Nigel Boocock (1937-2015)

Friday April 03, 2015 COVENTRY Speedway are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of club legend Nigel Boocock in Australia. Nigel, who was 77, was one of the club's greatest-ever riders, serving the Bees in an 18-year run between 1959 and 1976. He made 748 appearances in Coventry colours, scoring 7375 points at a remarkable average of 9.37. Nigel scored 98 full and 50 paid maximums for the Bees and was part of the 1968 British League title-winning team, when the club finished ahead of Hackney on points-difference. He was also a regular England international and captain of the national team, and he also appeared in eight World Finals, with a best finish of 4th at Wembley in 1969. He retired to Australia with wife Cynthia, and they had three children - Victoria, Darren and Mandy, although Darren and wife Sharon were tragically killed in a road accident in the UK in 2008. Nigel passed away peacefully in Australia at 8.20am on Good Friday morning with Cynthia by his side. Coventry extend our condolences and best wishes to all of Nigel's family and friends, and we will be paying tribute ahead of tonight's Elite League match against Leicester at Brandon.

A very sad day indeed - RIP "The Beau" and thanks for the thousands of memories

Nigel Boocock in photographs - my collection, my memories

This from another forum: Such a sad day for the Speedway world. As others have already said, a true gent was 'our Nige'. He had a wicked sense of humour and in one of my first interviews with him for the Speedway Mail he related the story of how he conned Ole Olsen into believing that he had beaten Ole in a race at Coventry on a 3 Valve engine! Of course, Ole then wanted to know how to get hold of one! He was notably the hero of our old away trip coach anthem... Let's all sing together, And shout and make a din, For the lad in Sky Blue Leathers, He will always win. Barry Briggs or Fundin, Mauger or any one. They can't defeat him. He'll fight till the race is won!

Very sad to read of the passing of Nigel Boocock. As MrD-Di rightly points out, he was one of the greatest, riders ever to grace the famous black and gold. RIP Nigel. Never to be forgotten.

Great series of photos, Cliff. Certainly brought back some memories of great nights at Brandon. Beesman, personally I would omit "one of". I can recall that in the late 60s he was almost unbeatable around Brandon. Perhaps one of the stand out memories is when Bees staged the first ever British League double header, taking on Exeter then Glasgow the same night. Nigel reeled off two impeccable 15-point maximums. I wonder if anyone has scored 30 points in a night since.

Point taken MrD-Di. I hereby remove the 'one of' from my previous post. My abiding memory of Nigel's brilliance was one extremely wet night at Wimbledon in about 1971. I went to see the Bees take on the Dons at Plough Lane and to be honest, the Bees were shocking. The only shining light was Nigel Boocock who scored 16 points from 6 rides in a 54-24 defeat. At the time this was the highest percentage of points scored in a team total by an individual in a British League fixture. Like MrD-Di questions in his post, has this feat ever been beaten?

That sounds familiar. I'm sure I was there for that match at Wimbledon - possibly with you!

Come, Allen Walker, lead the chorus Tell them who is riding for us! Come Charles and Linda, bee-hive keepers, Loud enough to wake the sleepers. Back-straight faithful, let's hear you cry, To that great grandstand in the sky... Two, four, six, eight, St Peter's at the Pearly Gate. Will he win? Will he hell! 'Cause our Nigel's there as well!

Hi all Coventry Telegraph report

You're welcome, Ian

Programme front cover from last night's meeting at Coventry Stadium - a nice tribute to the late Nigel Boocock A book of condolence was available for fans to sign, and there was a period of applause prior to the meeting

A report received this morning from down under: Emotional farewell for Booey. They came from everywhere to the picturesque Southern Queensland cemetery to pay their respects to speedway's best loved legends. World champions, riders, drivers, promoters, officials, fans, mechanics, sons of legends, journalists, historians, and mates packed the chapel and spilled over into the gardens. A Coventry Bees colours were worn by one fan. A Who's Who of speedway all with a wish to pay their respects. Emotional eulogies were read bravely by Raye Mauger, Bert Kingston, Trevor Harding and Ken Notteridge. A moving poem by a Bristol admirer in tribute to the Bristol Bulldog was read at the close of the service. Channel Nine news crew were present, a first for speedway. This day confirms what a great supportive family the speedway family is. Gone but never, ever, ever forgotten. Nigel Boocock RIP

A very moving ceremony for Nigel. No doubt at all that he was a universally loved man. The Coventry Bees colours mentioned in MR's post were mine, but you can't wear a Bees windcheater for long in Brisbane's heat! For the record, the last speaker was Ted Nuttridge, not Ken Notteridge as reported.