A Brief Personal History - Education and employment.

Born in Ipswich and educated at London Road Infants, St. Margaret's Church and Northgate Grammar Schools Dave joined British Railways in 1961 at the start of a 36-year career in the industry. Beginning as a junior clerk in the Ipswich Goods Department he moved, on promotion, to London with the District Publicity Representative in Bishopsgate before moving to the Chief Passenger Manager's Advertising Department in York. Returning to his native Suffolk roots in the Ipswich Travel Centre he retired as Office Manager in 1997.

Taking time out to continue his love of writing, he spent many happy hours watching the world pass by on Road Traffic Management counts before joining the Suffolk Record Office in Ipswich where he stills works.

Dave is married to Ann and they have two grown up daughters.

Voluntary Work

Dave has had an interesting and varied experience in voluntary work, first as organiser and voluntary youth leader at the Unitarian Youth Club Ipswich between 1965 and 1966. During this time he was appointed as their representative on the Ipswich Council of Youth and was honoured with the post of Public Relations and Publicity Officer between 1965 and 1967. After his promotion to London, Dave continued as a voluntary youth leader at the popular Elmshawe Youth Club in Dagenham from 1966 until moving to Yorkshire where he worked briefly at Burnholme Youth Club, York in 1968.

Whilst in London Dave became Press Officer for the British Railways Staffs Association at the staff hostel in Aldersbrook House, Ilford between 1967 and 1968 helping to organise many successful and varied social events.

Dave's interest in the resurgence of one of his boyhood sports led to him re-opening and managing the Kesgrave Panthers Cycle Speedway Club in 1974 and being appointed Press Officer for the Suffolk Cycle Speedway Association the same year. It seemed as if his voluntary work was at an end until one of his former cycle speedway riders stepped up to ride for Ipswich Speedway and very quickly Dave joined his wife Ann in forming the Tim Hunt Fan Club in 1978.

Appointed Secretary of the Felixstowe Scribblers Writers' Circle in 1999 Dave enjoys the post that has introduced him to many talented local writers who have joined the group.

Interests

A lifelong supporter of speedway racing, Dave compiled an unpublished history and analysis of Ipswich Speedway several years ago and made many friends throughout the sport including international acquaintances behind the Iron Curtain in Poland, Czechoslovakia, USSR and East Germany and in Australia. Dave also follows the fortunes of his local Ipswich Rugby Union Football Club and Ipswich Town FC.

A keen genealogist, he enjoys local history but is dedicated to a love of writing which stretches back to his schooldays.

Writing Interests

Dave's writing interests developed at school where English language was his strongest subject and short stories and essays were enjoyable tasks. He learned to type on an old Royal typewriter in his mother's office in Ipswich after school.

Perhaps a 'jack of all trades', he will try his hand at anything - short stories, comedy, poetry together with radio and theatre plays. He has recently published "Ipswich Speedway - The First 50 Years", completed an unpublished history of his grandfather's life in the entertainment industry and is collating information for a family history. Since leaving the rail industry he has worked on an account of his 36 years experience of railway memories that currently stands at some 53,000 words, his intention being to find a publisher when the manuscript is complete.

Dave maintains an ambition to continue enjoying his writing and has set himself an overall objective to achieve success with both radio and theatre scripts before trying his hand at television comedy.

Various letters to the local press from 1965 to date.
Ipswich Evening Star Correspondent for Ipswich Council of Youth 1966-1967
Ipswich Evening Star Correspondent for Suffolk Cycle Speedway Association 1974
The Tim Hunt Fan Club Newsletters 1978-1982
Columnist in Ipswich Speedway programme 1978-1988
Speedway correspondent with Ipswich Advertiser 1989-1990
Speedway correspondent with Suffolk Free Press 1991-1994
Features, reports, cartoons in the in-house Travel Centre and Inter-City magazines at Ipswich 1990-1992
Occasional features in InterCity World magazine 1992-1994
The Watkins Enumerator Newsletter 1999-2000
Contributor, Felixstowe Scribblers Newsletters from 1999

Contributor, Felixstowe Scribblers Anthology 2004
Published poem "A Paneful Game" in A Touch of Innocence (Anchor Books) 2000
Published poem "What is Love?" in Love Poetry (author publishing) 2003
Co-author The History of Ipswich Speedway (Lavenham Press) 2003

Contributor and guest editor of Chapter and Verse the Libraries and Heritage Staff Magazine 2005-2006.

Co-writer of The Lost Sock, filmed and televised in serials by Felixstowe TV 2005, produced on DVD, film premiered at the Spa Pavilion Felixstowe 2006 and televised on Sky 2007.

Broadcasting with Ipswich Community Radio

15th November 2001 read out poem "Caught Out" and was interviewed by John Row.
22nd November 2001 read out short story "Summer Chill".
29th November 2001 read Doreen Rayner's historical work.
6th December 2001 read out "Tribute to a Texan Legend".
20th June 2002 read out "World Cup Widow".
4th July 2002 presented 30 minute slot and read out "Beyond the Call of Duty".

Internet

Featured on the following sites
http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/features/ufos/feakes_sighting.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/lookeast/captions.shtml
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/annets/

Oral History

Recorded an oral history of his 36 years railway experience for the National Archive of Railway Oral History in liaison with the National Railway Museum and the British Library Sound Archive. 2000.

Booksale

IPSWICH SPEEDWAY THE FIRST 50 YEARS

By Dave Feakes and Colin Barber
Printed by the Lavenham Press
 Price £10.99.

Reviews:

"A superb book", "more than 250 pages of thirst quenching information", "written in an entertaining and enjoyable style",
"this book is a joy and one that cries out to be read"….

Elvin King, Ipswich Evening Star.

"The book blossoms into a brilliant and educational read", ….

John Berry Ipswich promoter 1969 – 1984

Order from

Ipswich.speedway50yrs@ntlworld.com

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