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Post by Bryan Tungate on May 12, 2007 15:56:28 GMT
FRED PAWSON is still with us and living in New Zealand. I have just recently had a letter from Fred who tells me his health is not so good but his daughter is doing a fine job looking after him. Mrs Pawson, who lived in Norwich before they married, passed away about 18 months ago. Fred says he enjoyed his time with the Stars and remembers the comradeship of the riders from them days
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Post by Bryan Tungate on May 12, 2007 15:59:46 GMT
A fellow researcher in Australia recently wrote to me about SYD LITTLEWOOD. I already knew Sid had passed away but was unaware of any relatives at present. An e-mail this week from Down-Under tells me that Syd's wife is still with us, aged 92, and also Syd's son Trevor who the Aussie correspondent has recently met.
R I P SYD
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Post by Bryan Tungate on May 12, 2007 16:03:22 GMT
A few months ago I met CLIVE FEATHERBY and Clive informed me that he was returning Down-Under shortly. When he was in Australia he had met up with Paul the son of that great star of the past, BERT SPENCER. It is always good to know that the old-timers have relatives still around.
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Post by Bryan Tungate on May 12, 2007 16:08:39 GMT
Other ex-Stars who abide in far-off lands include MERV NEIL who resides in New Zealand and regularly attend the N Z Veterans functions. MICK SIMMONDS, who won the Norwich Junior Championship at the end of the 1957 season, still lives in Australia. I have also heard that ALEC HUNTER and AUB LAWSON still have surviving relatives in Aussie.
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Post by Bryan Tungate on Feb 25, 2008 17:56:46 GMT
Latest news from Australia is that the wife of MAX GROSSKREUTZ is still with us and recently reached the grand young age of 100. ERIC WILLIAMS is living in Australia as is JOHNNIE (4'9") CHAMBERLAIN. "Young" JOHN LAWSON is now living in Mount Isa, Australia. ? is it really 50+ years since he led the Stars team on parade around the "Fabulous Firs Stadium".
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Post by Bryan Tungate on Mar 10, 2008 15:45:34 GMT
News has just reached me that Norwich Stars "Mr Immaculate" BOB LEVERENZ is still alive and well. Bob is living in Adelaide and was recently featured in an article in the Australian Speedway Magazine. Much nearer to home LEN READ celebrates his 90th birthday this month. I think Len is the only remaining link with the 1946 Stars line-up from when I first saw Speedway at the Firs
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Post by Bryan Tungate on May 17, 2008 14:02:42 GMT
This week saw an important date on my Calender - Our Mighty Atom BERT SPENCER would have been 100 years old. I hope he celebrated with a few laps round that track up there.
BILLY BALES has a birthday coming up in early June and the Yarmouth local paper are hoping to carry a feature on this occasion when Billy hits the 80 mark.
In early July we must not forget that another of our greats PHIL CLARKE has a birthday.
It is all happening at this time of the year
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Post by Bryan Tungate on May 20, 2008 21:58:11 GMT
By sheer luck I have discovered that TOMMY ALLOTT, who rode for Norwich just prior to the war, would also have celebrated his 100th birthday this week. A real co-incidence as both BERT & TOMMY rode in the first Speedway match I saw as a 6 year old in 1946
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Post by Bryan Tungate on Jun 9, 2008 13:51:09 GMT
DON LAWSON, step-brother of Aub, who had just one season with the Stars, has recently attended a Veterans function in Queensland. Whether Don was tempted onto a bike I do not know. Among others attending was Nigel Boocock. I have also heard that Ann Jay celebrates her 90th shortly. Her husband WILF JAY won the first heat at the Firs opening meeting in 1937 and also took part in the 1964 Firs Farewell meeting
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Post by Bryan Tungate on Aug 1, 2008 16:27:15 GMT
Further to the last message regarding DON LAWSON is the news that Don is now the President of the Aussie's Veterans Association. This Organisation covers all members of the "Bikes, Sidecars & Cars" meetings which constitute "Speedway" Down Under. Our Don took over from Ivan Mauger as President
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Post by Bryan Tungate on Oct 16, 2008 20:41:39 GMT
JIMMY GLEED, one time Star reserve in the 10aside National Trophy season has just attended the latest California, Southern Area League, ReUnion. Another Star still with us. JIMMY (JACK) HEARD, TOMMY SWEETMAN (now in Aussie) & JOHN DUGARD, also from that season are still around also. Unfortunately JOHNs father CHARLIE, who rode in the first Stars match in 1937 has passed on
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Post by Bryan Tungate on Dec 22, 2008 1:00:49 GMT
News from the run-up to Christmas Period is that our dear mate FRED PAWSON has passed away. I am sure we all send our thoughts and condolences to Freddies daughter who had been looking after Fred at his home on the shores of Lake Taupo
R I P Fred
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Post by Bryan Tungate on Jan 11, 2009 2:48:54 GMT
The Norfolk Police Force have just announced that they are withdrawing from promoting the GALA DAY at the Showground this year. They quote in the E D P announcement that it cost them in the region of £20,000 to run the event this year. It was primarily a "Charity Fund Raising" Event so the Showground took the charity aspect to mean they could "GRAB" anything they wanted. And this pricing would come into effect if Speedway ever took place there. Hopefully the possible 2008 efforts will avoid any use of the Showground in view of the words of the police announcement.
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Post by Bryan Tungate on Feb 19, 2009 0:20:36 GMT
WALLY MAWDESLEY who second halfed in 1951 at the Firs and was a multi-track promoter in later years has passed on. This news has just become known
R I P Wally
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Post by Bryan Tungate on Mar 19, 2009 10:07:06 GMT
It doesn't seem long ago that news came in of Fred Pawson dying in New Zealand. Now today I have had the news from Adelaide. Bob Leverenz has passed away. The band of Norwich Stars is getting thinner. R I P Bob ................. A Star among the STARS
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