.
Peter Theodore Craven was born in Liverpool
on 21st June 1934.
His twin brother died in infancy.
Peter got his first taste of motorcycle speedway racing in 1949 at the Stanley Park Stadium. He visited the stadium a day after his sixteenth birthday and drove a few laps on his brother's bike, before hitting the safety fence and sustaining a concussion.
He was later given another chance to show his abilities to the Liverpool Chads, but after just one lap he hit the fence again. Despite this, he was included as a reserve in the team's away match against the Leicester Hunters.
He made eight league appearances for the Liverpool Chads in Division II during 1951.
He also rode for the Fleetwood Flyers.
The next year, he made 10 league appearances equally divided between Manchester's Belle Vue and the Liverpool Chads.
Craven made his Belle Vue debut on May 17, 1952 against the visiting Norwich Stars.
By 1953, Peter became a regular Aces rider and scored 70 points in 12 matches, but the British Army required his services, and he missed several matches.
He continued racing for Belle Vue during his national service. During 1954 he made 24 league appearances and top-scored for his club.
He also qualified for his first Wembley World final and scored one point more than the brilliant Swedish rider Ove Fundin.
In 1955, on his second try, Peter sensationally won the first of his two FIM World Championships at Wembley.
In 1958, Peter captained the English team against Sweden in Sweden, finishing top scorer; he also top-scored in the five-test series against Australasia.
In 1959 he took on Ove Fundin and won the Golden Helmet Match Race Championship, the Champions of Champions Cup at Poole; the Northern Cup at Belle Vue; the Internationale Derby at Ipswich; the Pride of the East at Norwich; the Tom Farndon Memorial Trophy at New Cross; the Champagne Derby again at Belle Vue, the CTS Trophy at Norwich and the Pride of the Midlands, at Leicester.
In 1960 Peter came third in the World Championship final staged at Wembley.
In 1961 he captained the Lions on a tour to Austria. He came third in the first Internationale individual championship meeting at the Haringey stadium and was second in the British Final at Wembley.
1962 was another good year for Peter. He followed his three British Championship victories by carrying off his second World Individual Championship at Wembley in front of 62,000 fans.
Sadly in 1963 he died as a result of a freak racing accident at Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium on 20th September 1963. While taking evasive action to avoid hitting fallen race leader George Hunter who suffered engine failure, Peter hit a fence. The unconscious Craven was rushed to hospital where his family remained at his bedside until he died, four days later on 24th September 1963.
Dearly loved husband of Brenda.
Devoted Daddy of Robert & Julie.
***Every year there is a
Peter Craven Memorial meeting
held at Belle Vue
in honour of his memory***
.
Peter Theodore Craven was born in Liverpool
on 21st June 1934.
His twin brother died in infancy.
Peter got his first taste of motorcycle speedway racing in 1949 at the Stanley Park Stadium. He visited the stadium a day after his sixteenth birthday and drove a few laps on his brother's bike, before hitting the safety fence and sustaining a concussion.
He was later given another chance to show his abilities to the Liverpool Chads, but after just one lap he hit the fence again. Despite this, he was included as a reserve in the team's away match against the Leicester Hunters.
He made eight league appearances for the Liverpool Chads in Division II during 1951.
He also rode for the Fleetwood Flyers.
The next year, he made 10 league appearances equally divided between Manchester's Belle Vue and the Liverpool Chads.
Craven made his Belle Vue debut on May 17, 1952 against the visiting Norwich Stars.
By 1953, Peter became a regular Aces rider and scored 70 points in 12 matches, but the British Army required his services, and he missed several matches.
He continued racing for Belle Vue during his national service. During 1954 he made 24 league appearances and top-scored for his club.
He also qualified for his first Wembley World final and scored one point more than the brilliant Swedish rider Ove Fundin.
In 1955, on his second try, Peter sensationally won the first of his two FIM World Championships at Wembley.
In 1958, Peter captained the English team against Sweden in Sweden, finishing top scorer; he also top-scored in the five-test series against Australasia.
In 1959 he took on Ove Fundin and won the Golden Helmet Match Race Championship, the Champions of Champions Cup at Poole; the Northern Cup at Belle Vue; the Internationale Derby at Ipswich; the Pride of the East at Norwich; the Tom Farndon Memorial Trophy at New Cross; the Champagne Derby again at Belle Vue, the CTS Trophy at Norwich and the Pride of the Midlands, at Leicester.
In 1960 Peter came third in the World Championship final staged at Wembley.
In 1961 he captained the Lions on a tour to Austria. He came third in the first Internationale individual championship meeting at the Haringey stadium and was second in the British Final at Wembley.
1962 was another good year for Peter. He followed his three British Championship victories by carrying off his second World Individual Championship at Wembley in front of 62,000 fans.
Sadly in 1963 he died as a result of a freak racing accident at Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium on 20th September 1963. While taking evasive action to avoid hitting fallen race leader George Hunter who suffered engine failure, Peter hit a fence. The unconscious Craven was rushed to hospital where his family remained at his bedside until he died, four days later on 24th September 1963.
Dearly loved husband of Brenda.
Devoted Daddy of Robert & Julie.
***Every year there is a
Peter Craven Memorial meeting
held at Belle Vue
in honour of his memory***
.
.
Peter Theodore Craven was born in Liverpool
on 21st June 1934.
His twin brother died in infancy.
Peter got his first taste of motorcycle speedway racing in 1949 at the Stanley Park Stadium. He visited the stadium a day after his sixteenth birthday and drove a few laps on his brother's bike, before hitting the safety fence and sustaining a concussion.
He was later given another chance to show his abilities to the Liverpool Chads, but after just one lap he hit the fence again. Despite this, he was included as a reserve in the team's away match against the Leicester Hunters.
He made eight league appearances for the Liverpool Chads in Division II during 1951.
He also rode for the Fleetwood Flyers.
The next year, he made 10 league appearances equally divided between Manchester's Belle Vue and the Liverpool Chads.
Craven made his Belle Vue debut on May 17, 1952 against the visiting Norwich Stars.
By 1953, Peter became a regular Aces rider and scored 70 points in 12 matches, but the British Army required his services, and he missed several matches.
He continued racing for Belle Vue during his national service. During 1954 he made 24 league appearances and top-scored for his club.
He also qualified for his first Wembley World final and scored one point more than the brilliant Swedish rider Ove Fundin.
In 1955, on his second try, Peter sensationally won the first of his two FIM World Championships at Wembley.
In 1958, Peter captained the English team against Sweden in Sweden, finishing top scorer; he also top-scored in the five-test series against Australasia.
In 1959 he took on Ove Fundin and won the Golden Helmet Match Race Championship, the Champions of Champions Cup at Poole; the Northern Cup at Belle Vue; the Internationale Derby at Ipswich; the Pride of the East at Norwich; the Tom Farndon Memorial Trophy at New Cross; the Champagne Derby again at Belle Vue, the CTS Trophy at Norwich and the Pride of the Midlands, at Leicester.
In 1960 Peter came third in the World Championship final staged at Wembley.
In 1961 he captained the Lions on a tour to Austria. He came third in the first Internationale individual championship meeting at the Haringey stadium and was second in the British Final at Wembley.
1962 was another good year for Peter. He followed his three British Championship victories by carrying off his second World Individual Championship at Wembley in front of 62,000 fans.
Sadly in 1963 he died as a result of a freak racing accident at Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium on 20th September 1963. While taking evasive action to avoid hitting fallen race leader George Hunter who suffered engine failure, Peter hit a fence. The unconscious Craven was rushed to hospital where his family remained at his bedside until he died, four days later on 24th September 1963.
Dearly loved husband of Brenda.
Devoted Daddy of Robert & Julie.
***Every year there is a
Peter Craven Memorial meeting
held at Belle Vue
in honour of his memory***
.
Peter Theodore Craven was born in Liverpool
on 21st June 1934.
His twin brother died in infancy.
Peter got his first taste of motorcycle speedway racing in 1949 at the Stanley Park Stadium. He visited the stadium a day after his sixteenth birthday and drove a few laps on his brother's bike, before hitting the safety fence and sustaining a concussion.
He was later given another chance to show his abilities to the Liverpool Chads, but after just one lap he hit the fence again. Despite this, he was included as a reserve in the team's away match against the Leicester Hunters.
He made eight league appearances for the Liverpool Chads in Division II during 1951.
He also rode for the Fleetwood Flyers.
The next year, he made 10 league appearances equally divided between Manchester's Belle Vue and the Liverpool Chads.
Craven made his Belle Vue debut on May 17, 1952 against the visiting Norwich Stars.
By 1953, Peter became a regular Aces rider and scored 70 points in 12 matches, but the British Army required his services, and he missed several matches.
He continued racing for Belle Vue during his national service. During 1954 he made 24 league appearances and top-scored for his club.
He also qualified for his first Wembley World final and scored one point more than the brilliant Swedish rider Ove Fundin.
In 1955, on his second try, Peter sensationally won the first of his two FIM World Championships at Wembley.
In 1958, Peter captained the English team against Sweden in Sweden, finishing top scorer; he also top-scored in the five-test series against Australasia.
In 1959 he took on Ove Fundin and won the Golden Helmet Match Race Championship, the Champions of Champions Cup at Poole; the Northern Cup at Belle Vue; the Internationale Derby at Ipswich; the Pride of the East at Norwich; the Tom Farndon Memorial Trophy at New Cross; the Champagne Derby again at Belle Vue, the CTS Trophy at Norwich and the Pride of the Midlands, at Leicester.
In 1960 Peter came third in the World Championship final staged at Wembley.
In 1961 he captained the Lions on a tour to Austria. He came third in the first Internationale individual championship meeting at the Haringey stadium and was second in the British Final at Wembley.
1962 was another good year for Peter. He followed his three British Championship victories by carrying off his second World Individual Championship at Wembley in front of 62,000 fans.
Sadly in 1963 he died as a result of a freak racing accident at Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium on 20th September 1963. While taking evasive action to avoid hitting fallen race leader George Hunter who suffered engine failure, Peter hit a fence. The unconscious Craven was rushed to hospital where his family remained at his bedside until he died, four days later on 24th September 1963.
Dearly loved husband of Brenda.
Devoted Daddy of Robert & Julie.
***Every year there is a
Peter Craven Memorial meeting
held at Belle Vue
in honour of his memory***
.
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