Review as featured in

Highlight: 'It's a riveting read made all the better for being (even taking into account Clem's often dramatic retelling of tales) true.'

Old Bike Mart

Review as featured in

Rhythm and Booze

As featured as BOOK OF THE MONTH

Best of British

As featured in the article: 'New book chronicles Oldham speedway star's Spanish Civil War battles'

Available to read at:
https://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/139/main-news/147213/new-book-chronicles-oldham-speedway-stars-spanish-civil-war-battles

Oldham Evening Chronicle

Clem Beckett was 14 when he first rode a home-made motorcycle over the cobbled streets of his hometown. It was the start of a lifelong love affair with speed and machines. For Beckett, the motorcycle was a means of escape from the uncertain future of Oldham’s stricken milling industry in the aftermath of WW1. Beckett’s zest for life, his natural exuberance and determination to be a winner, overcame the disadvantages of a poor home bereft of a father. As a pioneering Dirt Track (speedway) rider he broke records galore, and as a volunteer in the Spanish Civil War, he broke down class barriers. Whether as a tearaway teenager, an outspoken sportsman, or a member of the Communist Party, his life was characterised by broadsides of irreverence towards authority.

With many of Oldham’s 300 or so mills closing, resulting in grinding poverty, it is not surprising that young apprentice blacksmith Clement Beckett was completely taken in by the Communist Party’s propaganda promising “a workers paradise.” “He became more involved and engaged with politics as a young man, which I find fascinating,” says author Rob Hargreaves, “because while he was a communist he was also hugely enterprising and entrepreneurial. He was a paradoxical figure.” By 1928 Clem was making a very good living from speedway – as much as £100 a night, taking flying lessons and enjoying speedboat racing.

To Beckett, the appeal of revolutionary politics was youthful rejection of “old fogey” values and the dominating role of tweedy gentility in motorcycle sport.

Reviving faded memories and anecdotes of his career as a pioneer speedway rider, this book traces Beckett’s extraordinary rise from blacksmith’s apprentice to superstar, in a new sport which typified the energy of the Roaring Twenties, and was characterised by risk-taking and serial injury. Ever the showman, and banned from the Dirt Track for trying to protect his fellow riders from exploitation, Beckett took to riding the Wall of Death.

Observing the rise of fascism on his travels in Europe, Beckett’s increasing involvement with politics led to marriage to the mysterious Lida Henrisen, and inexorably to volunteer service in the British Battalion of the International Brigades in Spain.

A narrative spiced with anecdotes and new revelations about Beckett shows why from boyhood to the poignant circumstances of his death in battle, Clem Beckett inspired love and loyalty.

Jonathan Hill (Dorset)

An excellent read of one man’s very short but packed life.

5 stars

Read the full review here

GoodReads, Paul Diggett

Book review as featured in

Speedway Star

Clem Beckett lived an extraordinary life and author Rob Hargreaves has been spoilt for choice in compiling this biography when it comes to incident and anecdotes. Hargreaves's subject packed an awful lot into his 30 short years; a founding father of speedway racing, a committed left-wing activist in the 1930s and a volunteer in the Spanish Civil War's International Brigades, where he met his early death. Beckett was extraordinarily brave and daring in everything he did, but was also an intelligent observer; after visiting the Soviet Union he was sure bureaucracy would stifle the USSR and he was unconvinced by the infamous show trials.

This is an unashamedly warts-and-all account and all the better for it, full of incident and human details from start to finish. The lively pace in maintained by the brief and punchy chapters, that almost resemble speedway races themselves in their energy and brevity. There is much to recommend this book to anyone interested in motorsport, the Spanish Civil War, the Great Depression and working class activism.

Alex Clifford, author of Hindenburg, Ludendorff and Hitler

Details on radio interview available at:

https://hannahkate.net/north-manchester-fm-hannahs-bookshelf-saturday-30-april-2-4pm-2/

Rachel's Bookshelf

'Rob tells the tale of baking legend who became a war hero'

Highlight: 'A former teacher, journalist and solicitor has released a fascinating book about a war hero and motorcycle legend... The father of two said: “I have always been interested in the Spanish Civil War which is often ignored by historians and I believe that the sacrifices made by men like Clem Beckett and Maurice Stott have not been properly recognised. I wanted to set the
record straight and also to commemorate a true hero."'

Rochdale Observer

A Very informative book. Although I am not a motor cycle enthusiast, I have friends we were in the past.
I found the history very informative. I was born in north Manchester but have spent the last 50 years in
London and Bedfordshire. All the places mention tracks etc are known to me. And what older friends and
relatives have told me now make sense. I also know some of the areas in Spain that Clem Beckett fort in.
A really good and enjoyable read. Well done Rob.

Pauline Byrne Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire.

Pauline Byrne