Stan Mellish

[David Stewart]

Tell me what you know about Stan Mellish.

I know that he was an ardent sidecar supporter and a Full Member of the BMCRC and a leading light of the Triumph Owners Club.

I only met him twice before he died and I was impressed by his attitude, but I don't know much more about him.

If you knew him, please tell me about it...

Ta - Dave

[steve-e]

He was a speedway referee and with the first speedway meeting having been held up at High Beech (about 1/4 mile from where the TOMCC Epping Forest Branch clubhouse used to be in Avey lane before it moved) the story/legend was always that Stan was there for it

He was also FIM and/or ACU Sidecar Rep for years at European Championships I think but don't really know for sure what position he held, I know we used to see him all over the place.

Margaret of course was a timekeeper and wasn't Stan a CoC? not sure, Mum would be the one to tell you more details about Stan and Margaret. We used to see them every week when I first joined the EF TOMCC and then The Spirits (who Stan really didn't get on with). A lot of the EF Tomcc were involved in racing, Bob Bird, Phil Tomlin, Colin Dodd, even a lot of us Spirits were marshals at the Saturday meetings at Lydden.

I'll point Mum at this. She'll know.

[Ian E]

Mark his Grandson use to help out.
Ian Guy knew him Really Really well.
He and Ron Higgs (Stuart Higgs Dad) use to do a lot of the organising at the TOMCC meetings.
Graham Beat Ron Higgs at Pool once, Ron was amazed by the trick shot that won it (1990 ish).
Stan was a really nice bloke.

[mum e]

Have you tried Phil Tomlin Dave,? he was -also with the triumph owners club, and after Stan died he took Margaret Stans wife to meetings as she was a timekeeper, I will pm you Phil s number.

[David Stewart]

Thanks for the replies. It's just for one of a series of articles I'm getting ready about people who have had a positive influence on road racing.

I have heard one story of him staying behind at Assen to assist an injured sidecar crew, missing his ferry and having to be stowed away in the back of a race van to get home. I don't think you'd find many ACU Stewards today who would go to those lengths to help out a competitor....

[Dave Taylor]

I knew Stan while I was a member of TOMCC at Epping Forest.

He was a great guy and instilled enthusiasm to many. He always spoke his mind to everyone and never had a bad word to say about anyone.

I also knew Margaret his wife and faithful partner who always supported Stan with everything he did. They had many friends in lot's of countries.
They used to go on long trips with Stan Branikki and Joan, his constant companion. Stan rode a 750cc Honda 4 and Stan Braniki also.

Stan was the anchor man behind all the Lydden TOMCC meetings and also assisted at the 'Festival of Speed' meeting that usually followed the HST club meetings we had on the Saturdays.
Once while we was touring in France, we looked into the track at Le mans as a motorcycle meeting was just finished and spotted Stan leaving the track. He was over the moon meeting me in such an unusual place and we had a long chat before he finally left.

We enjoyed many branch meetings at Turpins Cave (The original) and High Beech Village Hall, the successor and I always made a point of attending them. Stan organised a pool tournament with a trophy at the final which I won one year.

It was very sad when we heard of Stan's passing and it was quite a few months until Margaret returned very subdued at losing Stan. We did what we could for her and I always managed to make her giggle at the times when the mosquito's were feeding on those standing chatting outside in the car park. Margaret used to sell the teas in the galley with friend Joan helping her.

Eventually, Ron Higgs died when we had to change our venue to the football club off the Sewardstone road and for me the flavour of what we all were had changed and we never felt the same again.

Stan though, was a really nice guy and I feel honoured to have been one of his friends as his friendship was addictive. I'm sure he's probably doing the same job on 'The other side' and enjoying himself with that big smile he sported most of the time.
Now, how can I upload a picture taken during one of our branch meetings?

[Dave Taylor]

I'm very dissapointed that it seems that nobody has bothered to acknowledge my contribution or reply to my question?

Just forget it eh........................

[steve-e]

I must have missed your post. I didn't like the place we moved to after Avey Lane, the atmosphere wasn't the same.
Did stan ride a cx500 for a while?

If you're on a computer then uploading a photo isn't too complicated, make sure you are in the full editor and below the text box, under the save/preview /submit box there are two tabs, one of which is labelled "attachments", with a button under that labelled "add files"
Use that to select a file, after the photo has uploaded there should be a "place inline" button appear.

[Yangi]

I Don't know how I missed this post!!!!!
Stan Mellish was a True Gentleman in a sometimes bitchy sport, and Brilliant Organiser with Margaret always at his side He always tried to help the young and up and coming riders that he saw at TOMCC meetings. It was because of Stan and Margaret that I decided to join TOMCC when I first got an ACU Licence, as my dad always enjoyed their meeting and High Beech Village WAS THE PLACE to be on a Wednesday Night (if you were into sidecars especially) .... many a journey made on the CB100 in the early days from West London before the 'M25' Section was opened from the 'North Circular Road' and 400/4's, CBX's ...Then Cars took us there almost every week Stan Mellish, Margaret Mellish, Ron Higgs, Phil Thomlin, Ted McDonald, even Jim Parker was a regular before he got to ACU, And all the riders from TOMCC, Me, Ray Englisd, Steve, Ian and Graham when they old enough, So many Sidecar Riders and Passengers, Terry Dolling, Malcolm Waller ALWAYS there And a certain Neil Spalding I remember as a regular visitor to the Hall

Stan Mellish (and Margaret) will always be a LEGEND to me. They both encouraged me when I started, and Stan always tried to help in getting me sponsorship if he could (didn't happen - but he tried of his own belief and time and effort) and I never forget that. And he also taught me that we all out there just trying to enjoy ourselves and do best we can!

BRILLIANT PERSON TO HAVE KNOWN LOTS OF LOVE AND FONDLY REMEMBERED

[David Stewart]

Thanks.

This article (& 4 others about other influential people of the same period) is now almost complete.
They were originally intended for publication in a Sport Funded Magazine, but that has now changed editor so they may end up going direct to internet. I'll let you know when & where at the correct time.

Dave