We are saddened to learn that Lionel Benson has passed away in his native Australia last Thursday at the age of ninety-one.
Lionel arrived at Blackbird Road from his home in Sydney, New South Wales at the start of the 1950 season to ride for the Hunters but it was two months into the campaign before he received a chance to ride for the team. When that came Benson never looked back and the Hunters late challenge for the Division 3 title can be attributed to the Australian’s scoring record, which finished with him top of Leicester’s match averages.
Lionel’s ascendancy continued in 1951 and it was only the arrival of Len Williams from Sheffield that prevented him from retaining his number one jersey at the club. Nevertheless Lionel scored over 400 points in all competitions and he was selected to ride for the Overseas’ team against Great Britain in an international series.
Another impressive season followed in 1952 which was recognised by the Australian Test Match Select Committee who picked Benson for three of the meetings against England but with the world at his feet, Benson returned back home and to the disappointment of many Hunters fans he never again returned to Britain to resume his blossoming career.
