As soon as I was old enough I started racing mainly on grass tracks and things like that. I had been going to the Isle of Man as a schoolboy spectator and I wanted to compete on the Manx Grand Prix as it seemed so well organised. The first time I rode there was in 1932 when I was just old enough to hold a license. I rode a 350 Norton, and bearing in mind what I had been warned about learning the course before you try too hard this is what I set out to do. I ended up around 26th which I was quite happy with as I had averaged a good speed and I thought I would get better during the next few years, which is what I did.

By 1936 I thought I was ready to have a go at doing something. I was in the 250 Lightweight Grand Prix on an Excelsior Manxman I won, and then went on to win again in 1937 and 1938 completing a 'hat trick', the first time a 'hat trick had been done in the Isle of Man. In addition in 1937 and 1938 I was a member of the Wakefield Team who won the Team Prize.

In 1939 along came the war and that was the end of motor sport and like everyone else my age I went into the Army. Thanks to Graham Walker, that's Murray's dad, I got a good job in the Royal Corps of Signals. I was a dispatch rider and did about 5,000 miles until I was promoted and put in charge of the Orderly Room, because of my business knowledge. This was a job I held until the end of the war.

In 1946 I got out of the Army just in time for the 1946 Manx Grand Prix. This was one of the first events to be held after the war and we were all keen to have a go. Considering the fact I had been off for six years I got in plenty of practice for that race in the Isle of Man; I did very well and finished third.

In June 1947 I rode in the Clubman's TT which I won on a 350 Norton. Then in 1948 I went on to win the 350 Manx Grand Prix on a Norton. In that race a new face appeared on the scene, Geoff Duke. It was the first time he had been seen and no one had really heard of him however, suddenly half way through the race he was in the lead. Fortunately for me I suppose he ran into trouble and had to retire. I went on to win.

I rode in the Senior Manx the rest of the time I competed on the Isle of Man up until finishing in 1953 and I was in the top four every time but one. 1953 was my best year, the most exciting race of all my Grand Prix. I did so well I won it at a record speed and was the first rider to lap the TT course at over 90mph. After twenty-one years' competing on the Isle of Man I crossed the finishing line as the winner of the Senior. When I first went to see the races in the late 1920's I hoped one day I would be good enough to ride and win the Senior Manx Grand Prix. It was all my dreams come true.

I thought that, with this win, it was a good time to retire. And all the work I had done at the races stood me in good stead with the BBC who thought it would be a good idea to have me as part of their team. So from that year onwards I went to the Isle of Man as part of the BBC team broadcasting the races. As many of you will know I got in with ITV Television, local radio BBC radio Leeds and for British Telecom doing the recordings for the people who 'phoned in for news of the races.

REPRODUCED FROM THE WAKEFIELD AND DISTRICT MOTOR SPORTS CLUB WEBSITE