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Edinburgh Speedway
(Old Meadowbank) |
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| Old Meadowbank Stadium, Clockmill Road, Edinburgh
1948-1967. The stadium was redeveloped to house the Commonwealth
Games |
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Old Meadowbank Badges
The Old Meadowbank Grandstand
Edinburgh's World Champion
The Templetons |
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| Edinburgh v Glasgow
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14th October 1950 |
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| Courtesy of Graham Gleave |
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Dick Campbell
& Bob Mark |
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| Courtesy of Graham Gleave |
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| Two Old Meadowbank, Edinburgh riders who
took part in the Edinburgh v Glasgow 14th October 1950 match, race
details shown below |
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| Courtesy of Graham Gleave |
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| Edinburgh
1950s |
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| Courtesy of Graham Gleave |
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| 3 Monarchs |
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| I am not very good with
Edinburgh riders. I suspect the above scan features 3 of Old
Meadowbank favourites. |
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| Edinburgh
1954 |
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| Courtesy of Graham Gleave |
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| Standing: Roy Bester, Eddie
Lack, Johnny Greenwood, Dick Campbell & Bert Clark.
Kneeling: Don Cuppleditch, Bob Mark & Jimmy Cox |
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| Another Line Up |
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| Courtesy of Graham Gleave |
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| Monarchs visiting Yarmouth in
the 1950s. Harry Darling, Mechanic? Dick Campbell, Don
Cuppleditch, Bob Mark (Captain), Jimmy Cox, Harold Fairhurst, Wilf
Jay and Eddie Lack |
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| Harry Darling & Don
Cuppleditch |
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| Another Edinburgh Team |
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| Courtesy of Graham Gleave |
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The Old Meadowbank Grandstand |
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| Courtesy of Rob Bruce |
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| Courtesy of Rob Bruce |
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| These 2 pictures were sent by Rob Bruce a name all scots will
recognise from their history lessons. Such a pity that the
Edinburgh council had redevelopment plans for the area that didn't
include a speedway track. |
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Old Meadowbank Badges |
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| 1960 |
1960 |
1963 |
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Year Unknown |
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| 1965 |
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| Early
1960's Team |
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| Courtesy of Graham Gleave |
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| Wayne Briggs? |
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| Courtesy of Graham Gleave |
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| I think this is Wayne Briggs,
brother of Barry Briggs. If I am wrong about the above
photograph, please send me an email
John |
| Denis Howell says: The photo
with the query in the Edinburgh section is definitely Wayne Briggs |
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| Edinburgh, Swindon &
Southampton |
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| Courtesy of John Spoor |
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| Three great riders in 1963.
George Hunter (Edinburgh), Brian Brett (Swindon) and Barry Briggs
looking for his chance to improve on 3rd place. |
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| George Hunter & Peter Craven
1963 |
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| Courtesy of Rob Bruce |
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A sad 1963 picture of George Hunter and
Belle Vue's Peter Craven. George was in the heat in which
Peter had his fatal accident and it is chilling to see this
picture of Peter just before that crash.
Rob Bruce says: my Father always used to
tell me that Hunter was never the same rider after that crash. I
have spoken to many who say the same thing and indeed that George
should have been challenging for world titles. |
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| Memories |
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Jennifer Farquharson
says: What a fabulous website. |
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I lived in Easter Road
until 1968 when I got married, and until then, spent many a happy
Saturday night at Meadowbank watching my pin-up George Hunter. I’ve no
idea if he was the best rider but I do remember when he got out of the
gate first he’d flip back his visor. The ‘flip’ seemed to us, his
trademark. And my memory is he always got out of the gate first! I
came across your site, quite by accident and it’s wonderful that
someone is taking the time and trouble to keep such memories alive. I
do wish you had a better picture of George though! I’m afraid I didn’t
keep any memento's of that time unfortunately so I’m no help at all. |
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| Edinburgh v Newcastle |
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| The Monarchs heading for a 5-1 over northern rivals Newcastle Diamonds |
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| Edinburgh v Newcastle |
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| 2nd July 1966 |
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| Dick Campbell |
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Courtesy of Richard Austin |
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Dick has a very memorable face. Photo is 1950's I think but
could be early 60s. Can you say which years Dick rode for the
Monarchs
John |
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Dick's Son
Ross
Campbell |
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Bonnie
Campbell, now living in New Zealand says:
Hi John, I was looking over your website whilst googling my
grandfather Dick Campbell as my son is using him for the subject of a
school speech. Thought you might find this interesting. The attached
newspaper article is of my dad Ross Campbell from when he was the Monarchs
mascot.
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| Welcome Home Champ |
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| Reg Fearman says: Dick Campbell welcomes
home world champion Jack Young in the early 1950s. Jack was
Ivan Mauger's favourite rider. |
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| Raul Vyeria |
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| Argentinian Raul Vyeria who appeared
briefly at Edinburgh and, I think, St Austell in the 1950s. |
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| Roy Bester |
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Courtesy of Richard Austin |
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1950's Can you say which years Roy rode for the Monarchs
John
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Go Karts At
Old Meadowbank
In 1960 |
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Tommy Milton says: You might be
interested in a different view of Meadowbank. This was the first
time Karts were seen in Scotland, a try-out at the track. The date
was March, 1960 and my dad is leading
Ecurie
Ecosse
chief mechanic Stan Sproat, with Bill Landells (senior) bringing
up the rear. |
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John says, someone should have told the
guys they were going the wrong way round the track!
I wondered
about this and discovered the following:
Ecurie Ecosse
(French: "Team Scotland") was a motor racing team from Scotland.
The team was founded in November 1951 by Edinburgh businessman and
racing driver David Murray and mechanic Wilkie Wilkinson, its most
notable achievement was winning both the 1956 and 1957 24 Hours of
Le Mans. The team also raced in three Formula One races. Ecurie
Ecosse's cars were always distinctive in their Flag Blue Metallic
paint. |
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1961
Old
Meadowbank |
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| John says: I sometimes "improve"
images, photo shopping creases and other signs of wear out before
putting a pic on the website but with pics like this one I leave
them untouched for added atmosphere |
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| James McEwan
says: Hello John, I've only today discovered your website
and what else can I say, except, it is outstanding. I was 11 years of age in 1960
and from memory, the nearest Monarchs got to an all Scottish line up was
possibly
Doug Templeton Willie Templeton Gordon Mitchell Jimmy Tannock Jimmy Cox
Bill Landels |
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Freddie Greenwell started the season with Monarchs
and also Ron Johnson put in only a handful of meetings before calling it
a day. I seem to remember Reg Luckhurst at Old Meadowbank
but I cannot be certain if this was as a guest or as an opposing rider! |
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| John says:
Thanks for the praise James. So can anyone supply a Scottish team
consisting only of Scottish riders
John |
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| Bikes Running On Whisky |
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Derek Rhind says: Hi.John,
Do you know the names of
the brothers who had a motorbike shop opposite the Old Meadowbank
stadium and who (along with their dad) got a Jap engine to run on
whisky?
I remember the stadium well
as I was born and brought up in Craigentinny just down the road.
Thanks.
Derek Rhind.
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John says: Hi Derek, I don't know who you refer
too but maybe someone can send me an email with the answer
John
Only in Scotland can we expect a bike running on Whisky, personally I
would run a bike on Methanol and drink the whisky! Or perhaps I
could try drinking the methanol. Anyone tried drinking it?
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Liz Miller says: Hi I came across this site by chance, so
don’t l know how long it has been around or when the question was posed!
The brothers and Dad who had a motorcycle shop
near Meadowbank were the Hughsons. Tommy went on to be Monarchs Team
Manager. Peter was his younger brother. It sounds like the daft sort of
thing that they might get up to! What a waste of whisky!
I have recently renewed contact with Henry
Harrfeldt who rode for Monarchs, a fractured femur ending his career
early. I shall give him the website address – he will find it
interesting. I had all these programmes. Unfortunately, my mother
disposed of them all, plus Speedway Star and Post magazines when she
moved house!
Best wishes Liz Miller Jersey,
Channel Islands
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| Edinburgh
1953 |
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Jeff Crawford has been in
touch, he says the caption is wrong and should read Jeff Crawford 2nd from
left at the back.
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| John says:
So who is the rider incorrectly named "Crawford"? could it be Harry
Darling? |
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Gillian Marks says: Jeff
Crawford had advised you that 2nd from the left at the back was
not Harry Darling. I see Harry quite often, in fact I met him and
his wife only last month, and I am as sure as I can be that it is
Harry Darling. |
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Jeff Crawford says: Just noticed the
extra comments on who is Harry Darling on the 1953 Monarchs Team,
by Gillian Marks. She may be right, the lousy newspaper clip photo
looks like it could be me, I can’t remember what Harry looked
like I only know there were 12 riders signed for the 53 season and
there’s 12 riders on the photo so who the rider back row centre is I have no idea, I do know it’s not me, I have more hair now,
than he does. |
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| John says:
Here is a photo of Jeff Crawford. Comparing hairlines I can see why
he thinks 2nd left at the back, was him and that the guy in the centre
cannot be him. |
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| Jeff Crawford says: About
this picture of the 1953 Monarchs. I don't understand what happened on
the photo shoot day. I usually travelled with Wilf Jay and he is in the
picture. The rider I think is me, 2nd from left has part of the
head missing on the right side {that's looking at the photo,
riders left side} so I placed my finger over the right side and
compared the left side to my photo and it looks like me. What do
you think? If it is Harry Darling then I have
a twin. Do you know what date the photo was taken. seeing there are 12
riders in the picture it must have been early in the season because they
only needed 8 riders so had to get rid of 4 |
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| John says:
I wish I could help. Jeff should be the best person to say who
the guy is second from left. |
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| Rob Bruce says: It is possible that it
is Val Morton. I think he started at Belle Vue and certainly
rode for them in 1951 but it looks like the 1st Division was a
bit too hot for him and he moved to Liverpool to join the Chads
in 1952. In 1953 the only club he seemed to have been a member
of is the Monarchs he had 3 National League matches with
Scotland’s finest his average was only 1.45 so I think the 2nd
division was also a bit too hot for him. He seems to have
disappeared off the radar at this point. The only other rider
who is not mentioned is a John Paul who rode one League match
for the Monarchs in 1953 and also some second half events. He
rode for Ashfield in 1952 so I would guess he was without a club
when they folded so was available for the Monarchs. |
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| Tommy Milton Jnr says: The rider at the
back, second left, is definitely Harry Darling. Harry was a member
of the Melville Motor Club and rode in Club events. My dad, Tommy
Milton, was his mentor and I met Harry many times, as an 8 year
old completely immersed in Edinburgh's off-road bike scene. A few
years later I would practise with Harry's younger brother Ian on
our trials bikes. |
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| 1964 Monarchs |
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1964:
Jimmy Tannock, Alf Wells, George Hunter, Bill Landels, Wayne Briggs, Doug
Templeton, Willie Templeton. |
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Another view of the Old
Meadowbank track, later redeveloped to stage the Commonwealth Games.
Unfortunately for me when I
visited the track it always rained. This side was the nearest a
Scottish track came to fielding an all Scottish line up, unless you know
different? John |
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Liz Miller says: Reference the Monarchs 1964 team
photo - Yes, all Scots apart from the 2 Kiwi’s – Alf Wells and Wayne
Briggs. Both now half Scottish, I guess as they both married Scots
lasses, Margo and Theresa. |
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| Ian Hoskins a legend in speedway |
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%20Programmes.jpg) |
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%20racecard.jpg) |
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| Bert "Bertola" Harkins. An ambassador for Scottish speedway and always
"popular" amongst the boo boys too! |
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| Edinburgh stalwart Scot Doug Templeton |
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| The Templetons |
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| Willie and Doug Templeton |
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Willie Templeton &
Bluey
Scott |
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| Willie Templeton chatting with Middlesbrough's Bluey
Scott |
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| Wayne Briggs |
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| Can anyone help jog my memory of Wayne. Did he ride
for any other team, when did he retire, who was his more famous brother
(No! I know the answer to that one!!) |
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| Mike Hunter has been in
touch, he says: Wayne also rode for Poole, Exeter and Wembley
Injuries stopped him achieving what he should have. |
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| Reidar Eide |
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| I remember Monarchs promoter Ian Hoskins introducing
Reider to the crowd as Rider Eider in a very theatrical way |
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| 1950 & 1967
Monarchs Teams |
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The Last Ever Match
At Old Meadowbank |
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Saturday 14th October 1967 |
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Coatbridge's
First Programme |
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| A reference to Old Meadowbank from Coatbridge's first
programme follows below: - |
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| 1968 Old Meadowbank
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| The End |
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The End. A rather bleak and sad picture of Old Meadowbank in 1968 |
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This page does not have many good quality
photographs. If you can scan any pictures, programmes or badges send
me an email John
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| The contents of the site are © and should not be
reproduced elsewhere for financial gain. The contributors to this site
gave the pictures and information on that understanding. If anyone has
any issue or objections to any items on the site please
e-mail
and I will amend or remove the item. Where possible credit
has been given to the owner of each item. |
