Knowle

Came across a copy of a Knowle Stadium paychit for a rider called Charlie Bourdon who rode at Middlesboro on 10/4/1947 which stated that he was paid for 4 starts @ £1 each, no points money earned, travel expenses £3.10.0 minus 3/6 insurance, total paid £7.6.6 There is a footnote to say that due to the low payout he was let off £2.10.0 machinery repair charge. This was his only appearence for Bristol.

May I suggest that Jimmy Gooch was riding until at least 1964.Also a Buster Brown was a very minor player at Wembley in 1949 and at Swindon in 1962, I assume this to be the same person. Far be it for me to be picky with Norbold's list but I can't resist it. Bronco Wilson appeared in 1947 only. Bob Oakley also appeared in 1950 and Bill Kitchen in 1953. It is interesting to note that Wembley used more or less the same 8 riders right through any given season. If only that happened now.

Hope info on Denzil Kent is untrue. Would not we have heard this at the time of the accident? Also saw him in the second half at Bristol. His full throttle style made a lasting impression.

Brett Alderton born 3.12.1963 Seven Hills, Sydney, New South Wales. Son of former rider Denis Alderton .Began riding when only 14 at Nepean training track. Made his public debut at Canberra before arriving in UK 1981.(taken from Peter Oakes 1982 Yearbook.)

Cov 9 is definately Bob Mark,Unknown 10 not Warren but who ?

So far the following tracks have not appeared in this topic; Ellesmere Port, Bradford(Greenfields ),Tamworth, Cardiff Crewe,Wombwell, Wigan(2),Barrow (2), Exeter ( Alphington), Neath. Can anyone fill us in?

Fleetwood still exists as a football stadium so I believe.

The mechanics face looks familiar-Jan Staechmann's dad perhaps.

In the absence of any other response may I suggest Bristol as I understand he was a local cycle speedway rider when young.

I thought Eddie Lack has passed on? Hope I am wrong.

I have only the speedway sequences however I understand the film is mainly about a singer being accidentally discovered at Billingsgate fishmarket. Her son Fred played by a young John Mills somehow gets into a big race final with real life stars Johnson, Watson, Farndon, Rye and Warwick and of course wins in a nail-biting final having had to ride over a burning byke left on the track by a faller on the previous lap the steward (referee) having failed to stop the race!. John Mills then falls off after the conclusion of the race and a drunk man leaps the fence and wobbles off on his byke in the wrong direction and passes between the 4 riders who are in the next face. The drunk then crashes through the safety fence and runs into the beer store! It is a comedy! On a different note thanks to miro for identifying the track as Lea Bridge. You mentioned a section of track being specially built in the studio for filming purposes- I think this would have been for Swagman I remember getting this info from the late Arch Windmill who was one of the doubles in the film. Finally I was disappointed that no-one came up withthe identity of the track with two small towers with conical roofs. Perhaps getting this thread back up to the top will jog someone's memory.

I have an extract from a film entitled Britannia Of Billingsgate featuring a speedway meeting with Ron Johnson,Colin Watson, Tom Farndon,Claude Rye and Arthur Warwick. It was released in 1933 and was wondering at which track it was made. Also I have an extract from a film made about 1950 which features a track with two low towers at one end with conical roofs. I had an idea that this was Walthamstow. Can anybody confirm this and/or name the film?

Thats where I got it from! In the details it mentions that he rode a motor cycle before the war so 1924 would be pushing it a bit.I had a quick look at my Stenners but could not find any further confirmation. On the subject of Cliff Watson I do not think he is still alive. That same publication gives his year of birth as 1916.

I think it was Cliff Watson as Colin had already retired by then. My first instinct is to nominate Split Waterman as the oldest as he was born in 1921and Cyril Rodger in 1922 as was Louis Lawson

No need to apologise! The confusion I referred to was the fact that in downloading the picture it needed further expansion otherwise the 2 riders on the right did not appear at all. We appear to be the same age and began watching at the same time. Was the third division club Tamworth by any chance? I have a lot of cine shot at Birmingham, Cradley and Tamworth in early 1950s. Sad to think that in a very few years it was all gone.

Fantastic detective work put in on this thread-most interesting,some confusion caused by some people not viewing the complete picture. I believe that Geoff Bennett is still around. Can anyone confirm that and is he the sole survivor?

Agree with that. This only leaves the presenter of the trophy unidentified. Cannot be the 1948 league trophy as Bristol won it but Birmingham were promoted!

I think Reg died about 15 years ago.

Jack Mountford died on June3 2004 at his home in Spain aged 80.

Aug 19 1949 Bristol v New Cross National Trophy 2nd leg Heat 1 Chris Boss, Eric Salmon,Bert Roger, Bill Longley 5-1 to New Cross. Local hopes had been high as second division Bristol had held New Cross to a 2 point advantage 2 days previously but it was not to be with the visitors winning 60-47 Bill Longley scoring 16. Still have the programme.

Yes he scored 41 league points in 1951 per Peter Morrish"s book.

I had the pleasure of meeting Lew at Weymouth 2 years ago and told him that I had a Fleetwood v Bristol programme from 1948 where he had been addad to the programme in ink.He remembered the occasion in detail as a late replacement What a man! Cant believe he has been banned from Poole pits. Thats the pits!

I remember Jack riding for Bristol in the1950s. He was a very big strong man-a cooper by trade I believe.

I nominate Lew Philp who crashed in his first and only match for St.Austell at Sheffield in 1963 in his only ride. Also I remember Reg Craven who was sadly fatally injured in a pile up on the first bend of the first heat of what I believe to be the first meeting at Poole in 1948 but it was not his only meeting. There was also a rider by the name of Pedersen I believe who was programmed to ride for Bristol in their first meeting at Wolverhampton in 1977 but arrived too late and was never asked back.

Regarding Ron Johnson I think I may have seen his last ride in 1960 when he fell in front of the field in Edinburgh"s visit to Bristol. Also contrary to previous poster he made more than one appearence for Edinburgh that year but failed to score in any of them.