Dare Devil Rides To Jarama

A new play by Neil Gore

When Fascism clutched at the throat of the Spanish people in 1936, threatening a foul tyranny and menace of war in Europe, Clem Beckett and Christopher Caudwell crossed the Pyrenees, like so many other volunteers who recognised the defence of Spanish Democracy against Fascism was their fight too.

Clem “Dare Devil” Beckett was born in the Austerlands area of Oldham in 1906. He was an apprentice blacksmith and a keen rugby player with an overriding passion for motorbikes who became one of the most brilliant riders in the very early days of Speedway Dirt Track Racing. He was loved by the masses for his great daring, courage and skill in the sport, and earned him the nick-name “Dare Devil”. He competed and performed in his own Wall of Death show throughout Europe.

Joining the Manchester Young Communist League in 1924, Clem and was vice-president of the British Workers’ Sports Federation supporting the Mass Trespass in 1932, the anti-Mosley demonstrations in Manchester and spoke up against money-sharks and corruption in his sport, for which he was given a life-ban by the speedway authorities. Turning his back on the sport that had made his name he set up a motorcycle sales and repair shop on the Oldham Road in Manchester.

In 1936, when Spaniards rose up to resist General Franco’s military rebellion that was being assisted by Hitler and Mussolini, Clem, the bluff, rugged star of the Speedway track, and Christopher Caudwell, the profound writer and poet, volunteered to drive ambulances to Spain and subsequently stayed to join the burgeoning International Brigade. They were considered unlikely friends, but they were brought together by a common cause, and bravely died together at their machine gun post covering their battalion’s retreat at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937.