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HACKNEY SPEEDWAY'S 2012 REUNION CANCELLED

The planned 2012 Hackney Speedway reunion has temporally had to be postponed due to reason beyond the control of the organisers and the venue host’s Paradise Wildlife Park.

Hopes are high the reunion will take place later this year. Details will be announced shortly.

If you have made a reservation at the Marriott Hotel, Cheshunt you will need to cancel your booking ASAP.

Garry Middleton

"What happened to Garry Middleton?" Whenever speedway folk meet this is often a conversation topic. At last the truth on his resting place known, through an amazing set of circumstances, Christmas Eve saw me in a Brisbane cemetery where I took the photos that ended the years of myths and mystery.

"Garry Middleton passed away on November 23 1994. He lays at rest with his mother and stepfather in a secluded part of a Brisbane cemetery".

I have been researching the Garry Middleton story for six years, the trail took me from England, to New Zealand USA and back to Australia.there were many twists and turns. Little did I know that all this time Garry was at rest in my local cemetery, a place where I had attended the funerals of Syd Littlewood and Jeff Ryrie in the last year, and in fact sat in an area only metres from Garry's grave!

The closure came a few days ago with another set of amazing facts. Allan of SpeedwayPlus, who had run my Garry Middleton story three years ago, forwarded a message advising me to contact Martyn Adams, son of Halifax identity, the late Doug Adams. Martyn who now lives in South Austraila where he runs an engine restoration business, is a Garry Middleton admirer. Now the story gets even stranger, Martyn had attended the Brisbane funeral of former Halifax rider Rob Ashton in early December. I was also there, we must have rubbed shoulders, but never met! Whilst in Brisbane Martyn discovered the whereabouts of Garry's resting place but ran out of time to check out the finer details.. I took up the trail, visited the site which is only 5 minutes from my home and took the photographs. I then enlisted the help of John Williams who is good on family history, to check out the dates on the headstone.

The final result is a great co-operation by dedicated speedway folk around the world. As far I am concerned this is closure, he is at peace.

The words on the headstone state

"Close to our hearts always"

© Tony Webb 25-12-2011