Paul

Well, Bobby McNeil gives a very moving interview exclusively in the Hackney reunion programme, which will be on sale at the Hackney reunion on July 22nd. I hope they’ll be on sale via the website, www.hackneyreunion.com after reunion, assuming we have any left!

Tickets for the reunion Friday at 8 have now all but sold, however we do have disco / cabaret tickets for sale at £6.00, Friday at 9.30. These are tickets are for the reunion, but not the whole evening. You'll miss none of the entertainment and a few other surprises we have lined up. More details at www.hackneyreunion.com or email www.hackneyreunion@btopenworld.com

Latest news on riders who will be at the reunion can be found at www.hackneyreunion.com.

All the latest news on the re-union and ticket details can be found at www.hackneyreunion.com. It's not an all flashing all dancing site, but as it's being built up it will probably jog a few memories

Schoie will of course be one of the many former Hackney riders who hope to be at the Hackney Speedway's Re-union Friday at Eight [sounds more like a music tour]. Chris spoke to Steve a few weeks ago and he says he is really good. Just had a thought Bryn, emailing you right now!

Our Hackney Re-union is being held at Paradise Pardise the home of the proposed museum. We hope to make a small amount from the re-union and we will be hopefully making a donation to the museum. As they say, "every little helps".

Bryn, perhaps that's not such a bad idea, only one very small problem with that would be the lack of £ notes!

I know that feeling very well indeed! These events seem to take over your life without a doubt, the biggest problem is trying to fit work in there as well!

Former Hackney Kestrels captain Andy Galvin became the latest name to put his support behind the “Hackney Re-Union Friday at 8” bash at Paradise Park, Broxbourne on July 22nd. Andy probably was at his peak when he lead the Hackney side in the late eighties. Like us all, he has very fond memories of his years at the Wick, and especially riding for the Kestrels at Long Eaton!

Trouble is Norbold, knowing Archie, he probably would, mind you think his Mrs might have something to say about that!

Hackney Speedway riders from it’s past gathered at the V.S.R.A. annual dinner/dance at Coventry on Saturday evening. With “The Re-union Friday at 8” coming up in July [ hence the reason both Chris and myself where in attendance, well that’s our excuses] it was great to catch up with some of Hackney’s former stars. Bobby McNeil, Brian Kennett, Mike Broadbanks, Trevor Hedge, Ted Hubbard, Keith White, Graham Miles, Laurie Etheridge and Dingle Brown [team manager in 1991] where all so very enthusiastic about the re-union and all agreeded to attend. Colin Pratt who also was there on Saturday would love to attend, he is hoping he can be relinquished from his Friday night duties at Coventry that evening. Finally our last former hero who was there on Saturday and agree to come to “The Re-union Friday at 8” was one of the greatest riders, if not the greatest riders to ride for Hackney, Bengt Jansson. Banger will be over to re-live with everybody else the times of Hackney Speedway on Friday 22nd July at 8, for the greatest get together of former Hackney riders ever seen in one place at a time!

Damn I'm a member and just got new "Dobbers" as well <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Dobbers?

Firstly I must say that I have been astounded by the response that has come from my original post. In answer to Dave Stummings, Dave I’ve no news at all on a date yet. Len is due back into the UK at the end of the month so I am sure we will have a date in about 4 weeks. As I am sure you will appreciate, it’s very difficult to contact our former hero’s and not give them a date. I have certainly been in contact with people who have been involved at Hackney in the past, both on and off the track and they are all as keen and eager as we all are. I’m sure it will be a gala night [no not bingo] of Hackney’s former stars, and will be well worth the wait!

Oh dear, perhaps I misunderstood Mr Hurren. I have to check the local election register for Scunthorpe and Rotherthorpe now! Terry Ripo is on the list. Roland Pollard is also on the list. I'm sure I have all the Hackney riders on "my list" Mr Norbold thank-you for the pre-war info on riders still alive.

Yes of course, and indeed Tony is indeed up for it. He informs me that he will asking Hawkeye and Birdbrain. He's note sure if they will be in attendence as they both are now living in Cleethorpes or did he say Mablethorpe!

Yes Sean, all of the above we have contact with, apart from Mr Willmott! I've done a list of the riders who have ridden for Hackney, and once we have the date it really will be all systems go. Do we ask Timmy Jo Sheppard? Terry Heath! That's the person who beat me in a race, running a lap of the old Hackney track many years ago, so he's not coming! Snowy, well he'll be there, no doubt will be doing the raffle! I really do hope this will be a successful venture, and with all the profit's going to the following nights Vic Harding Memorial Trophy at Rye House. Let's not forget this meeting. We will need race sponsors. So if you would be interested in sponsoring a race or tyre or may know of a company that may please contact me. The other point I guess worth mentioning now is if the Harding meeting is run at Premier of Conference level. The cost of running a Premier level will be about 3 times the cost of Conference. I would appreciate views on this please. Certainly we have covered the costs at Conference level when we have run at Sittingbourne and Weymouth. Some very sad news to report is that Gary/Carl Chalcraft's dad has passed away very recently. He was always very supportive to both his boy’s and would always be in the pits helping out.

He is on the list. As far as I know the only pre-war rider still alive Mr Nolbold, is this the case?

It will be during the speedway season Bryn. May need a bit of help from you on tracking down a few former Hackney Kestrels. Should be quite a event with Mr Norbold bringing his uncles. Hopefully everybody will be over 70 who attends! Bryn if you catch up with any former Hackney riders [or perhaps other people might] who reside in Aussie would be great if you could get some contact details. Intend to do a programme of sorts, not sure quite what yet for the great day, and some memories from the Hawks/Kestrels in aussie may well be a feature. Thanks Bryn

Yes, two of my uncles are looking forward to the reunion for those from the earlier era only. They went to Hackney from 1936 to 1939. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Robyn 1972, the Re-union will be celebrating Hackney Speedway from the pre-war days right up until the end including the Kestrels. Mr Norbold seems to think it's only for the earlier era! Where he has got that idea from, I really do know! Hopefully most of the riders you have listed Robyn will be there, however Michael Warren died a couple of years ago.

So far the response from the various parties I have actually spoken to has been quite amazing. Hoping to be in contact with most of our former Hackney Hero’s once I have a date from Len. There will be some riders who have just disappeared. Certainly most I think will be contactable. Yes Zenon’s phone number is one we have, as is Thommo’s, that’s the question I think is on most people’s mind! Once more details are known then we can get the show on the road, “Hackney Speedway The Re-Union Friday at 8” Mr Tape to Tape are you going to Brighton on Sunday? Liz, will be in contact with you soon. Sean, see you Sunday at Brighton or Sittingbourne Sunday week?

Remember Friday nights at 8? “The Magnificent Seven” playing over the pa system, Banger doing his high swoops around the banked Hackney track then cutting back to the white line, Thommo’s famous last lap, last bend victory over Ivan Mauger and Scott Autrey, Dave Morton’s sweeps on the outside, Gary Middletons antics on and especially of the track, Chris Louis and Andy Galvins magnificent team riding, Hawkeye’s [later to become Birdbrain] witty programme notes, Len Silver getting his trousers burnt at the end of each season, the same supporter shouting out when Len announced the numbers in the weekly fiddle [who was that?], the dare-devil riding of Zenon Plech, Steve Schofield unbeaten run around the Wick, the list could just go on and on and on ………. We all know those days at Hackney will never return. How we can all reminisce. Well now’s the chance to reminisce once again, this time perhaps with the Hackney’s hero’s themselves. Hackney Speedway “The Re-Union Friday at 8” will take place in 2005! Hopefully many former Hackney riders and promoters will be in attendance, Shazzybird, better ask uncle Ted to dust down his leathers! If you have supported Hackney, worked or ridden at the Wick and you would be interested in attending it would be helpful to leave a message on this thread so we can gauge the support, or you can e-mail me at: - paul.tadman1@btopenworld.com. Then the following night [yes it just gets better and better] Rye House Speedway will be proudly presenting The 2005 Vic Harding Memorial Trophy. Two fantastic events in two days! Of course there a couple of things that I have not mentioned, the dates and the venue for “The Re-Union Friday at 8”. Currently Len Silver is compiling the Rye House fixture list, and he hopes to be able to announce a date for the Harding meeting in the early New Year. “The Re-Union Friday at 8” venue will be in easy reach to us all, we hope, but until we know a date can’t book a venue, although we do have one in mind. Once Len gives us the date, we will then be putting “Hackney Speedway The Re-Union Friday at 8” into full swing!

I had the pleasure of bumping into Mike about 18 months in Loughton, which I think is where he now lives. A truly remarkable guy who has such a fantastic sence of humour! Correct me if I am wrong but, did Mike receive the supporter of the year award at one of the Hackney end of season bashes? The old mind seems to be losing some of it's memory cells of late, but I suppose this happens when you reach 35, well so Bryn tells me anyway......

Ross Gilbertson was my first "speedway hero". I can fully understand why Ms Shazzy, that the spare room where Ross stayed has kept it's name. Ross was such a gentleman after the meeting with the fans. He would always autograph my programme week after week when he rode for Romford. Shame he left and went to Canterbury then I think he moved on to Eastbourne. When I went to Weymouth for the Vic Harding Memorial Trophy I met up with another former Bomber Mike Vernam. Funny how you still get a buzz when you meet these riders today! He was saying that he bumped in to Phil Woodcock in Bournemouth a couple of weeks before. I know quite a few riders who rode for the Bombers lived in that part of the world, the few that spring to mind are Tony George, Bob Coles, Ian Gills-think he was Bristol area- and of course the late great Kevin Holden. Just think if Wally Mawdsley, Pete Lansdale and Maurice Morley had not got Romford of the ground, would I have ever met all the people I know today? And of course there’s the Mrs and kids as well that come into this category via Hackney. So I guess these three guys have influenced my life big time! To my knowledge there has never been a Romford re-union, but if anyone wants to get the riders together count me in!

While out with the Mrs and a few of our friends on New Years Eve in one of east London’s public houses, had the pleasure [being polite] of speaking to big Fred! For those unaware big Fred was a rather bubbly character who would be on most of the Supporters Club coaches when the Hawks where riding away. Needless to say big Fred still likes his beer!!!! Fred asks to say hello to all the people he new at Hackney. Other characters are long lost, Bent Handlebars spring to mind, another who would do all the away trips by coach. Left to go to Ireland with a cockney accent, reappeared a couple of years back in London with the broadest Irish accent ever heard! Then of course there was Robbie the Rake, another legend with his welly boots on!