Guest mart W Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 I was watching a programme on the History Channel ( Yes I know I'm sad ! ) about Henry VIII, and part of the programme was about the somewhat gruesome executions carried out at ' The Gallows at Tyburn'. I remember there was a rider in the 60's or 70's called Tyburn Gallows who I think rode for Canterbury, could anyone tell me why he took his riding name from such a notorius place and what happened to him ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goddenmax Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 omg handlebars anyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 I think this should come under the Forum FAQ section. Tyburn Gallows, real name Raymond Humphries, was reputed to be an assistant hangman. At least he said he was and I think, by consensus, we've decided there is no reason to doubt him. He died on the day of his mother's funeral, but I can't remember the year. There's lots more that could be said about this extraordinary character! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mart W Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 Thanks, just as a point of intrest, did the promoters at the time use his name and former occupation as publicity when advertising meetings ? I can imagine ' Speedways own executioner - Tyburn Gallows ! ' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 Well I can't find it looked quite a way through the Canterbury thread and it's not there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parkstone Pirate Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 Tyburn Gallows rode for Stoke in 1962 and Reg Fearman, the promoter at the time, thought it was a great idea to 'hang' an efigy of a Cradley rider, during the interval, of an end of the season challenge match. The News of the World picked this up and Reg was in a lot of trouble for insensitivity. I think 1962 saw the last man to be hanged in this country, (James Hanratty), and so was not seen in very good taste. Reg recalls this in one of those History of Speedway videos, when he also remembers Igor Baranov, the phoney Rusian rider, and Kid Bodie, alias Howard Cole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted September 10, 2004 Report Share Posted September 10, 2004 Thanks, just as a point of intrest, did the promoters at the time use his name and former occupation as publicity when advertising meetings ? I can imagine ' Speedways own executioner - Tyburn Gallows ! ' <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Apart from Reg Fearman's stunt as mentioned by Parkstone Pirate above, I think most of speedway was embarrassed by Tyburn Gallows change of name. He was banned by the Control Board from using the name Tyburn Gallows so he changed his name by deed-pole so they couldn't stop him. As far as I know most promoters therefore did not use the type of advertising you talk about. Very unimaginative! At one time the body colour he wore for individual meetings and second halves was the CND symbol. The Control Board stopped him wearing that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireblade Posted September 10, 2004 Report Share Posted September 10, 2004 Tyburn Gallows also rode for Boston in the early seventies Incidently James Hanratty was not the last man to be hanged, sorry to harp on, but Criminology is my speciality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireblade Posted September 10, 2004 Report Share Posted September 10, 2004 Peter Allen (Liverpool) and Gwynne Evans (Manchester) were similtaniously hanged on 13 Aug 1964. They are the last men to hang in Britiain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parkstone Pirate Posted September 10, 2004 Report Share Posted September 10, 2004 My apolgies Fireblade, I obviously know a bit more about speedway than I do hanging! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted September 10, 2004 Report Share Posted September 10, 2004 Tyburn Gallows also rode for Boston in the early seventies Incidently James Hanratty was not the last man to be hanged, sorry to harp on, but Criminology is my speciality. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Fireblade........ maybe you could help with what Tyburn told quite a few people then the reason for his name change was that he was the last apprentice hangman is that right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireblade Posted September 11, 2004 Report Share Posted September 11, 2004 I have heard that story, but I'm not whether he was winding people up or not. Tyburn prison is probably one of the best known prison for hanging. I'll see if I can find out. BTW didn't he live his later years in Leicester. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted September 11, 2004 Report Share Posted September 11, 2004 All I know is my dad was his mechanic at Canterbury and that was the story he told him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireblade Posted September 11, 2004 Report Share Posted September 11, 2004 Are you the lady who used to do the 2, 4, 6, 8 chanting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted September 11, 2004 Report Share Posted September 11, 2004 That was probably Sue Clark she was one of the leaders of that one we just joined in (and I was only a kid back then as well ) Dick and Les were on the back straight chanting happily all night we used to go and join in with them as well at times aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh those were the days. Nevsy out of interest did you watch Eastenders last night and here the tune they were playing to Mrs Miller for her birthday........ brought a tear to my eye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBBY Posted October 2, 2004 Report Share Posted October 2, 2004 I know it's a bit late to reply to this topic, but I am a newcomer, just registered today. Dear old Tyburn Gallows was a second half rider for some time at West Ham in the sixties...he most often looped at the sarting gate or fell at some stage of most of his races, or was wexcluded for some misdemeanour. But he was a total entertainer who never gave up. I can remember him actually lining up for the West Ham Hammers at no 7 reserve spot on 17 October 1967 in the last British League match of the season against Long Eaton Archers. He had two rides, but retired with engine failure in both. I still have the programme amongst my collection. It's just taken me 20 minutes to find it and make sure. I would have been 13 - 14 years old at the time and we always looked forward to seeing whether Tyburn would actually complete a race. I always wondered what happened to him. They really were fantastic times and thank God I still have the memories of those great days at Custom House. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 2, 2004 Report Share Posted October 2, 2004 Welcome aboard Nobby. Always good to have another former West Ham supporter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBBY Posted October 2, 2004 Report Share Posted October 2, 2004 And current Arena Essex supporter as well. Pity I can't have both race jackets up on screen at the same time. Thanks for the welcome Norbold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted October 2, 2004 Report Share Posted October 2, 2004 That was probably Sue Clark she was one of the leaders of that one we just joined in (and I was only a kid back then as well ) Dick and Les were on the back straight chanting happily all night we used to go and join in with them as well at times aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh those were the days. Nevsy out of interest did you watch Eastenders last night and here the tune they were playing to Mrs Miller for her birthday........ brought a tear to my eye <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You sure it wasn't Mrs Moon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 3, 2004 Report Share Posted October 3, 2004 I can remember him actually lining up for the West Ham Hammers at no 7 reserve spot on 17 October 1967 in the last British League match of the season against Long Eaton Archers. He had two rides, but retired with engine failure in both. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, I was there that night as well. Just looked up my programme too. I have written in heat 4 "Tyburn Gallows e/f while 1st third lap." In the second half, he won the Junior Hammers Handicap starting off 10 yards and then came third in the Junior Hammers Snowball (out of 5). So he was doing quite well. Just a shame about the two e/fs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.