Freddie Williams was Britain’s leading speedway rider throughout the early post-war era, and became world champion in 1950 and 1953 – the first British speedway rider to win the World Championship twice.
Born in Margam, Freddie was one of three brothers who all picked up a passion for motorbikes from their steelworker father. Both Eric and Ian rode internationally with Freddie, with Eric being part of the highly successful Wembley Lions teams. Freddie went to Port Talbot Grammar School with Richard Burton and was enticed to ride for the Lions, the top team in the country, in 1947. Prior to that he had undertaken a five-year apprenticeship as an engineer fitter in the naval dockyard in Portsmouth. At the same time he joined the Home Guard as a motorcycle dispatch rider.
With the Lions he earned 35/- shillings [£1.75] per start and £2 per point scored for a win or a place. The only problem was that the cost of spares was deducted from his weekly pay packet. He performed in front of massive crowds and there were 93,000 packed in to Wembley to see him reach his first world speedway final at the age of 24 in the 1950 season.
He broke the Wembley track record in his first race and only dropped a single point in the heats as he went on to win the world title for the first time and a £500 cheque. He was invited back to Port Talbot to be given the freedom of his home town as a result.
He was the Lions’ top points scorer the next season, was runner-up in the world championships in 1952 and crowned world champion for the second time in 1953. In his 10 seasons riding for the Lions, they were crowned national league champions in five successive years and awarded speedway’s national trophy in 1948 and 1954.
Between 50,000 and 60,000 fans used to pack the old Wembley Stadium three or four times a week to watch speedway. In the winter months Williams rode in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
In 1956, shortly after his 30th birthday, he decided to quit, although he returned to the sport in 1970 when Wembley reopened for league racing and he took over as the manager of the Lions.
He married the former British figure skating champion, and Olympian, Pat Devries in 1953 and their three children all excelled at sport. Their son, David, became a professional golfer, daughter Jayne, was a Horse of the Year Show champion on many occasions and a second daughter, Sarah, was a successful eventer.
Freddie Williams (Speedway Rider) Born in Port Talbot on 12 March, 1926; Died in Swindon on 20 January, 2013
