tomcat Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 I have learned this evening that Nigel 'NODDY' Fordham has sadly passed away. It appears that Noddy suffered a heart attack, then once in hospital had a massive stroke and sadly passed away. Most speedway fans will fondly remember Noddy, for his unique way of getting around the country and Europe for speedway meetings, covering thousands of miles by thumbing a lift and hitch hiking everywhere. I am still in a state of shock as Noddy was a good mate and stayed in touch, even after I had to leave my job at Foxhall many years ago. Noddy was a true speedway fan, in every sense, supporting riders from many clubs and countries, no matter what. I am going to miss you mate and may you rest in peace and look down on your coveted Witches from that great speedway track in the sky. R.I.P Noddy Jerry, Dee & JJ 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WembleyLion Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 (edited) I knew Noddy really well and will miss seeing him particularly around Foxhall. I also always appreciated how nice he was to my family. Can't believe it was only a few weeks ago that I sat in the Diner with him at Ipswich chatting away ahead of cup final against Peterborough. Such sad news - R.I.P Noddy Edited December 14, 2017 by WembleyLion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobC Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 A larger than life character. Genuinely nice chap. Bit loud and brash, but a heart of gold. RIP Noddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Lady Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 Sometimes went many months between seeing him but he always a had a smile and a bit of banter. RIP Noddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 I never met him personally but knew well of his enthusiasm for the sport. May he RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesR Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 Saw him many times, a great character, RIP Noddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 A true devotee. He will be missed as a familiar face at a lot of tracks. He did over 5000 meetings! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 RIP Noddy, how sad, he will be missed ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffster Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 Awful News ! Our paths always used to cross in either Prague or Pardubice, more often than not both, around the time of the Czech Golden Helmet each year RIP Noddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 A true character and I'm sorry to hear this news. Back in 1983 my producer and I were pulling up in the car park for the Norden World Final. "Well, this is one place we won't see Noddy". Wrong - he was helping out as a car park attendant... Another time I arrived at Leicester in a hurry to cover an England v USA test match. I'd had to get a train and taxi to Blackbird Road and urgently needed to find the press gate. Noddy was on hand and used his specialised knowledge of such entrances to point me in the right direction. Somebody once suggested he was a self-employed cobbler which would have helped him to have time off for his travels. He seemed to know everyone. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 Sad news - RIP Noddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyretrax Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 R.I.P. Noddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY69 Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 RIP, at least there was no drawn out illness. Met him loads of times at meetings and he used to come to my meetings sometimes as well - even in places such as Linlithgow. Last saw him in his job at Kesgrave Kitchen where he served us a mean fry up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25yearfan Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 (edited) A great character who you'd bump into all over the place at various speedway tracks especially his beloved Ipswich and nearby Mildenhall! One of his greatest achievements was hitchiking to the Ukraine in 1990 for the World U21 Final fittingly won by Ipswich's own Chris Louis! Yes at one time he was a cobbler amongst other things. I believe he often worked at shops where he knew that someone, either a rider, promoter or a fan lived nearby so he could hitch a lift to the speedway! He can't have been any older than late 60's? Speedway's much the worse without this one- off character! Edited December 15, 2017 by 25yearfan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haza Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 1 hour ago, 25yearfan said: A great character who you'd bump into all over the place at various speedway tracks especially his beloved Ipswich and nearby Mildenhall! One of his greatest achievements was hitchiking to the Ukraine in 1990 for the World U21 Final fittingly won by Ipswich's own Chris Louis! Yes at one time he was a cobbler amongst other things. I believe he often worked at shops where he knew that someone, either a rider, promoter or a fan lived nearby so he could hitch a lift to the speedway! He can't have been any older than late 60's? Speedway's much the worse without this one- off character! I’d be surprised if he was any older than 60 - RIP Noddy a true speedway fan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25yearfan Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 (edited) Noddy always said he started watching speedway when John Berry and Joe Thurley reopened Ipswich in 1969 which is now 48 years ago, so I'd say he was in his 60's? I well remember him from the 1970's and he must have been in his 20's then? A unique character! Edited December 15, 2017 by 25yearfan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 I didn't know him but reading all these stories he sounds like a special person. RIP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 Never knew him, but defo heard of him, think he once had tiger stripes put in his hair once (and / or a tattoo) to commemorate something John Louis did; qualify for 1975 World Final ? Either way he was a speedway superfan. RIP.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyretrax Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 I'm sure Noddy hitched a lift back from Russia from Shane Bowes. R.I.P. Npddy, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 3 hours ago, Haza said: I’d be surprised if he was any older than 60 - RIP Noddy a true speedway fan Yeah, I believe he was around the 60 mark. I wouldn't say I knew him "well", but we always used to stop and have a chinwag, and as has been said, you never knew where you were going to run into him. R.I.P mate... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.