Knowle

Yes he scored 41 league points in 1951 per Peter Morrish"s book.

I had the pleasure of meeting Lew at Weymouth 2 years ago and told him that I had a Fleetwood v Bristol programme from 1948 where he had been addad to the programme in ink.He remembered the occasion in detail as a late replacement What a man! Cant believe he has been banned from Poole pits. Thats the pits!

I remember Jack riding for Bristol in the1950s. He was a very big strong man-a cooper by trade I believe.

I nominate Lew Philp who crashed in his first and only match for St.Austell at Sheffield in 1963 in his only ride. Also I remember Reg Craven who was sadly fatally injured in a pile up on the first bend of the first heat of what I believe to be the first meeting at Poole in 1948 but it was not his only meeting. There was also a rider by the name of Pedersen I believe who was programmed to ride for Bristol in their first meeting at Wolverhampton in 1977 but arrived too late and was never asked back.

Regarding Ron Johnson I think I may have seen his last ride in 1960 when he fell in front of the field in Edinburgh"s visit to Bristol. Also contrary to previous poster he made more than one appearence for Edinburgh that year but failed to score in any of them.

An early 1950s Bristol programme mentioned that they had received some further copies of "marching along together" from Fred Mockfords "closely guarded" stock.

Sadly Ken passed away a few years ago

Ernie Brecknell?

Have just noticed in local paper that a bike ex Colin Cook"s son is going to be auctioned next Sat 15th Sept along with numerous classic road bikes at Dunkerswell Devon. Further info can be obtained from www.mstauctioneers.co.uk Tel 01404891833 viewing tomorrow.

I remember him well. I believe he was related to the great Bill Kitchen and I am certain he passed away a few years ago but would like to be proved wrong.

Sorry to hear about Len. I too remember that he only made himself available for home matches on his comeback. Is his brother Stan still alive?

Congratulations to all concerned in the slick running of this meeting especially given the difficulties at the beginning due to the horrific traffic. I had worries that the curfew would be a problem but was proved wrong. Having arrived very late and having to trek from the third field I noticed that the level of bike and P.A.sounds heard outside the arena is quite low and acceptable.

I have just noticed that a detailed Daily Telegraph obituary appears in the1949 World Finalists thread. Could someone cleverer than me transfer it to this thread where it deserves to be in its own right?

Jack Ormston has died at the age of 97. I presume him to be the sole survivor of the 1920s era. I understand that he won the Star Riders Championship in 1930 at Crystal Palace, represented England in the first ever test against Australia at Wimbledon n the same year and rode for Wembley Harringay and Birmingham, reached the 1936 world final and retired before the war. Did anyone meet or interview him in recent years?

Lloyd Goffe not alive,dont know about Cliff Watson.

Billy Hole of Bristol was a AA or RAC patrolman in the 1940s.

I thought that Cyril Roger had a car business in Wales at some time.

I remember him well as he did numerous second halves at Eastville and appeared in some Bristol team photographs. Possibly still living in the Bristol area.

Regarding Jack Biggs near miss in the world final I seem to remember a story going that some sort of deal was offered but declined regarding the fateful final race. Can anyone elucidate? ALso was not Jack killed in a track accident?

From memory I think Bob passed away a few years ago but I do not recall seeing anythiing about Cyril so believe he could be still alive and he being the eldest. I remember him being heartily booed at Bristol in the early 50s. Matches between New Cross and Bristol were often cut-throat affairs with each having a similar small track.

Is Jessica riding this year? Not seen her at Somerset.

Very sorry to hear about Archie. Met him at one uf those High Beech shows a few years ago and he was so friendly and chatty. I was asking him about the Swagman film which he appeared in and also his memories of racing at Bristol. He was most interesting to listen to. I remember him saying that during the filming of Swagman one of the stars Bonar Colleano had an unofficial go on one of the bykes and fell off and broke his wrist which delayed the shooting much to the director' annoyance! There is a good picture in one of the Stenners of Archie hugging the white line at Walthamstowe but still occupying a considerable part of the track (he was very tall!) He was also one of the rapidly disappearing band of survivors who raced before the war.

The corridor was flooded with (hopefully) rain. I hope no first timers came to the meeting as what with the facilities and the long gaps in proceedings they would not be impressed.

Nice to see some speedway. Congratulations to Tim Webster and Sam Hurst for a brilliant race and for staying on. 3rd and 4th bend need serious sorting. No doubt this will be done before March.

A man claiming to be called George Newton worked in some capacity at Bristol Eastville stadium in 1977/78 and is illustrated in a handbook of the time.