Exodus

A seemingly innocuous article in the Tigers programme in mid September 1965 said that Charlie Monk, Bluey Scott, Graham Coombes and Bruce Ovenden were all intending to return to their respective homes in Australia and New Zealand. Nothing much to that but a daily newspaper took the story further by saying that none would be returning. The same story appeared in the Speedway Star, where for good measure, it added that Willie Templeton was only on loan to the Tigers and speculated that he would be recalled to Edinburgh for the following season. Promoter Redmond hit out at these stories, saying they were malicious and that Bluey Scott was definitely wintering in Lanarkshire. He went onto add that both Charlie Monk and Bruce Ovenden would be coming back for next season, while Graham Coombes was undecided about what to do.

The Glasgow Open Championship was staged on a Thursday night and for once a better night weatherwise but there was a gloomy feeling as Charlie Monk was reported to be in dispute with the promotion and was refusing to ride in Glasgow EVER AGAIN!

Bruce Ovenden made his last White City appearance, scoring two points on borrowed machinery. He had a good reason to head for New Zealand – he was getting married! Trevor Redmond was reported as keeping his fingers crossed that Bruce Ovenden would be returning. Not a great night and I was a worried teenager as I returned home that night. It would be the following week before I learnt that Monk had patched up his differences and had ridden for the team at Hackney, the night after the Glasgow Open.