Stan Greatrex

Stanley James Greatrex (26 January 1911 – 9 October 1986), sometimes spelt Greatorex, was a professional motorcycle speedway rider in the 1930s who went on to become managing director of West Ham Hammers. He rode under the name Stan Greatrex.[4]

Stan Greatrex
Born26 January 1911[1]
Coventry, England[2]
Died9 October 1986 (aged 75)[3]
Worthing, West Sussex, England
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1931-1933Coventry
1934-1939New Cross Rangers
Team honours
1938National League Champion
1934, 1937London Cup Winner

Speedway career

Greatrex was born in Coventry[2] and gained his early speedway experience at the Coventry track, and rode for Coventry between 1930 and 1933.[5] In 1931 he had a brief spell on loan with the Leicester Stadium team.[6] He was a successful rider in the years leading up to World War II for New Cross Rangers, and captained them in 1939.[7]

Greatrex was part of the England team in the 1936, 1938, and 1939 Test series against Australia and the 1937 series against an 'overseas' team.[7]

Greatrex had a motorcycle sales business in New Cross in the late 1930s.[8]

During World War II he gave up his two motor cycle showrooms to join the Royal Air Force, where he was an air gunner. He later joined the 287 Fighter Squadron, where he flew spitfires and then became a flight commander.[2]

After the war he became Managing Director at West Ham, working alongside Arthur Atkinson[7] and worked at Morris Motors in Coventry.[2]

Players cigarette cards

Greatrex is listed as number 15 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.[9]

References
  1. "Stanley James Greatrex". Ancestry. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  2. "Stanley James Greatrex". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 30 May 1958. Retrieved 14 October 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  4. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  5. "A to Z of Bees Riders 1929-2012", coventrybees.co, retrieved 2012-02-04
  6. Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Pre-War Years, Automedia, p. 180
  7. Morgan, Tom (1947) The People Speedway Guide, Odhams Press, p. 74, 79
  8. Speedway News, 20 May 1939, p. 4
  9. "Speedway Riders". Speedway Museum Online. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
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