Tom Farndon set out on the road to speedway stardom as a shy young man from Coventry in 1929. Within five years he had

Tom Farndon, left, with Max Grosskreutz at Belle Vue during thieir match for the British Championship 1935

reached celebrity status matched by today's pop idols. It had not been a case of an unbroken climb to the top, but his skill, daring and remarkable ability had seen him achieve fame - and fortune - matched only by the pioneer Australians in the early days of the sport. Tom Farndon's good looks and pleasant personality brought him a huge fan following, particularly among young women, and his sheer talent for speedway racing brought him not only the admiration of his peers but the solid achievement of winning every dirt-track championship there was to be won. At the age of only 24, in 1935, he was the world's best speedway rider....

The 1935 speedway season had hardly begun when Tom Farndon set up a new track record at New Cross, and in so doing he became the first speedway rider to complete four laps of a track in less than one minute.

In June he fended off the challenge of Hackney's Dick Case for his British title. By then he had worn the crown longer than any other rider.

Such was the standing of the competition at the time, that New Cross supporters chartered 214 motor coaches to travel to cheer on Tom in his deciding match against Case at Wembley.

His remarkable form made him favourite for his next target, that year's Star Championship at Wembley, the final of which was due to take place on Thursday August 28th. Both the British and the Star championships involved the elite of world speedway who treated the paying public to the finest and most spectacular exhibitions of individual racing.

Historian Cyril May was there and described what happened: 'I still have vivid recollections of the evening, the New Cross Scratch Race Final, with Tom, Stan Greatrex and Ron Johnson (all of New Cross) and Bluey Wilkinson (of West Ham) taking their places on the starting grid.

'Remember, Ron and Tom had virtually carried the team for several months; they were, in less than a minute, put out of action at a single blow.

'From the tapes Ron and Tom took a slight lead, but fewer than tow yards separated his back wheel from Tom's front. More than a little halfway down the back straight on the third lap, the New Cross skipper touched the fence and fell. So close was Tom that there was never the slightest possibility of his avoiding the crash or laying down his machine.

'Tom and his machine were thrown into the air, and he was flung an incredible distance before falling on his head. It looked from the terraces as if Tom deliberately turned, to try and hit the fallen machine instead of the man.

Audrey was among the thousands of fans who saw the crash. Both riders were taken to hospital. Ron Johnson escaped serious injury - no broken bone, but he was badly bruised and had severe lacerations to an arm. It was enough to keep him from the following night's Star Final at Wembley. But Tom's injuries were far more serious.

Tom and Audrey return from New Zealand (left to right) Nobby Key, Fred Mockford, Tom Audrey and Roger Frogley

The entire incident had been witnessed by Bluey Wilkinson, the fourth rider in that fateful race, who said later that he had sensed 'something was going to happen' and had deliberately stayed out of the way. Bluey, of course, was also in the following night's Star Final, and may well have decided on a prudent approach to what was, after all, an unimportant race compared with the big night to come.

The Speedway News, in its account of the meeting, reported that 'Wilkinson finished alone....' His time: 63.8. The race had been re-run and Greatrex had pulled out after being 'filled up'.

The accident was recorded - in small type - on page 12 of that edition. 'A black night for New Cross', the headline read. 'Last Wednesday night was the culmination of the blackest period in the history of New Cross speedway or, for that matter, of London Motor Sports Ltd.'

At the Miller General Hospital, Greenwich, Tom Farndon fought for life for 48 hours. Newspaper reports told of 'amazing scenes outside the hospital. Hundreds of women prayed in the pouring rain'.

Such was his following that regular bulletins on Tom's condition were posted on the gates. Tram and omnibus drivers stopped their vehicles at the hospital so that their passengers could read the notices.

Two days after the crash Tom died without regaining consciousness. By ten o'clock that evening the crowds - including hundreds of weeping women - had grown so big at the hospital gates that police had to be called to control the multitude. Many of Tom's female fans had collapsed with his death posted and had to receive medical attention.

Several vowed they would never visit a speedway track again. One said 'Everyone loved Tom Farndon. he was such a wonderful rider and one of the cleanest and most unspoilt stars of the tracks.'

The eulogy in Speedway News ironically reported Tom as saying: 'If I ever have a serious crash I shall retire.' He was, said the feature, 'perhaps the most colourful rider of his day...the harder the race the better Farndon liked it, not was he wont to make an excuse on the rare occasions when he had to acknowledge defeat.

The limitless adulation he received when a mere youngster would have turned most heads, but Farndon remained modest and unassuming to the last. No champion of any sport has ever worn his laurels so gracefully.

Saddened friends at Tom's Funeral

 

The gravestone on Tom Farndon's plot at Foleshill Cemetery, Coventry, is most remarkable, and certainly the most unusual in the burial place. In black marble, it is an art deco depiction of a speeding motorcyclist - though no one seems to know who commissioned it or who made it. Roy thinks it may have been put there by Tom's admirers. Audrey is now dead so it is not possible to find out from her how it came to be there.