Presenters And Announcers

[steve roberts]

 

Thanks Steve! When I finish my book you'll understand why it just didn't happen for me at Oxford :-)

Oh yes, I remember it well Steve. Bernard used to encourage me to 'wind them up' and always paid the fines. . .of which there were many! :-)

Look forward to it!

[micman]

 

 

 

Absolutely bang on

 

I call it the Mike Bennett style, because I'd say he was like that. I also think that commentating during races is annoying and pointless.

 

 

 

Jeez Chris, I retired from speedway presentation 4 years ago and have lived in Australia for the last 3 yet you still manage to find a reason to have a dig at my 'style' ??

 

In the words of the song from frozen. . "let it go!"

 

Yes, I'll be the first to admit that my style was not to everyone's taste but during the late 80s and 90s I was the busiest presenter in British speedway.

I remember my first promoter dear old Cyril Maidment at Wimbledon back in 1986 telling me to grow a very thick skin, don't strive for universal popularity and make sure you big up the home team!

 

I had an amazing 'career' working some of the biggest events in the UK over the years and was, in fact, the first British presenter to be invited to host the Australia v England test matches at the Brisbane Exhibition speedway in 1988 where we had crowds of over 22,000 people for those meetings.

 

If you had ever taken the time out to have a chat with me on the many occasions you would have seen me work you would actually realise that the centre green performance is just that, a performance. Not too many of us are that extrovert in real life.

 

Thanks for getting my name back out there though Chris. . . it will help with the sale of my book when I come back to promote it at a track near you next year! :-)

[Halifaxtiger]

 

Jeez Chris, I retired from speedway presentation 4 years ago and have lived in Australia for the last 3 yet you still manage to find a reason to have a dig at my 'style' ??

 

In the words of the song from frozen. . "let it go!"

 

Yes, I'll be the first to admit that my style was not to everyone's taste but during the late 80s and 90s I was the busiest presenter in British speedway.

I remember my first promoter dear old Cyril Maidment at Wimbledon back in 1986 telling me to grow a very thick skin, don't strive for universal popularity and make sure you big up the home team!

 

I had an amazing 'career' working some of the biggest events in the UK over the years and was, in fact, the first British presenter to be invited to host the Australia v England test matches at the Brisbane Exhibition speedway in 1988 where we had crowds of over 22,000 people for those meetings.

 

If you had ever taken the time out to have a chat with me on the many occasions you would have seen me work you would actually realise that the centre green performance is just that, a performance. Not too many of us are that extrovert in real life.

 

Thanks for getting my name back out there though Chris. . . it will help with the sale of my book when I come back to promote it at a track near you next year! :-)

 

Ted Sear, Bob Radford, Dave Lanning and John Earrey have all been mentioned (must be 20 years since one or two of those had a go) so why not you ?

 

In any case, this is not so much about you personally as a style of presentation that you had which is still around today.

 

My old mate Gordon Bennett once described that style as being 'like marmite'. My question to him was why have marmite when half the punters don't like it ?

 

I don't doubt it was a performance. But it was one that I just didn't like and, let's be honest, I was anything but alone in that. In addition, as far as I can see being unpopular with customers doesn't seem to affect the number of bookings you get. The chap at Belle Vue apparently is inundated with presentation work yet he's awful (and again I am anything but alone in that opinion) and Peter York has only stopped announcing because Coventry have closed (see Midland Red's comment above).

 

I do, however, wish you every success with your book and if I have done a bit to promote it perhaps you'd like me to be critical elsewhere

[Sir Sidney]

 

 

 

Yes, I'll be the first to admit that my style was not to everyone's taste but during the late 80s and 90s I was the busiest presenter in British speedway.

I remember my first promoter dear old Cyril Maidment at Wimbledon back in 1986 telling me to grow a very thick skin, don't strive for universal popularity and make sure you big up the home team!

 

 

My recollection is that Mike was like a breath of fresh air at Wimbledon. Mike was certainly very different to dear old Ken Tozer who preceded him. It was not unknown for Ken to have to ask riders on parade who they were! I think Ken was happier on greyhound nights

 

Sure Mike would wind the opposition fans up a bit (!) but I think you'll find that, when Wimbledon fans went to away tracks where Mike was the presenter, he did the same to us - which we took in the spirit intended.

 

If Mike was like Marmite I think there were plenty of Marmite eaters at Plough Lane - now cue the Vegemite likers to respond.

[brianbuck]

Don't suppose many people will remember Frank Bellfield who was the announcer at Birmingham from 1946 until 1957. Frank was a similar kind of announcer to Allen Walker, the Coventry announcer during the same era. Both of them were crystal clear, very well informed and enjoyed a good rapport with the crowd as well as knowing when to shut up!

[The White Knight]

One of the best I have heard is Barry Wallace at Newcastle.

[Tsunami]

One of the best I have heard is Barry Wallace at Newcastle.

Since the restart of speedway at Newcastle in 1961 I think there has only been 3 announcers, and Barry has been doing it since about 1963. I know Maurice Morley was one and possibly Eddie Glennon the other one.

[The White Knight]

Since the restart of speedway at Newcastle in 1961 I think there has only been 3 announcers, and Barry has been doing it since about 1963. I know Maurice Morley was one and possibly Eddie Glennon the other one.

Barry Wallace was the Announcer at Sunderland 1971 to 1974 as well as his long and meritorious career Announcing at Newcastle.

 

Thinking about it - there can't be many around today who have served the Sport/Clubs as long as Barry.

[Ray Stadia]

Barry Wallace was the Announcer at Sunderland 1971 to 1974 as well as his long and meritorious career Announcing at Newcastle.

 

Thinking about it - there can't be many around today who have served the Sport/Clubs as long as Barry.

Mr late dad had a wall and floor tiling business and one of his guys was Barry Wallace.....can't be the same chap?

[The White Knight]

Mr late dad had a wall and floor tiling business and one of his guys was Barry Wallace.....can't be the same chap?

I wouldn't have thought so Ray. Where was your Dad's business?

[Ray Stadia]

I wouldn't have thought so Ray. Where was your Dad's business?

Rayleigh, Essex! No...got to be the wrong Barry TWK!

[Tsunami]

I wouldn't have thought so Ray. Where was your Dad's business?

Barry always worked at the Ministry in Benton.

[Guest]

Barry Wallace was the Announcer at Sunderland 1971 to 1974 as well as his long and meritorious career Announcing at Newcastle.

 

Thinking about it - there can't be many around today who have served the Sport/Clubs as long as Barry.

 

It was a long time ago - the late 1970s - but I am sure that I used to contact Barry Wallace by phone on a regular basis when I was working weekend shifts at the old 'Speedway Mail.' He was a great guy to 'work with' as I recall.

[micman]

 

 

I do, however, wish you every success with your book and if I have done a bit to promote it perhaps you'd like me to be critical elsewhere

 

I'm sure we can come to some arrangement Chris, I'll let you know when I need the advance book release publicity! :-)

Just getting back to the original question, I can only speak from my own experience and the changes in the sport from 1986 when

I was fortunate to join one of the best clubs in British Speedway - The Wimbledon Dons.

Back then you could 'get away with' so much more. We didn't live in this ridiculous era of political correctness and speedway meetings

were, for many people, the highlight of the week.

 

Before I even picked up the mic on opening night against Hackney, Cyril Maidment said "Introduce the HL1 Kestrels (as they were known on those days) as

the 2nd best speedway team in London and make sure you mention how old Malcolm Simmons is a few times" so I did and the crowd responded.

 

There was one occasion where Rob Grant had taken down Roger Johns and I commented that it was a hard move by the Wooly Bully.

From nowhere, Grantie comes running out of the pits and chased me across the centre green threatening to "knock my block off" much to the sheer delight of the fans.

Nowadays he would be fined a ridiculous amount and I'd be putting in a claim for mental trauma but back then, it was fun and we played up all of the characters in the sport. These guys were box office, had a reputation and put bums on seats.

 

When Simon Wigg ran over my foot with his front wheel at the same track, there was never any urge to call an insurance claim line and sue for compensation. We just laughed it off in he pits later on that night. No issue with the referee filing a 5 page report, it was all part of the evenings entertainment.

 

By the mid 1990s the fun police had moved in, we were given instructions of what could and couldn't be said and presentation become bland and predictable. That's one of the reasons why I took a 7 year sabbatical and didn't come back until 2005 when a chance radio interview with Keith Chapman (whatever happened to him??) resulted in me going back to Kings Lynn for another 7 seasons.

By then presenters and announcers were licensed and it was very difficult to stray too far from the basics for the risk of being fined and having your license removed.

I'd like to think I managed to push the boundaries enough to inject some enthusiasm and fun into the meetings but, even before we knew we were leaving the UK to settle in Australia, I had decided to walk away from speedway presentation.

 

There's a huge difference between being an announcer and a presenter. I started as a box announcer but by my 2nd season I knew I was happier on the centre green, grabbing interviews in the pits (wherever the mic worked. . .but that's another story!) and generally keeping things moving along.

 

I had the good fortune to work with some great box announcers who were often the voice of reason when I was in full wind up mode. Barry Wallace at Newcastle, Doug Adams at Sheffield, Ted Sear at Hackney and, for me, simply the best box announcer in speedway Edwin Overland.

Edwin is clear, articulate, accurate and the perfect partner for any presenter. He was an absolute joy to work with at Kings Lynn and Peterborough and any up and coming announcer could learn from his style.

 

Unlike me, I've never known Edwin to upset or offend anyone! :-)

 

Mike Bennett

[RobMcCaffery]

I had the pleasure of working with Edwin at KM Video and Screen Sport, and not just in speedway in the case of the former. I agree he was a perfect gentleman to deal with, unruffled and polite, but also quite authoritative. He was, and may still be a teacher which might have helped in that.

 

As I said before, finding trustworthy talent and trusting them has been replaced by licencing and fear so inevitably people now play safe. There is always a danger in overstepping the line but a quiet word from officialdom or the promoter should be enough, not the intimidating system we have now.

 

Unlike Mike I was always far happier in the box than in front of the public. Looking back I had to conquer two things when I started out clinging to the roofs of stadia (sometimes literally*) to commentate on videos and later present. It was hard to tell which was the harder fight, chronic fear of heights or chronic shyness. Somehow a different persona takes over which you 'wear' like a costume until the end of the meeting.

 

As Mike said, it is a performance. The key is not to get too fond of your voice.

 

(*commentating at the classic Belle Vue involved the cameraman and me sharing the crumbling spotlight platform on the roof with me lying prone and peering over the edge of the roof, relying on a monitor for the bit of track I dare not stretch out to see properly!)

Edited June 14, 2017 by Rob McCaffery

[Halifaxtiger]

 

I'm sure we can come to some arrangement Chris, I'll let you know when I need the advance book release publicity! :-)

Just getting back to the original question, I can only speak from my own experience and the changes in the sport from 1986 when

I was fortunate to join one of the best clubs in British Speedway - The Wimbledon Dons.

Back then you could 'get away with' so much more. We didn't live in this ridiculous era of political correctness and speedway meetings

were, for many people, the highlight of the week.

 

Before I even picked up the mic on opening night against Hackney, Cyril Maidment said "Introduce the HL1 Kestrels (as they were known on those days) as

the 2nd best speedway team in London and make sure you mention how old Malcolm Simmons is a few times" so I did and the crowd responded.

 

There was one occasion where Rob Grant had taken down Roger Johns and I commented that it was a hard move by the Wooly Bully.

From nowhere, Grantie comes running out of the pits and chased me across the centre green threatening to "knock my block off" much to the sheer delight of the fans.

Nowadays he would be fined a ridiculous amount and I'd be putting in a claim for mental trauma but back then, it was fun and we played up all of the characters in the sport. These guys were box office, had a reputation and put bums on seats.

 

When Simon Wigg ran over my foot with his front wheel at the same track, there was never any urge to call an insurance claim line and sue for compensation. We just laughed it off in he pits later on that night. No issue with the referee filing a 5 page report, it was all part of the evenings entertainment.

 

By the mid 1990s the fun police had moved in, we were given instructions of what could and couldn't be said and presentation become bland and predictable. That's one of the reasons why I took a 7 year sabbatical and didn't come back until 2005 when a chance radio interview with Keith Chapman (whatever happened to him??) resulted in me going back to Kings Lynn for another 7 seasons.

By then presenters and announcers were licensed and it was very difficult to stray too far from the basics for the risk of being fined and having your license removed.

I'd like to think I managed to push the boundaries enough to inject some enthusiasm and fun into the meetings but, even before we knew we were leaving the UK to settle in Australia, I had decided to walk away from speedway presentation.

 

There's a huge difference between being an announcer and a presenter. I started as a box announcer but by my 2nd season I knew I was happier on the centre green, grabbing interviews in the pits (wherever the mic worked. . .but that's another story!) and generally keeping things moving along.

 

I had the good fortune to work with some great box announcers who were often the voice of reason when I was in full wind up mode. Barry Wallace at Newcastle, Doug Adams at Sheffield, Ted Sear at Hackney and, for me, simply the best box announcer in speedway Edwin Overland.

Edwin is clear, articulate, accurate and the perfect partner for any presenter. He was an absolute joy to work with at Kings Lynn and Peterborough and any up and coming announcer could learn from his style.

 

Unlike me, I've never known Edwin to upset or offend anyone! :-)

 

Mike Bennett

 

Anyone who has heard Rob Godfrey at Scunthorpe will tell you that baiting of referee's is not quite dead. He's shamelessly biased, with comments like 'Should have gone to Specsavers', 'You're having a giraffe' and 'That's a controversial one' being typical when a decision goes against the Scorpions. 'Are we having the two minutes on, ref ?' is another when he thinks the delay is too long.

 

Its quite ironic that this man is also the VC of the BSPA

 

You're right that being an announcer is different to be a presenter. In my book, the latter is far harder. The master to me is Kevin Long, a true speedway fan, a very capable interviewer and effortlessly funny without ever being too much. Dave Hoggart (Workington), Michael Max(Glasgow), the aforementioned Mr Godfrey and Clive Fisher(Swindon) are all up there. I also was a big fan of the late, great Bryn Williams and saddened when Tim Allen handed in his cards after an altercation with a referee recently.

 

Edwin Overland is definitely one of the best boxmen along with Graham Hambly (Plymouth), Barry Wallace (Newcastle), Andy Young (Lakeside) and the very impressive new kid on the block, Neil Drummond (Belle Vue).

 

To be fair, what you think of the presenter will always be a personal thing of individual choice. I dare say some of the names above aren't appreciated by everyone.

Edited June 14, 2017 by Halifaxtiger

[RobMcCaffery]

One name that I don't think has been mentioned yet was the late Doug Adams who brightened up many an evening for me at Ellesmere Port, although his major role was over the Pennines at Halifax, and I seem to recall Sheffield. I also used to thoroughly enjoy Laurence Rogers' work at Cradley Heath.

Edited June 14, 2017 by Rob McCaffery

[martinmauger]

Barry Wallace was the Announcer at Sunderland 1971 to 1974 as well as his long and meritorious career Announcing at Newcastle.

 

Thinking about it - there can't be many around today who have served the Sport/Clubs as long as Barry.

He was announcer at Hull from, Boulevard from about 1979 (not checked) travelling down and back by train each Wednesday nite. Dougie Adams was announcer at Hull, Craven Park from 1995 to 2000ish (still not checked) then Nigel Pearson took over til about 2003 (not checked that either). Rob Godfrey does his best to try create interest at Scunny and at least interviews are conducted away from the pits, thus giving punters a chance to hear what is being said....

Edited June 14, 2017 by Martin Mauger

[The White Knight]

He was announcer at Hull from, Boulevard from about 1979 (not checked) travelling down and back by train each Wednesday nite. Dougie Adams was announcer at Hull, Craven Park from 1995 to 2000ish (still not checked) then Nigel Pearson took over til about 2003 (not checked that either). Rob Godfrey does his best to try create interest at Scunny and at least interviews are conducted away from the pits, thus giving punters a chance to hear what is being said....

I did not know that Martin.

[Tsunami]

I did not know that Martin.

I could well believe that, Ian Thomas would have been difficult to say NO to.