In Memory of John
Latest News Saturday 19th April 2025, 2:29pm
Newcastle fan John Hood's dying wish was to help out the Ben Fund – and he lived long enough to see that wish come true.
Cancer victim John, who had religiously followed the Diamonds since 1946 when he was only 10, arranged for a £500 donation to be made to the Speedway Riders' Benevolent Fund and for the charity to be joint beneficiaries from his funeral service.
Additionally John, 88, bequeathed his collection of bound copies of Speedway Star to be left to the Ben Fund in his memory.
Brother Bill, 83, said "John asked me to sort things out for him and I sent out the £500 donation and also another £70 was raised at his funeral. We had a letter back from the SRBF about the £500 donation, so that pleased him because it was his dying wish that they should benefit.
"He was a Newcastle fan practically his whole life, speedway meant the world to him."
The SRBF are unable to store the Speedway Star collection and now Bill has asked if anyone is interested in acquiring not only around 65 years of the magazine but also the special bookcases they were stored in, they can contact him on 07711 328644. The only condition is that they are collected from Newcastle.
