h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello. I am brand new to H2G2 but understand its policies fully.
For 11 years I have been attempting to research the short life and untimely death of my wifes grandfather A jockey born in Pontefract but living in Cleeve
Remaining family in Bishops Cleeve (including his remaining son a 3 year old at the time of his death).
Family stories insist he died at Cheltenham races in early 1935 aged 31
Death certificates make clear the timing is accurate and there is no doubt at all he was an accomplished jockey...By any measure I have gotten nowhere further

I was thus astonished to read the article on William "Billy" Speck because I am refering to William "Billy" Holroyd.
The similarities are some way beyond chance.

Can the author or anybody else throw light on the possibility that Speck was a lifelong nickname (not unreasonable for a jockey) and this indeed be the story of Bill Holroyd?

How odd!

I'm afraid I can't help there. You could try asking the question to either the author directly (top right hand side of the article - click on their name and leave them a message) or at Ask h2g2 (www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A148907) to pose the question to the wider h2g2 audience.

All the best,

Vip

Can't help but I recently met the people who live in his old house in Bishop's Cleeve, where I live. They told me about Billy Speck and this morning I found his grave (and that of his wife) in the churchyard of St. Michael's in Cleeve.

Kind regards,

Margaret Crawford

Thanks for taking the time to sign up and let us know!

Vip

You're welcome. And by the way, Billy Speck died on 16 April, 1935, aged 31, a few days after breaking his spine after a fall at Cheltenham Races, having swapped his horse for that of a friend who was down on his luck, in the hope that his friend would benefit from the swap.

His grave is easy to find in St. Michael's Churchyard.

Margaret

Hi there. Sorry its a few years late but Billy Speck was my great grandfarther. As the gold cup week starts on monday iv decided to do a bit of family research. If you have any qustions please ask. Kind regards.

I believe the plaque reads, Lifes race well run lifes work now done now comes rest.