 |
|
|
|
|
Reg Fearman
Part 4 |
|
|
Veteran_Association_Dinners_&_Events
Joe Owen, Steve Weatherly_and_Joe's
Wife.
The_End_of_Another VSRA Annual Dinner
The_Ryder_Cup Or Should That Read The Ex-Rider_Cup! |
|
|
|
|
|
Veteran
Dirt Track Riders' Association |
|
|
|
Founded By Peter Arnold |
|
|
|
It was in 1957 that Alan Baxter, known to
all as Peter Arnold (his pen name), founded the VDTRA with just a few
members. It grew very quickly and has had two name changes over the
past 52 years. The first change was to the Veteran Speedway Riders'
Association and more recently to the World Speedway Riders' Association.
- That the objects of the Association
be purely social or benevolent in character.
- That the influence of the Association
never be used for any political, industrial or commercial aims
- That the Association shall not at any
time interfere in the government of the sport.
|
| |
 |
|
Courtesy of John Somerville: Peter Arnold pictured
with 1960's legend Eric Boocock
|
|
|
|
|
|
We have so much to thank Peter for who died
so tragically in 1969. Today, and for some time, the Association has
grown throughout the UK. There are many reunions staged on a local
scale throughout the year and two Golf Tournaments, one usually in the
Spring and one in the Autumn known as the "Rider Cup". We have a
membership around 600 and some 300 attend our Annual Dinner which is
usually held in March. The VSRA of Australia was formed in 1991 and
the VSRA of New Zealand in 1979. All three are independent but all
have the same Objects. Each Association has its own address and
contact book so it is easy for some of us "old boys" to keep in touch,
especially in this day and age of the computer. |
|
|
 |
|
Courtesy of John Somerville: Another British
Speedway legend Tommy Allot, receiving a trophy from Peter |
|
|
|
|
|
Under Peter's guidance, for many years the
Annual Dinner was held at the Rembrandt Hotel in Central London and the
Annual General Meeting was held in the afternoon at a pub close to
Wembley Stadium before the Annual World Individual Championship Final.
Those afternoon AGMs were always rowdy affairs with the likes of Bill
Kitchen, Jack Barnett, Jack Parker, Wal Phillips, Len Tupling, Bob
Lovell, Howdy Byford and Frank Varey as President (1961-1963) trying to
keep order. Eventually the Rembrandt closed for refurbishment and the
Dinner moved to an hotel in the Midlands. It has been difficult to
find a hotel that could accommodate 300 people in one room. The newly
built Hotel, the Marriott in Leicester now seems to fit the
requirements. Peter Arnold was the Secretary until 1969 followed by
Jack Barnett for 10 years, George Greenwood for 2, Vic Gooden for 3 and
Ron Hoare for 20 years. The current Secretary is Vic White who took on
the job in 2001. The AGM is now held in the hotel in the afternoon
before the Dinner. |
|
|
|
Peter Arnold was a brilliant journalist,
broadcaster and announcer at speedway and other motor race meetings.
It was while driving to his home near Northampton from announcing duties
at Reading Speedway in August 1969 that he suffered a serious heart
attack and crashed the car into an Island and lamp standard. He was
taken to hospital and died a couple of days later, from further heart
attacks. The day after the accident I visited him in hospital
and it appeared that as he was going to be ok. The effects of the crash
were minimal. He left a 4 year old son Paul. On many occasions, Paul
would travel with Peter to Reading Speedway and it was a blessing he was
not on this occasion. The speedway and stock car fraternity set up a
Trust Fund for Paul which was to mature when he was 18. Paul was
brought up by close relatives on a farm near Andover Hampshire. |
|
|
|
There is more tragedy as Peter had lost his
wife soon after their son Paul was born. Through road racing he had met
a lady Maureen Vinicombe, herself a widow whose husband had been killed
road racing. Peter and Maureen were due to be married on the 27th
August 1969. Peter's funeral was on the 8th September 1969. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
We certainly do have plenty to thank Peter
Arnold for - his name like many others of the speedway fraternity
"will liveth for evermore".
|
|
|
|
Reg Fearman |
|
14th January 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Veteran Riders Association
Dinners & Events |
| |
|
| |
|
Reg Fearman, Joan Fearman and Reg's Mum with
1990 President Eric Boothroyd |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
VSRA President 1992 Reg Fearman and wife Joan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reg & Ove, VSRA Presidents 1992 & 1993 |
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
1995 President Barry Briggs with Graham Miles |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
1995 President Barry Briggs, June Briggs, Colin Clarke, Sonia and
Archie Windmill |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Above left: Alf Weedon & Partner Lynn. Above
right: Archie Windmill & Sonia. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Above: Angie & Peter Collins, President Barry Briggs Barry's wife
June & Colin Clarke |
|
|
|
|
Left: Freddie Williams Howdy Byford and Nobby Stock. Right:
Bert Harkins Olle Nygren & Freddie Williams |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Foreground Freddie & Pat Williams Joanna & Ove Fundin Ian Hoskins
Reg Fearman. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brenda & Harry Maclean Roni Ferguson & Friend Sheila & Marv Hannam
Eileen Fearman |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Left: Freddie Williams Huck Fynn Howdy Byford. Right:
Scots George Hunter and Bert Harkins. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Left: Graham Miles & Partner. Right:
Graham Warren & Vic Gooden |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Ian Hoskins, 1998 President Vic White with Greg
Hancock &.Billy Hamill
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Left: Jeff Lloyd with brother Wally's daughter. Right: Olle Nygren &
Joanna Fundin |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
1998 President Vic White & the
larger than life Ian Hoskins. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Graham Warren, Reg Fearman, Eric Boothroyd, Freddie
Williams |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Joanna & Ove Fundin, Roni Ferguson, Harry Maclean. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joe Owen
Steve
Weatherly
& Joe's Wife |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Reg says: Evening John, I'm pleased the photos came through eventually. Joe
is a regular at the vets Dinners. But not Tom. I knew Joe quite
well and liked him. I took him on the Middle East trip to Cairo, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. I shall do a piece on that some time for
your site. Cheers, Reg Fearman. The interest shown
in Joe's little finger was from him being asked about it.
Seems he nearly tore it off in a track crash. |
|
|
|
John says: Two guys in wheelchairs interested in an injury
to Joe's little finger! I am a Newcastle fan and Joe
comes second in my list of great Diamonds he is behind Ivan Mauger
but ahead of brother Tom, Ole Olsen, Anders Michanek, Nicki
Pedersen and Brian Craven |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Joe Owen with his partner and Graham Miles partner |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Left: John Scott USA team manager, Edith & Bert
Harkins. Right: Lynn & Alan Cowland Alf Weedon and Partner Lynn. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June & Barry Briggs
With Jack Hughes |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Barry ranks highly in the sports who's who. I didn't see him
much as I would have liked. I can remember one great race
when Swindon came to Newcastle. Barry was world champion and
he lined up against our local rider and second string Mike Watkin.
Mike beat the world champ and we all went mad on Tyneside.
What a notch on his belt for Mike, I bet he still remembers riding
against Barry that night. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Left: Trevor and Pat Redmond. Right: Ron Howse and Geoff Bennett. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
VSRA Secretary 1982 - 2001 Ron Hoare and Wife Maureen. |
|
|
|
|
|
The End Of Another VSRA Annual Dinner |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Dinner 1999 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Reg says: Hi John, Here is a
very nice photo for the VSRA Dinners and Events page. I hope you
can get this one on as it is the last Dinner Joan went to as she
died in the August of 1999.
VSRA Dinner 1999 Ove & Joanna Fundin Freddie & Pat Williams
Merv & Sheila Hannam Harry & Brenda Maclean Reg & Joan Fearman
Cheers Reg. |
|
|
|
John says: Reg, Of course I am happy to be able to get this photo on the webpage, I can
understand how you feel. John |
| |
| |
1999 President
Fred
Rogers |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Reg says: 1999 President Fred
Rogers receiving the Tom Farndon Casting of him in action - it is on
Tom's Gravestone in a Coventry Cemetery. John Chaplin and Peter
Lipscombe were the founders of Vintage Magazine. They both supported
the VSRA. A number of these were presented over the years to
various Presidents - somehow I missed out !!!
|
|
|
| |
Archie Windmill
VSRA President 2001
|
| |
 |
| |
|
Archie Windmill President 2001, with
Vic Ridgeon, Wally Green, Alan Clarke & Dingle Brown. |
| |
| |
|
Archie Windmill |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Archie Windmill on bike, Wally Green Pushing, with Alf Hagon & Stan
Stevens looking on |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Left Bill Dale and Right Announcer Doug Adams |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Dave Gatenby
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Geoff Pymar
|
|
|
 |
| |
| The above is mostly
self explanatory. Geoff was due to be sworn in in the March but was
not going to live that long so a small band of us to travelled to
Norwich to initiate him as President. Tears welled up in his eyes,
he said he was so proud. Geoff Pymar President 27 February 2002 Died
02 March 2002 Archie Windmill is shown presenting the chain of
office to Geoff at a Norwich Hospice. |
| |
| |
 |
|
|
| President Geoff Pymar 2002 Reg Fearman Archie Windmill Sonia
Eileen Fearman Trevor and Pam Hedge |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
The Ryder Cup
Or
Should
That Read "The Ex-Rider Cup"
|
| |
 |
| |
|
The Rider Cup
at John Harrhy's Windmill Hotel and Golf Club. The Rider Cup group
are Harry Bastable Alan Cowland
Vic White John Hart Fred Rogers Merv Hannam John Harrhy (?) Rick France,
Kneeling Ove Fundin Bjorn Knutson Nigel Harrhy. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Ove Fundin Looking For The Putt |
|
|
 |
| |
|
Bjorn
Knutson Merv Hannam John Harrhy |
|
|
 |
| |
|
Merv Hannam Tees Off. |
|
|
 |
| |
|
John Harrhy Putts Out. |
|
|
 |
| |
|
Merv Hannam Putts Out. |
|
|
 |
| |
|
The Winners: Rider Cup 1st Mark Harrhy 2nd Ove Fundin 3rd Merv
Hannam. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
19th Hole Ian Hoskins, Nigel Harrhy, Ronnie Allan, Ove Fundin, Merv
Hannam
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Brian Crutcher Ronnie Moore Alan Quinn Get Together.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Eric Broadbelt, Eric Boocock, Dave
Younghusband & Henry Nelson Sponsor |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Eric Boothroyd & Alan Ham, Bradford Speedway Promoters. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ove Fundin at the book signing. His book "Ove Fundin" was written by
John Chaplin in the white t-shirt in the above photo. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Barry Briggs, Olle Nygren, Ove Fundin, Bjorn Knutsson, Freddie
Williams and Reg Fearman with Steve Weatherley in the chair |
| |
| |
|
Reg
Fearman part 5 |
| |
|
| 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. |
