Kenny Lynch OBE, from Custom House, was one of the few black singers on the British pop scene in the early 1960s. His career as a singer, songwriter, actor, and stand-up comedian has spanned over 50 years.

Lynch was born 18 March 1939 in Stepney and a few years later the family moved to Poplar and then Custom House. His dad worked as a stoker at Beckton Gas Works. He was one of 7 children, there were originally 11 but some died, and his sister, Gladys (stage name Maxine Daniels) was a jazz singer of some note. After leaving school at 15 and various jobs, he did National Service in the Royal Army Service Corps and was the regimental featherweight boxing champion.

He started in showbusiness when he was about 8 years old. He performed in shows at Stratford Town Hall and the Poplar Civic with Peggy O'Farrell's Stage School.

Singer/songwriter, from Custom House, whose career has spanned 30 years. She had hit singles in 1973: ‘Rock a Doodle Do' and 1975: 'The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)'.

She is the oldest of six children, from mixed-race family in Finch Road, Custom House. She attended Shipman Road School. From an early age, Linda displayed a precocious vocal talent and would often sing in public. Her parents managed the Red House (formerly known as Northumberland Arms), Barking Road, Plaistow.

The last part of the series on West Ham Speedway is on the 1971 season, the last ever full season raced at Custom House Stadium.

With Speedway celebrating it's 80th year, and West Ham 80th Anniversary of the opening of both the sport and the stadium at the end of July, I though it would be nice to go back 40 years and see what the Hammers were doing in the 40th year of Speedway racing.

When the 1968 season opened, the team had returned to celebrate 40 years of Speedway in Great Britain.

When you have reached the top, the only way is down, but the Hammers did not quite see it that way.

In 1966 we reached the quarter final of the KO cup, losing to Halifax, who ended up as the 1966 Triple Crown Champions, winning the British League, the K/O Cup and the Northern Cup. It is still quite rare for a team to win the triple, and even more rare for a triple crown to be won two seasons in a row by two different teams, must be something to do with the Red, White and Blue race jackets!

1972 finally saw the end of Speedway at West Ham, and it was a sad end.

In the early 1960’s Speedway Racing had reached a point were the sport was in decline, which had came to a head at the end of the 1963 season when both New Cross in London and Southampton closed down. The search was on to find at least one new team to add to the National League or it would possible cease to exist.

Mention West Ham to Speedway fans anywhere in the world and two names will always come up, Bluey Wilkinson and Jack Young.

Both of these Speedway riders, as well as representing their home country of Australia in the World Speedway Championship also represented West Ham.

Arthur George Wilkinson, know to all as `Bluey` because of his Ginger hair, came to West Ham in the late 1920’s as a young rider from his home in Australia.

Thames Association FC was formed to play at West Ham Stadium at Custom House in 1928. The stadium was used for Speedway and Greyhound Racing, and as an added attraction and to bring the crowds in for another sport, the Football team was formed to play on a Saturday. They originally played in the Southern League Eastern Division.

The most famous Speedway rider in Canada was Eric Chitty, who for many years rode for the West Ham Speedway team.

He was called the Custom House Cannonball by the fans.

Eric was born in Toronto, Canada in 1909.

He started working life as an Electrical Engineer, but had been an amateur racer in Hill Climbs & Trails from 1928.