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.

Tommy died on 5th December, 1989 at the age of 85 after a happy married life with Lillian. They had a daughter June, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

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.