Wembley has had 3 circuits. This page is concerned with
"The" Wembley Stadium, Wembley, Middlesex off and on
between 1929-1981
Wembley Stadium (previously the
Empire Stadium) was the major
sports venue in England. I was there in 1975 watching my ex
Newcastle hero's Ivan Mauger & Ole Olsen take on the worlds best.
If you never attended this final. Ivan missed out in this
one but my other ex Newcastle hero Ole Olsen won the world title.
So I went home (to Newcastle) happy.
My one and only visit from my north east home. I was there amidst a massive crowd of 70/80
thousand, in 1975 when my ex Newcastle hero Ole Olsen was crowned world champion. The
track was too dry which upset some of the riders and some fans
too.
Opening Meeting Medals
Courtesy of Norman Jacobs
Courtesy of Norman Jacobs
Norman Jacobs says: The first two are photos of the medals
given to riders who took part at Wembley's opening meeting in
1929, They were issued to Billy Lamont and A H Elliott plus a
photo of the 1932 team jumping over a hurdle. I can't quite
identify them all, but as far as I can make out, they are, from
left to right, Colin Watson, George Greenwood, ?, Ginger Lees,
Wally Kilmister, Lionel Van Praag, ?, Norman Evans. Of the 1932
regulars there are three missing, Harry Whitfield, Jack Ormston
and Gordon Byers, so presumably two of the ?s are two of them, but
I can't quite any of match them to the photo. Hopefully someone
reading will be able to put the names to them.
John says second from the
right could be Gordon Byers. If you can name the two ?
please send me an email
John
Roger Frogley
1929
Roger Frogley won the British championship title of the
1929 Star Championship. He is shown aboard a Harley Peashooter.
1929 Harry Whitfield
1929 George Greenwood
1929 Jack Jackson
1929 Wally Kilmister
George Greenwood On A
Douglas 1929
Charlie Barrett
1929
1929 The correct spelling of Charlie's surname is Barrett he came from
West Hartlepool and was captain of his local side Middlesbrough before
moving to Wembley.
Wembley Team
1929
Wembley
1931
Daily Mail Trophy winners. Back row: Cliff Parkinson, Col Stewart, Wally
Kilmister, Lionel Van Praag, Charlie Shelton, Jack Jackson. Front
Row. Buster Frogley, Norman Evans, Colin Watson (capt) Johnnie Hoskins,
Jack Ormston, George Greenwood, Harry Whitfield. The mascot is Ian
Hoskins.
Gordon Byers
Gordon from Sunderland is at the time of writing this (2008) the oldest (96yr old) living
ex rider
Update! Sadly Gordon died aged 97. I had the honour of looking
after him at a Newcastle reunion, he was living in the Gosforth
area of Newcastle upon Tyne. He was frail but had an active
mind and regaled me with a lot of his memories. I hoped
then that he would reach 100 yrs and was very upset when I heard
he was no longer with us.
God bless Gordon..John
Wembley's North East England Riders
My friend Colin Greenwell from
Middlesbrough has sent me a short list of Wembley team members who
were brought down to Wembley from "The cold, grey, industrial north
east" :-)
Norman
Evans.
Middlesbrough
Harry
Whitfield.
Middlesbrough
Cliff
Parkinson.
Middlesbrough
Charlie
Barrett.
Middlesbrough. (Hartlepool I believe.)...near
enough.
Gordon
Byers.
Sunderland
Jack
Ormston.
West
Cornforth. County Durham.
Bert Fairweather.
Middlesbrough
Jack Bronco Dixon
The North East
Ginger Lees
Courtesy of Graham Gleave
The UK's Best Sports Venue Wembley Stadium
Courtesy of Fred Pallett
1933 Star Championship
John says: Ron Johnson falling in the 1933 Star
Championship, behind an unknown rider, do you know who is leading in this
photograph John
VSM says: The rider in front was Bobby Blake, anyone know the track?
Chris
Sweetman says: This meeting was at Wembley on 14th
September 1933.There is no such rider as Bobby Blake in that
meeting. The rider list follows:
Wembley Action
1934
Terrific first bend action from 1934, the guy at the back is showing track
skills by cutting back to the inside line. I bet he didn't finish last. I
have no idea who the riders are, do you? John
L-R Dicky Smythe, Vic Huxley, Jack Parker and Eric Langton, pre war
at Wembley
Jack "Bronco" Dixon ( I have also seen
him named "Broncho") rode for Wembley in 1935.
Colin Greenwell says: Jack
may have been from the North East of England
Fred Pallett says: Dixon rode at various
times for Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Belle Vue, Wembley, West Ham
and Hackney Wick. His spells with Wembley were in 1934 and 1935.
John says:
Wembley were to sign a post war rider with the same nickname,
namelyBronco Wilson
My eyes are drawn to the ridiculously tall cup in
the above picture. It was for the Scottish Open
Championship, won by Wembley rider Harry Whitfield. The
rider doing a headstand was Norman Evans.
Harry Whitfield
Courtesy of Colin Greenwell
Harry Whitfield with an extremely large trophy he won in
1930 at the Edinburgh Marine Gardens track. The trophy is 3 feet 6 inches
in height and Harry was allowed to keep it plus the £100 prize money!
Is there a taller trophy in speedway?
The First Official World
Championship Final Programmes
The first 3 official world
championship finals were staged in London, where else but Wembley.
The world champions were Australian Lionel Van Praag 1936
American Jack Milne 1937 and Australian Bluey Wilkinson 1938
1937
Team
Wembley 1937 Wally Kilmister, Lionel Van Praag, Tommy
Price Cliff Parkinson Alec Jackson Frank Charles Eric Gregory Ginger Lees
& Wally Lloyd
Sally Helvey says: My grandpa has just
died aged 96 and I have found amongst his
stuff two b/w postcards photos of Eric
Gregory. Both are publicity shots....one
of him on his bike on the Speedway track
at Wembley and another head and shoulders
shot sporting a tan and his big moustache,
with a racing bib on.and another head and shoulders
shot sporting a tan and his big moustache,
with a racing bib on.
No doubt his
descendants would be delighted to see
these pictures, if indeed they don't have
a pile of them already!
Would you like me to
scan and send them to you? No catches, no cost
- i would just like them to end up where
they belong.
I don't think my
grandpa supported Speedway particularly,
but since these must be dated around 1937,
they might have been given to him by Eric
if/when they spent time together as POWs
during WW2.
You might be able to
shed light on this.
I have contacted you
because by Googling his name, I spotted
Eric on your existing website photos.
They've come out
well, haven't they?
Do let me know if
you manage to track down a member of his
family. I did notice a Jim (I think it
was) Gregory on the website photos, so
maybe he is his son? I am intrigued,
especially if it turns out he was a POW
with my grandpa. His name was Ralph
Cager
Sally Helvey
John Skinner says: Thank you Sally for sending the scans.
If anyone has anything to add I will post it on here
Eric's grandson Mark Gregory says:
Hi I am one of Eric Gregory's four grandchildren Mark Gregory.
He died around 1988 in Durban South Africa having moved there
following the death of his wife. His only son: Antony Eric
Waterson Gregory (my father) died in 2004. From memory Jim was
Eric's brother (remember him vaguely at my Grandmothers
funeral). Whilst Grandad was indeed an Officer in the Army
over WW2 period I don't recall him ever saying he was a POW. I
just remember him for being a kind and loving Grandfather who
came once a month from 1971-1980 for Sunday lunch with a paper
bag full of chocolate bars. Mark Gregory
This photograph goes up on my wall as one of the best speedway
pics of all time!
The
1939-1945 War
Wembley like most of the
other speedway clubs in the UK was brought to a standstill by the
second world war. I believe Belle Vue managed to run a few
meetings during
the hostilities, correct me if I am wrong!
John Skinner says: Yes in 1939,
my team, Newcastle
were sitting pretty, top of their league. We were heading for the
clubs first major trophy. Then Adolf Hitler "spitefully"
dashed the Diamonds hopes of glory by invading Poland and
consequently starting World War Two. Due to the war,
Newcastle's top man Canadian George Pepper took to the skies (not
only a speedway rider, George
was also a pilot) and he lost his life due to the war, when his
plane crashed on a training flight.
Wembley Post War
The Empire Stadium started speedway again in 1946
as members of the National League. Wembley became the
nation's home venue for world championship finals.
Memories
Professor David Cheeseman
says: As a schoolboy I used to attend the
Speedway at Wembley Stadium where my father would often be on duty as a
member of the British Red Cross Society.
Accidents were frequent and needed BRCS attention. I remember an occasion
(I was not actually there that night) when a rider fell and was trapped
with his head under the gravel board at the foot of the safety fence. My
recollection is that it was Bronco Wilson, but I cannot be sure. I wonder
if you can confirm this.
On a separate point I think you will find that BAOR stands for British
Army of the Rhine, not as printed.
There was an aero modelers' shop at Wembley Triangle (a few hundred
metres from the Stadium) during and a little after WW2 named after Wally
Kilmister but we boys could never get the delightful lady who ran it to
explain the connection.
I was a pupil at Wembley Hill School destroyed but not demolished by a
doodle bug (V1) in 1944. By then I had left to go to Willesden Tech.
Kind regards,
Professor David Cheeseman
Hello John
Have just found your web,
really like it! I am 78 years old and I attended my first
speedway meeting about 1947 at Wembley. The meeting was
Wembley v West Ham. I remember that the track was
black and it was just before the Olympic games of 1948.The
next time I went back there the track was shale. During
the war I was evacuated to Bristol, so as a schoolboy in
London I became interested in the "Bulldogs." I returned
to Bristol during the school holidays and I was taken to
see the "bulldogs", the match was a friendly with Wembley
Lions. This was about 1948, I think that was the year that
Bristol was promoted. Can you help me on the date? I
remember some of the Bristol riders, Eric Salmon, Billy
and Johny Hole, Roger Wise, I think, and Dick Bradley. In
my first meeting at Wembley I remember, Bill Kitchen,
Tommy Price, Bluey Wilkinson, Aub Lawson, and Eric Chitty
Best Wishes and
hope to hear from you soon,
Den Sullivan
Fred Pallett says: Hello John, I have noticed that, just
above my 1946 Wembley team photo, there is a para by Den
Sullivan in which he recalls his memories. He recalls the
riders he saw at his first meeting at Wembley in 1946.
Unfortunately, he erroneously remembers seeing Bluey Wilkinson
- not in 1946 he didn't, as Wilkinson never rode in the UK
after WW2.
Fred Pallett's
1946 Team Photo
Wembley team 1946 (left to
right: Tommy Price, Charlie May, Tommy Barnett (Chief mechanic), Roy
Craighead, Bill Gilbert, Alec Jackson (Team manager), Alf Bottoms, Bronco
Wilson, Bob Wells, George Wilks, and Bill Kitchen (Captain) on bike.
Wembley v West Ham
Wembley's Tommy Price leads in the Lions v West Ham meet.
Eric Chitty is about to be unseated by Wembley's Bob Wells
Fred Pallett's
1947 Team Photo
Wembley 1947: Tommy Barnett
(Chief mechanic), Tommy Price, Bill Gilbert, George Wilks, Charlie May,
Alec Jackson (Team manager), Alf Bottoms, Split Waterman, Roy Craighead,
Bob Wells, Bronco Wilson, and Bill Kitchen (Captain) on the bike.
Charlie May
Fred Pallett says: Hello John,
The above image is another Wembley rider for your website. It is
Charlie May, who rode for the Lions in 1946 and 1947. I believe
the image dates from 1947. It should measure 6" x 4", although it
looks larger than that on my new iPad! John says: The
image has just the resolution I like. I have posted it
above, quite large and doesn't it look great! Charlie
astride a Martin JAP.
Vic Duggan Left & Bill Kitchen At Wembley
Courtesy of Archie Cooper
John says: My friend Archie Cooper took this excellent long
focus shot from the spectators side of the fence, Archie is now in
his eighties and still watches Newcastle Diamonds most weeks.
Fred Pallett's
1948 Team Photo
Wembley 1948: Tommy Barnett
(Chief mechanic), Bill Gilbert, Fred Williams, Unknown (possibly Kemp),
George Saunders, Roy Craighead, Bruce Abernethy, George Wilks, Bob Wells,
Wilbur Lamoreaux, Tommy Price, Split Waterman, Alec Jackson (Team
manager), and Bill Kitchen (Captain) on the bike.
John says: Fred Pallett was a fully paid up member of the Wembley
supporters club from 1948 to 1954 inclusive. I am showing
here an example of the cards he has saved all this time. There
are more of Fred's cards down the black column to the right of
this page So if there is a mathematical genius
reading this! How much was 1/- (5p) worth in 1948!
Fred Pallett's
1949 Team Photo
Wembley 1949: Tommy Barnett
(Chief mechanic), Fred Williams, Jack Gates, Alec Jackson (Team manager),
Bruce Abernethy, Den Cosby, Alf Bottoms, Bob Wells, Bill Gilbert, Tommy
Price, Buster Brown, Split Waterman, and Bill Kitchen (Captain) on the
bike.
Fred Pallett's
1950 Team Photo
Wembley 1950: Tommy Price,
Jimmy Gooch, Alf Bottoms, George Wilks, Bob Wells, Duncan King (Team
manager), Bruce Abernethy, Eric Williams, Jack Gates, Fred Williams, Den
Cosby, Bill Gilbert, Tommy Barnett (Chief mechanic), and Bill Kitchen
(Captain) on the bike.
Fred Pallett's
1951 Team Photo
Wembley 1951: Jimmy Gooch, Eric
Williams, Bob Oakley, Duncan King (Team manager), Tommy Price, Bruce
Abernethy, Fred Williams, Unknown, George Wilks, Den Cosby, Tommy Barnett
(Chief mechanic), and Bill Kitchen (Captain) on the bike.
Bob Cross says: Hi John, Just
seen your web site, it is very interesting. In the Wembley section
you have a photograph of the 1951 team. The unknown rider between
Fred Williams and George Wilks is my father, his name is Denis Cross. He
rode at New Cross then Wembley and after rode for Southampton. Hope
this is of help to you. Regards Bob Cross
Fred Pallett says: In the 1951 Wembley team photo,
the man in the white coat on the right is Tommy Barnett, who was the
team’s chief mechanic. Fred also says: the caption for which states
that the fourth person from the right is Rune Sormander. I have my doubts
about this, as my recollection is that he was a British Wembley junior
rider, but I cannot recall his name. Stenner’s Annual for 1952 does not
include Sormander in the list of Wembley riders for 1951. In his book
“Speedway in London”, Norman Jacobs states that Sormander joined Wembley
in 1953. Stenner’s Annual for 1954, in reviewing the 1953 season, states
that Wembley “bought 18-year-old Brian Crutcher from Second Division team
Poole for £2,500. A week later, with George Wilks temporarily out of
action, they ‘borrowed’ Swedish rider Rune Sormander”. It seems clear,
therefore, that the mystery guy in the 1951 Wembley team photo is not Rune
Sormander, as the photo was taken two years before he arrived at Wembley.
Fred Pallett says: In the 1951 photo, the
fourth person from the right was unknown to me at the time (I had
previously disputed the claim by someone else that it was Rune Sormander).
I have researched this further and can now tell you that the unknown
person was Dennis, or possibly Denis, Cross. Cross never made it to
Wembley’s first team, but represented the Lions in various Junior League
races during that year, invariably partnered by Den Cosby. Poor Dennis
never made the grade and I believe that he was not retained by Wembley at
the end of the 1951 season. As far as I am aware, apart than those who
appeared in the team photo for 1951, no other rider was on Wembley’s books
for that year.
Fred
says: As a teenager, I
was an avid Wembley supporter from about 1947, until 1952 when I was
called up for my National Service. Although then living on the opposite
side of Greater London at Bexleyheath, I travelled the 25 miles to the
“twin towers” stadium by public transport every Thursday evening for
Wembley’s home matches, not returning home until after midnight.
Additionally, I followed the Lions to most of their away matches in London
which, at the time, boasted five tracks. Consequently, I could be found at
Wimbledon on a Monday, West Ham on a Tuesday, New Cross on a Wednesday, or
Harringay on a Friday – although not all in the same week! It was
fortunate that Wembley’s colours were red and white, so I was able to use
my scarf and rattle for Charlton Athletic, of which I am still an active
supporter.
Wembley v
West Ham 1947
Split Waterman (left) and
George Wilks (right), holding off West Ham’s Aussie Cliff Watson (circa
1947).
These 7 photo's are from
the collection of Fred Pallett
Courtesy of Fred Pallett
Fred Pallett says: Top English Rider:
Tommy Price, the photos span 1946-1951. The 7th Photo was taken
after he won the British Riders Championship in 1946. I think it
is a particularly good photo that deserves a place in your Wembley
section. Looks like the steps are those that provided an entrance
to the original Empire Stadium.
Another Picture Of Tommy
Courtesy of Graham Gleave
Ken Holbrook's Memories
Ken says: Can you recommend a book* that I can purchase which
has photo’s and stories about The Wembley Lions, and in particular
my first ‘Hero’,Tommy Price?
Mum
& Dad used to take me to watch matches at Wembley, (dad was a
school-chum of Bill Slocombe), when I was very young. I remember,
to this day, cheering on Tommy (wearing his favourite red helmet),
whilst I wore a Red & White suit that Mum had made for me.
Dad
introduced me to Tommy in person on a Saturday at his work at
British & Colonial Concessionaires in St Martins Lane, which sold
& repaired all American Cars for those who could afford them,
(mostly Showbusiness Stars, and in this instance my personal
Hero!) I was speechless, mouth agape, & could barely walk towards
him! He
‘ruffled’ my hair saying “Hello Kenny!”. It was like meeting a
God.
I
barely slept that night & could hardly wait to get on my bicycle
next day to emulate him, front wheel awry as I cornered on the
cinder track at Paddington Recreation Ground. I still have my
Wembley Lions Members Badge, which is one of my most treasured
possessions.
The
Wembley ‘Roar’, the smell of ‘Castrol R’, and the memory of Tommy
winning again will never leave me!
I
am sure that there is a book out there that will re-charge the
memories.
*Dear John, In response to the
appeal by your correspondent, Ken Holbrook, who wishes to purchase
a book on the Wembley Lions, the only one that might be suitable
is "Speedway in London" by Norman Jacobs. It is extremely unlikely
that Ken would find a copy in any high street. However, it is
presently available from a large well known Internet retailer for
£14.99 post free, or from various other booksellers from £7.67
plus £2.80 postage, through the same Internet retailer. This
particular book covers the history of all the London teams. The
chapter on Wembley runs to 27 pages and there is a photo of Tommy
Price on the cover!
At present,
the only book covering Wembley exclusively is "Wembley - The
Pre-War Years", but I suspect that it would be unlikely to
interest Ken. I was given to believe that a follow-up book on
Wembley's post-war years was to be published, but it has not
materialised.Kindest
regards, Fred Pallett
John says: Hi Ken, great memories and thanks for sharing them
with us. My friend Fred Pallett has raised some points about
Wembley's Tommy Price and a Liverpool rider also called Tommy
Price. Fred thinks a cigarette card Picture on my site is your
guy but the reverse of the cigarette card text refers to the other
Tommy Price. Maybe you can help?Have a look at the following: -
A friend through my website Fred Pallett says:
Hello John, In view of the fame and success enjoyed by the
former Wembley rider Tommy Price, it might not be widely
known that there was another rider of the same name who
appeared for Liverpool in the 1930s. In your Player's
cigarette card set, displayed on your Defunct Speedway
website, Card No 37 purports to be the Liverpool rider,
but I have my doubts about this.
The first photo in
the Liverpool section of the website shows that team's
Tommy Price as it's captain, sitting on a JAP engined
bike. His grandson, Nigel Trafford, has confirmed this.
Having compared that photo with the card illustration, I
fail to see any similarity between the riders. Conversely,
I can see a resemblance of the rider depicted on the card
to the photo of Tommy Price in the Wembley section of the
website, dressed in a Wembley jersey, i.e. the sixth Price
photo (taken possibly just before WW2 or perhaps just
after it) that follows the group of Bill Kitchen photos.
See also Price in the Wembley team photo for 1937, just
above the photos of Eric Gregory.
It is my belief
that the card illustration is of the Wembley rider and,
therefore, that the profile on the reverse is of the wrong
rider. Perhaps someone can confirm my suspicions? Ok
Fred I am happy to show all the "evidence" at my disposal
to see if we can confirm your suspicions. Photos etc
from my website appear below: -
This is the 1936 Liverpool team with captain Tommy
Price on the machine. His grandson, Nigel Trafford, has
confirmed this. But! is the rider pictured on the above
cig card the same guy as the Tommy Price on the bike in
the Liverpool picture?
The Wembley Tommy Price
The 1937 Wembley team. I
think Tommy is 3rd from the left.
John says in answer to Fred Palletts question
above. The Liverpool Tommy Price does not seem to
have very prominent ears whereas the Wembley Tommy Price
does. The picture on the cigarette card does look more
like the Wembley rider. It has his ears and smile
BUT! as the cig card is a piece of art and not a photo
maybe it is just a poor sketch of the Liverpool rider?
My friend Colin Greenwell highlights a problem
with the art works on the old cigarette cards, see the
following scans
And no they aren't twins and not even related.
Sketches are only useful when photographs were not used.
I love the cards but will never take it for granted that a
cig card is accurate so Fred is probably right about the
Tommy Price card
The continuing saga of the 2
Tommy Prices: -
John Hyam
says: Hello John, In the Wembley photos there is a
cigarette card of Tommy Price - who it mentions rode at
one time for Liverpool. This IS NOT the Tommy Price who
rode for Wembley.
The Tommy Price featured was a brother of the post-war
Bradford riders Ernie and Norman Price. The career details
on the cigarette card are correct.
Regards, John H
These 4 photo's of George Wilks are from
the collection of Fred Pallett
Mike C says: Hi John, I have just been reading your
speedway pages and looking at the pictures. They bought
back some memories. The pictures of Geoge Wilks bought
back a special memory. Sometime after retiring from the
sport he opened a bicycle shop in my old home village of
Radlett, Herts. I got my first decent bike from him and
some years later he took that bike in part exchange for my
first motorcycle. Well, a Binetta moped actually! Everyone
knew of George's speedway past (he never mentioned it once) and
the kids were all proud to have bought their bikes from him. I
remember him walking with a slight limp, presumably from an injury
on the track, He was always smiling, always ready to fix anything
mechanical. One of natures good guys. His shop was still there
when I finally left. I often wondered what became of him
afterwards. Does anyone out there know? Regards, Mike
C
These 2 photo's are from
the collection of Fred Pallett
Split
Waterman & Australia's Jack Young
Courtesy of the Terry Robinson collection
Courtesy of the Terry Robinson collection
Split
Waterman
Split Waterman & Derek
Close
Not so much name the rider. They are Split Waterman and Derek Close it is
impossible to make out Derek's race jacket so my question is who was he riding
for if this is Wembley, Split's home track. John Derek rode for Newcastle for a while. Did Newcastle ever ride at Wembley?
Reg Fearman says: Waterman and Close, it is certainly not
Wembley - too untidy. Derek's body jacket could be red, blue, white or yellow.
If a rider turned up without his race jacket which was common the staging track
would " kit " him out.
Reg has been in touch again
supplying an obituary and some photos of his friend Split
Waterman: -
‘Split’ Waterman Obituary Courtesy
of the Daily Telegraph
Devil-may-care star of postwar speedway who
later applied his ‘quick, decisive mind’ to crime
Waterman at Wembley, 1947
Credit: S&G and Barratts/EMPICS Sport
SPLIT WATERMAN,
who has died (2019) aged 96, was a speedway star of the
postwar era, an Errol Flynn lookalike of great daring and
charisma who could draw crowds of 80,000 – many of them
women; after retiring, however, he turned his talents to
crime.
Waterman (real name Francis) took
up speedway while serving in the British Army in Italy,
riding an adapted BSA M20 bike and gaining his nickname
after splitting his racing leathers down the back in a
fall, after which his colleagues referred to him as “split
arse”, later shortened to “split”.
After the war he emerged as the
“Speedway Sensation of 1947” when he was snapped up by the
Wembley Lions, thrilling audiences with his skill and
risk-taking on the track. Unlike other riders, who had
taken to riding with their left foot forward, giving them
more control, Waterman rode with a trailing left foot,
kicking up showers of ash which added to the spectacle –
and the danger.
In 1948, he became the first
Englishman in many years to win the London Riders’
Championship, the Speedway Express reporting how
“like a bolt out of the blue … cheeky, cheery,
devil-may-care, ‘Split’ Waterman” had cracked an
“eleven-year-old jinx”.
Among other tricks Waterman was
said to know how to hook his handlebars under an
opponent’s throttle cable while travelling at 80mph, and
once rode “on pure nitro” (nitromethane, a highly
explosive solvent and sometime rocket fuel which,
according to one specialist website, adds “so much power
that engines run with it are literally skating on the edge
of destruction”).
In 1950 Waterman was transferred
from Wembley to Harringay for the then record fee of
£3,500, and he went on to ride for West Ham, Wimbledon,
Southampton and New Cross, holding the Golden Helmet,
representing England in 30 Test matches and captaining the
team in the 1953 series against Australia. He also rode in
five World Finals, finishing second on two occasions, in
1951 and 1953.
Not surprisingly he was unlucky
with injuries which many felt prevented him from becoming
World Champion. His career was almost ended in 1952 by a
crash at Odsal Stadium in which he sustained two broken
teeth and a smashed kneecap, which had to be replaced with
an artificial one.
By the time he retired in the early
1960s, however, his daredevil reputation and flair for
getting in the news had made him a household name.
But in 1967 Waterman, now described
as a “businessman” who had been a gun-runner in Africa,
was arrested at Newhaven while attempting to board a ferry
to Dieppe, after gold bullion worth £10,000, believed to
have come from a robbery in Clerkenwell, was found hidden
in the chassis of his fiancée Avril Priston’s Triumph
Herald.
A subsequent raid at her home found
illegal firearms, including two Schmeisser submachine
guns, and in August the pair were charged with conspiring
with others to evade prohibitions on the export of gold,
receiving 26 gold bars knowing they were stolen, and
unlawful possession of firearms.
In September Waterman faced further
charges under the Coinage Act of possessing dies and
crucibles for purposes of forgery.
In 1968 he was found guilty of all
charges at the Old Bailey and sentenced to four years in
prison; Avril Priston got six months. As he passed
sentence the judge observed, almost admiringly: “You were
a man who was, by character, prepared to face danger and
take risks – a gun-runner in Africa, and a man with the
quick, decisive mind of a speedway rider. You were unable
to resist the financial attractions and the risk of the
adventure.”
In the same year Waterman was
implicated in the case against the Kray twins and two
other men, who were charged with conspiring to murder
George Caruana, a nightclub owner. Paul Elvey, a witness
in the case who had confessed to being involved in three
unsuccessful murder attempts, claimed that Waterman had
provided him with a briefcase containing a hypodermic
syringe loaded with hydrogen cyanide and operated by a
spring mechanism.
After leaving prison Waterman and
Avril Priston married and moved to the Costa del Sol, but
in 1977 he was sentenced to three and a half years by a
Milan court for possessing £500,000-worth of forged
Spanish pesetas. His defence, that the forged notes had
been part of a cunning plan to bring down the Franco
government, was not believed.
In 2002 Waterman returned to
Britain and was a guest at the 45th annual dinner dance of
the Veteran Speedway Riders’ Association at the Coventry
Hilton. “Despite the presence of the four-times world
champion Barry Briggs and Ivan Mauger, whose bike was
plated in gold after his third successive world title in
1970,” wrote The Guardian’s Paula Cocozza, “the man who
had all 280 diners on their feet was one Split Waterman,
second in the toasts only to the Queen … his charisma at
79, in tinted aviators and royal-blue cummerbund, was
enough to send multitudes of septuagenarians sprinting to
the top table, autograph books in hand.”
Squire Francis Waterman was born on
July 27 1923 in New Malden, South West London and worked
as a toolmaker’s apprentice after leaving school. In the
Second World War his job was classed as a reserved
occupation, but eventually he joined the Royal Fusiliers,
serving in North Africa and Italy, where shrapnel injuries
led to his transfer to the REME and he was posted to a
workshop in Pozzuoli, near Naples.
There, he acted as a dispatch rider
and became involved in building – and competing on – a
speedway track at Vomero Stadium.
After a tour of duty in Palestine,
Waterman was posted to Germany where his commanding
officer wrote to Alec Jackson, manager of the Wembley
Lions, suggesting he give Waterman a trial.
After retiring from speedway,
Waterman went into business in sheet metal working and
plastic injection moulding and had at least some
legitimate customers, including Woolworth and Airfix.
When interviewed in 2002, however,
he seemed prouder of the shadier aspects of his business
career: “I smuggled gold! I smuggled guns! Zambia,
Rhodesia, the jungle.”
‘Split’ Waterman, born July
27 1923, died October 8 2019
Reg's Photographs of Split: -
Split and Avril Waterman VSRA
Honoured Guest 2002 Reg Fearman.
Welshman and double world champion Freddie
won the titles in 1950 and 1953 he sadly died 20th January 2013 at the age
of 86
The 4 photo's shown above are from
the collection of Fred Pallett
Another Picture Of Freddie
Courtesy of Graham Gleave
Fred Williams
RIP
"Fred Williams' granddaughter
Harriet has been in touch and has sent 5 of the following 6 photo
images:"
The photo (shown above) is on the front cover of Fred's
funeral "Order Of Service" I have permission to show it.
"Fred Williams (centre)
holding the World Championship Trophy for 1950, with Wally Green
(runner-up, left) and Graham Warren (third, right)."
The photo (shown above) is on the back page of Freds
funeral "Order Of Service." I have permission to show it.
Fred Pallett says: Re above "Fred Williams (right) holding
the World Championship Trophy for 1953, with Split
Waterman (runner-up, centre) and Geoff Mardon, third,
left)" This image, which might require resizing, is
included in Part Six of Reg Fearman's photos, but I cannot
think that he would object to it being included here.
Bride and Groom
Fred with little Fred
Eric
Williams
These 2 photo's are from
the collection of Fred Pallett
Late 40's early 50's
Bob Oakley
These 2 photo's are from
the collection of Fred Pallett
Bob Oakley arrived at Wembley
from Southampton in 1951 and made an immediate impact.
New Zealander Abernethy had
arrived in 1948 and was a dashing and flamboyant rider, and always enjoyed
life, as can be seen by the effervescent smile on his face. The shot of
him riding in a black and white jumper is rather puzzling and I can only
assume that he was representing his country.
Bob Wells
These 3 photo's are from
the collection of Fred Pallett
1948/49 Bob Wells. He never
established himself in the first team, but he stuck with the club and they
stuck with him
Trevor Redmond
Trevor Redmond was another New
Zealander and joined the Lions, I think, about the time that Bill Kitchen
retired
Alf Bottoms
2 Pictures of Alf Bottoms from 1949. He died away from speedway, in a
racing car accident.
Jimmy Gooch
Jimmy Gooch 1951 ish!
Jack Gates
Jack Gates 1949
Den Cosby
Den Cosby 1950 ish
Buster Brown 1949
Manager Alec
Jackson
A great portrait of the flamboyant Wembley team manager of 1949: Alec
Jackson, always seen sporting that hat
Not sure about the above photo. Is it genuine or trick photography?
John
Terry Stone says this is Alec Jackson of Wembley
Fred
Pallett's Snapshots
Fred says: These are the photos shot with
my box camera back in 1950 (the fuzzy ones), when the Wembley Speedway
management hired a British Railways train to take the Supporters Club and
most of the Wembley riders to Southend-on-Sea for the day. This made an
early start for me and my fellow Wembley supporting pal Ralph Ambrose,
since we had to travel right across London first, by train and underground
train, to make the special BR train. All the shots were taken in the
Kursaal (some indoors without flash), which was a permanent amusement
centre that was more like a glorified fairground, although it had other
attractions, including a ballroom. The Kursaal is still there, although
only about a quarter of its original size, because the remainder of the
site was sold off for a housing development.
Wembley Outing (Bill Kitchen
(partly hidden) mixing with the fans)
Wembley Outing (Bill Gilbert,
wandering among the fans)
Wembley Outing (Bruce
Abernethy, a female fan, Fred Williams, Jack Gates and Bill Gilbert)
Wembley Outing (Fred Williams
(centre), Bruce Abernethy (right) with a fairground ride, the Waltzer operator)
Wembley Outing (Bruce Abernethy
(left) with Fred Pallett’s pal Ralph Ambrose)
More Photos From Fred Pallett
Wilbur Lamoreaux
Wilbur Lamoreaux - This American came over to
ride for the Lions just for 1948, when Wembley were obliged to
relocate to Wimbledon for home matches for three-quarters of the
season, because of the Olympic Games being held at the Empire Stadium.
Name: Horatio Nelson Wilson ("Bronco") Born: 1920
Gateshead Tyneside. Died: August 1947
Bronco Wilson – The first photo shows him in a Wembley jersey
and was taken in 1946, whilst the other shot was taken the following
season. Unfortunately, Bronco met an untimely death when he died from
injuries sustained in a track accident at Harringay in August 1947.
Kenny Holbrook says: Thanks for the
information. Since we last corresponded, I have recalled
another rider who I believe was 'Bronco' Wilson. My memory
might be failing me but I seem to recall his fatal crash at
Wembley on the first corner, where he collided with the fence.
John says: Hi Kenny, your memory is playing tricks.
As you can see from my above piece Bronco's fatal crash
was at Harringay in 1947.
Kenny
adds: Thanks John. Half right. Dad had taken me & my Uncle to
Haringey. I do remember a lady next to us fainting, whilst
others were crying.
I
have been sent the following: -
John says: I'll bet Horatio Nelson
Wilson was happier being known
as Bronco!
Freddie
Williams & Split Waterman
Fred Williams (left) and
Split Waterman on their bikes in 1948 or 1949. Fred went on to
win the World Championship in 1950 and 1953, whilst Waterman
was runner-up to Williams in 1953
Fred
Lang
Fred Lang – A young South African rider who
appeared for Wembley for one season in 1954. He never rose above
reserve status and was not retained.
Wembley Supporters Club
Pass 1954
Courtesy of Brian Poulton
Brian Poulton says: Hi John,
I have attached a couple of scans of my late father's Wembley
Speedway Supporters Club card. He died in 1972. In the 1950's he
took me to Wembley speedway every Thursday evening. I was only
about 9 years old then. We lived in Grand Avenue, about a 15
minute walk from the Stadium. Names that I remember well are Split
Waterman, Tommy Price & Bill Kitchen. Please feel free to
use the scans wherever you want. Regards Brian
Courtesy of Brian Poulton
Brian says: I just remembered this one which was taken in our
back garden in Grand Avenue. I was 3 years old. Note the
Wembley Lions badge on the radiator grill. Regards Brian
Eric French
Eric French – This former New Cross
rider was signed by Wembley in 1953 when the Rangers closed and
stayed with the Lions until Wembley’s closure in 1957
Roy
Craighead
Roy Craighead – Rode for
Wembley in 1947 and 1948.
TC's Programmes
Etc
Speedway Echo
Courtesy of Graham Gleave
Speedway & Ice News
Brian Crutcher
1950s
Brian Crutcher bottom right
with his 1950s Wembley team mates
Brian Crutcher lying second
to Jack Young
Tom Wareham says: Hi John, I have
attached some photos of Brian Crutcher from his Wembley days.
I hope the following is ok, but let me know if you need anything
else. Third photo shows Brian chasing Jack Young, whose
style he most imitated. Best wishes Tom
Brian
Crutcher – The Authorised Biography by Tom Wareham.
Published by Stadia. Available through Amazon, ebay etc.
Brian Crutcher was one of the most
spectacular speedway riders of the 1950s. He burst onto the
speedway scene at Poole in April 1951 when he made a spectacular
team debut there at just sixteen years of age. Eighteen
months later he was riding in his first World Championship at
Wembley. By the time he appeared in the 1952 World
Championship at Wembley, Brian had already been capped several
times for England. In 1952, he came eleventh in the World
Championship, but he returned two years later to be pipped for the
World Championship by the young Ronnie Moore. By this time,
however, he had been scooped up from Poole and added to the
Wembley stable, where he remained until Wembley Speedway closed at
the end of 1956, when he transferred to Southampton. With
his easy manners and his sensational riding style Crutcher quickly
won a devoted and loyal fan base: he was renowned for his
outside overtaking and his fearless determination on the track
inevitably had the fans on their feet.
In 1961 he disappeared from the Speedway
scene, his meteoric career ending as suddenly as it had begun.
There was no drama about it, he just lost enthusiasm. But his
retirement meant the loss of one of the most brilliant riders of
the period.
Tom Wareham’s biography contains four
chapters relating to his time at Wembley, and makes use of lengthy
interviews with Brian himself as well as the late Freddie
Williams. The book not only gives an exciting and detailed
account of Brian Crutcher’s career, it provides a context for the
speedway of the period, following the sport’s trials and
tribulations, from its high point in the post-war years to the
beginning of its decline in the late 1950s.
Ronnie
Moore & Bruce Abernethy
Wimbledon's Ronnie Moore with Bruce Abernethy
Split Waterman & Newcastle's
Derek Close
West Ham's Malcolm Craven & Split Waterman
The photo has been signed by Split and is dated 1967.
I presume that someone proffered the picture for Split to sign
in the 60's? as the picture is much older
Wimbledon v Wembley
Ronnie Moore Tommy Price Pete Moore Freddie Williams
Gordon Jack Says: The third rider above is not Pete
Moore. I am almost certain that it is Norman Parker
The list covers 1929 to 1948
Aub Lawson
Better known as a West Ham rider but here is
Aub in his Wembley days.
Robert Rogers' Photographs
Bruce Abernethy
Split Waterman
Petula Clark
Fred Pallett says: The photo shows the singer/actress Petula
Clark on the rear mudguard; the speedway rider is Bob Oakley,
who rode for Southampton, Wembley and Norwich. We think
this pic was taken when Bob rode for Wembley
Wembley was a famous club
running off and on between 1929 and 1981. The Empire Stadium
was also synonymous with World Championship Finals. I am
showing below, scans of the 1969 world final programme:-
Courtesy of Wattie Dunlop
Courtesy of Wattie Dunlop
Courtesy of Wattie Dunlop
Courtesy of Wattie Dunlop
Courtesy of Wattie Dunlop
Wembley
1970/71
Bert Harkins
Courtesy of Fred Pallett
Dave Jessup & Bert Harkins
Courtesy of Fred Pallett
Wembley v Sheffield
12 June 1971
Courtesy of Wattie Dunlop
Courtesy of Wattie Dunlop
Courtesy of Wattie Dunlop
Courtesy of Wattie Dunlop
Wembley World Final Tickets
Courtesy of Graham Gleave
The New Wembley Stadium
Chris Wallett says: I Haven't
sent you anything for a while but your website is still looking
great! Spent Sunday watching a football match at the new
Wembley Stadium (photos are above). I went to the old
Wembley quite a few times but never saw speedway there sadly.
This was my first visit to the new Wembley and I have to say its
very impressive so thought you might like these pics to bring the
Wembley webpage up to date. The stadium looks like it could well
hold speedway its big enough and the right shape with possible
pits access. Don't know if the new arch will ever echo to
the roar of the bikes like the old twin towers did. Only
time will tell but knowing how desperate the FA are for money to
pay for the stadium never say never.
If you can scan any pictures, programmes or badges send
me an email John