TonyMac Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 On the 40th anniversary of speedway’s biggest disaster, let’s all spare a thought for the victims of the Lokeren road crash, which happened 40 years ago today, on the morning of Tuesday, July 14, 1970. The five in the travelling West Ham Speedway party who lost their lives when their minibus collided with a lorry in Belgium were: Phil Bishop (team manager), Peter Bradshaw, Malcolm Carmichael, Martyn Piddock and Gary Everett. The Dutch driver, Henrikus Rommoes was also killed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 On the 40th anniversary of speedway’s biggest disaster, let’s all spare a thought for the victims of the Lokeren road crash, which happened 40 years ago today, on the morning of Tuesday, July 14, 1970. The five in the travelling West Ham Speedway party who lost their lives when their minibus collided with a lorry in Belgium were: Phil Bishop (team manager), Peter Bradshaw, Malcolm Carmichael, Martyn Piddock and Gary Everett. The Dutch driver, Henrikus Rommoes was also killed. Of the five, only knew Martyn to talk to but can well remember the sense of absolute disbelief and shock on hearing the tragic news. Hard to comprehend that it was forty years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 Of the five, only knew Martyn to talk to but can well remember the sense of absolute disbelief and shock on hearing the tragic news. Hard to comprehend that it was forty years ago. Can't believe it's 40 years ago. In those days knew nothing about it until the evening paper thudded on the mat and I can still picture the headlines. An awful tragedy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 Of the five, only knew Martyn to talk to but can well remember the sense of absolute disbelief and shock on hearing the tragic news. Hard to comprehend that it was forty years ago. Can't remember the rest who did but Colin Pratt survived that crash, albeit with permanent neck injuries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Third Man Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 stan stevens, and alan sage i think rode again after Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 the lokeren tragedy made front page headlines in the london evening news. i still have the copy my parents bought somewhere. as a kid i remember going to west ham for the memorial meeting. the two things that have stayed with me all these years later are the sunny weather that day and ivan mauger and olle nygren riding round on dirt track duggies. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom House Kid Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 stan stevens, and alan sage i think rode again after Alan Sage was not involved but Stan Stevens had a ruptured spleen, a broken leg, a fractured pelvis suffered serious facial injuries and was put on a life support machine. Colin Pratt Had severe neck injuries , a fractured knee cap and head and internal injuries. Colin was subsequently advised to give up speedway or risk being paralysed. Gary Hay Had severe cuts to his head and face. Roy Sullivan a mechanic suffered a broken leg and facial cuts. Also killed was the driver and two cyclists Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted July 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 Also killed was the driver and two cyclists Never heard before about two cyclists being involved in the fatal crash, which happened at around 5.00am. How did you hear about this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom House Kid Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 Never heard before about two cyclists being involved in the fatal crash, which happened at around 5.00am. How did you hear about this? Newham Recorder 14th July 20010! It was news to me as well? I will investigate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 Newham Recorder 14th July 20010! It was news to me as well? I will investigate http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/content/newham/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsNEWHAM&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsnewham&itemid=WeED14%20Jul%202010%2009%3A06%3A26%3A337 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 it was nice to have a minutes silence in memory of the lokeren victims at lakeside last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 (edited) Newham Recorder 14th July 20010! It was news to me as well? I will investigate You going to be around THAT long CHK? it was nice to have a minutes silence in memory of the lokeren victims at lakeside last night. And also to remember John Perrin at the same time CR. Will never forget the day he called me an awkward cuss (or words to that effect!) just because I asked for coffee rather than the tea he offered when we arrived in the Belle Vue pits at tea time for the evening's match! A true character of the sport indeed. Will never be forgotten in the same way as Lokeren. Edited July 17, 2010 by Bryn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomcat Posted July 27, 2010 Report Share Posted July 27, 2010 A little late seeing this, but its great that people still remember this tragedy and still mark the day. I remember seeing the pictures of the mini bus after the crash, how anyone survived that is a miracle in itself. It still hurts to remember those that were taken from us. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 I remember this as if it was only yesterday and yes, it is still painful to remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 Lokeren disaster, July14, 1970: http://www.speedwayp..._overview.shtml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 Lokeren disaster, July14, 1970: http://www.speedwayp..._overview.shtml thanks for reminding me john. It seems like a lifetime ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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