Edinburgh Old Meadowbank

Defunct Speedway Tracks

Edinburgh Speedway - Old Meadowbank

Old Meadowbank Stadium, Clockmill Road, Edinburgh 1948-1967

The End

A rather bleak and sad picture of Old Meadowbank in 1968

Memories

What a fabulous site.

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.

Keep up the good work

Jennifer Farquharson (nee Murray)

Moray

Edinburgh v Newcastle

The Monarchs heading for a 5-1 over northern rivals Newcastle Diamonds

Dick Campbell

Courtesy of Richard Austin

1950's Can you say which years Dick rode for the Monarchs John

Dick's Son Ross Campbell

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 mascots. Bonnie Campbell now living in New Zealand

Roy Bester

Courtesy of Richard Austin

1950's Can you say which years Roy rode for the Monarchs John

Old Meadowbank

Old Meadowbank 1961

Hello John, I've only today discovered the site and what else can I say, except, 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

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!

Best wishes. James McEwan

So can anyone supply a team of Scottish only riders John

Bikes Running on Whisky

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.
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?
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

Edinburgh 1953

Update: Jeff Crawford has been in touch, he says the caption is wrong and should read Jeff Crawford 2nd from left at the back.
So who is the rider incorrectly named "Crawford"? could it be Harry Darling?
Update: 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.

Update: 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.

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.

Update: 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
I wish I could help. Jeff should be the best person to say who the guy is second from left.

1964: Jimmy Tannock, Alf Wells, George Hunter, Bill Landels, Wayne Briggs, Doug Templeton, Willie Templeton.

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
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.

1969 Bert Harkins and Doug Templeton in some kind of pie eating contest, my monies on big Doug

Ian Hoskins a legend in speedway

Bert "Bertola" Harkins

Bert was an ambassador for Scottish speedway and always "popular" amongst the boo boys too!

Edinburgh stalwart Scot Doug Templeton

Willie and Doug Templeton

Wayne Briggs

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!!)

Update: Mike Hunter has been in touch, he says: Wayne also rode for Poole, Exeter and Wembley Injuries stopped him achieving what he should have.