Wigan Album

Wigan Speedway From Wikipedia.
Wigan was a British speedway team that existed in 1947-48, 1952-53 and 1960.
They first competed in the National League Division Two in 1947 and were based at a greyhound stadium in Poolstock. However, the team lasted barely one season with the riders transferring to Fleetwood during April of the 1948 season.[1
A team known as Wigan Panthers raced at Woodhouse Lane greyhound stadium in the 1950s but there was no league racing.
In 1960, the Wigan Warriors returned to Poolstock for open meetings during the summer months.
Defunct Speedway Tracks see :-
http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Wigan.htm

Does Arch Windmill have a cousin that lives in Lytham

Ronnie Hart from Coppull ( A great character I knew well) was also a boxer and a singer, his twin brother Oliver was a speedway World champion and his other brother Stanley was killed in a speedway accident, His son Ronnie lives in Charnock Richard and he also has a son Ronnie .Ronnie and Oliver attended Wigan grammer school in tyhe 20's

AB, Oliver Hart was the only leg trailer I remember. He rode for Bradford. Did the Hart`s have an haulage business?

Ernie, yes they had a haulage business.They also had thier own colliry at one time Oliver rode for Bradford he explained his leg trailing stance as a necessity due to an old leg injury.

My dad was the stjohns ambulance at the speedway and he took me with him in the 1960s,thy always give out sticks of wigan rock can any body remember that.

I remember as a small boy, waiting for the riders after the races, and they would give us their goggles. the sounds and smells of the bikes was something else to us little lads.

I used to drive for Harts Haulage, at Blainscough Hall Coppull. Had to address the brothers as Mr Ron, Mr Oliver & young Mr Oliver.Contracted out of Marley Concrete, then went on an ancient Leyland Octopus, 28 MPH top speed, except downhill on the M6 in deathwatch overdrive (out of gear). Ended up on a Comet Artic, before calling it a day & moving on.
One comical memory, was on a Sunday morning when we went in to wash the vehicles off, all the water was turned off....Old Mother Hart in the hall turned it off to the garage to fill her kettle for a brew..;o)

I was born and raised in Coppull and knew both Oliver and Ron Hart ( they didn't know me ) and used to ride with one of the truck drivers delivering coal to factories especially in the Leyland area, as I remember.The drivers and usually a 'mate' had to load the truck by shovel from a railway wagon usually at the Pearson's ( Chisnall Hall ) colliery in Coppull closed I believe in the 1960s












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