staxton

Hello Yesterdayman, Please accept my profound apologies for not acknowledging your kind and thoughtful birthday wishes. Over the past 10 years, much has changed, with a PC HD failure, lost data, passwords the whole smash. However, it has been possible to get cracking again and see the events about my friends from the Tettenhall Garage. It has come as no surprise to learn Cyril was able to provide a feast for you. To find this archive photo of the man, was a great treat. We were good friends, even for a short time and he is very much missed. The cooker escaped my attention but was no doubt ready for action somewhere. Kindest regards, Lightning.

Thanks for this information Guernsey. I knew very little of Cyril's riding achievements because he would have changed the subject if I had asked him for details. People I respect do that sort of thing.

This consideration is typical of the "Tough Guy" I was privileged to work with.

Unfortunately I did not see any of these riders in action. My memories are restricted to working with them.

Thanks Tsunami. I had no idea Cyril was a former rider. He gave me no indication at all, but after all, that seemed to be in his character. I would like to give an example of his style of approach to others. I was still at College and worked part-time at the Tettenhall Wood Garage. One day, a quantity of bank notes went missing from the forecourt till and I seemed to be the only suspect. The whole staff surrounded me and it was very unpleasant. Instant dismissal appeared to be very imminent. The only thing I could suggest was to mark the remaining notes in a way they could be recognised again and pray someone would take the bait. The till was kept under close surveillance. Soon, a local paper delivery boy was seen to enter the front office and on his departure, it was discovered that some notes were missing. Cyril followed the boy to his home close by and asked the boy's Father to turn out his son's pockets. The marked notes could be identified as could extra notes that the Father could not account for. Many attributes have been associated with speedway riders. Toughness, courage, fearlessness, agression and so on. What I did not anticipate upon Cyril's return, following his brief private discussion with his staff, was a collective recognition that a wrong assumption had been avoided. I saw a different side to these so called tough guys on that day. They could not have been more considerate and set an example I have tried to follow.

Hello Bobbath, I lost touch with Cyril, Ron and Rick after my brief stay with them in '63 and '64. There are other forum members who are in a much better position to answer your question and I am so very grateful for their input. To gather anecdotal and historical information at this stage is vitally important and if I have been a small part of this process, I will be very pleased.

Hello Yesterdaysman, I am so pleased to meet up with someone else that has spent some time at the same Garage and knew the same people. You are spot on with saying Tettenhall Wood, because Tettenhall and the College is quite a good step away to the east. If you want to see the place as it is now, dial "School Road Tettenhall UK in Google Street Map and refine the view by clicking the camera position at the junction of School Road and Tanfield Close. It is possible to see the side view of the workshops from the south from a side road. I can still remember Ron working on his JAP engine on the bench below the two big upper widows. I liked Cyril very much. He reminded me a bit of the "Laughing Cavalier" picture, but with ginger hair and beard of course. He always seemed to be on a mission and would present a difficult target to hit. Because I was unable to sustain his relentless motion, Rick christened me "Lightning" and this was to become my nickname from then on. I learned from Rick today, that Cyril and Ron passed away in the same week. I did not have the opportunity to socialise with either Ron or Cyril and I very much appreciate your anecdote of Cyril and his party-piece. If there is such a thing as another life, I hope they will meet up again. One of the many incidents that readily come to mind, concerns Ron testing his JAP engine without warning me first. The unsilenced bark at close range, is bad enough when there is some indication of it going to happen. Once the engine stopped, the clouds of Castrol R smoke cleared slightly and some degree of composure had been gained. Through the gloom I noticed a young man standing in the garage doorway. He had a moped outside and asked Ron, "Do you know anything about motorbikes mate?". Because of his eye injury, Ron's stare was always "Piratical" and could be very intimidating. Standing next to his smoking speedway bike and with both fists knuckled into his hips Ron replied, "No". There was no further discussion and the prospective moped rider departed in complete silence. M.

Thanks for your advice Bobbath. Before reading your much appreciated reply, I did a bit a "Spade Work" and via a very tortuous route, managed to make contact with Rick France. Unfortunately, the email address he supplied is not working for me, but there may be reasons for this. I gave him a second call to check the details were correct, but there is still something "crook". I visited the Tettenhall Garage in the '80s but did not have a camera with me. The new owners let me look round. Thinking of new technology, I gave Google Street Map a whirl . . . . . and wished I hadn't. The place is boarded up but the view from the side road brings back memories of 1963 - 64 when Ron was lapping the valves of his JAP on the bench that ran along the south facing back wall, with the two high windows. It was a priviledge to work with Ron, Rick and Cyril and I have very fond memories of them. I knew from the forum that Ron had passed away in the 1990's but I did not know until today, that Cyril had left us the same week as Ron. I remember two trips with Cyril The first was to collect a steering rack from a breaker's yard to help a TVR owner get his car ready for a race-day. It was a very early model and felt like the seat was dragging on the ground. The other ride was in a 3.8 Jaguar, which was quite a different experience. Perhaps I may post some more anecdotes if I am spared. M.

In searching for information about my friends, Ron Mountford, Rick France and Cyril Page, I found this forum and would like to say "Hello". I was very sad to read that Ron passed away in 1993. My signature is a phrase Rick used to say and I never understood. My nickname was "Lightning" when I worked at a Garage in Tettenhall with them, not because of my speed, rather, the lack of it! They were good times and I hope to add a few anecdotes in due course.