steve roberts Posted July 6, 2022 Report Share Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) Just been reading up on the history of Ashfield Giants and how it's been suggested that the very sad death of Star Rider Ken Le Breton brought forward the ultimate closure of Saracen Park due to falling attendances (very healthy compared to today it has to be said). Ken with his distinctive white leathers was labelled "The White Ghost" and was dedicated to his speedway and his wife Joan. It has been suggetsed that the untimely death of Tommy Jansson had a similar effect on Wimbledon and that it was never the same again although Plough Lane did continue to run speedway for many years after Tommy died. Edited July 6, 2022 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beirao Posted July 11, 2022 Report Share Posted July 11, 2022 If Ken had been spared, would he have sought a move south to a First Division track, just as Jack Young did? Seems likely and it would probably have had the same impact on attendances at Ashfield. Johnnnie Hoskins seems to have pulled off quite a coup selling Willie Wilson to Belle Vue for a reputed £1500, quite a sum in these days.incidentally Johnnie was the manager at Belle Vue at the time. The open licence season in 1953 was a real case of flogging a dead horse. There was never any chance of it succeeding. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 11, 2022 Report Share Posted July 11, 2022 17 minutes ago, Beirao said: If Ken had been spared, would he have sought a move south to a First Division track, just as Jack Young did? Seems likely and it would probably have had the same impact on attendances at Ashfield. Johnnnie Hoskins seems to have pulled off quite a coup selling Willie Wilson to Belle Vue for a reputed £1500, quite a sum in these days.incidentally Johnnie was the manager at Belle Vue at the time. The open licence season in 1953 was a real case of flogging a dead horse. There was never any chance of it succeeding. He did ride for New Cross in 1947. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beirao Posted July 11, 2022 Report Share Posted July 11, 2022 Yes and was sent to Newcastle in a swap deal and Newcastle subsequently moved to Ashfield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 13, 2022 Report Share Posted July 13, 2022 On 7/11/2022 at 7:54 PM, Beirao said: Yes and was sent to Newcastle in a swap deal and Newcastle subsequently moved to Ashfield. The swap deal as I recall was Ken le Breton and £1,000 to bring Jeff Lloyd to New Cross. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted July 13, 2022 Report Share Posted July 13, 2022 16 minutes ago, JohnHyam said: I was at New Cross the night in 1947 when Ken le Breton was introduced to the fans. And something he was carrying raised a big cheer from the crowd! Sorry, I can't read that. Could you make the font a little larger, please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted July 13, 2022 Report Share Posted July 13, 2022 11 minutes ago, JohnHyam said: This appears to be a fault with my postings in regard to items. The matter has been reported to the BSF Moderator for his attention. I suggest you try and alter your font size on the tool bar when you post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted July 13, 2022 Report Share Posted July 13, 2022 6 minutes ago, racers and royals said: I suggest you try and alter your font size on the tool bar when you post What tool bar? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 13, 2022 Report Share Posted July 13, 2022 4 hours ago, chunky said: What tool bar? Never mind all that....what was he carrying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted July 13, 2022 Report Share Posted July 13, 2022 3 minutes ago, norbold said: Never mind all that....what was he carrying? Do you think John knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted July 13, 2022 Report Share Posted July 13, 2022 WTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted July 14, 2022 Report Share Posted July 14, 2022 2 hours ago, BOBBATH said: WTF What? You want to know what he was carrying too? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted July 14, 2022 Report Share Posted July 14, 2022 Well i guess we can rule out the Ashes, as instead of cheering it would have probably caused a riot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL65 Posted July 14, 2022 Report Share Posted July 14, 2022 I know of one occasion when Francis James (nicknamed Ken) Le Breton raised a cheer and a smile at New Cross. Guess what he was carrying that time: (a) an injury (b) a passenger (c) an umbrella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted July 14, 2022 Report Share Posted July 14, 2022 15 minutes ago, BL65 said: I know of one occasion when Francis James (nicknamed Ken) Le Breton raised a cheer and a smile at New Cross. Guess what he was carrying that time: (a) an injury (b) a passenger (c) an umbrella What about (d) all of the above? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL65 Posted July 14, 2022 Report Share Posted July 14, 2022 46 minutes ago, chunky said: What about (d) all of the above? On the wet night in question I am sure that he was uninjured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted July 14, 2022 Report Share Posted July 14, 2022 7 minutes ago, BL65 said: On the wet night in question I am sure that he was uninjured. Can you give us a clue ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL65 Posted July 14, 2022 Report Share Posted July 14, 2022 21 minutes ago, iris123 said: Can you give us a clue ? Best I can do is that he was known as 'the umbrella man' for a short time afterwards. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 14, 2022 Report Share Posted July 14, 2022 3 hours ago, BL65 said: Best I can do is that he was known as 'the umbrella man' for a short time afterwards. No, sorry, give up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2022 Remember reading Johnnie Hoskins' fascinating book "Speedway Walkabout" where he was in the compsny of a clairvoyant who was in contact with someone to do with motor cycles and her description matched that of Ken. Ken's messaage from the other side to Johnnie was "Tell Joan she is still mine". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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