Sixty years since announcing the thrills and spills at Poole Speedway, Peter Green has returned to the stadium for the first time.

Now 86 years old, he was the first speedway announcer at the tender age of 24 and was delighted to be back at the Wimborne Road venue to see how it had changed.

He was shown round by Gordon Day, who last year retired after 16 years as press officer, and is well versed in the long history of the club and stadium, where the first meeting was held on April 26, 1948.

“Peter was to my knowledge the very first announcer of Poole Speedway to give the race results,” said Gordon.

“He gave an American-style commentary to the races which I don’t believe had ever been done.”

The very first race had a tragic outcome when two riders collided on the first bend and one was rushed to hospital with a suspected fractured skull, dying days later.

“In the old days they had a 75ft long wooden shed, open on the top, where you looked down and commentated,” said Peter, who was impressed by the modern grandstand and 300-seater restaurant.

Before making his debut calling the races, Peter started as a proof reader with the old Bournemouth Times and Poole Herald, later being promoted to cub reporter.

But afterwards he went into entertainment, working with a band leader and singing with bands in hotels in Bournemouth and around the area.

He wrote for the Melody Maker and met many famous entertainers ranging from Bob Hope to Duke Ellington, Bruce Forsyth, Joe Loss and Billy Cotton.

Now a great-grandfather, he still writes a column for a Ringwood magazine.

Now Peter, of Ashley Heath, has rediscovered the stadium and speedway, he will be back to attend a race night with Gordon in July, when he will be introduced to the crowd.

“I bet someone walks up to me in the course of evening and says, ‘I remember him’,” said Gordon. “It happens.”