LAURIE ETHERIDGE

It is with very heavy hearts that we learnt of the passing of Mr Crayford, Laurie Etheridge, from his wife Denise. The Crayford family extend our deepest sympathies to Denise and their daughters. Whilst we have enjoyed watching, supporting and chatting with many of the Kestrels no one would disagree that Laurie was the ultimate Crayford hero.

The obvious highlight of his career was taking the New National League Riders Championship in our inaugural year as Kestrels in 1975. He topped the Crayford averages in each of our first four seasons and in a Kestrels career which spanned eight years, Laurie scored over 2,500 points including 48 maximums. But it wasn’t only his on-track efforts that endeared him to the fans. Always a team man, his non scoring contribution to our 1980 NL Four Team Tournament win is always talked about fondly.

Laurie was a shy and very modest man but always had time for everyone that contributed to or loved the sport. This was exemplified by the fact that in 2019, he and Denise drove from their Sussex home to a pub in Crayford when we started our amateur speedway adventure which carried the Crayford Kestrels name and Laurie accepting the role of Club President. They also often travelled to our meetings and it was great to see Laurie and Denise enjoying catching up with old team members and supporters alike. Not many people will know that getting the Kestrels back on track rekindled his desire to ride and he had a few secret laps. He also had a bike tucked away in his garden shed proudly refurbished in Crayford colours.

Once a Falcon, a long-term Hawk but forever a Kestrel. The bird has flown the nest

RIP Skipper.

CRAYFORD KESTRELS

L-R: Kev Mackenzie (director), Chris Watts, Roksana Brzeska, Charlie Wood, Chris Laidlaw, Keith Cornell (vice-captain), James Laker, Darren Grayling, Leelan Little, Chris Crouch, Josh Couzins, Mark Shipman (team manager). On bike: Will Little (captain)