TRIBUTES have been paid to former Swindon Speedway rider and team manager Malcolm Holloway, who has died at the age of 55.

Affectionately nicknamed Mad Wellie because he always turned up to meetings in wellies while working as a farmer, Malcom rode for Swindon between 1977 and 1983.

After a spell at Reading, he managed the Blunsdon side and rode for Swindon Sprockets in the Conference League into his mid-40s.

Malcolm, who was the popular landlord at The Jovial Monk pub in St Andrew’s Ridge, had recently received treatment for a heart problem.

Swindon Robins boss Alun Rossiter, who was in fierce competition with Malcolm during the pair’s riding days, said: “I will remember him as someone that was proud of his roots and being from Swindon. He was a larger-than-life character and was always going to do it his way.

“We had a rivalry. That wasn’t just on the track, when we both owned pubs if I’d taken £10,000 he would have taken £15,000.

“I’m not going say we were the best of buddies, but there was always a nod of mutual respect between us.”

Malcolm famously organised the Mad Wellie Express when he rented a train to take 500 people – including riders, club officials and fans – up to Edinburgh for a meeting.

There will be a minute’s applause to remember him at Swindon’s Sky Sports-televised trip to Poole on Monday and also their home meeting at Blunsdon against Eastbourne on Thursday.

Swindon’s Californian legend Scott Autrey, a contemporary of Malcolm’s, said: “I really liked Malc. He was easygoing, funny and had a lot of talent.

“He’s one of my favourite people I ever met. A sweet guy and full of natural ability.”

Swindon-based Speedway Star magazine contributor Bob Radford said: “I knew Malcolm from the beginning, before he even started riding for Swindon.

“In his first meeting he lost control of his bike and ploughed through beautifully-tended flower beds at the starting gates, which were replaced with plastic ones the following week.

“He was very popular at both Swindon and Reading during and after his career and always lived life to the full.”

Always a popular visitor at the Abbey Stadium on race-nights, Malcolm became the 15th rider to be inducted into the Legends’ Lounge on March 21, 2010, as the club staged the inaugural Bob Kilby Memorial meeting.

Yesterday the Jovial Monk pub was closed with a sign saying that, due to unforeseen circumstances, it would remain shut until further notice.