Paddy Mills (speedway rider)
Encyclopedia
Paddy Mills was a motorcycle speedway
rider whose career spanned World War II
.
Mills was born in Leicester
in 1913, and began his career at Sheffield
, spending a season there before joining the Royal Air Force
. He served in the RAF for six years, and was awarded the British Empire Medal
. After the war he joined the Norwich Stars
, for whom he was the third highest points scorer in 1946, with 348 points in total. He went on the be the team's leading points scorer in both 1947 and 1948. He was picked to represent England in second test match in 1949, but suffered a fractured skull a few days before.
In 1952 Mills became president of the newly formed Leicester Amateur Speedway Club, which had a training track at Syston
.
In the late 1960s, Mills ran training sessions for the Long Eaton Archers.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider whose career spanned World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Mills was born in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
in 1913, and began his career at Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, spending a season there before joining the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He served in the RAF for six years, and was awarded the British Empire Medal
British Empire Medal
The Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, usually known as the British Empire Medal , is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown...
. After the war he joined the Norwich Stars
Norwich Stars
Norwich Stars were a motorcycle speedway team based in Norwich, England which operated from 1930 until their closure in 1964.-History:Speedway racing was staged in Norwich both before and after World War II at The Firs Stadium in Aylsham Road, Hellesdon. Pre-War Norwich were members of the National...
, for whom he was the third highest points scorer in 1946, with 348 points in total. He went on the be the team's leading points scorer in both 1947 and 1948. He was picked to represent England in second test match in 1949, but suffered a fractured skull a few days before.
In 1952 Mills became president of the newly formed Leicester Amateur Speedway Club, which had a training track at Syston
Syston
Syston is a town and civil parish in the district of Charnwood in Leicestershire, England. The population is 11,508 as of the 2001 Census.-Overview:...
.
In the late 1960s, Mills ran training sessions for the Long Eaton Archers.