Tom Farndon

Tom Farndon (11 September 1910 – 30 August 1935),[1][2] was a British speedway rider who won the Star Riders' Championship in 1933 whilst with the Crystal Palace Glaziers.[3]

Tom Farndon
Born11 September 1910
Coventry, England
Died30 August 1935(1935-08-30) (aged 24)
London, England
Nationality England
Career history
1929-1930Coventry
1931-1933Crystal Palace Glaziers
1934-1935New Cross Lambs
Individual honours
1933Star Riders' Champion
1934, 1935London Riders' Champion
1934, 1935British Individual Match Race Champion
Team honours
1931, 1934London Cup

Career

Born in Coventry, Farndon started his career at the Lythalls Lane track in Foleshill and later rode for the club based at Brandon Stadium, before a spell with the Crystal Palace Glaziers. He moved to New Cross Lambs with Palace promoter Fred Mockford in 1934.[4]

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 the New Cross Stadium in a second half scratch race final. He was involved in a collision with team-mate Ron Johnson which hurled him through the air and saw him land head first on the track, though some reports stated that Farndon first hit the fence in mid-air before landing 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.

Tom Farndon Memorial

Between 1935 and 1961, the Tom Farndon Memorial was held on 11 occasions at the New Cross Stadium. The running of the memorial was abandoned after 1961 on the closure of New Cross.

Year Winner
1935 Eric Langton ()
1936 Jack Milne ()
1937 Not Held
1938 Bluey Wilkinson ()
1939-1945 Not Held due to World War II
1946 Malcolm Craven ()
1947 Jeff Lloyd ()
1948 Howdy Byford ()
1949 Not Held
1950 Graham Warren ()
1951 Jack Young ()
1952-1958 Not Held
1959 Peter Craven ()
1960 Ronnie Moore ()
1961 Jack Young ()

References
  1. Jacobs, N. & Chaplin, J. Tom Farndon The Greatest Speedway Rider of Them All, ISBN 978-0-7524-5140-4
  2. Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. , ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
  3. Jacobs, N. Speedway in London, ISBN 0-7524-2221-9
  4. Jacobs, N. Out of the Frying Pan The History of New Cross Speedway, ISBN 978-0-7524-4476-5
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