Peter Jarman

English speedway rider

For American politician, see Pete Jarman.

Peter Jarman

Born| (1935-06-30)30 June 1935
Brockley, London, England
Died| 23 July 2007(2007-07-23) (aged 72)
Nationality| British (English)
Career history
1959, 1974–1977| Eastbourne Eagles
1960–1963| Stoke Potters
1964–1968| Wolverhampton Wolves
1969–1970, 1974| Oxford Cheetahs/Rebels
1971–1973| Cradley Heathens/United
Individual honours
1964| Pride of the Midlands winner
Team honours
1977| National League Winner
1975, 1977| NL KO Cup

Peter Edward Jarman was a motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1][2]

## Career

[edit]

Jarman started as a cycle speedway 'kid' in the 1950s and graduated to the motorised sport of speedway racing at training track Rye House, Hertfordshire. He was signed up for league racing in 1960 by Stoke Potters speedway team, racing in the newly formed Provincial League between 1960 and 1963. It was while he was at Stoke that he gained his first call-up to represent England in Test Matches. He gained two nicknames – 'Speedy Pete' and 'PLJ' (Pure Lemon Juice) Kid.

When the Stoke Potters speedway and greyhound Sun Street Stadium was sold for development at the end of 1963, Peter moved on to join Wolverhampton Wolves in the 1964 Provincial League, where he was their top scorer both in 1964 and 1965,[3] in the new British League. As the Wolves top scorer he represented them in the British League Riders' Championship during the 1965 British League season.[4]

He later rode for Cradley Heathens and Oxford Rebels.[5]

Jarman returned to Eastbourne Eagles in 1974 and would ride for them for four seasons, becoming the club captain and then doubling up as the team coach before ending his riding career with the Eagles in 1977.[6]

## Retirement

[edit]

Jarman ran a Speedway School at Cowley Stadium in the mid-1970s.[7] In the late 1970s he moved from his roots of South London to Poole and became the track curator at Poole Speedway for several years. He represented his country on three occasions. He was a popular, hard-working rider throughout his career.

Jarman died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma on 23 July 2007, aged 72 (not 75 as some sources quote), and his funeral was on 6 August in Poole. He had struggled with cancer over the previous ten years. He was survived by his wife, Ann, two sons and two daughters.[8]

* Jarman coaching novices

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
2. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
3. ^ "Pete Jarman is likely to ride in Brandon clash". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 18 August 1965. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
4. ^ "Pete Jarman". Cradley Speedway. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
5. ^ Bamford,R & Shailes,G (2007). "The Story of Oxford Speedway". ISBN 978-0-7524-4161-0
6. ^ "Pete shows the kids". Sussex Express. 14 October 1977. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
7. ^ Lawson,K (2018) “The Cheetahs – The Resurrection”. ISBN 978-0-244-69934-5
8. ^ "Pete Jarman". Wolverhampton Speedway. Retrieved 31 May 2023.