Beckett movie next?

I agree that the amazing story of Clem Beckett, the daredevil speedway rider featured in the April and May 2021 issues, would make a ‘blockbuster movie’ as he has already had a play written about him, which featured in a UK tour in 2016.

Clem’s amazing story is that of a pioneer speedway rider in 1928, featuring as one of the stars of the new-fangled sport which barnstormed Britain that year, and a Wall of Death rider. And as a member of the Communist Party International Brigade he went to fight, and die, in 1937, while protecting comrades fighting fascism in the Spanish Civil War, at the battle of Jarama, which was the subject of a play. It featured songs, dance and poetry, was written by Neil Gore, produced by Townsend Productions, and called ‘Dare Devil Rides to Jarama.’

I found a clip advertising the play on the internet featuring film of early speedway and the

Wall of Death. I wish I had seen the play. Beckett was also among the trespassers at Kinder Scout, Derbyshire in 1932, who laid down the foundations of our National Parks. I can’t wait until the book, Comrade Daredevil comes out in 2022.

Andrew Edwards, via email.

Clem Beckett, pictured on his Douglas speedway racer. Beckett died fighting in the Spanish Civil War.