As previously mentioned Tommy started his motorcycle career at A.J.S. followed by a few years at Sunbeam. After a brief spell at Royal Enfield he became Stevens’ chief tester and works competition rider, having many successes on his 500c.c. Stevens machine. For a time he had a small garage in Church Road, Bradmore, Wolverhampton, but it soon closed because of cash flow problems caused by bad customer debts.

During World War 2 he worked as a road tester for Guy Motors who at the time were producing “Quad-Ant” gun-tractors, a type of armoured car. He often would arrive at home driving one of them. He also worked for a time in London, on buses, during the air raids.

Courtesy of June Hussey.

Tommy also took part in road race meetings. In one such event held by the Antelope Motor-cycle Club at Ansty Aerodrome, near Coventry, speeds of over 100m.p.h. were reached. A crowd of 10,000 spectators watched the many events including the Unlimited Sidecar Race in which Tommy finished in 3^rd place, on his Norton.

In 1945 he retired from racing and joined a building firm, K. E. Millard & Company of Oldbury where he worked as Transport and Plant Manager. When he joined they had just one lorry and a van, but he eventually had 50 vehicles to care-for including earth-moving equipment. In 1968 on reaching the age of 65 he retired, but soon returned to the company for a further six years or so.

He had a cabinet full of trophies to enjoy, and greatly loved reminiscing and telling stories about his racing adventures and successes. He also had his beloved Manx Norton motorcycle in the garden shed.

He was a kind and friendly man, with a strong competitive spirit, whose outstanding racing career will be fondly remembered by many enthusiasts throughout the country.