A Tale Of 2 Osbornes - Help Needed

[Guest compost]

Hi,

 

Can anyone help please ?

 

Around the end of the 1940's there appears to have been 2 Bill Osbornes riding in British Speedway. I'm trying to sort out which one rode for which teams.

 

I think that Bill Osborne had the following career -

 

Bradford 1946, 47 & 48

Middlesbrough 1947

Walthamstow 1949

Oxford 1950 to 1954 inc.

 

Whilst (Bill ?) 'Oz' Osborne rode as follows -

 

Hastings 1948

Oxford 1949

Rayleigh 1950 & 1951

 

Can anyone confirm if I've got this right or not please ? Sources seem as confused as me !!

 

Finally, a Bill Osborne rode at the start of the 60's. Was this one of the earlier Osbornes restarting or was he a 'new' Bill Osborne ? (I think he rode for Edinburgh in 61 and Leicester in 62).

 

Cheers.

[moxey63]

According to the excellent Matt Jackson/Hugh Vass cd covering the riders of the 1940s, Bill Osborne and "Ossie" Osborne are/were different people.

 

Bill Osborne rode for Bradford in 1946 (also appreared for Hastings, Walthamstow, Oxford, Edinburgh) and ended his career at Leicester in 1962; James "Ossie" Osborne rode the years 1949-51 (Oxford, Rayleigh) and, according to Matt's database, died in 1955.

Edited April 3, 2012 by moxey63

[speedyguy]

According to the excellent Matt Jackson/Hugh Vass cd covering the riders of the 1940s, Bill Osborne and "Ossie" Osborne are/were different people. Bill Osborne rode for Bradford in 1946 (also appreared for Hastings, Walthamstow, Oxford, Edinburgh) and ended his career at Leicester in 1962; James "Ossie" Osborne rode the years 1949-51 (Oxford, Rayleigh) and, according to Matt's database, died in 1955.

 

That sums up my opinion too. I am also fairly certain that Bill Osborne also rode for England in test matches in New Zealand in the late 1940s early 1950s. With respects, he was by far the better rider of the two. He had specially modified handlebars on his bike after breaking an arm which was left with a deformity.

I also have a suspicion - and I do have memory lapses - that both Bill and Oz were at one-time in their early speedway racing days around 1946 involved with West Ham. Oz Osborne was certainly around before 1949, of that I am certain though.

Edited April 3, 2012 by speedyguy

[Guest compost]

Thanks for the info chaps. Looks like other than Bill at Hastings I had it pretty much covered.

 

Useful to know that 'Oz''s actual name was James. Thanks again.

[chunky]

I am also fairly certain that Bill Osborne also rode for England in test matches in New Zealand in the late 1940s early 1950s.

 

Bill Osborne scored 1 pt for England in an unofficial Test Match at Hastings on February 12, 1952. The match was scheduled to be the first of a series, but the series was abandoned as a result of an injury to Freddie Williams. The hosts won by a score of 31-17. Scorers were : NZ - Ronnie Moore 12, Bruce Abernethy 11, Mary Dunn 5, Ron Johnston 3. England - Norman Parker 7, Freddie Williams 6, Gil Craven 3, Bill Osborne 1.

 

Steve

[moxey63]

Thanks for the info chaps. Looks like other than Bill at Hastings I had it pretty much covered.

 

Useful to know that 'Oz''s actual name was James. Thanks again.

 

Thank Matt Jackson and Hugh Vass. They have done all the research into these two cds, covering the 40s and 50s, and which I hope the third one in the series (the 60s) is forthcoming, Matt (if you're listening).

 

Anybody who hasn't already acquired these cds, I urge you to do so.

Edited April 3, 2012 by moxey63

[The White Knight]

Thank Matt Jackson and Hugh Vass. They have done all the research into these two cds, covering the 40s and 50s, and which I hope the third one in the series (the 60s) is forthcoming, Matt (if you're listening).

 

Anybody who hasn't already acquired these cds, I urge you to do so.

 

Couldn't agree more - I have them both too.

 

Where oh where is The '60's'.

 

I hope to see the '70's' before I shuffle off this mortal coil - it's the one I REALLY want to get my hands on.

[tigerowl]

Sorry for the delay chaps,

 

I have written 95,000 words of the 1960s CD and it will be ready soon - I promise - I just need to make sure that it's right and doesn't let the other two issues down. I've got a bit delayed doing the Researcher web site but that is up and running now so it's full steam ahead.

 

Thanks for the kind words.

 

Matt

[TrackSpare]

According to the excellent Matt Jackson/Hugh Vass cd covering the riders of the 1940s, Bill Osborne and "Ossie" Osborne are/were different people.

 

Bill Osborne rode for Bradford in 1946 (also appreared for Hastings, Walthamstow, Oxford, Edinburgh) and ended his career at Leicester in 1962; James "Ossie" Osborne rode the years 1949-51 (Oxford, Rayleigh) and, according to Matt's database, died in 1955.

 

I remember well the 1961 season at Old Meadowbank in Edinburgh which started out quite promisingly for the Monarchs, with old head Dick Campbell making his return along with new boys Alf Wells and Wayne Briggs.

 

Bill Osborne was brought in by Ian Hoskins to plug gaps in the team after a series of injuries left the team somewhat depleted, mid season. Bill's handlebars had an odd appearance, the clutch side was at the usual angle but the throttle side had a downward slope. I wondered if this was a result of injuries earlier in his career.

I was really glad to find this reference to Bill Osborne tonight as I remember having a conversation with a workmate on the old days at Old Meadowbank and the rider with 'the odd handlebars' but for the life of us neither of us could remember his name...now I know, thanks.