1924 continued
THE HISTORY of the
MIDDLESBROUGH & DISTRICT MOTOR CLUB
PART 2
24 of 97
Presentation to John Gjers, - Sum amounted to £25,
L.B.Dickinson asked the committee to nominate a rider for the Amateur T.T. Race
A Bronze Medal was presented to J.Blakison in recognition of his climbing Roseberry
Topping on a motorcycle. The presentation was made, by A.J.Young who graphically
described the feat.
The Rules governing Trials were revised.
Motorcycle Football. - J.F.Dixon was appointed Team Manager. It was decided to
purchase six jerseys for the team. Invitations to play matches were received from
Scarborough to play on the sands, Hartlepool Primrose Motor Club and for the Ripon
Challenge Cup which was won and J.F.Dixon was appointed to hold same. The team
were also invited to play a match at Camberley on August Bank Holiday Monday
where they won outright a Silver Challenge Cup (this Cup is now in the Teesside
Better Driving Competition).
Apart from this success this August Bank Holiday proved to be a very black one for
the Club and the Evening Gazette headlined it - "BORO CLUB'S SAD WEEK OF
TRAGEDY". George Martin Liddle, eldest son of Geoff Liddle, met with a fatal
accident on the Monday on what was then known as "Fancy Bank" whilst riding a P.&
M. Panther. From personal knowledge, having the same make of machine, it must be
concluded that the front wheel being sprung but not the front mudguard, the two
came together and he was thrown. I also escaped with a lasting scar on my nose
from a similar occurrence. On the Tuesday when the team was returning from
Camberley the Harley Davison which Bill Ryan was driving with George Blackburn in
the sidecar skidded near Bawtry and George Blackburn was killed and Bill Ryan
spent a number of weeks in hospital at Doncaster. I remember that at that period
there was considerable controversy respecting the slippery state of many roads
which had recently been re-surfaced, particularly in wet weather.
As a result of Bill Ryan's stay in hospital the Hospital Insurance Scheme came into
being but more of this later.
The Club suffered another serious loss by the sudden death of R.H.L.Pickering at
Christmas time. Mr Pickering was the agent for the Norton motorcycle and
contributed to much of the Club's success as a member of the Committee. Following
the death of George Blackburn who was V/Chairman, Frank Shepherd was elected in
his place.
The Richmond Meet, Good Friday, April 18
th
. - A Motorcycle Football Match was
staged, together with a Gymkhana and a collection on the sands plus entry fees
amounted to £11.7.4d and the expenses to £4.12-3d and the balance was
subsequently paid to the Mayor of Richmond for local charities.
A Cricket Team was formed and W.Tattersall was appointed Captain.
An effort was made to run a Speed event on the new road between Redcar and
Marske but the Police objected to this.
