TRIBUTES have been paid to a respected and much-loved stalwart of the Speedway community who has died at the age of 70.

Bob Radford, from Freshbrook, passed away peacefully in the Prospect Hospice on Wednesday morning with his partner Stuart by his side. (May 10)

He enjoyed a successful career, including leading roles at Newport, Oxford and Reading speedway clubs. He covered the Swindon Sprockets for the Speedway Star and during a spell in the management, gave current team manager Alun Rossiter his first chance at competitive action.

His glittering spell as team manager of the Reading Racers saw the side win the league in 1973.

Fundamental to Bob’s skill in the sport was his innate ability to spot emerging Speedway stars with champions Per Jonsson, Jimmy Nilsen and Alun Rossiter among the talent he scouted.

Bob’s friendly voice was also known to thousands of Speedway fans all over the country through his work as a track announcer.

He served as the track announcer for the last World Speedway Final held at the sport’s ‘spiritual home’ Wembley Stadium and worked with the Swindon Wildcats Ice Hockey team.

Lee Kilby, commercial manager of Swindon Robins, grew up with Bob due to his friendship with his father, the late Speedway legend Bob Kilby.

He said: “He was very infectious, you couldn’t help but like Bob, he would help anybody. If a rider did anything wrong I don’t think he would ever haul them over the coals.

Lee, 40, said he would forever treasure the memories of travelling down to watch the Exeter Falcons with his father and Bob in the early 90s.

“They were great times and some great memories were had.”

“He has to be admired in the way that he faced his illness. He was like ‘I’m going to embrace it, I’m just going to get on with it.

“He was phenomenal, he was an inspiration in the way he dealt with it.”

Alun Rossiter said: “It’s a sad day,”

“Bob was a big figure within the sport, both in terms of his journalism and as a team manager.

“He was the one who gave me my first rides in speedway in the second halves at Swindon as a Sprocket, and he was a good friend over the years.

“Typical Bob being Bob, he’s been brave throughout his illness and showed no fear at all.

“He’s going to be sadly missed and all at Swindon Speedway send their condolences to his friends and family.”

Last month Lee, Alun and Bob took a trip to Kilby Close named in honour of Bob Kilby.

As a child Bob’s Speedway hero was Barry Briggs. When Bob was involved in a motorcycle crash his hero came to see him and his love for the sport was sealed.

Although Bob had a day job in Customs & Excise, throughout his life Speedway remained his one true passion.

Sports writer Dave Eaton, 73, was friends with Bob for more than 35 years after first meeting at Swindon Speedway as journalists in 1981

He said: “He was a lovely guy, he could get on with anyone but he could also be incredibly sarcastic and funny. I will miss him very much.”

The two travelled the world to cover Speedway meets, with Bob’s favourite being Gothenburg, Sweden, as well as holidays to the Isles of Scilly.

In later years Bob enjoyed going on cruises, attending 60s music concerts and spent a month in North America watching NHL ice hockey