Oldest Monarch Jock Scott passes away

NEWS Saturday 23rd April 2022, 6:20pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

We have received the very sad news that Jock Scott, Monarch of the fifties, has passed away at the age of 93. At the time of his passing he was the oldest surviving Monarch.

Born in Hawick, educated in Gala, Jock first saw Speedway in Paris while on Army service (he was a despatch rider). He had his first rides at Newtongrange and bought a bike from Danny Lee.

It didn't take Jock long to make the team and he made his first appearances on a southern tour, away to Poole and Yarmouth. What a start!

He held his place for the remainder of 1952, though with reserves only getting two programmed rides his best score was 5, a win and a second, against Leicester at Old Meadowbank on 12th June.

He had another memorable night on 28th June when with visitors Glasgow in the ascendancy, 16 points up, Jock and team mate Harry Darling recorded a vital 5-1 and turned the tide, Monarchs eventually winning.

Jock mainly rode second halves in 1953 but he did have one particularly good match on 26th September 1953, scoring paid 6 from2 rides against Glasgow.

He was a team regular again in 1954 and rode in the last match of the era on 3rd July 1954, against Exeter. The track closed the following week with a World Championship round.

In all Jock rode 42 matches for Monarchs and totalled 65 points. He always maintained his interest and has attended Armadale and also our 70th Anniversary celebrations in 2018.

Jock and Harry have remained friends over the years. Jock liked all his team mates but remembered Dick Campbell as the most helpful of the star riders. He did one or two jobs after speedway but eventually had a long career in the sawmilling trade.

His daughter Wilma tells us that Jock's funeral will be on Thursday 5th May at Harvieston Cemetery in Gorebridge at 11am.

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