Fans farewell to speedway's "special pair" (From South Wales Argus)

Fans farewell to speedway's "special pair"

1:15pm Friday 9th May 2008

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AROUND 300 mourners packed out St Julian's Baptist Church for the double funeral of Newport Speedway promoter Tim Stone and his mother Marion Wood.

Many mourners were forced to sit or stand outside the church, such was the turnout, but fortunately the weather held and speakers enabled them to hear the service indoors.

Speedway officials from across the UK came to pay their respects to the Newport Wasps promoter and his popular mother who was described as "the Queen of Newport Speedway."

Mr Stone died Saturday, April 26, after suffering a heart attack, aged 54. His mother, 84, died the following day having been suffering with bronchial pneumonia.

Leading the service Pastor Clive Taylor, himself a speedway fan, described Mr Stone and Mrs Wood as two special people.

"It's a privilege to be here in another speedway city where it has taken off and had such an influence," he said.

Pastor Taylor said Mrs Wood was easy to spot as "she was always laughing and smiling."

Born in Pill, she was well known throughout Newport having worked in a number of pubs across the city.

The service was held in the Beaufort Road church as the building stands opposite to the house where Mrs Wood had lived for over 30 years and enabled her elderly neighbours to attend.

Wasps team captain, Tony Atkin, gave an emotional tribute to Mr Stone calling him a great friend "who cared about the riders and cared about the track."

"Some people talk about doing things in life, Tim did them and achieved them," he said.

Following the church service, mourners made their way to Gwent Crematorium, instead of floral tributes the family requested financial donations to Cancer Research.

Mrs Wood is survived by her husband and Mr Stone's step-father Ken Wood.

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