A photograph of cycle speedway teams from Swillett and Maple Cross continues to spark interest with readers, which is hardly surprising as it appears to have been a a very widely enjoyed pastime.

E Gray, of Rickmansworth, wrote in to identify the eight Maple Cross riders, pictured below: "This was a cycle speedway match between Swillett and Maple Cross, it took place about 1949/50 at Maple Cross. The names of the eight riders for Maple Cross, of which I was one, are, at the back and at the top, Brian Vallirius, to his left is John Edwards. I appear to be under someone's arm wearing a beret. On my left is Phillip Bevis, you can see three people with the cross on their front for Maple Cross. In the centre left is Joe Robinson, front left is Charlie Shipway and on the right David Bennett. To his left, just showing, is George West. That was our eight and we won."

On a recent visit to the Watford Observer office, cartoonist Terry Challis leapt on a photocopy of a Wembley Speedway event programme, which was lying on the nostalgia desk and proceeded to recall some of the Watford cycle speedway teams, riders and tracks. Terry has very kindly picked out some photographs from his collection and a few appear on these pages.

Terry was a member of the Water Lane Rockets, whose track occupied the site on which a hotel now stands. He recalls that the outline of the track could be seen from the railway embankment for many years afterwards.

Terry explained that cycle speedway developed as a Sunday morning activity. He said: "Sunday was a terrible day for kids. The only thing to do was go to the Sunday pictures or break windows.

"The great and the good said these young lads should be found something to do' so we found something to do. Then people objected to that. If you got adults involved they carried a bit more authority.

"Some of the tracks were a bit rough and ready but the council ones and some of the kids' ones were very smart.

A Watford and District Cycle Speedway League evolved and league meetings would be held at the Oddfellows Hall. Local councils, recognising the popularity of the sport and its positive effects, built competition tracks. Terry recalls that there was a council track at Woodside, which was used in national league competition events. The Watford Football Club cinder car park was also used for occasional competitions and as a wet weather track for the Water Lane Rockets whose track was often waterlogged in winter months courtesy of Ron Rollitt, then secretary of WFC.

Terry said there were numerous teams in and around Watford and recalled some of the names: Bushey Bees, Oxhey Eagles, Paddock Pirates, North Watford Wasps, Riverside Rookies, Mill End Tudors and Bushey Aces. He also believes there was a team called the Bushey and Watford Kangaroos, originally the Brickett Wood Kangaroos, although he was not entirely certain of the name.

Do any other former cycle speedway riders have any further memories, pictures and memorabilia they would like to share? What brought on its demise as a teenage pastime?