The Late Martyn Piddock

[Kent Boy]

Anybody know Martyn's birthplace.

[KevH]

I'm not sure it's any help, but his brother Dave, was born in Ashford.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

And there was a third brother, Kevin wasn't it..??

Saw him riding Grass Track at Tenterden in 1974..

[shazzybird]

Will be seeing Dave in March will find out then if you like if you don't find out before.

[KevH]

Just for the record, does anyone know Martyn's d.o.b. too?

[frigbo]

Just for the record, does anyone know Martyn's d.o.b. too?

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December 11th 1947.

[KevH]

Cheers again mate.

[Guest Donsking]

December 11th 1947.

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I didn't know I shared a birthday with him, I still have memories of the first meeting at Plough Lane after the Lokeren disaster.

[KevH]

Care to share them Donsking?

[Kent Boy]

Yes please Shazzybird, just for the record and a contact number for Dave if possible. A photo I would like him to sign Thanks

[Guest Donsking]

Care to share them Donsking?

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I was only a kid at the time (5 or 6) so I don't remember who the Dons were racing against, but I do remember the few minutes silence before the meeting, and the generally subdued atmosphere that the meeting was held in; just like I remember asking my brother (who is 11 years older than me) why we were having a special meeting for Tommy Jansson, my favourite rider after Mirac retired..................he told me and I was in tears.

Edited January 26, 2007 by Donsking

[Custom House Kid]

I was only a kid at the time (5 or 6) so I don't remember who the Dons were racing against, but I do remember the few minutes silence before the meeting, and the generally subdued atmosphere that the meeting was held in; just like I remember asking my brother (who is 11 years older than me) why we were having a special meeting for Tommy Jansson, my favourite rider after Mirac retired..................he told me and I was in tears.

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Dons Rider Garry Everitt was killed in the crash with Martyn, Pete Bradshaw, Malcolm Charmical and West ham manager Phil Bishop.

[Guest Donsking]

Dons Rider Garry Everitt was killed in the crash with Martyn, Pete Bradshaw, Malcolm Charmical and West ham manager Phil Bishop.

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I know that now, but I didn't at the time, Garry wasn't really a major fixture in the team and went under my radar; but I do remember that meeting as being one of the less enjoyable in my early years at Plough Lane, a very quiet and dour affair.

 

I guess Lokeren was speedway's equivalent of the Munich Air Disaster.

[Ian]

I guess Lokeren was speedway's equivalent of the Munich Air Disaster.

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That's a good description, DK.

 

I remember walking up Bishopsgate on my way to do an evening shift. There was an Evening Standard billboard which read "London Speedway Stars Killed". It was a couple of minutes before I was able to bring myself to buy a copy to find out who it was.

 

What I can't remember is what day of the week it was. However, I was at Hackney on the Friday night and everyone seemed subdued; a group of supporters were talking about someone having been decapitated. Somehow that made it even worse.

[BOBBATH]

I remember this-there was a small item in the Toronto Globe and Mail-I even went to the trouble of calling their newsroom to find if they had more data-they hadn't published any names. I had to wait to receive my Speedway Star.What a tragedy it was

[lionheart]

Dont know if it is the right one, but there was a MartIn (Notice the I not Y.) J. Piddock registered in ASHFORD Kent in the final quarter of 1947 and the mothers maiden name was RICH.

[andout]

Unfortunately I remember these days only too well....I was in Holland at the time on holiday and I saw a poster on the road stating Denmark v. West Ham at Tilburg & Amsterdam....I knew nothing about West Ham going to Holland to race, even being a West Ham fan. So I decided to take a chance and find out if it really was...well obviously it was...I went to both meetings and even had chats with the riders.....imagine my shock the next day when all these riders were killed.

Sad, sad days.

[jakzay]

I remember that awfull day they died, I used to drive a lorry as I was comeing up to Aldgate I saw the plagards saying speedway riders killed in road crash I was choked, it was on a Tuesday and we were set to race against Wembly lions the meeting was cancelled and the flags flew at halve mast over Custom House it was so sad.