Post by speedyguy on Jan 26, 2016 16:14:31 GMT
PRESS RELEASE
NOTE: This Press Release was issued in 2005 and appeared in several publications. Since 2005, there is evidence that Wal Morton may have raced in a junior event at Hall Green Birmingham on May 8 1931. Also that his last appearance was for Weymouth in a Metroplitan League match at Rayleigh on August 1 1964.
The Fund is now closed while a stone to pay tribute to Morton has been errected.
WAL MORTON FUND
SPEEDWAY historian Mike Kemp was horrified when he found former speedway rider Wal Morton had been buried in an unmarked grave following his death on April 21, 1995.
Two years ago, Kemp launched an appeal to help provide a memorial stone for Morton at St Edmunds Church, Old Costessey. It raised enough money to provide a stone costing £649, which was put in place on Tuesday, March 1.
Kemp said: “Many speedway supporters helped to boost the fund, and I was also appreciative people who were involved actively in speedway who sent donations.
“These included former world champion Ove Fundin, who Morton rode with at Norwich in the 1950s. Former England international and one-time promoter Reg Fearman was another. Col Smith, who was a team-mate of Morton’s in the early 1960s at Liverpool was another.”
Kemp added: “And it was good to see former Norwich area riders Billy Bales, Phil Clarke, Trevor Hedge, ‘Tich’ Read and Peter Atkins who were all team-mates of Morton’s at The Firs helping sway the fund.”
Another contributor was Bob Buckingham, the Londoner who set-up a memorial fund stone in the early 1990s for former New Cross and Australian rider Ron Johnson who was also buried in an unmarked grave.
Morton’s career spanned more than 30 years, and while he is best associated with Norwich, he also rode - more than once in his spells at various tracks - for West Ham and Wimbledon. And in 1947, he was team-partner to Vic Duggan when the Australian was British speedway’s leading rider.”
To mark the fact that Morton rode for more than a dozen tracks - his last was Hackney - the main inscription describes his career adequately: ‘Wandering Wal of Raceways.’ It was used in April 1957 by then ‘Speedway Star’ editor John Hyam in a tribute article to Morton.
NOTE: This Press Release was issued in 2005 and appeared in several publications. Since 2005, there is evidence that Wal Morton may have raced in a junior event at Hall Green Birmingham on May 8 1931. Also that his last appearance was for Weymouth in a Metroplitan League match at Rayleigh on August 1 1964.
The Fund is now closed while a stone to pay tribute to Morton has been errected.
WAL MORTON FUND
SPEEDWAY historian Mike Kemp was horrified when he found former speedway rider Wal Morton had been buried in an unmarked grave following his death on April 21, 1995.
Two years ago, Kemp launched an appeal to help provide a memorial stone for Morton at St Edmunds Church, Old Costessey. It raised enough money to provide a stone costing £649, which was put in place on Tuesday, March 1.
Kemp said: “Many speedway supporters helped to boost the fund, and I was also appreciative people who were involved actively in speedway who sent donations.
“These included former world champion Ove Fundin, who Morton rode with at Norwich in the 1950s. Former England international and one-time promoter Reg Fearman was another. Col Smith, who was a team-mate of Morton’s in the early 1960s at Liverpool was another.”
Kemp added: “And it was good to see former Norwich area riders Billy Bales, Phil Clarke, Trevor Hedge, ‘Tich’ Read and Peter Atkins who were all team-mates of Morton’s at The Firs helping sway the fund.”
Another contributor was Bob Buckingham, the Londoner who set-up a memorial fund stone in the early 1990s for former New Cross and Australian rider Ron Johnson who was also buried in an unmarked grave.
Morton’s career spanned more than 30 years, and while he is best associated with Norwich, he also rode - more than once in his spells at various tracks - for West Ham and Wimbledon. And in 1947, he was team-partner to Vic Duggan when the Australian was British speedway’s leading rider.”
To mark the fact that Morton rode for more than a dozen tracks - his last was Hackney - the main inscription describes his career adequately: ‘Wandering Wal of Raceways.’ It was used in April 1957 by then ‘Speedway Star’ editor John Hyam in a tribute article to Morton.
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