Ted Hubbard

The family business in Fruit and Veg expanded to include wholesale potato supplies to fish-and-chip shops in Kent. Married to Jeannette, they had three children, Jason, Stuart, Nicola, and four grandchildren. They took on a 47 acre farm as a business-cum-hobby. He died of liver cancer, aged 70, in 2019

A longer career than many speedway riders, Ted Hubbard was a popular sportsman who rode chiefly for Canterbury Crusaders and Rye House Rockets with loans out to other clubs, most notably Hackney Hawks He made two appearances at the Division II Riders Championship, finishing in the top three both times and was successful at several individual meetings of riders in Division II. He left Rye House in 1979 as doubling up rides with Hackney was too demanding, seeing as he was also involved in the family business. Tempted back to racing by Canterbury Crusaders in 1980 he once again thought of full retirement at the end of the season but his old promoter, Len Silver persuaded him to ride for Hackney for one more season. However, the conflict with his business and the risk of injury that might damage his livelihood brought him to finally hang up his leathers at the age of 32. He had a brief spell as Team Manager of the Iwade based Sittingbourne Crusaders.