There was a time when Norwich and the rest of Norfolk was overrun by 'skid kids.' It seemed every city suburb, town and village had a team with an exotic name... from the aces to the wildcats.

Eastern Daily Press: Mike Colman with a display of his days with the Royal Army Medical Corps for an Armed Forces Day exhibition at The Forum in Norwich. Picture: Courtesy of the Colman family archiveMike Colman with a display of his days with the Royal Army Medical Corps for an Armed Forces Day exhibition at The Forum in Norwich. Picture: Courtesy of the Colman family archive (Image: Courtesy of the Colman family archive)

A whole generation of boys were climbing on their bikes, mostly home-made, and turning into cycle speedway stars.

Norfolk had some of the best and fastest young riders in the land. They wore their names on their vests (bobs), usually made by mums and sisters, with such pride and they became local heroes.

These were the years following the end of the Second World War when times were hard. There was little spare cash for pocket money and no television.

Young people needed a purpose in life and cycle speedway did just that.

Eastern Daily Press: A cycle speedway reunion in more recent times. Left to right: Mike Colman, Geoff Woods, Lou Davy, Denney Wilgress, Mike Hinton and Roy Chapman. Picture: Courtesy of the Colman family archiveA cycle speedway reunion in more recent times. Left to right: Mike Colman, Geoff Woods, Lou Davy, Denney Wilgress, Mike Hinton and Roy Chapman. Picture: Courtesy of the Colman family archive (Image: Courtesy of the Colman family archive)

Today I would like to pay tribute to one of the most popular, hard-working, and most popular riders around who devoted much of his early life to cycle speedway and was manager of the Norfolk team.

His name is Michael Colman, also the founder member of the Spixworth Comets, who has died aged 85.

They became so successful, a second team with the wonderful name of the Spixworth Spooks was formed.

One of his fellow riders, Geoff Woods, said: 'He was a tireless worker on the cycle speedway scene. I am sure those who knew Mike saw him as a very quiet, unassuming man who gave many of us hours and hours of pleasure during those difficult post-war years.'

Eastern Daily Press: The North East Norfolk 4-a-side team. Back row, left to right: Dave Hinsley, Mike Hinton, Gerry Abel and Reg Willgress. Front row: Mike Colman and Lewy Davy. Picture: Courtesy of the Colman family archiveThe North East Norfolk 4-a-side team. Back row, left to right: Dave Hinsley, Mike Hinton, Gerry Abel and Reg Willgress. Front row: Mike Colman and Lewy Davy. Picture: Courtesy of the Colman family archive (Image: Courtesy of the Colman family archive)

Not only did Michael form the Comets, he was a leading light behind the formation in 1954 of the North East Norfolk League which included teams such as the Upgate Aces, Cawston Kangeroos, Woodbastwick Aces and Itteringham Lions.

The tapes – starting gates – were quite primitive with the gate consisting of a piece of elastic passed through a hole in a 50-gallon drum. The starter sat on the drum and released the elastic at the given signal.

Michael was also the manager of the brilliant Norfolk cycle speedway team which included the likes of Trevor 'the Hedge Hopper' Hedge and Cyril Atkins, who went on to be speedway riders.

His late wife Margaret helped with the administration of the club and Mike also organised trips to Wembley to see those who the skid kids regarded as their heroes... the speedway riders at The Firs in Norwich.

Eastern Daily Press: Michael and Margaret on their wedding day in 1954. Picture: Courtesy of the Colman family archiveMichael and Margaret on their wedding day in 1954. Picture: Courtesy of the Colman family archive (Image: Courtesy of the Colman family archive)

After his riding days were over he continued as club secretary/treasurer and produced a magazine called Skid.

Michael was born in Spixworth in 1931. His mum was Helen and his dad, Harry, was a bus driver for Eastern Counties.

He went to Old Catton Primary School in 1936 and moved to Sprowston Central School in 1942 leaving in 1945 just before his 14th birthday. He got a job as a trainee cabinet maker at North Height Cabinet Works (Norvayam Furniture Works) in Heigham Street, Norwich.

A few years later he was called up for National Service and became a nursing orderly with the Royal Medical Corps. After training he was part of the hospital staff on troop ships all over the world.

His son, Robert, said: 'He was asked to stay on as a regular but would have been land based which didn't interest him.

'His two short years in the army left a lifetime legacy of a love of ocean liners and medical matters.'

Back in civvy street he married his close neighbour Margaret Tunmore at St Peter's Church, Spixworth in 1954. Margaret died last May. They had been married for more than 61 years.

Michael left the cabinet works in 1955 and took a job at Grange Farm, Spixworth doing estate and maintenance work. Ten years later he took charge of the team, and he stayed at the farm until 1992. He was a talented builder – always ready to help others.

He was a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps Association and represented them on the Norfolk & Norwich Combined Ex-Services Association. He also put together an exhibition for the RAMC on Armed Forces Day at The Forum in Norwich.

His funeral will take place at St Peter's Church. Spixworth, on Thursday at 10.30am.