![]() Freddie Williams in 1950 | |
Born | Port Talbot, Wales | 12 March 1926
---|---|
Died | 20 January 2013 (aged 86) Swindon, England |
Nationality | British (Welsh) |
Career history | |
1947–1956 | Wembley Lions |
Individual honours | |
1950, 1953 | World Champion |
Team honours | |
1949,
1950,
1951, 1952, 1953 | National League Champion |
1948, 1954 | National Trophy winner |
1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1954 | London Cup |
Frederick Owen Williams (12 March 1926 – 20 January 2013) was a motorcycle speedway rider from Wales who was World Champion on two occasions. He was the winner of the Speedway World Championship in 1950 and 1953 and runner-up in 1952. [1] [2] With no Welsh team to represent, he earned 28 international caps for the England national speedway team. [3]
Williams grew up in Port Talbot, where he was a classmate of Richard Burton, and they played together in the school rugby team. [4] In 1941 he moved to Portsmouth where he started an apprenticeship in the dockyards as an engineer-fitter. [4] [5] He was a despatch rider in World War II, and began his speedway career as the war ended, after initially competing in grasstrack. [4] After attending training sessions at Rye House, he was signed by Alec Jackson for the Wembley Lions and in 1948 got a regular place in the team after injuries to George Wilks and Bill Kitchen. [6]
Williams rode for the Wembley Lions for his entire career, from 1947 until 1956. [7] Williams became the first British rider to win two World titles (in 1950 and 1953), a feat only matched by Peter Craven (in 1955 and 1962) and Tai Woffinden (2013, 2015, 2018).
Williams represented England in test match series, gaining his first cap in 1949. [5] [8] [9]
In 1953, he married Olympic skater Pat Devries. [10] [11] [4] His two younger brothers, Ian Williams and Eric Williams, were also speedway riders, and Freddie acted as Ian's mechanic at the 1957 World Final. [6] [12] [13]
Williams presented the winner's trophy to Australian rider Chris Holder at the 2012 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. [6] Like Williams, Holder would go on to become the World Champion at the end of the 2012 Speedway Grand Prix season. Williams finished second behind ( Jack Young in the 1952 World Final at Wembley Stadium.
Williams died on 20 January 2013, aged 86, in the Great Western Hospital in Swindon following a stroke the previous day. [6] [14] [15] [16]
Williams is the only Welshman, to win speedway's ultimate individual prize.
![]() Freddie Williams in 1950 | |
Born | Port Talbot, Wales | 12 March 1926
---|---|
Died | 20 January 2013 (aged 86) Swindon, England |
Nationality | British (Welsh) |
Career history | |
1947–1956 | Wembley Lions |
Individual honours | |
1950, 1953 | World Champion |
Team honours | |
1949,
1950,
1951, 1952, 1953 | National League Champion |
1948, 1954 | National Trophy winner |
1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1954 | London Cup |
Frederick Owen Williams (12 March 1926 – 20 January 2013) was a motorcycle speedway rider from Wales who was World Champion on two occasions. He was the winner of the Speedway World Championship in 1950 and 1953 and runner-up in 1952. [1] [2] With no Welsh team to represent, he earned 28 international caps for the England national speedway team. [3]
Williams grew up in Port Talbot, where he was a classmate of Richard Burton, and they played together in the school rugby team. [4] In 1941 he moved to Portsmouth where he started an apprenticeship in the dockyards as an engineer-fitter. [4] [5] He was a despatch rider in World War II, and began his speedway career as the war ended, after initially competing in grasstrack. [4] After attending training sessions at Rye House, he was signed by Alec Jackson for the Wembley Lions and in 1948 got a regular place in the team after injuries to George Wilks and Bill Kitchen. [6]
Williams rode for the Wembley Lions for his entire career, from 1947 until 1956. [7] Williams became the first British rider to win two World titles (in 1950 and 1953), a feat only matched by Peter Craven (in 1955 and 1962) and Tai Woffinden (2013, 2015, 2018).
Williams represented England in test match series, gaining his first cap in 1949. [5] [8] [9]
In 1953, he married Olympic skater Pat Devries. [10] [11] [4] His two younger brothers, Ian Williams and Eric Williams, were also speedway riders, and Freddie acted as Ian's mechanic at the 1957 World Final. [6] [12] [13]
Williams presented the winner's trophy to Australian rider Chris Holder at the 2012 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. [6] Like Williams, Holder would go on to become the World Champion at the end of the 2012 Speedway Grand Prix season. Williams finished second behind ( Jack Young in the 1952 World Final at Wembley Stadium.
Williams died on 20 January 2013, aged 86, in the Great Western Hospital in Swindon following a stroke the previous day. [6] [14] [15] [16]
Williams is the only Welshman, to win speedway's ultimate individual prize.