Arthur Jervis Explained

Arthur Jervis
Nationality:British (English)
Birth Place:Coventry, England
Death Place:St Ouen, Jersey, Channel Islands
Career1:White City Manchester
Years1:1929–1930
Career2:Leicester Super
Years2:1931
Career3:West Ham Hammers
Years3:1932

Arthur Warden Jervis (26 February 1905 – 12 December 1987) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from England. He earned two international caps for the England national speedway team.[1]

Biography

Jervis, born in Coventry, rode in the pioneer years of British speedway, riding dirt track meetings in his home city of Coventry from the age of 14 and becoming champion of the Midlands and North in 1928. He also bought a garage in Coventry.[2]

He began his British leagues career riding for White City Manchester during the inaugural 1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League season.[3] His two seasons with the Manchester club were chaotic because they withdrew from the league on both occasions. He also raced a couple of times for Belle Vue Aces.[4]

In 1931, Leicester Super team manager Alec Jackson signed Jervis as the new captain, also signing Australian international Bruce McCullum, Tommy Price, Cliff Watson, and Alf Summersby.[5] He enjoyed a full season of league racing for Leicester Super, recording an impressive 10.14 league average for the club. This was the second best league average behind Eric Langton.[6]

Following the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern leagues for the 1932 Speedway National League season, he moved to London to ride for the West Ham Hammers.[7]

Jervis cut his speedway career short after the 1932 season. Despite being capped by England and still being in demand by teams, he chose to concentrate on his builder's business in Coventry.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 20 December 2023.
  2. News: Mr A. W. Jervis . Coventry Evening Telegraph . 7 February 1929 . 20 December 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  3. Web site: 1929 season results . Speedway Researcher . 20 December 2023.
  4. Web site: Year by Year . Speedway Researcher . 20 December 2023.
  5. Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Pre-War Years, Automedia, p. 30 et seq
  6. Web site: Rider averages 1929 to 2009 . Speedway Researcher . 20 December 2023.
  7. News: More new riders for West Ham . West Ham and South Essex Mail . 15 January 1932 . 20 December 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  8. News: Speed thrills at the super track . Leicester Evening Mail . 14 August 1935 . 20 December 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .