George Cummings, a man we all knew

NEWS Tuesday 25th April 2023, 10:20pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

We have just been given the news that George Cummings, 1979 Monarchs team manager and much more besides, has died this morning. George had been struggling with ill health for some time but we did see him at Armadale during our 70th anniversary celebrations and on at least one subsequent visit.

Speedway, and Monarchs, were a huge part of George's life from the Meadowbank days. He was a very close friend of George Hunter, a regular visitor to the Cummings family home in Newtongrange over the years.

Indeed George taught Craig Cummings, George and Christine's son, about the mechanical side of Speedway, and Craig has subsequently put that to very good use in his successful career working with engines.

George Cummings was Clerk of the Course at Powderhall in the early days of Speedway there, and in 1979 took over as Monarchs' team manager, appointed by Mike Parker. Later he had a spell as team manager at Berwick.

He and his family had speedway contacts worldwide, as well as being well known figures in Scottish Speedway. Monarchs' boss Alex Harkess said on hearing the news "Although George's days with the Monarchs came before mine, I did know him of course as everyone did. I know that Edinburgh Speedway meant a lot to him and the sport was a huge part of his life."

George's wife Christine and their children Craig and Carol (and their families) all have many friends amongst the Monarchs and we send them our condolences at this sad time.