Guest Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 (edited) Forwarded message from 'Shaleway' Tony Webb:: :::::::::: JOHN MAURICE FITZPATRICK 1926- 2015 Another childhood hero has passed on, my memories of Johnny Fitzpatrick are of a rider taller than the average speedway rider and a great team man he rode for Rayleigh Rockets, my local track, and then Ipswich Witches and on to Yarmouth Bloaters. Big John always regarded as a Londoner he was actually born in St Peterport , Guernsey in the Channel islands on March 19 1926, his family moved to London in 1929. John served as a Paratrooper in World war two in Palestine and other countries. In his early years Johnny was a very good road racing cyclists with his friend Ken Adams. They both took up speedway at Stoke training school in late 1948. They practised at Rye House and High Beech in that winter. Both signed for Stoke Potters in 1948, a glory year for the Potters as they won the Third division Championship where Johnny would remain for five seasons. He transfered to Southampton Saints in 1954 after the Potters closed, Johnny had two years with the Saints then moved to West ham in the top league for 1955. Rayleigh was the next team, before moving further north to Ipswich then onto Yarmouth. It was at the tiny seaside track Johnny had his best two seasons. With a career best in 1960 with an average of 8.60. New Cross was home for a year in 1961, then joining up with former Stoke rider Reg Fearman’s promotion at Middleboro. It was with the Bears that Johnny struck up a life time friendship with Queenslander Kev Torpie. Johnny retired from speedway in 1963, he had worked as a panel beater during his speedway years with colourful London connections among his customers were the infamous Kray twins. In contrast john took a position as security at Londons Hendon Police Academy. This was followed by a job at British Airways, he made several a total 36 trips to Australia where he attended VSRA Dinners as an honoury member. Joining up with Brisbane based Kev Torpie and his son John they made two round Australia trips by motorcycle catching up with many old friends including Eric Williams, Colin McKee and Charlie Wallis. Kev Torpie recalled that John would always call in at the local cop shop on their travels to get his police Warrant book signed. In his later years Johnny worked as a motorcycle courier in London on a Honda he obtained from Kev and shipped back to London. Ill health slowed him down and curtailed that one last trip to Australia that he still talked about. He passed away on September 16 aged 89. Johnny was a true speedway journey man, have bike, will travel. It is interesting that as a big man he was more at home on the small tracks, the only larger circuits he rode for were Ipswich and West Ham. ::::::: Written by Tony Webb 19-9-2015 with the help of the Torpie family. Edited September 27, 2015 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Very sad news. I remember Johnny well at New Cross in 1961. Of course it is always sad when someone dies, but he does seem to have lived a very full life. RIP John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 I also saw Johnny Fitzpatrick ride in the 1961 New Cross team and I'm sorry to see another of the old guard leave us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knowle Posted September 30, 2015 Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 Did his son John ride speedway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 1, 2015 Report Share Posted October 1, 2015 (edited) I also saw Johnny Fitzpatrick ride in the 1961 New Cross team and I'm sorry to see another of the old guard leave us. Did his son John ride speedway? I don't recall a son of John Fitzpatrick riding speedway but I would be very interested to know more about the possibility that this happened. There was a Mike Fitzpatrick in the 1980s and I suppose he might have been related to John? http://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/979/mike-fitzpatrick Edited October 1, 2015 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert72 Posted October 1, 2015 Report Share Posted October 1, 2015 (edited) Yes there was Mike but not sure if he was related or not Edited October 1, 2015 by robert72 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted October 1, 2015 Report Share Posted October 1, 2015 I don't recall a son of John Fitzpatrick riding speedway but I would be very interested to know more about the possibility that this happened. There was a Mike Fitzpatrick in the 1980s and I suppose he might have been related to John? http://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/979/mike-fitzpatrick Hang on, surely that site isn't worthy of reference as it doesn't have NL details on it!!😨 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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