Page 38 - link magazine

Mick the Rocket’s cycling heyday
DEBBIE MITCHELL
FITNESS CLASSES Eighty-year-old Mick Fisher from Rodbourne has fond memories of the
sport of cycle speedway which gripped the town after World War II – and
PILATES even has a county champion’s trophy to show for it.
Would you like to ... “Cycle speedway started in
• tone up? • lose weight? Monday, 7.45pm - 8.45pm London after the war, racing
• get some nutrition advice? Tuesday, 8pm - 9pm around the bombsites,” said
• enjoy a healthier lifestyle? at Peatmoor Community Primary School Mick, a rider for the Rod-
• improve your overall fitness? Thursday, 7pm - 8pm bourne Rockets.
Contact me for more information at Isambard Community School “We built a track in 1948
about 1-1 training sessions,
small group sessions with friends £30 for 6 week course, at the bottom of Morris
or bigger group classes: booked and paid in advance Street, where Mannington
kettle bells, circuits, pilates. Contact Debbie Mitchell on Rec is now, using ash from
Off-peak discounts available the railway.”
Tel: 07828 714018 01793 722152 or 07745 422365 Rival clubs in the town
included the Kingsdown
Aces, Purton Panthers and

Reiki Tania Holistic Therapist Gorse Hill Foxes.
He also has memories of
v Holistic (Swedish) Massage numerous friendly matches
v Indian Head Massage such as one against Rod-
v Hot Stone Massage bourne’s Monkey Club, and
v Pregnancy Massage Photo: Richard Wintle www.calyxpix.com said one of their riders was so
v Deep Tissue Massage heavy that he needed a reinforced bike. Mick said: “We raised £21 at that
v Reflexology match, which was two weeks’ pay in those days.”
v Reiki Healing Treatments Competitions were sponsored by the News Chronicle, a national paper, with
v Reiki with Crystals a silver helmet awarded to county champions and gold to the national winner.
ITEC, CThA, Reiki Mastership Mick, who is pictured holding the silver helmet he won in 1950, said:
Member of Guild of Beauty Therapists “I was presented with it by Zena Marshall, the British film actress who went
Based in Oakhurst, Swindon Call 07501 058650 or email: on to play Miss Taro in the James Bond movie, Dr No. Barrie Telling, who
Mobile service is also available [email protected] won it the year before me, got his from Petula Clark.”
www.reikitaniaholisticsanctuary.com Sadly, Mick missed out on the
chance to win the gold helmet. He
said:“I went up to London for the na-
I tional finals, but I was disqualified for
breaking the tape on the starting line.”
Mick’s cycle speedway career came
to an end when he started National
Slimming Service in 1954.
The August Link reported how
W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W
Worldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorldorld
World Mick asked well-wishers at his 80th
birthday party to make donations
to Swindon Pathfinders. £1,000 was
raised towards a ski trip for disabled
children, including his granddaughter Mick battling on the track with Barrie
Louise who has cerebral palsy. Telling, left. Photo: Barrie Telling
Join a warm and friendly group near you today...
Journo gets on his bike for the NSPCC
MONDAYS 5.30pm & 7.30pm St Johns Church, Thames Avenue
Haydon Wick, Swindon SN25 1QQ. Consultant: Sharon 07841 119082 Swindon Advertiser reporter Scott
TUESDAYS 6.30pm Abbey Meads Community School, Hugo Drive D’Arcy is taking part in a 100-mile
Abbey Meads, Swindon, SN25 4GY. Consultant: Paula 07733 082579 round trip of Wiltshire in aid of
TUESDAYS 7.30PM Tregoze Primary School, Sleaford Close the NSPCC.
Swindon SN5 6JU. Consultant: Corinna 07938 617048
WEDNESDAYS 10am Moose Hall, Eastcott Hill, Off Bath Road, The 25-year-old is also hosting a
Swindon SN1 3LS. Consultant: Steve 07791 041411 charity curry night at the Bombay
WEDNESDAYS 5.30pm & 7.30pm St Francis School, Taw Hill FREE Lounge in Old Town on Tuesday 27
Swindon SN25 1UH. Consultant: Heather 07816 860840 online August, ahead of the Wiltshire 100
THURSDAYS 9.30am, 11.30am, 5.30pm & 7.30pm St Johns Church support cycling event on 8 September.
Thames Ave., Haydon Wick, Swindon SN25 1QQ. Cons: Sharon 07841 119082 The ride will start and end in
FRIDAYS 9.30am Community Room, St Francis School, Taw Hill Devizes and is expected to take Scott
Swindon SN25 1UH. Consultant: Heather 07816860840 up to ten hours to complete.
SATURDAYS 9.30am Freshbrook Community Centre, Worsley Road
Freshbrook, Swindon SN5 8LY. Consultant: Lou 07784 098022 Those wishing to attend the
curry night should let Scott know in
0844 897 8000 SW Reporter Scott D’Arcy gets geared up advance. Mail: sdarcy@swindonad-
www.slimmingworld.com on for his charity bike ride. Photo: Dave vertiser.co.uk. Back him at: www.
Cox/Swindon Advertiser justgiving.com/darcysj
38 swindonlink.com • September 2013

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