WE'VE been contacted by a few Looking Back readers since we paid tribute to Weymouth Speedway great Lew Coffin in these pages.

Thanks to Selwyn Williams for pointing out this rather wonderful piece on Lew, who passed away in February last year, in the latest Dorset Year Book.

His friend Nigel Sims wrote this tribute to Lew, who was born on January 27 1922.

He wrote: "The Society of Dorset Men lost one of its Life members on 3rd February 2013 with the passing of Lewis Harry Coffin, from Leigh, at the age of 93 years.

"I don’t know from my long association with him of over 60 years that he was an active member, as I don’t think he had time to be, with his very busy life.

"Better known as ‘Lew Coffin’ he was one of the greats of the Motor Cycling World. His success on the grass tracks both here and in Germany is considerable. He also rode on the Speedway tracks at Swindon, Bristol, Exeter, and at Weymouth, where he also ran the training school.

"Besides a very busy competition life, Lew also encouraged others with machines, tuning, maintenance, riding instructions and race craft techniques for all aspects of Motor Cycle Sport. His most notable protégées were Brian (Badger) Goss and Arthur Pulman, both National champions.

"Lew was never still; he always found time somehow to test out other riders’ and friends’ bikes in his workshop besides maintaining his own machines and constructing race bikes for many other competitors.

"He was a staunch member of the Blackmore Vale MCC, holding the position of Racing Captain, and Marshall at the Blandford Camp Road Races.

"When I was responsible for local Yeo Vale Club grass track races he was on the phone to ask when the track was being prepared and he was there to help and advise on track length and layout and he was always there at the end to help with the clearing up and storing away of the equipment.

"A truly remarkable sportsman in all senses of the word, kindly, considerate, forever helpful where he could be, having time to help both champions and novices and encourage them, where he could.

"Even at 93 his passion for motorcycles and all aspects of the sport never diminished. Going into hospital on the Monday night he informed the doctors “I want to be out of here in a couple of days. I have a show to run over the weekend”. He passed away at about 10am the next morning losing the one race that his determination could not win.

"Motorcycling lost a true champion, Dorset lost a great Motor Cycling Ambassador and I, together with many others, lost a true friend and companion."