Biography

Clem Becket was born in Scouthead in 1906, the youngest of five siblings. By the end of World War I the family had moved to Oldham, where Clem, aged twelve years old, took a part time job at Platt Brothers Engineering, while still attending school and later completed a blacksmith apprenticeship.

Clem had always had an interest in bicycles and motorbikes, so it wasn’t surprising that he got involved in the new craze that became the speedway in the 1920s, becoming a full fletched rider by the time he was twenty two years old. Clem soon created a name for himself in the sport where he was known as the Blacksmith from Oldham, not only for his riding antics but also for creating The Dirt Track Riders Association, the speedway riders union. By this time Clem had developed strong political views and became a member of the Young Communist League, the youth section of the British Communist Party.

Although Clem is best known as a speedway driver he also rode the Wall of Death, which he travelled around the UK and Europe as the ‘Outlawed Rider’ for a year while he was banned from the speedway for his political views. As soon as he was allowed he returned to the speedway though riding as Daredevil Beckett in venues around the country including Belle Vue in Manchester and White City in London, until the advent of the Second World War.

In the 1930s there was great political agitation regarding the Spanish civil war and the Communist Party was leading a strong campaign against Franco’s fascist dictatorship and encouraging members to join the Republic fighters. Clem was one of the first men from the area to join the International Brigade and fight for the Republicans. Clem served until 1937, not only using his mechanical skills but also taking part in battles, he was killed that year on the battle of Jarama, aged 31 years old.