speedyguy?

Thought I'd quote you Nigel. From the Speedway History Forum today: "FIM magazine Nov-Dec 2009....... has anyone seen the latest history mis-information article in this mag 'How it started' complete fairy tale.. it has Hoskins involved with the High Beech meeting ... how he did this from Australia Ill never know !!!!!!!!! enough to make you weep" And still it goes on....

The yearly Norwich get together is organised under the aegis of the WSRA and is a sit down dinner. A lot of ex-riders attend, though there isn't much in the way of memorabilia or bikes around. I think Jim's idea really was just for a few of us to get together. I can't see anyone really being willing to undertake organising an event of the scale of the Norwich do.

Just got another one for 9 March 2011.

Out of interest, Parsloes, I've just got my first booking for a talk in 2011.

The real question is whether either the red archer or the green archer ever got sent to jail...

Yes.

The 1966 British Speedway Handbook gives Long Eaton's colours as Red Archer on Amber Background.

Speaking as a fellow pedant you are quite correct, Rob. But I gave up the fight on this one a long time ago...well, about ten years ago to be precise as I didn't want to celebrate the real millennium on my own! If only I'd known I could have come to Oxford...

I don't know whether they could cope with dozens of New Cross supporters turning up...well, maybe 4 or 5 anyway. They meet at the Methodist Church Hall, Albion Way, Lewisham. Anyone know how big that is? The other alternative, of course, would be to meet on 11 September to celebrate Tom Farndon's 100th birthday. As luck would have it it is a Saturday.

No. I was very young and lived some distance from New Cross. I'll be there as soon as I've finished looking at the BSF! P.S. You now have three members. Jim beat me to it!

Absolutely correct, Ross. As most of you know I have written a number of books on local history and have done a lot of research in to the history of this area. Some of this is done through oral history, that is talking to people about what they remember, but memories are notoriously unreliable especially when it comes to dates and even places. People will swear that something happened in a given year and that they were there when the newspaper reports of the time or other people's recollections quite clearly show they are mistaken. Oral History is ok as a starting point and to get the general feel of events of the time but they can never be taken as gospel. I also give talks on local history. About 20 years ago I was giving a talk to my own local history society on the history of Clacton when I said a bit about the opening of the swimming pool on Clacton Pier in 1932. A woman interrupted me to tell me I was wrong and that the swimming pool had opened in 1928 and she knew this because she was there. She was absolutely wrong. There are contemporary reports in the local papers of 1932 of the pool being opened. There is no mention of the pool in Clacton Guides before 1932, after which it is mentioned all the time. In addition there are lots of photos of local MP, Sir John Pybus, both in the newspaper and as postcards as well as photos of him performing the opening ceremony in private collections. He didn't become MP until 1929 so this woman couldn't possibly have seen the opening ceremony in 1928 and yet she felt so sure she was right she even interrupted my talk to tell me. People's memories are a minefield for the serious historian, as Billy Galloway's recollections prove.

Thanks Brian. I look forward to seeing you there.

Ah yes, Speedway's Classic Meetings. I happen to have a few copies if anyone would like one. It's a great read.