Rayleigh

Rayleigh has had 2 homes, the first track was situated very close to the second. The team was better know at Rayleigh Weir Stadium, Southend Arterial Rd., Rayleigh Essex 1948-1973. If anyone has items from the other track please email me
Dave Jones says: Rayleigh speedway has had 2 tracks but only one stadium. the original track shape was a copy of the Wembley track. I do not know what year it was but the track was made smaller to accommodate greyhound racing at the stadium.
Stephen Aylen says: Sir Found your Rayleigh rockets site
The story I have is that the speedway team were originally going to be set up on a dog track behind the woodcutters pub in Leigh. Several test rides were carried out and a race evening. For some reason they decided on the Weir Stadium site instead. Can you put any meat on the bones of this story?
Thanks
Well Stephen, your comment is now on this site and I have asked Terry Stone to cast around and see if he can come up with the answer. The question is open to anyone to answer John
Dave Jones says: Hi John, In answer to the question by Stephen Aylen :- I am not too sure of the dates, but the test rides were carried out at Southend greyhound stadium. this stadium was situated at Stock road Southend. Sadly the stadium's fate was the same as the Rayleigh weir stadium. It was demolished to make way for shops in the late 70's. There has always been houses situated behind the woodcutters pub in Leigh. Cheers Dave

Terry Stone has replied to me. Terry says: Hello John,In answer to the question regarding the other Rayleigh track. 2 years ago Jim Henry contacted me regarding this same question

I started my investigation at the Woodcutters Pub, Leigh -on-Sea near to the Belfairs Golf Club which is a large open area. Talking with local people I was informed that the land behind the pub belonged to gypsies or travellers. There had been dog racing possibly pre war 1939. This would have been a flapping track.

The Grand Central Speedway Track was located here which had grass straights and cinder bends. Active between 1938-1939. Meetings were ran by a club from Southend-on-Sea. I do have a programme from one of these meetings. Riders also rode under assumed names such as the following Albie Duck and Donald Duck.

Terry Stone
The Mr Rocket 1970.

Confused? yes I am a bit but maybe others can clarify? John

Courtesy Peter.Everingham

1948 ticket to the speedway

The website is fortunate that ex rider Terry Stone has sent us a good selection of his photographs etc to complete the page.

I have a friend who used to go to Rayleigh Weir Stadium from the late 40's to the late 60's. She is trying to recall the name of the music which was played when the riders came onto the track. If you can help it will really make her day. Any information would be very much appreciated

Regards Dave W
Update: Dave Hoggart says:

Initially it was Telstar by the Tornados and subsequently those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines
Update: Eric Withams says:

In the Arthur & Tippie Atkinson era (1950 - 1955) the meeting began with "The Jumping Bean", during which a boy dressed in page boy uniform (blue & yellow, of course!) lit a rocket on the centre green. Then to the march "Old Comrades" the track staff paraded out to the centre, countered marched around so that half were at each end of the track ready to do their duties as rakers. When they were in position the National Anthem was played, after which the riders for the first race came out to their bikes out on the track. I can still picture the whole performance after all these years!

Telstar at the end of the meeting came later, in the 60's.

Eric

The following pictures (x 6) were sent by Paul Burton. Paul would like names to go with his pics and so would I
So send me an email John if you can name them and the year. The mascot is likely to be in his late fifties or early 60's now. Was it you?

The mascot photo shown above has been recognised as follows: "Have just had a phone call from my brother, who was the mascot in the picture, as he has just found your site. His name is Ron Sutton and he is now 66" Here's another picture of Ron the mascot for 1953.

Before we go any further with this page we would like to show 2 pictures of Terry who has been kind enough to share his memories with us.

This is Terry in Rayleigh and Glasgow colours. The Rayleigh picture was taken in 1961 at Wolverhampton. Terry a Rayleigh stalwart was transferred to Glasgow in 1964 but he returned to Rayleigh later.

The first Raleigh team Percy Brine Vic Gooden Jack Unstead Roy Uden and front Pat Clarke Ron Howes Jim Gregory & Tony Boshoff

Rayleigh's first season 1948 rider Roy Uden, sporting a fine moustache! I am told he was ex RAF. He also has the obligatory pudding basin helmet and neckerchief. Looking at the rocket and remembering that space travel was still 10 years away I can only wonder at how the Rayleigh rocket came about. Were the wartime doodlebugs the model for Rayleigh's race jackets or did the designers copy the Dan Dare comic?

Re your Rayleigh Rockets / Rye House Rockets query it came about when Rayleigh finally closed down and moved into Rye House who had previously been on a non-league open licence except for a few years in the S A L in the mid 50s. The Rayleigh Promotion moved into Rye and just retained the same colours.

Film fans may have seen the DVD "Once a Jolly Swagman" which starred Dirk Bogard. Ron Howes was the stunt man for Dirk, he did all the riding that made Mr Bogard look so good. Ron is also interviewed at the beginning of the DVD

Left: Frank Bettis transferred to Eastbourne 1955 Right: Maurice Dunn Bought by Harringay for £1000.00 in 1952

Jack Unstead he was transferred to Bristol in 1953 for £1500.00 but returned to Rayleigh in 1955 when Bristol closed down. Jack sadly lost his life after crashing at Ipswich in 1962

Mike O'Brien Says: hi john way wonder if you can help? I lived and worked in Romford ,and worked at J LYONS Depot There was a bloke who worked on maintenance, who rode for Raleigh speedway all I can remember .As a teenager he was the works hero as he would come to work with numerous injuries, and ride the next week day whatever .All I can describe him as he was rough and tough. Limited info, but can you help. I think my kids and grand kids think I am potty? His first name was John!!!!!!!!! terrific site regards MIKE O Brien ex supporter of west ham hackney rye house and now eastbourne.PS the year was 62 63

I asked Terry Stone about the rider named John. Terry says: Hello John, Re above my first thought turned out to be the right one. I have had confirmed today by Mary the riders widow. His name is JACK UNSTEAD who's real name was Johnby which he must have been known at work. Jack lived in the Romford area. He unfortunately was tragically killed in 1962 at Ipswich. On looking through my Rayleigh archives there was only another 2 riders named John....Fitzpatrick and Leggatt .Is this all in order for you and Mr O'Brien? Any other help required we shall await your instructions. I am grass track riding on Sunday at Daventry having ridden grass track 2 weeks ago at Oxford. Keep the wheels turning and the plugs sparking. Your EX PRESIDENT Terry Stone

Terry Stone says: 1952 team Rayleigh M .Dunn G. Woodger J. Unstead F. Bettis C. Mugford L. Mcgillivray Jim. Mcgillivray Frank Arnald. G. Jackson J.Benson R .Howes Tom. O'Conner

all the best, keep up the good work. 1.2.3.4.lets see the rockets score.

Dear John,
Wonderful website I've just discovered it. I've supported the Rockets since 1949, and I'm sure the rider between Frank Bettis and Les McGillivray is Ossie Osborne, not Charlie Mugford, on the 1952 team photo.
Eric Withams
I will email Terry Stone and see if he agrees. I though Ossie Osborne was a rock singer. Terry now agrees with Eric that It's Ossie not Charlie in the team photo. Terry has also asked who the guy in the flat cap is!!!
Update: Reg Fearman says: Sorry to say that Terry is wrong on the man in the raincoat in the 1952 team photo. it is not Frank Arnold but Butch Williams who raced at Dagenham pre war and was Malcolm Craven's mechanic from 1946 at West ham and an employee of the Atkinsons. Arnold was the general manager for the Atkinson's and was previously at West Ham
More from Reg Fearman: I meant to say that I agreed that the Rayleigh team photos was in fact Ossie Osborne he was at West Ham and rode in the Hawks team pre war, he was attached to W.H. in 1946. His house backed on to the W.H. workshops. His father had a lorry and coal round and used to deliver coal to our house -- small world. I'm full of useless information.

1953: Pete Lansdale, Les McGillivray, Alan Smith, Arthur Atkinson, John Fitzpatrick, Jack Unstead, Maurie McDermot, Gerald Jackson (on bike)

Peter Clark (on bike) Tom O'Connor with in the background Sandy MacGillivray, Les's brother

1960: Pete Lansdale, R Reeves, E Hockaday, Wally Mawdsley, J Leggett, Clive Hitch, Stan Stevens and Alan Smith (on bike)

1961 team: Geoff Penniket, Pete Sampson, Harry Edwards, Wally Mawdsley, Terry Stone, R Craighead, Stan Stevens on bike and B Thomas

1961 action at Rayleigh. Edinburgh's Willie Templeton Leads Reg Reeves with Stan Stevens at the back

Harry had been in a Japanese POW camp for 4 years during the war and had malnutrition on his release. Perhaps that’s why he looked older than he was; he would be only 40 when this photo was taken in 1963.

1968: L-R Len Silver(Promoter), Geoff Maloney, Laurie Etheridge, Mike Gardner, Colin Tucker, Dennis Mannion, Terry Stone, Gordon Cox (Team Manager), On machine Graeme Smith,

1970 and the end of the men in black. Coloured leathers were selling fast. Left to Right: Charles Mugford, Dingle Brown, Nigel Rackett, Terry Stone, Ivan Miller, Hugh Saunders, Bob Young, Len Silver, Peter Thorogood and Geoff Maloney on bike

Dave Jones has sent this picture of Ivan Miller, and he raises doubt about the guy named as Ivan in the team photo shown above Dave says: I have also attached a picture of Ivan Miller from a Rayleigh program who I am sure rode for the rockets during part of the 1972 season. so I am not sure who the rider named as Ivan Miller is in the team photo. I think it could be a rider named Brian Osborne but I am only taking a guess on that.

1971 team Peter Thorogood, Tiger Beech, Allen Emmett, Allen Jackson, Peter Claridge, Dave Slatford, Terry Stone, Len Silver, Dingle Brown, Geoff Maloney and Bob Young

Dave Jones Sent me the above picture taken from a 1972 programme. This seems to prove that the better quality pic above is of 1972 not 1971.
Terry Stone says: The picture of Rayleigh 1971-72, the picture in the 1972 programme from Rayleigh is a 1971 picture as Allen Jackson did not ride for the rockets in 1972.

Alan Jackson

Dave says: ok back to the 1972 team photo of the Rayleigh Rockets. This photo was taken at the 1972 press and practise day. Terry was right about Alan Jackson not riding for Rayleigh in 1972 but he was at the press and practise day in 1972. I have attached a photo and program notes from the program for the first meeting of the 1972 season. although Alan was programmed to ride in this meeting he was replaced by Peter Claridge.
Cheers for now
Dave

Colour comes to the Rayleigh page! Here we see Terry Stone in glorious Technicolor ugh! This is Rayleigh 1971 what I need now is the full line up, send me an email please John
Update:Terry Stone advises:
Dingle Brown. Nigel Rackett. Terry Stone. Bob Young. Hughie Saunders. Geoff Maloney on bike. other rider? may be Dave Slatford????
Update: Dave Hoggart says:

I'm fairly certain the other rider in the picture is Colin Perry a grass track rider who switched to shale in 1970 in second halves at the Weir and was covering for injury in 71. Stoney or Pete Thorogood should be able to confirm now that I have put a name in the frame.
Kind regards David

2 pictures from Sunderland taken May 1971. Left Terry Stone looking for a comb!! the other picture shows Tiger Beech and Dingle Brown in the foreground. In the background is Geoff Maloney with his mechanic. Terry has borrowed a comb - and another mechanic. Both those mechanics were regulars but I cant name them - but someone could.
SR
Thanks SR. I have copied the photo to the name the rider page, lets see if anyone recognises the lads. John
Terry Stone has been in touch. He has recognised himself as the "head" at the back between the mechanics and one of the mechanics is Roy Sullivan.

Dave Jones says: This may be the last team photo that was ever taken of the Rayleigh Rockets. L/R Peter Thorogood (Team Manager), Red Ott, Trevor Barnwell, Peter Moore, Peter Cairns, Tiger Beech. Kneeling Peter Wigley, Robert Lyons (Mascot), Terry Stone. On Machine Bob Young (Captain). Insert Brain Foote.

L-R Alan Jackson, Dingle Brown, Dennis Mannion, Laurie Etheridge, Geoff Maloney and Terry Stone and didn't I do well to avoid making any ageist remarks.