1950s Ernie Watts Memories

Ernie Watts
Memories of the 1950's & 1960's

Ernest Wilfred Watts was born on 4 April 1900. His parents were George Henry and Lucy Watts. George was a self-employed cycle maker. They lived in Kirkstead Street, Nottingham, until 1911, when Ernest's mother died and the family moved to Saville Street, Hyson Green to live with George's sister Sarah Ann Watts. Ernest had an elder sister Florence and a younger brother George. By 1921 the family had moved again to Bovill Street, Nottingham, and Ernest was employed as a metal turner by the Raleigh Cycle Company in Faraday Road, Lenton. In 1923, Ernest married Ada Collyer of Nottingham, and subsequently they lived in Minver Crescent, Broxtowe. They had two children, Peggy born 1924 and Eric born 1926.

Ernest became involved in Speedway racing. This was taking place between 1929 and 1938 at the White City Stadium in Trent Lane, off Colwick Road, Nottingham, beginning on a grass track and then on a dirt circuit laid by Olympic Speedway Ltd of Nottingham, for whom Ernest raced between 1929 and 1931.

Speedway was a dangerous activity and personal safety equipment was rudimentary. In August 1929 the Nottingham Evening Post reported that Ernest Watts had been involved in a crash with E.W. Ford and ended up in the General Hospital, where he stayed overnight, being reported as fairly comfortable the following day.

Disaster struck again in July 1931. Ernest was involved in another crash at Olympic Speedway which left him with an injured shoulder; but he was able to go home after being treated at the General Hospital. Ernest's accident followed an earlier one that same evening which lead to the death of the rider, Jack Garmston.

The 1939 register, compiled at the outbreak of WW2, shows Ernest, Ada, Peggy and Eric still at Minver Crescent. Ernest is a capstan lathe tool setter.

Between 1951 and 1977, Ernest Watts was taking part in small bore target rifle shooting with the ROF (Royal Ordnance Factory) Nottingham Sports Association. His collection of medals and trophies covering this period is testament to some good shooting. He was in the ROF team that won the Portland Cup competition for the champion club in Nottinghamshire in 1952. He took part in the National Smallbore Rifle Association's Coronation Competition in 1953. There are several Nottinghamshire Rifle Association league medals and some C.S.R.A. medals and spoons. In 1977 at the age of 77 he was runner up in the Blount Cup, an ROF Club competition. He died in Jan 1980 in Walesby Crescent, Aspley, Nottingham.

The pictures donated by Ernie Watts' family

Whilst we have tried to identify locations and people in these pictures, if you can put names to the unknown faces, dates and locations, please let us know by emailing us using this link.

Picture 1 - ROF Club Members, with trophies