Nigel Boocock

Nigel Boocock (17 September 1937 – 3 April 2015) was a British speedway rider who appeared in eight Speedway World Championship finals and was a reserve in one other (1962).

Career

Born in Wakefield, England, Boocock started his career with the Bradford Tudors in 1955 and stayed there until 1957, followed by spells with the Birmingham Brummies and the Ipswich Witches, before moving in 1959 to the Coventry Bees. He spent the next eighteen seasons with the Bees, winning the British League Championship in 1968.

Boocock was the first English rider to win the prestigious FIM Internationale meeting held at Wimbledon. He was known for the blue leathers he raced in when most other riders wore black leathers – he was nicknamed "Little Boy Blue". He appeared with brother Eric Boocock in the 1970 Speedway World Pairs Championship finals, finishing in third place. He was also a regular England International rider and captain of the National team for many years.

Personal life

Boocock married Cynthia Boon in 1958, and they had three children, Victoria, Darren and Mandy. He and Cynthia retired to Australia, which he had visited on numerous occasions with British Lions and England teams during the English winter months. For some time they lived in Maroubra (Sydney), NSW; and Darren and Mandy attended Maroubra Bay Public School.

In 2006, Boocock, who continued to support junior speedway and speedway in general, joined former World Champion Ivan Mauger, and other guests such as South Australian speedway legends John Boulger and Bill Wigzell, legendary Australian flagman Glen Dix, and former Rowley Park Speedway (Adelaide, South Australia) promoter Kym Bonython for the official opening of a junior speedway track on the infield of one of Australia's premier motorcycle speedway's, the Gillman Speedway in Adelaide. Bonython officially opened the 111 metre long track, with Boocock and Boulger acting as starting marshals for the night.

In 2008 his son Darren Boocock, a former rider and Coventry Bees mascot, and his wife Sharon were killed in a road accident in Yorkshire. His and Cynthia's children each had at least one child Jack, Daniel, Carl, Thomas and Liam

Nigel Boocock died on 3 April 2015, aged 77.

World final appearances

• 1963 - London, Wembley Stadium - 7th - 8pts
• 1964 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 9th - 6pts
• 1965 - London, Wembley Stadium - 8th - 8pts
• 1966 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 15th - 2pt
• 1968 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 16th - 1pt
• 1969 - London, Wembley Stadium - 4th - 10pts
• 1971 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 9th - 6pts
• 1972 - London, Wembley Stadium - 10th - 6pts