Mervyn Stewkesbury RIP

[rearingtogo]

Sad to hear of the passing of the former Weymouth Wildcats and former Poole pirates promoter after a lengthy illness. Heartfelt condolences sent to all his family and friends from the speedway community.

Edited May 11, 2023 by rearingtogo

[steve roberts]

Sad news indeed...stirred up the hierarchy within speedway at the time but certainly left his mark.

RIP

[tyretrax]

R.I.P. Mervyn.

[LesR]

R.I.P. Mervyn, condolences to all Mervyns family and friends.

[25yearfan]

Weymouth and Poole speedways had good times when under his ownership.

Edited May 27, 2023 by 25yearfan

[Ray Stadia]

Looks like poor old Mervyn Stewkesbury isn't very popular. I never met the chap, but certainly a big name I remember from the past. Just shows you either of 2 things. This forum has hardly any active members now and/or people don't remember the guy, as the forum members are too young. I think sadly it is the former, rather than the latter. RIP Mervyn

[steve roberts]

7 hours ago, Ray Stadia said:

Looks like poor old Mervyn Stewkesbury isn't very popular. I never met the chap, but certainly a big name I remember from the past. Just shows you either of 2 things. This forum has hardly any active members now and/or people don't remember the guy, as the forum members are too young. I think sadly it is the former, rather than the latter. RIP Mervyn

Certainly was the case with the late John Berry when reading his book.

[Ray Stadia]

9 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

Certainly was the case with the late John Berry when reading his book.

I have read John's book, but a number of years ago now. I will have to dig the book out.....if I can find it! But of course, you would expect there to be promoter rivalry, but the fans not liking Mervyn? 

[steve roberts]

11 minutes ago, Ray Stadia said:

I have read John's book, but a number of years ago now. I will have to dig the book out.....if I can find it! But of course, you would expect there to be promoter rivalry, but the fans not liking Mervyn? 

With John his reasons were for the way that, in his opinion, Mervyn "manipulated" the direction speedway was heading to suit his personal agenda. If I recall it was the time that promotion and relegation was introduced during Stewkesbury's tenure which was never going to succeed and the rift began to surface between the two leagues?

[IainB]

Wasn't Mervyn Stewkesbury the one that developed the "blueprint" for the 5h1tshow of a sport we have today?

[Humphrey Appleby]

7 hours ago, Ray Stadia said:

I have read John's book, but a number of years ago now. I will have to dig the book out.....if I can find it! But of course, you would expect there to be promoter rivalry, but the fans not liking Mervyn? 

Probably a condolence page is not the place for a critique, but arguably the architect of the 'them-and-us' division between the BL and NL that arguably did not serve the sport well in the long term. Nor the 're-merger' of the BL and NL as a vehicle to get Poole back into the top league at a lower cost.

I'm sure there are different sides to the argument that are both valid though.