Peter Craven
Edinburgh September the 20th 1963
Peter Craven took part in his tenth World Final at Wembley on September the 14th 1963 as the reigning World Champion. He won his first race, heat number two by beating Ronnie Moore and Bjorn Knutson. Out again in heat six, he falls whilst leading but remounts to finish third.
He is out again in heat nine but rears at the start and lifts again at the second bend. He gets it under control and is in second place but shortly after goes down again for the second time at the pits bend. On this occasion the race is stopped and Peter is stretchered off and he is excluded from the rerun so his world championship chances have gone. He sustained a knee injury but after being bandaged up by the St. Johns Ambulance people he continued to take part in the meeting finishing second to the new Champion Ove Fundin in heat sixteen, and a distant last in his final outing in heat nineteen.
In spite of still being in some pain from his knee and his shoulder the Monday night the 16th at Wimbledon he takes part in ‘The Gold Cup’ where he scored a credible 10 points. He then travels on to Norwich to score 7 points for Belle Vue in a match that Norwich won 45-33. His next meeting will be at Edinburgh in a challenge match for Belle Vue against the Edinburgh Monarchs on Friday the 20th of September.
Peter Craven with Ian Hoskins and Walter McGowan.This challenge match was between the champions of the National League Belle Vue against the champions of the Provincial League. I have learned that one or two of PC’s advisers asked him to give the meeting a miss as it was of no great importance in the grand scheme of things, and that it would give him a much needed break, what with the long drive to Edinburgh he needed the rest after a hectic and painful week, but he would not hear of it. He had given his word to the Edinburgh promoter Ian Hoskins, and of course, no doubt being a professional rider PC would have been able to pick up some financial remuneration for all his efforts.
By all accounts the meeting had attracted a good crowd, no doubt fuelled by the appearance of a rider of Peter Craven’s reputation and ability, plus of course the rest of the mighty Belle Vue team. The Edinburgh fans were no doubt keen to see how their riders could compete against one of the top teams in the country. Peter Craven had won his first 3 heats in close to race record times and beaten their number one rider George Hunter, but they were due to meet again in heat 12.
Peter Craven with George Hunter prior to heat 12 that night.In the race were PC, George Hunter , Willie Templeton and Billy Powell his team mate. This is where there is some controversy. It has been stated in the book ‘Peter Craven’ The Wizard of Balance’ by Brian Burford that Ian Hoskins asked Peter Craven prior to the race if he would demonstrate the 20 yard handicap that had been imposed on Peter Craven and others like Ove Fundin, Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs and Bjorn Knutson for the past two years in the National League. By all accounts Craven was not keen on the idea and it seems the suggestion to the crowd did not go down very well either. Even Leon Leat (PC’s mechanic that night) states in the book, that PC did start that race on handicap. There were also fans there that night that are certain PC did start on 'handicap' and there are others who claimed he did not.
Once started, and again there is some confusion what lap it was on but having passed the two other riders, Craven was lining up George Hunter (who was riding out of his skin), for a pass, suddenly having a problem with his engine (subsequently, reports suggested it seized solid with a broken piston) George Hunter and his bike went down and Peter Craven following so close behind tried to miss the stricken machine and rider, but was catapulted himself into the solid wood safety fence.
Edinburgh fence after the accident.Peter Craven was taken unconscious by ambulance to Edinburgh’s Royal infirmary. His wife and family were advised and they travelled to Edinburgh to be by his side. The days ticked by with Peter Craven still in a coma. As the medical team were doing all they can in their efforts to keep him alive he passed away at 9.10pm on Tuesday the 24th of September 1963. At the age of 29, Peter Craven was gone.
Over the years the debate has continued unabated as to what happened in that final race; did Peter start from Handicap or did he start from ‘scratch’ in line with the others at the starting gate? In one of his final interviews before he died George Hunter stated that as it was only a challenge match so Belle Vue gave us 10 yards advantage. Many loyal Edinburgh fans still dismiss that as a possibility. Though it recently came to light; testimony from Dudley McKean via his son Colin on an internet forum. Dudley, who took part in the rerun of the Peter Craven crash, at Edinburgh that night watched Peter’s final race from the centre green with a clear view of the action, and states that Peter Craven was only leaving the start, when his rivals were entering the first bend. So maybe not an ‘handicap’ as such but a sporting gesture perhaps, by one of England’s finest speedway riders.
Like most things in life for all of us, it was a series of events that brought Peter Craven to ride that night to race for the last time. Some may say it was destiny and without hindsight we all have to make our own choices in life and none of are aware what is waiting around the corner for us. It was speedway racing , a very dangerous sport by any stretch and no one who attended that meeting that night had any notion of the outcome that a pure racing accident, that nine times out of ten, Peter Craven would have walked away from sadly ended his life. Peter Craven lies in peace at the West Derby Cemetery Liverpool:
Peter Craven's final resting place."Treasured Memories of Peter CRAVEN
World Speedway Champion 1955 and 1962
Dearly Loved Husband of Brenda and Devoted Daddy of Robert and Julie
Tragically at Edinburgh 24th Sept 1963 Aged 29 years
He Died as He Lived a Great Sportsman"
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