Skinner, Skid, 1905 - 1944
Dates
- Existence: 11 November 1905 - 4 December 1944
Biography
Hector William Skinner aka Skid Skinner was a speedway pioneer and a wall of death rider born in Sheffield on 11 November 1905.
Hector marride Alma Johnson aka Dare Devil Alma, a female wall of death rider, who she met while both of them were travelling their stunt rider shows. The couple continued travelling and performing together on the wall of death and had their head office at Hellaby in Rotherham, where Hector had a haulage business.
The advent of World War Two stop the couple from performing and travelling but they had made plans to resume business once the war war over. However, a tragic hunting accident put a stop to their dreams, when Hectore was killed in 1944 near Gainsborough.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Alma Skinner Collection
This collection contains digital scans of black and white photographs from Alma and Skid Skinner, Wall of Death riders, highlighting their travels mainly in Norway and Sweden and featuring other acts of that era. Also scans of the Crown Prince of Sweden opening their show in 1936 and staff working at Butlins, Skegness.