Peter Kelly

Peter passed away in Christchurch, New Zealand aged 87.

He had his first tentative laps at Belle Vue and manager Ken Sharples told him that Mike Parker was looking for riders for his Stoke team  who were riding in the newly formed Provincial League in 1960. Peter joined up and was a Potter for the first two seasons at Sun Street. In 1962 he joined Belle Vue but found the higher standard a real struggle and latterly rejoined the Mike Parker empire by helping out beleagured Bradford during the Panthers traumatic season at Greenfields.  He stayed with  Parker in 1963, signing for Newcastle. He enjoyed his time as a Diamond and was the third heatleader during the BL years.  He was an ever present until he sustained a fractured skull in a track crash at Hackney in midsummer 1967 which saw him miss the 1968 season. He subsequently returned in 1969 with Second Division Berwick , for whom he rode for three years, again as a heatleader,  before retiring to concentrate on his painting and decorating business.  He was always recognisable with his white scarf flapping in the wind

Mainly remembered as a team man, he lost out to Roy Trigg in a run off for third place in the Provincial League Riders Championship  at Belle Vue in 1964, probably his best individual performance. He won the All Star best pairs along with Barry Briggs in the finale to the 1965 season at Brough Park. He rode for England v Russia in 1966 at Newcastle and, listing Edinburgh and Glasgow among his favourite away tracks, had numerous caps in the northern based England v Scotland test matches of the time. 

 

Steve Watson

Steve passed away just after the New Year aged 82. His story would have gladdened the heart of the editor of a boys comic of his time. Always interested in motorbikes, he went along and helped build the Workington track and was initially employed as the starting marshall. After having a go on a borrowed bike, he lashed out one of his own  and broke into the team in summer 1971 at the age of 30.  A real character, he only had the sight in one eye due to a boyhood accident but this never held him back. a solid second string and team man, he was an ever present in over 150 meetings for the Comets before retiring in 1975. His highlights include a cap for England in the Division Two test series against Poland in 1974, a year when he scored two paid maximums - against Weymouth and Bradford, the latter being a five ride tally. 

Fondly remembered to this day in Cumbria.