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Bob Radford R.i.p


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BOB was a highly valued contributor to Speedway Star over many decades. Although not a journalist by trade - he was a VAT inspector- his rider interviews, Bob Radford's Travels and his coverage of Swindon were first class. His passion for speedway, along with travel, especially cruises, made him a very special person and we will miss him personally and professionally.

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I got to know Bob around 15 years ago when I first got involved at Reading, the guidance he gave me about presenting and announcing were very helpful.

 

He Nicknamed me The Minder, and always called me that whenever I saw him.

 

He returned to Reading as announcer during the Legg/Holloway era and we enjoyed some great banter over the tannoy, I had the pleasure of doing a final interview with Bob during Reading last team fixture, sadly he couldn't make the end of era meeting. Which was sad as he did so much for Reading Speedway.

 

Although I knew Bob was very ill. It's always a shock when someone you know and respect passes on.

 

RIP Big Bob!

 

The Minder

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Also the fount of knowledge on Norwegian speedway and the man principally responsible for bringing Per Jonsson and Jimmy Nilsen to Reading and Swindon respectively. [The SCB in their wisdom wouldn't issue work permits believing they weren't good enough]

Remember chatting to him on top of the clubhouse at Elgane.

 

IMO, he was also the best writer in the Speedway Star, and was always worth reading.

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Very sad. As others have said he was great on the roving mic back in the day.

Always entertaining he very much wanted to let the fans know what was going on in the pits.

That is sadly lacking these days.

He was forthright but fair in his commentaries.

 

I only met him once when introduced to him when I was a youngster. He got a personally signed

picture of Phil Crump to me. I still have that some 36 years later.

That was a great kindness that I've never forgotten.

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I got to know Bob around 15 years ago when I first got involved at Reading, the guidance he gave me about presenting and announcing were very helpful.

 

He Nicknamed me The Minder, and always called me that whenever I saw him.

 

He returned to Reading as announcer during the Legg/Holloway era and we enjoyed some great banter over the tannoy, I had the pleasure of doing a final interview with Bob during Reading last team fixture, sadly he couldn't make the end of era meeting. Which was sad as he did so much for Reading Speedway.

 

Although I knew Bob was very ill. It's always a shock when someone you know and respect passes on.

 

RIP Big Bob!

 

The Minder

 

 

You blaming Bob for your antics on the mic at Smallmead then? ;)

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Bob was the voice on the mic when Tim Stone brought the sport back to Newport in '97 and he was great at it. Clear, fun, authoritative but never trying to be the centre of attention like some. And I'm sure we all ready his articles in the speedway press over the years to know how good they were.

 

A few years back Bob added me as a friend on Facebook and we spent many nights chatting away on Facebook about the sport and just life in general.

 

Not only someone who I respected immensely for his voice and written word in Speedway by also a great man on a personal level.

 

RIP Bob.

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