norbold

I have a collection of 1540 programmes (yes I have counted them!) I'm not sure "favourite" is quite the right word, given the nature of one of the programmes, but my prize programmes are: My own first meeting New Cross v. Norwich, 11 May 1960 The first-ever Crystal Palace meeting, which also includes the first-ever international between England & Australia, 19 May 1928 The first-ever New Cross meeting, 18 April 1934 New Cross, 28 August 1935, the match in which Tom Farndon had his fatal crash New Cross, 18 September 1935, the first Tom Farndon Memorial Trophy Hackney v. New Cross, 10 April 1963, the first post-War Hackney programme Wimbledon, 4 September 1953, the first-ever England v. New Zealand Test match Wimbledon v. West Ham, 14 August 1965, KO Cup 3rd round replay, the best and most memorable match I have ever seen - the night Malcolm Simmons came good Wembley, 28 June 1956, the first-ever England v. Sweden Test match, Wembley v. Southampton, 31 August 1939 (the last match before the War) Wembley, 29 August 1938, Star Riders' Championship Final Plus all the Mildenhall and Wimbledon programmes that contain the regular columns that I wrote!

When was the last time there were three Brits in the semi-finals?

Absolutely, r&r. A very easy way to earn 10 grand. Just surprised more people didn't think of it.

Also, sort of on this theme. I have been watching repeats of Bullseye on television - "Let's see what you could have won." The quiz questions are so much harder than on popular quizzes today and, what's more, the contestants know the answers to most of them.

http://www.speedwaymuseumonline.co.uk/welcome.html This might help. Someone posted it recently in the Years Gone By topic.

I was talking to Pete Sampson and Bert Harkins about George on Saturday. They hadn't heard from him for over 12 years. However, I think he is still alive. But, as you say, E.I., May be suffering from Alzheimer's. I also got to know him very well when we were setting up the Speedway Museum back in 2007. I used to go round his house to help plan things out as well as working with him at the museum itself. As you say, he and Linda were a lovely couple. It was all a very sad end to his involvement with the museum.

Wow! That's some collection!

Yes, that is correct. It was suspended after Farndon's fatal crash because he was the reigning Match Race Champion at the time and, over the last couple of years, had remained unbeaten. He had made the British Match Race Championship his own. It had become so much associated with him that, as a mark of respect, the competition was abandoned to perpetuate Tom’s name as the undefeated holder of the trophy.

Yes, it was a great day, r and r and good to meet you again. Also Brian Leonard amongst many other former Hammers (and one Bomber!) I had a particularly interesting chat with Norman Hunter. Good weather as well - unlike most Tuesdays down Custom House as I seem to remember!

As well as the 'Ammers t-shirt mentioned in the op and all my old programmes from 1960 onwards, I still have my orange and black New Cross scarf as well as some draw tickets from the good old days when Ernie Hancock was secretary of the New Cross Supporters' Club. I donated my New Cross badge to The British Museum as I knew someone who worked there at the time!

Funny you should say that, because on one occasion I was standing looking over the edge of the upper tier with my friend, John, when a few kids came along and kicked some litter (may have been peanut shells amongst it) over the edge and scarpered sharpish. The people below looked up and swore at us because they thought it was us! So maybe you have sworn at me in a previous life, E.I.........

Ah, yes. Good thinking. Amendment to my previous post: If anyone sees an old duffer in a faded West Ham t-shirt, that is at least three sizes too small for him, please come up and say hello!

I've just found my old Hammers t-shirt. It's a bit faded, but what do you expect after 60 years!? So if anyone sees an old duffer in a faded West Ham t-shirt, please come up and say hello!

Cripes! I think mine cost £10.

Yes, it's a great book. I managed to buy it about 20 years ago.

Or maybe who had him for breakfast……

Exactly. I said as soon as it was announced, "So Ipswich don't want to win then."

They also need to make them less tedious. Waiting while adverts and interviews play out at home is so so boring in the stadium.

Ron Johnson rode the following week, on 3rd September, in the Edinburgh round of the Provincial Riders' Championship. He scored three points from five rides, but those three points were a win in his fourth ride against Jimmy Gleed, Jimmy Cox and Dave Dodd. He then fell in his last ride. On 14 May 1963 he rode a series of three match races against Phil Bishop in the second half at New Cross. Johnson won 2-1. I think those were his last official rides.

Why would there be an S before the DAYS?

Leicester?

Absolutely BOBBATH. A very sad end for one of the all-time greats. The only upside was that it meant I actually got to see my team, New Cross's all-time hero ride - a rider who had started riding speedway in Australia before the sport even came to England.

Oh, it was a hot dog. I often wondered what it was.

So did I. I don't remember seeing you there!

Yes, it was in 1930, Crystal Palace v. Hall Green. He described what happened, “In the middle of a match race with Huxley [in the second half], the breather on my crankcase worked loose. I put my left hand down to feel if the oil was coming out. Instead the primary chain whipped off the tops of two fingers. On talking the glove off there were the tops inside! The blood was pumping out, but grabbing my left wrist with the other hand I stopped the flow by pressure and walked across to the ambulance tent, which at the Palace, was situated in the middle of the grass centre. I was soon fixed up.”