CAN ANY READERS help Stephen with this query?
“I’m trying to date a piece of transport memorabilia – a bus/coach destination sign that offers up the bus routes 508 & 519 made from cloth – and one of the standout destinations that may help me in my quest is the HULL – HEDON – MARFLEET – SALTEND & AERODROME ENTRANCE. The latter, if it is to an in service aerodrome, would enable me to speculate that the blind is at least 1940. My own experience says that it is almost certainly pre 1960s.
I just wondered if your blog would throw up any pointers for me such as:
When the aerodrome became a speedway did buses call at a stop called the Aerodrome entrance?
Maybe buses stopped calling at the site during a certain year.”
Kind Regards, Stephen Gregory
We have mentioned on the Blog previously about Hedon Halt railway station which opened for a few months in 1948 to service speedway meetings at the Aerodrome site (the base for the Hull Angels speedway team). But we are not sure for how long Speedway operated at the site and was serviced specifically by buses?
EYMS and Connor & Graham buses both operated services which stopped at Hedon Aerodrome. A photo from 1952 (in the SKEALS publication ‘A History of the Connor & Graham Bus Service’) lists Saltend and Aerodrome Entrance as a key bus stop. But which service operated numbers 508 and 519?
Any help and information that readers can provide to help Stephen date his roll blind (it would have been on the front of the bus or the side) would be greatly appreciated
Contact us at hedonblog@gmx.com – or leave a comment.
john horsley
Yes, indeed the ANGELS did run in 1948-1949 seasons. The last fixture was against LIVERPOOL, which the ANGELS won 52-24. The captain of the side was Mick Mitchell who scored a 12 point maximum and won the final of the Hedon Scratch Race. The side were very good at home, but not so good away, winning only twice. Once in the cup against LEICESTER HUNTERS the other against OXFORD REBELS in the league. The track record of 82.4 seconds for 4 laps, belonged to Billy Bales of YARMOUTH BLOATERS. I was lucky enough to meet up with Billy whilst on holiday in Yarmouth and he told me some great stories. Also, Mick Mitchell, when the Vikings speedway team opened at the Boulevard in Hull in 1971. He was guest of honour. He has now sadly passed away, but lived in St Austell in Cornwall when he retired from riding. Other riders that went on to Swindon were George Craig, Bob Baker and Derek Glover (I think). I have some programmes and a pin lapel badge from the time. My Dad and uncle used to ‘dabble’ at the track, which was cinder covered, when the ANGELS had practices on a Sunday morning.
Have you not ruled out KHCT operating special services to the Speedway? The station was only open from 1888-1909 for horse racing and for three months in 1948 for Speedway.
Not sure if this what you want to know but I emailed someone about this and here is what they said.. hope it helps in some way…
“The sport only lasted for a couple of seasons. The Angels, as the team were known, competed in the Third Division in 1948 but ran into financial difficulties and pulled out of the league in 1949. The team transferred their operations to Swindon in Wiltshire and they completed the Angels fixtures.”
Thanks Linda! It will be interesting to see if any other other readers remember the Hull Angels!?
john horsley
Yes, indeed the ANGELS did run in 1948-1949 seasons. The last fixture was against LIVERPOOL, which the ANGELS won 52-24. The captain of the side was Mick Mitchell who scored a 12 point maximum and won the final of the Hedon Scratch Race. The side were very good at home, but not so good away, winning only twice. Once in the cup against LEICESTER HUNTERS the other against OXFORD REBELS in the league. The track record of 82.4 seconds for 4 laps, belonged to Billy Bales of YARMOUTH BLOATERS. I was lucky enough to meet up with Billy whilst on holiday in Yarmouth and he told me some great stories. Also, Mick Mitchell, when the Vikings speedway team opened at the Boulevard in Hull in 1971. He was guest of honour. He has now sadly passed away, but lived in St Austell in Cornwall when he retired from riding. Other riders that went on to Swindon were George Craig, Bob Baker and Derek Glover (I think). I have some programmes and a pin lapel badge from the time. My Dad and uncle used to ‘dabble’ at the track, which was cinder covered, when the ANGELS had practices on a Sunday morning.