Post War - Newcastle Riders
1945 to 1951 - Part 2
Doug Mclachlan Bonnie Waddell Peter Lloyd Wilf Jay Alec Grant Frank Hodgson Jack Hodgson Ern Brecknell Pat Vincent Smith
During the second world war speedway was more or less suspended (Hitler was not a fan apparently!), although Belle Vue, Manchester and London track Wimbledon did continue to stage speedway racing. The rest of the speedway venues were silent for the duration of WW2. Newcastle learned the news that pre-war favourite Canadian George Pepper a night flyer pilot was shot down and killed in action so when the action returned to Brough Park sadly the biggest name from 1938 and 39 was missing and the crowd needed a new hero.
The first season after the war 1945 slipped by under an open license, no league racing for the fans. At present I know little about this year but I will research it and add details later (Hey! help me with it someone!) John
1946 saw the Newcastle side in the Northern League under the nickname "Brough". It was at this time that the fans began a chant "B-R-O-U-G-H Brough". This became known as the "Brough Roar" and whenever the teams from then to fairly recent times needed a boost the long time announcer Barry Wallace (from the 60's to the present) would lead the chant " Give me a B etc". The team reverted to the Diamonds nickname in 1947. Then they became the Magpies for the 1949 season. Back to Diamonds for 1950 and 51 up to the closure at the end of the 1951.
1947
1947 team Left to right: Ken Le Breton , Danny Calder, Doug McLachlan, Johnny Hunt, Peter Lloyd, Pat (Vincent) Smith, John S Hoskins (Promoter), Alec (Farmer) Grant, (Grandfather of Rob Grant Junior), Wilf Jay, Len Gallagher, Bonny Waddell, Norman Evans (Captain).
The Men in Black, 1947 team shot. The guy in the WW2 de-mob suit (Ken Le-Breton), is so dapper apart from the plaster pot on his right leg! There is a healthy looking crowd in the background. I am told that approximately 21,000 once turned up at a match at Brough during this era.
Courtesy of Gordon Heiniger
Doug Mclachlan background the second turn
Another of Gavin's pictures: This is Bonny Waddell
1947: Great shot of the back straight stand packed with fans. Brough Park was a great stadium in those days. Around the track, the inner kerb was immaculate, whitewashed for every match. Bonny's bike has a conventionally shaped fuel tank, probably a JAP frame?
Bonnies career followed a similar pattern to his brother Jack for the first season in 1946. Bonnie was from Toowoomba, born in 1922, a motor mechanic by trade During the early part of 1947 he rode in Sydney with Keith Cox but had limited success. He was spotted by pioneer Brisbane rider Charlie Spinks who was contracted to the English second division team Newcastle Diamonds. Charlie signed Bonnie up for the legendary promoter Johnnie S Hoskins who was the boss man at the Newcastle track. Late in the 1946 season Bonnie had been a Telegraph Blue, a prestigious award by the popular Brisbane newspaper for services to motorcycling. Not only was Bonnie a very good motorcyclist and mechanic, he was also very dedicated to personal fitness and was active in many sports.
Bonnie left Sydney in March 1947 aboard the Asturios, a former troop carrier, it was not first class travel, but in the company of Bat Byrnes, Ken le Breton, Buck Ryan, Junior Bainbridge, Arthur Payne, Bill Harris, Mal Hodgson, Jack Baxter and Reg Challenger a great time was had. by all. On arrival at Tilbury, Bonnie straightaway made the long journey up to the north east of England to join his team the Diamonds. Within 24 hours of arrival he was on the track for the match against Wigan Warriors, this was the 28th of April. In his first ride he finished last , then a third and finally an engine failure put paid to his debut. As he was on the track spare it was a creditable start. Mounted on his own machine he scored 4 at the tiny Bristol track the following week and then 2 at Birmingham. the next evening
He went on to ride 26 meetings for the Diamonds in that first season, racing on 8 different tracks the length and breadth of England. His final score was 65 points and 12 bonus points. The best meeting Bonnie had was a 7 paid 8 at home to Norwich stars who included fellow Queenslander Bert Spencer in their team. Bonnies team mates for the season included the veteran Australian Doug McLachlan and the White Ghost Ken le Breton.
After the long voyage home Bonnie commenced the 1947/48 Brisbane season. He represented Queensland in the match against an overseas select on November 22 scoring 3 in a Queensland’s lowly 13 against a rampant Overseas teams 33. He was called up for the Test against England at the Ekka on December 6 scoring 3 points in the Australian 57-47 defeat of the Lions.
Returning to England in April 1948 he was dismayed that his Newcastle promoter Johnny Hoskins had transferred him to Exeter in exchange for fellow Queenslander Keith Gurtner. Worse was to come as Exeter could not give him a team place, he was then loaned to West Country rivals the Plymouth Devils.
Bonnie Waddell Brisbane exhibition ground 1947
Bonnie Waddell, Jack Waddell. Keith Cox and Charlie Spinks at Parramatta in Queensland 1947
Text and above two pictures are Copyright c Tony Webb Brisbane 20/11/2007 who has kindly allowed me to include them here
Bonnie in the North East of England's Sunshine with his Diamond race jacket partly obscured by the sunlight.
Courtesy of Craig Wood
Craig Wood says: Bonnie Waddell pictured above
(Craig Didn't say which of the guys in the picture was Bonnie) Bonnie Waddell
was Craig's great-uncle (on his mother's side). Can anyone identify the
guys in the photo, guess the year and say what the item in the headlamp area of
the first bike at the right hand side is
John
Rob Waddell says: The last photo from Craig Wood indicates
that Bonnie is in the photo but I can assure you none of those photographed are
him and I do not have any idea who they may be. As far as the headlamps are
concerned I assume this photo to be taken during the war years or just after and
the devise on the lights is to direct the light to the road and avoid the normal
light being seen by planes etc.
Jackie Hunt
Courtesy John Hunter via Dave Rowland
Jackie aboard the "Hunt Special"
Peter Lloyd 1947
I remember the track lights throughout the 60's and 70's looking like that and here they are in the 1940's! They must have lasted at least 40 years before an upgrade in the 1980's.
The 2 items shown above are from 1947. They show the pre and post war teams and the attendances for 1938, 39 45 and 46. Newcastle drew an amazing figure for 1945. well over a quarter of a million paying customers. Middlesbrough did likewise in 1946
Courtesy of John Hunter via Dave Rowland
1947 Wilf Jay
This picture came from Michael Kemp
1947 team Derek Close and Norman Evans Fred Rogers are first, second and third from the left. Can you name the others? John Eric Watson has been in touch about the above photo: -
Eric's Answer : Derek Close & Norman Evans are the 1st & 2nd riders from the left, but the 3rd rider is Eddie 'Crusty' Pye, the 4th rider could be Alec Grant (but I'm not sure about it), whilst the 5th rider is Peter Lloyd, the 6th rider is Fred Rogers, & the 7th rider is Danny Caulder. Also this team picture must have been taken in 1948 (NOT 1947) because Derek Close, Crusty Pye & Fred Rogers didn't ride for Newcastle until 1948 !.
Thank you Eric I can only go back to the 1960's.
Norman Evans and Wilf Jay
Another of Georgies pictures: The rider in the middle wearing the black clothing is Danny Caulder and the guy doing all the work is New Zealander,Jack Hunt
An unusual shot of a bike turned upside down to work on. I suppose these guys know best but wouldn't the fuel and oil spill out?
1948
1948 team: A photo from Gavin Parr's collection. The old guy, wearing the suit in the centre is Johnnie S Hoskins, the promoter. The rider wearing the white leathers is the white ghost Ken le Breton and the rider on the bike is skipper Norman Evans.
How much better the race jackets looked in them days against the plain leathers. Also note the "straight through exhaust pipe, no silencer. The engine note of the mighty Jap was great to hear without silencing and the smell of the burning fuel known as to me as "white whisky"? added to the atmosphere of speedway before the modernisation of the sport came along to sanitise it.
Local Rider 1948 style : John Hunter
Courtesy of John Hunter via Dave Rowland
1948: Making the short trip from home (Wallsend) to Brough Park for an evening's racing. Local rider John Hunter on the combination with his mate on the back. The guy on the left was another rider Stuart Robson. The combination was a1923 Harley Davidson. I don't know what the other road bike was. The speedway machine in the sidecar was I am told a Rudge with a JAP engine. The other speedway bike has it's chain removed so the back wheel could revolve freely on the road. It was common to see speedway bikes transported in this fashion before car ownership did away with the motorcycle combination.
Courtesy of John Hunter via Dave Rowland
Another trip in 1948 this time back from the speedway to John's home in Wallsend. This time John Hunter is on the back with his brother riding. If you have any 1948 programmes have a look for John's name
Courtesy of John Hunter via Dave Rowland
In 1948 there was no petrol for pleasure purposes. John Hunter would get up early for a day at the seaside, with a difference. He would put his speedway bike on the local coast train at his home station, Wallsend and get it off again at Tynemouth. He would then push the bike down to the Long Sands (Tynemouth Beach). He got in some practise, but only if the tide was out! These photos were taken at 7.00am. He would wake everyone up and attract the attention of the local police. The plod would stop John, warn him about the frivolous waste of petrol and tell him motorbikes were banned from the sands. John would patiently explain that speedway bikes ran on wood alcohol, not petrol and produce a copy of the beach by-laws showing that there was no ban on bikes using the beach at that time of year. He would then continue his session on the beach.
Courtesy of John Hunter via Dave Rowland
1948: John, his sister and two friends pose for this photo during one of the early morning sessions on the beach at Tynemouth. The modern day Tynemouth inhabitants would have a fit if they were woken by speedway bikes at dawn.
Another of Gavin's pictures: This is Alec (Farmer) Grant the first of the 3 generations of Grants to ride speedway.
I believe Alec lost an eye but continued riding. Come on Rob Grant Junior, tell us the stories about your grandad! Note the tiny front mudguard on this JAP! The shape of the fuel tank makes me think that this would have been an Excelsior frame. Look at the degree of drilling on the rear sprocket to lighten it! Incredible. The stand in the background no longer exists at Brough. It was on the back straight and very spacious it was too.
Courtesy of Gordon Heiniger
Alec Grant, that is the back straight packed to the rafters
2 more of George Ince's pictures: He thinks this is the Australian Keith Gurtner above left. The rider signing an autograph is Frank Hodgson.
Who was the young lad with the autograph book? Was it you?
Crusty Pye, can anyone tell me a bit about him?
I asked for more information about Crust and Eric Watson has been in touch and supplied the following: -
PYE, EDDIE (CRUSTY). Born London 1915. He and Ken Tidbury started on the grass together before the War and in 1939 Eddie secured a contract with Harringay. The War interrupted his progress and then after the War he joined Middlesbrough. At the start of 1948 he moved to Newcastle, but in July of that year he was transferred to Coventry, for whom he scored 126 points in 22 matches. In 1949 he only got 55 points due to injuries – which may have been instrumental in ending his career and forcing him to retire. As there is no trace of him riding for any other Teams after the 1949 season.
Speedway Gazette cover from 1950.
Above picture courtesy of Gavin Parr. Doug McGlachlan aboard an Excelsior JAP
The crowd appears to be all around the stadium. Yet the sport was missing at Brough Park for 9 years from 1952 to 1961. Makes you wonder why? Doug in this shot has a bit o' the the "little waster", Bobby Thompson about him. Hope I don't offend anyone by saying that? but really the likeness is amazing.
Another shot of Doug showing great handlebars
2 more of George Ince's pictures: He can't remember who the guy on the right is! but on the left is Aussie Ron Johnson with a mechanic
Can anyone say who the man in the raincoat and hat is? and what was so interesting on the ground in the pits under Ron's feet!! maybe he had dropped a "tanner"?
Could this be the man in the hat and trenchcoat?
2 more of George Ince's pictures: 2 shots of Oliver Hart
George says Oliver was great to watch very spectacular in the old leg trailing style. Anyone hazard a guess as to who the older man is above right?
1948
Courtesy of Norrie McNamee
This Newcastle line up was transferred to Ashfield Stadium, Glasgow by promoter Johnnie Hoskins
1949
Left to right, back row: Jack Hodgson, Ken Thompson, Joe Arthur, Herby King. Front row: Derek Close, Ern Brecknell, Frank Hodgson (Captain), Son Mitchell.
From the men in black to the men in Bri-Nylon! N stands for Newcastle (What Imagination!) and these were the Newcastle Magpies - 1949, The St. John Ambulance men were better turned out! Ken Le Breton would have found it tough wearing such naff gear!
Ern Brecknell shown here in Newcastle and West Ham colours
Ern 1951
One of Colin Greenwell's pictures: Jack Hodgson
The above picture was supplied by Middlesborough fan Colin Greenwell. Colin is one of a few Boro fans who occasionally come to Brough whilst they await the eventual return of the sport to Tees-side. Thanks Colin, your contributions to this site are very welcome. Let's hope the Bears make a comeback real soon.
Update: Speedway is returning to Teeside in 2006.
Picture courtesy of George Ince : Ken Le Breton
There is one more page from this era click here to read on? More 40's and 50's