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Post by bigchaross on Dec 7, 2010 20:45:51 GMT 1
maybe it would be fitting if some sort of cup could be won at 1 of the heats in the classic come new team new track.(heat 1 first race named after NEIL GRANT) just A thought. think it would be fitting to this great man that all have said so many good things about. what is the thoughts folks maybe MR.D. OR STARS COULD GET ONTO IT.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2010 21:05:45 GMT 1
do anyone no what the funeral arrangments are
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jock
Neck and Neck with Charlie McKinna
Posts: 160
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Post by jock on Dec 7, 2010 21:33:19 GMT 1
Nothing confirmed regarding funeral arrangements. Please watch this space.
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Post by herbie on Dec 8, 2010 10:52:03 GMT 1
Was talking to Caff on Monday night and he was commenting on how Neil was one of these guys who gave you, and got back, instant respect-CC hadn't seen him in a while, but he always remembered how he was just one of these guys who treated you with respect and in doing so got it back in spades from the folk that came into contact with him, and I haven't read anything about Neil in the last couple of days which contradicts that in any way. Awful that he's gone, but a nice way to be remembered.
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fingersfin
Neck and Neck with Charlie McKinna
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Post by fingersfin on Dec 8, 2010 12:13:29 GMT 1
Sorry to hear this news, I didn't know Neil but I remember his name vividly from the Shawfield come back year, rest in peace.
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jock
Neck and Neck with Charlie McKinna
Posts: 160
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Post by jock on Dec 8, 2010 15:42:11 GMT 1
Tribute from Glasgow Cycle Speeday History Association Web Site
Neil Grant
It is with a heavy heart that I write this piece. Tragically Neil Grant of Hampden passed away on Sunday following a massive heart attack. He was barely into his teens when the Tigers moved to Hampden in April 1969, literally just round the corner from his Cumming Drive home. A fortnight earlier Hampden Hawks began life in the Glasgow League and both were to have a huge impact on his young life - and in turn he would make his own indelible mark on both. By the end of the season he had made his debut for the Hawks and what a debut it was too - getting the only recorded dead heat of that particular era! He was a member of Hampden's Les Whaley Cup winning team - indeed he was instrumental in securing Les's backing for the event as by then he was a leading member of the Tigers track staff - all this and he was still only thirteen! He quickly became an established team member for the Hawks and by 1971 was their top points scorer. He rode in two NACSA Junior Individual finals in 1971 and 1972 at Uxbridge and Rye House resprctively. Despite his young years he became Team Manager of the Hawks in 1971 and served as an official on the Control Board. Even in these days it was apparent that organising and management were his forte and it was no surprise that he went on to become a "captain of industry" Cycle speedway in Glasgow wound down in 1973-74 but was revived with the opening of Edinburgh speedway at Powderhall in 1977. Neil made his comeback with Hampden, now named "Rebels" in 1978 and they powered, undefeated, to the Lothian League championship. At the end of that season, Neil took over the Team Managers role and once again his organisational skills were in evidence. He negotiated Hampden's entry to the ASC National League, quite a feat given the travelling that would ensue. This was solved by gaining valuable sponsorship from Beatons Coaches. After a thrilling season Hampden annexed the Division 2 title at the first time of asking - a feat unequalled by any Glasgow team before or since. Neil's contribution to this was pivotal. Neil was also the "main man" of the pits crew at Coatbridge and both Blantyre tracks before, once again, displaying his presentation skills in negotiating Glasgow Tigers reinstatement in the league in 1988 following their midseason expulsion the previous year - Dick Barrie tells of his speedway exploits in more detail below. Neil was an exceptionally clever and talented guy but I'll always remember him most for being really personable and good fun. I'll always remember him being part of the "Balcony Gang" at Crossmyloof where most of the Hampden team gathered to support the local Dynamos - strangely most other cycle speedway riders were Paisley Mohawks fans. I'll always remember him playing at football in the close season at the Hawks car park and I'll always remember him with a smile on his face Thanks for the memories Neil - God bless. Nicky Nicolson 7/12/2010
Dick Barrie writes:
As the bulk of the track-staff (pushers, rakers and even the announcer) at Les Whaley’s Hampden Park operation came from the ranks of cycle-speedway riders (Hampden Hawks and Kingsway Knights) Neil was quickly embraced by the speedway culture.
When the Tigers roared off to darkest Lanarkshire, he followed on, becoming a senior staff-member at Coatbridge and even-more involved at the time of track installation at the first Blantyre circuit, helping Bluey Scott and Tom Shirra (the duo who contributed most labour and expertise to that process) and learning “on the job” exactly what was involved in building a speedway circuit inside a stadium facility.….
It was Neil who suggested a radio microphone could be used to the benefit of a speedway presentation, and under his guidance the very first such system was introduced to British speedway at Blantyre in the autumn of 1977. Hindsight suggests this has not always proved to be as entertaining as it could be, as too much still depends on the mouth involved.
By the time the speedway team “louped over the wall” to Craighead Park, Neil was acting as Clerk of the Course on race-nights, as well as having been involved in the transferring of equipment between the Blantyre circuits. Again, although Alastair Craig and Kenny McKinna operated the heavy plant as the track was being laid, Neil led the volunteers who laboured long and hard in building the safety-fence and other facilities.
Such was the respect Neil built among the British speedway fraternity, he was given an “access all areas” pass by the BSPA for the 1985 World Final, when he was instrumental in boosting the Odsal public-address system during the meeting, and famously waved through into the pits by security officers who were at the same time turning away a former World Champion!
His leadership qualities came to the fore during the Tigers catastrophic “wilderness year” at Workington, when it was only his determination that allowed several of the more-eventful meetings at Derwent Park to even begin, let alone run to a finish, but even Neil had to give best in the face of the promotion’s inept blundering and mismanagement -- which eventually resulted in the club being flung out of league speedway.
Make no mistake – Glasgow Speedway at that point was a dead duck, except that Neil Grant refused to accept the verdict, and with the permission of Jimmy Beaton (a largely-absentee owner) set about the task of saving the sport for the city.
Neil met and worked with the Shawfield ownership, addressed the Council’s planning requirements and set up a series of vital fund-raising meetings at which fans dug deep to provide funding for the project. Along with Dick Barrie he travelled to the BSPA conference at the end of 1987 to plead for another chance – grudgingly granted by a fairly narrow majority, albeit only on the proviso that the previous promoters were kept well clear of the project!
Neil masterminded the return of the Tigers to the city in 1988, directing the construction of the circuit within Shawfield in a startling timeframe of eleven short weeks from the cutting of the first sod on January 25th to the tapes going up on April 15th, 1988 in front of 7,996 spectators – a miracle achieved with virtually no financial support other than the proceeds of regular fund-raising evenings and little outside labour other than a volunteer force of fans.
His work was recognised by the BSPA at the end of 1988, when the league's promoters awarded him the title of "Promoter of the Year" and gave his Shawfield creation another trophy for "Stadium of the Year". He was just 32 years of age. His reward from the Tigers’ by-now envious ownership was however the sack, and his marvellous, probably-unparalleled achievements being almost-totally airbrushed from the club’s history.
Despite his heavy involvement in speedway, Neil also found time to attain an honours degree at Glasgow University in Electronics & Electrical Engineering and, following successful post-graduate work, he took up full-time employment with Pilkington Optronics (formerly Barr & Stroud Ltd) where he led a major defence project and championed the concept of software engineering, reaching the level of Development Manager.
Later he took up positions at Yarrow Shipbuilders (Technical Director), Marconi Marine (Operations Director) and BAE Systems (Planning Director).
Neil’s next move was to become Operations Director for Coherent Scotland Ltd, There he led the creation of a major manufacturing capability for this hi-tech laser company at Glasgow Science Park, before finally in 2005 he moved to take up the position of Operations Director with Babcock Naval Services who manage the Faslane Naval Base and Rosyth Dockyard.
He was also this year serving as a non-executive director of learndirect scotland, a member of the Court of Glasgow Caledonian University, panel chairman for Prince Charles’ Scottish Youth Business Trust, a Visiting Professor at Strathclyde University and a member of the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Board.
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Post by drosser on Dec 8, 2010 21:58:23 GMT 1
A real genuine nice guy. I could not believe he had been taken so young. R.I.P. Neil
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hector
Neck and Neck with Charlie McKinna
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Post by hector on Dec 8, 2010 22:51:01 GMT 1
I can only endorse the kind comments that have been posted about Neil. I was lucky enough to have been paired with Neil in the title winning Hampden Rebels side of 1979, easily the highlight of my cycle speedway career. Neil's organisation, enthusiasm and commitment to both Hampden CSC and the Tigers was truly remarkable. Neil had many, many talents and was possibly the cleverest guy I ever knew. He was definately the finest. RIP
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cmonkesq
Getting Lapped By Barry Booth
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Post by cmonkesq on Dec 9, 2010 23:26:06 GMT 1
One of life's true gents and tireless in his work at Glasgow speedway. What a shame to go so young. Very sad news indeed.
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Post by mervjankefanclub on Dec 9, 2010 23:50:16 GMT 1
I would like to add my condolonces to Neils family. People who knew him much more personally than I did have only confirmed the opinion I had of him and that was of a quiet, decent and intelligent man.
RIP Neil
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bigmac3
Getting Lapped By Barry Booth
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Post by bigmac3 on Dec 12, 2010 13:03:36 GMT 1
Another Tribute from Glasgow Cycle Speeday History Association Web Site
Campbell Hutcheson writes: I didn't know him during his cycle speedway days, but our paths crossed regularly at Craighead Park and Shawfield. On several occasions, he gave my brother and I lifts from Blantyre when we hit Friday night transport problems. Neil and Dick Barrie also visited the BBC to work alongside Russel in editing Super Steve's testimonial video.
A more genuine guy you couldn't hope to meet. Neil was happy to talk about all aspects of speedway, but wasn't the kind of person to break a confidence. If he told you something, you knew the information had veracity. Although he wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty, he always seemed to be wearing pristine white (and fitting) overalls. He and the colourful Joyce were quite a pair.
He did a helluva lot for Glasgow Speedway and probably undertook many duties which went unnoticed. Neil just rolled up his sleeves and got on with it. He was too much of a gentleman to seek personal glory. I'm sure that the memories of others in the days ahead will recognise his true contribution.
I'll remember Neil as an honest, polite and friendly guy, with a ready smile. His efforts over many years allowed speedway in Glasgow to survive. Thousands of people owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude.
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jock
Neck and Neck with Charlie McKinna
Posts: 160
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Post by jock on Dec 14, 2010 16:12:36 GMT 1
Dear All, Funeral is tomorrow,Wednesday 15th, 12 noon at the Linn Crematorium,Glasgow.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2011 21:25:25 GMT 1
see theres a nice tribute in last weeks speedway plus about neil
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Post by btl on Jan 7, 2011 1:27:59 GMT 1
Yes it was a fitting tribute
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Post by coombes on Jan 7, 2011 21:28:19 GMT 1
Loved the bit about Neil getting 98% in Physics and his teacher telling him he should concentrate more!! Take a bow Sam Craig!!!
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