Picture this …

… a day in JULY 1968

Eight meetings into our inaugural season and it was a rare Friday night meeting as Canterbury were the visitors to Shielfield Park, the Crusaders’ owner Johnnie Hoskins claiming seniority on race nights.

Looking from the pits it might appear that little has changed with the old ground although in reality the grandstand has been completely rebuilt, the clinker and ash of what is now H-section replaced with concrete and seats, floodlighting installed for both speedway and football.

In the pits Bandits’ owner Danny Taylor has his shades on as Brian Black warms up his machine. On the extreme left is Bill Maxwell – a second-half regular and occasional (five outings in 1969) number seven over the coming couple of seasons.

On-track it was a comfortable win for Berwick – only their second – with a full maximum for Roy Williams and a paid one for Brian Black as we won 52-26. But there was no lack of on-track action or controversy! Frank Wendon had fallen and, with riders seemingly unaware of the danger up ahead Grieves Davidson and Martyn Pidcock ploughed into the rider and his machine as the race continued with  track staff and St John’s ambulance personnel on the track. Health and safety and sterile zones, along with flying cars and robot waiters were very much for the future. Everyone escaped serious injury but Canterbury were incensed that the referee had not put on the red lights to stop the race after Wendon’s fall and rode the rest of the meeting under protest.

Pictures courtesy John Somerville Collection