Ipswich Witches legend John Louis has died at the age of 82

John Louis was born and brought up in the  Rushmere area of Ipswich and worked at Ransomes and then Sizewell A power station while making a name for himself in motorcycle scrambling (now Moto-Cross) events around Suffolk in the 1960s.

When Speedway returned to Foxhall stadium in Ipswich in 1970, new promoter John Berry spotted his potential and gave Louis the chance to switch motorsports at the relative mature age of 28.

John Louis - on the bike in the centre - with his teammates at his testimonial meeting in 1979. (Image: David Kindred)

Over the next ten years his exploits on the dirt track became legendary - and former Speedway writer Elvin King believes Louis can claim to be Ipswich's greatest ever sportsman.

He said: "People today don't realise how big Speedway was at that time - there were crowds of up to 17,000 for every meeting at Foxhall and John was the leader of the team and one of the best racers anywhere.

"Jason Dozzell, Kieron Dyer, and Richard Wright achieved great things at the football club, but I don't think Ipswich has produced a better sportsman than John Louis!"

Chris and John Louis in 1976 - today Chris is the promoter at Foxhall. (Image: Newsquest)

Mr King and his family became great friends with the Louis family and went on holiday together - he also sometimes joined him on trips across the continent to meetings in Europe.

He said: "John was at the top of the sport for more than a decade. He led England at Wembley when there would be 90,000 fans watching the Speedway.

"At the end of his riding career he rode for Halifax and Kings Lynn - but his heart was here and when he stopped riding he took over as promoter at Ipswich."

John Louis discussing tactics with his son Chris at Foxhall in 2007 (Image: Newsquest)

Louis remained as promoter at Foxhall for more than 30 years and oversaw a new golden age of Ipswich Speedway during the late 1990s led by his son Chris who eventually took over as promoter.

Ipswich broadcaster Stephen Foster was announcer at Foxhall for several years and came to know Louis well.

He said: "He was a real hero of mine as a child. A group of friends and I always liked to do cycle speedway races on our bikes at home - and I was always Louis because he was the star and it was my idea!

"When I was 16 I had a Yamaha 125 and I used it to get to every meeting at Foxhall when he was in his prime.

"It was a real honour to get to meet him later - and he was a really fantastic person. He was really good to know and I'm still in touch with the family today."

A statement on the Witches' official website said: "Ipswich Speedway legend John ‘Tiger’ Louis has passed away at the age of 82.

John Louis during his career as a rider. (Image: Newsquest)

"The Ipswich-born rider joined the club in 1970 spending the majority of his career with the Witches and led the team to league and cup titles in the 70s. He became British champion in 1975 and on the world stage he finished third at Wembley Stadium in one of his four World Championship Finals.

"Nicknamed ‘Tiger’ for his iconic leathers, John also represented England in the World Team Cup, winning gold three times. After his racing career, he became promoter at Foxhall before retiring from the role in 2019.

John Louis in action for the Ipswich Witches. (Image: Newsquest)

"Everyone’s thoughts are with the Louis family at this time, John ‘Tiger’ Louis is a man this town will never forget."

John Louis had been ill for some time, but he was still held in great affection by Witches fans and it is expected there were tributes to him at their next home meeting on April 18.