|
OBITUARY
RON HACK - posted 21 March 2009
It is with great sadness we report that long serving Astley & Tyldesley club helper Ron Hack passed away in North Manchester General Hospital on Thursday afternoon, after a short illness. He was 81 years old. Spokesman extends its sincere condolences to Ron's wife and family, especailly his son Mike. Funeral arrangements will be confirmed early next week. We hope to carry a fuller obituary in the near future.
ENID PEARSON
The Sheffield club regret to announce the untimely passing of Enid Pearson. Enid was married to Steve, the club's Welfare Officer and an ardent back-room worker for the club. Representatives of the club attended Enid's funeral on Thursday where the large auditorium was packed to standing room only by family and friends.
A club spokesman said: "It is our deepest sorrow to learn of this sad and sudden news. The Pearson family has been and remain wonderful friends and supporters of this club and we send our condolences to Steve and his family".
The club's riders, currently on tour in Australia, will be wearing black armbands for the remainder of the tour as a mark of respect for Enid.
STARS TURN OUR FOR MENNELL FUNERAL - posted 31 January 2009
On Thursday 29 January members of Norwich Stars Cycle Speedway Club attended the funeral of Ray Mennell at Terrington St John church, King's Lynn.
Ray passed away suddenly and will be sadly missed by everyone at Norwich Cycle Speedway Club. Ray Mennell was instrumental in the reformation of the Norwich club in 2003 and the club would not be where it is today without the hardwork and effort he put in behind the scenes.
All the club's thoughts are with his wife, and former team manager Maria Mennell and her two daughters. The club is really keen to ensure Maria remains part of Norwich Cycle Speedway Club after this tragedy and are currently looking into ideas and ways of honoring a much missed friend, colleague and team mate.
RAY MENNELL
East Anglian cycle speedway is still reeling after the sudden death of Ray Mennell. The 53-year-old former Brandon and Norwich rider, who was well-known around the local tracks, collapsed and died after suffering a heart attack at home. spokesman-online extends its sympathies to Ray's wife, Maria, who was Norwich team manager, and their two children.
DEBORAH MITTELL
It is with great sadness that Somersham cycle speedway club has to report the death of Deborah Mittell who died suddenly on 10 November 2008 aged 51.
Wife to Peter and mother to Andrew and Richard, she spent many years helping Somersham CSC by running the club's refreshments, often single handed, bringing in much needed revenue for the club. It was not just the cup of tea that people enjoyed but the friendly chat that came with it.
She got a great deal of pleasure from watching Andrew develop his cycle speedway career before illness brought it to a stop. She would always accept that Peter would spend many hours tending the Somersham track when her own garden could have done with some much needed work done on it!
Trusted friend to many, she touched the lives of so many people especially children who she loved. During her time Deborah had worked at Somersham playgroup, was a school assistant and dinner lady at Somersham School and more recently worked at a children's nursery and would always be there to support the junior Somersham riders.
Peter, Andrew and Richard would like to acknowledge everyone from cycle speedway for all their kind and generous support given to them at this very sad time.
TAM LOW
.
One of Scotland's best ever racers, Tam Low, has died of throat cancer. Tam was a regular Scottish international, came third in the 1973 national individual championship and top scored for the famous Midlothian club , Ecurie Alba, when they won the British team championship in 1968. Its is no exageration to say that Tam was one of Scotland's greatest ever cycle speedway riders. He was also a big favourite in Bristol where he spent the end of his racing career.
This grainy photo from the early Seventies shows Tam Low, in the colours of Bristol, gating across from grid three with Charlie Sprague on the grass and Graham Davies of Southampton on gate two
British Team Champions Ecurie Alba
Back Row from left to right: Ronnie Taylor, Kenny Clark, Dougie Noble, Tam Low, Ronnie Henderson.Kneeling: Alan 'Abbs' Dickson, Jim Culbert.
Tam Low (extreme left) battles against Tam Daly, Ian Sewell and John Spiers in the Scotland team
trials in 1966
Tam Low (second right), in the colours of Granton Griffins, challenges Sighthill Hammers Jackie Pinkerton and Dougie Bald
REMEMBERING TAM - posted 11 October 2008
Really very saddened to hear of Tam Low's death, a real character not only in Scotland but also at Bristol where he rode English League for them. Tam also lost a run off for the national individual championship in 1973, when Kevin Greenhalgh won at Wednesfield.
It will come as a real shock to all the Blackley team, who had many tough encounters racing the Scottish teams in their heyday. However Tam, as many of the Scots, was great company off the track, often leading the quite Blackley crew astray.
Tam along with Doug Noble , Tam Daly and Stuart Potter was a great gater. I was at Hungerford in 68 and remember the upset Ecurie Alba caused, Doug Noble also got a max. Both Tam and Doug, four straight gates, four straight wins.
Ironically I am travelling to Scotland tomorrow to race Edinburgh. No doubt the occasion will be tempered by this very sad news.
John Whiting
BARRY WOODCOCK 1941-2007
Barry Woodcock (left) pictured alongside Derek Garnett
in the Norwich League versus Manchester League match
at Eaton Park, Norwich in 1964
BARRY WOODCOCK posted
7 December 2007
One of cycle speedways most charismatic riders has died. Former Galley Pirate, Barry Woodcock, passed away suddenly last Sunday (2 December) aged 66.
In the mid-Sixties Barry Woodcock was a household name in cycle speedway circles and one of the best riders of his generation. Along with fellow Norfolk riders, Mike Parkins and Clive Hurrell, he regularly featured in open events up and down the country in a grand prix series for the Rider of the Year award.
Known affectionately as Woody, Barry won countless individual events all over the country and was Norfolk champion several times. Surprisingly, Barry only reached one national final, finishing ninth at Hungerford in 1962.
Flamboyant, extrovert but always hugely likeable, Woody was synonymous with one club, the famous Norwich team, Galley Pirates, who raced on wasteland at the bottom of Bowers Avenue where he lived as a boy. The Pirates subsequently transferred their base to nearby Sloughbottom Park where they hosted the 1974 national final.
Barry was a very successful business man. He headed an engineering design and drawing company that established a world-wide reputation for developing and manufacturing mushroom growing machinery.
At one time Barry was one of Norfolks top ten-pin bowlers and played for CTS Dynamos, in the top-tier Classic League. He was also a keen golfer and was captain of the Royal Cromer Golf Club in its centenary year, 1988.
Barry had been unwell for some time and two years ago under-went a kidney transplant. It was thought he was making a full recovery but he was rushed into hospital and was put on dialasis. He died suddenly last Sunday.
spokesman-online extends its sincere condolences to Barrys wife of many years, Gloria, his son Robert and daughter Sarah and all the family.
|
