Post War - Newcastle Riders
1945 to 1951 -part 1
Track action started up again on Tyneside after the war but only at Brough Park. The Whitley Bay and Gosforth Speedways were by now nothing more than fading memories. Johnnie Hoskins reopened Brough in 1945 and the track operated under an open license. League racing returned from 1946.
I confess to not knowing much about many of the 40's and 50's Newcastle riders, because I did not start supporting as a young lad until 1961. I am unearthing bits of information and an odd picture here and there so rest assured this site will be constantly updated until I decide to get out more!
Update:
My uncle, George Ince has come to the rescue and supplied the site with a number of his pictures and memories of this period, Thanks Georgie!
This is the Harts Cycle Speedway Team from the 1940's. Left to Right: unknown, Billy Miller, Billy Bird, with George Ince in the middle. Anyone recognise any of the lads faces?
Photos courtesy of George Ince, thanks George and keep visiting the site.
These pictures are from Brough Park pits 1946. Above left Jeff Lloyd and the Newcastle Captain Norman Evans is above right. Another shot of Norman Evans below left, trademark cigarette in mouth and the picture at bottom right shows a massive crowd all the way around the stadium.
1940' and 50's riders apparently turned up for meetings in suits, white shirts and ties and long raincoats, so these pitside shots make identification of the riders difficult. They all look like promoters!
Australian Ron Johnson above left. American Wilbur Lamoreaux above right bottom left: Sid Littlewood and bottom right Canadian Eric Chitty:
More of Georgie's pictures
Above left: Newcastle Promoter John S Hoskins and rider Wilf Jay. Above right not able to put names to all four but second from left is Oliver Hart and the guy with back to camera is Alec Grant, so is there any similarity between Alec and his grandson young Rob Grant? The guy in the hat and trench coat looks like Clive James!!
Syd Littlewood
A Newcastle rider 1939 and 1946
The career of Australia, Norwich and Newcastle leg trailing star Syd Littlewood began on the dirt tracks and grass tracks of Victoria in 1936. Syd who was born in 1914, had an early love of motorcycling in general. After he completed his apprenticeship as a fitter and turner he embarked on a 17 year career as a professional speedway rider. Syd was always insistent that his name was spelt Syd and not Sid. After obtaining rides in Melbourne in 1937 he made the overland trek to Western Australia to begin his voyage to England in March 1938. On the way from Victoria to the West he raced at Adelaide and Claremont in Perth. It was to be 12 years before he would see his homeland again
On arrival in England he was signed by Max Grosskruetz for the Norwich Stars where he made his home base. His first meeting in the Norwich colours was at Birmingham on Saturday April 23 when he scored 2 paid three from 2 rides. In that first season he had 4 home meetings and 8 away meetings as reserve and was a regular in the second half events at the Firs. he also appeared in the 1938 World championship round on June 4 but failed to score. In his last meeting for Norwich on November 5th he won the Eastern Counties Championship and Willmott Cup, which today is proudly displayed at his son Trevor’s home in Brisbane. A rewarding climax to his first year in England.
1939 saw Syd join the Newcastle Diamonds team in the same division as Norwich. Syd had a regular team place with his new team and in July Norwich supporters saw just how much Syd had improved as he was in the team that won the English Trophy final at the expense of the Stars. Syd scored 7 in each leg of the final as his team edged home winners by 84-82. Newcastle were at the top of the League table when racing stopped for the duration of the war.
On the outbreak of war which curtailed the 1939 season,, Syd’s attempt to join the Australian forces was denied due to the fact his engineering skills were required for the war effort in England. He spent the war years making secret equipment for submarines. Syd married a Norwich girl Gladys in 1940, their only son Trevor was born in Norwich in 1941
The war did not prevent some speedway action and reports indicate that Syd rode for a Norwich team at Dick Case’s track at Rye House on June 29 and August 24 1941. The first post-war meeting for Syd was an unofficial test match against Australia v England held at Odsal in August. He scored 2 points from the reserve position
In early 1946 the Speedway Control Board pooled all riders for allocation. Riders were also graded and paid according to their respective grade. As a number 4 grade rider Syd was entitled the sum of fifteen shillings a start and the same amount per point. He was allocated back to Newcastle under the Johnny Hoskins promotion, Syd had a great respect for “Roaring Johnny” and held in high esteem
In 1946 Syd was again a regular in the Diamonds side and held his team place throughout that first post-war season. He scored 112 points in that season to give him the third heat leader position alongside Jeff Lloyd and Norman Evans. Also in the Diamonds team was fellow Queenslander Charlie Spinks. At the end of the year he returned to Norwich in an exchange deal for Wilf Jay.
Syd passed away aged 86 at a Logan, Queensland nursing home on 24/11/2000, he is survived by his wife Gladys at 96 and his son Trevor.
Copyright Tony Webb 7/5/2007. (Thank you Tony for allowing me to use this on the website)
Syd in 1939
1946: Syd on the right with Newcastle team mate Jeff Lloyd
1947 Syd in Norwich colours, outside, battling it out with leg trailer Charlie Spinks
These 3 photos were supplied by Gladys and Trevor Littlewood
Another couple of pictures of Syd (1946) Thanks go to Norwich fan Michael Kemp for supplying them and the picture below.
Charlie Spinks
1946: The Spectacular Charlie Spinks
Norman Evans
A Newcastle rider 1946, 47 & 1948. Norman was 42 when he joined Newcastle. The promoter Johnnie Hoskins thought every rider should have a nickname so Norman was saddled with Hoskins nickname for him which was Pansy. I can only guess why. Maybe it was the beret and sharp clothes, or was there another reason. Do you know the answer?
2 Shots of Norman taken before he joined Newcastle
Rol & Maurice Stobbart
Ken Le Breton
The White Ghost
A Newcastle rider,47 and 48
Ken's best form came after he left Newcastle and was riding for Glasgow at Ashfield
Ken Le Breton:
Some of the photos came from my Australian friend Brian Darby a member of the Veteran speedway riders association of Australia and a professional Speedway Photographer too. Other pictures were from Byker's George Ince and put together this site probably has more of the White Ghost than any site in the world
This guy new how to dress for the occasion!
Ken's white leathers earned him his White Ghost nickname. He rode for Newcastle under Johnnie Hoskins from 1947 until the end of the 1948 season. The other rider above is West Hams Aub Lawson.
Ken Le Breton at the Sydney Sports Ground, in February 1948
Ken was one of Australia's finest riders. He took his Diamond race jacket with him back to Australia and didn't it look good on him?
One of Brian Darby's pictures: Thanks Brian great shot!
Two Newcastle Diamonds in Australia, They are Oliver Hart and Ken Le Breton. Ken's image was a photographers dream. he wasn't just a fancy Dan he was a real gritty racer too.
More Brian Darby's pictures: Thanks Brian great shots of our White Ghost
Johnnie Hoskins decided to move his "assets", the Newcastle Diamonds, to Glasgow and took his "assets" with him. So the white ghost left Brough Park at the end of the 1948 season.
The above picture was supplied by Bill Walsh. One can only wonder at the noise the jets may have made. They would probably fail modern noise tests and health and safety would have something to say about them too.
White Ghost and Red Devil!
Thought you might find this piece from the 1949 who’s who interesting.
As you can see Ken changed from being the "White Ghost" to the "Red Devil" at the end of 1948.
I’ve attached a photo of him riding for I think Ashfield (its not New Cross or Newcastle) probably in 1949 or 50.
As you can see he has White trousers and boots but the jacket is dark. Now this is the question is the jacket Black or could it possibly be Red. Black or Red can look the same in monochrome.
He obviously liked to be noticed and as he was riding in internationals for Australia by then, perhaps he fancied wearing his national team colours of Red and White.
Then disaster struck Ken crashed on the above circuit (Sydney) on 5th January1951 and died from his injuries....... The Australian Ken Le Breton, will always be associated with the Byker Diamonds. He was without doubt a true superstar on Tyneside .
Fantastic action shot. Bring back these bikes someone please
Continue with more from this era? 1940's /50's part 2