Tom Farndon
Encyclopedia
Tom Farndon was a Speedway
rider who won the Star Riders' Championship
in 1933 whilst with the Crystal Palace Glaziers.
He started his career with Coventry
, initially at the Lythalls Lane track and later with the club based at Brandon Stadium
, before enjoying a spell with the Crystal Palace Glaziers
. He moved to New Cross Rangers
with Palace promoter Fred Mockford in 1934.
Farndon was the British Individual Match Race Champion and was undefeated from 1934 until his death in 1935.
which hurled him through the air and saw him land head first on the track.
Tom died two days later in Miller General Hospital, Greenwich, without regaining consciousness.
Thousands lined the streets to see his funeral. An art deco memorial in the form of a motorbike racer, carved by local sculptor Richard Ormerod out of black granite stands at Tom's final resting place in St. Paul's Cemetery, Holbrook Lane, Coventry.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider who won the Star Riders' Championship
Star Riders' Championship
The Star Riders' Championship was the forerunner of the Speedway World Championship and was inaugurated in 1929. The competition was sponsored by The Star, which was a London evening newspaper at that time....
in 1933 whilst with the Crystal Palace Glaziers.
He started his career with Coventry
Coventry Bees
The Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team based at Brandon near Coventry, England. A Coventry team was first formed in 1928 and competed in the Southern League and then the National League in the pre-war era at Brandon stadium. There were also meetings at a stadium in Lythalls Lane...
, initially at the Lythalls Lane track and later with the club based at Brandon Stadium
Brandon stadium
Brandon Stadium, located in Brandon, Warwickshire, England, is the home of the Coventry Bees motorcycle speedway team and is also the city's main Greyhound racing stadium. The stadium's capacity is 5,000 and was built in 1948...
, before enjoying a spell with the Crystal Palace Glaziers
Crystal Palace Glaziers
Crystal Palace Glaziers were a British speedway team that existed from 1928 to 1940-Brief history:They first competed in the Southern League in 1929 and were based at Crystal Palace Exhibition Grounds, Sydenham, South London....
. He moved to New Cross Rangers
New Cross Rangers
The New Cross Rangers were a Speedway team which operated from 1937 until their closure in 1953. The track reopened in 1959 under Johnnie Hoskins for a series of open meetings and then in 1960 and 1961 operated in the National League...
with Palace promoter Fred Mockford in 1934.
Farndon was the British Individual Match Race Champion and was undefeated from 1934 until his death in 1935.
Death
Tom Farndon was killed after a crash on 28 August 1935 whilst racing at New Cross Rangers Stadium in a second half scratch race final. He was involved in a collision with team-mate Ron JohnsonRon Johnson (speedway rider)
Ron Johnson was a speedway rider who won the London Riders' Championship in 1945 and in 1946 whilst with the New Cross Rangers....
which hurled him through the air and saw him land head first on the track.
Tom died two days later in Miller General Hospital, Greenwich, without regaining consciousness.
Thousands lined the streets to see his funeral. An art deco memorial in the form of a motorbike racer, carved by local sculptor Richard Ormerod out of black granite stands at Tom's final resting place in St. Paul's Cemetery, Holbrook Lane, Coventry.
