Race ace Cyril paralysed by fall

One of Shropshire's top motorcycle grasstrack racers, who survived many high-speed spills in Britain and abroad, has been left paralysed after falling downstairs at home.The plight of Cyril Jones has touched the hearts of his many friends in the grasstrack world and they are hoping to raise £8,000 to buy him an all-terrain, electric wheelchair, following the accident in September.

The 66-year-old suffered severe head and neck injuries. He slipped at about 7.30am, hit his head on a window ledge and lay unable to move until a woman delivering his Shropshire Star heard his cries for help at 4.30pm.

She got the keys from his mother, who lives next door, and Mr Jones was taken away by ambulance.

He is now confined to a wheelchair in the Orthopaedic Hospital at Gobowen.

His friend and motorcycling colleague Bill Mantle, who runs Malthouse Antiques in Bridgnorth, said: "It's absolutely tragic.

"I've been mates with Cyril for more than 40 years, travelling to races with him all over this country and Europe.

"I've fetched him out of more hospitals than I can remember and he always bounced back.

"But after breaking his neck in two places in his fall at home, it looks like he will never walk again.

"After five months of treatment, he still has no grip in his hands and just a bit of movement in his arms from his shoulders."

Mr Mantle said grasstrack racing enthusiasts around Britain and Europe had contacted him to express their shock and sorrow.

Donations to the wheelchair appeal can be made to Mr Mantle on (01746) 763054.

"Cyril was such an icon in his day," he said. "During his peak period in the early 1970s, he was a force to be reckoned with and won many races and all sorts of championships.

"They loved him on the Continent. He was an absolute scream when he did his Wurzel-type singing at after-race events in France and Germany, and everyone used to shower him with champagne."

Born in Wales, Mr Jones is a member of Bewdley Motorcycle Club.

He worked as a self-employed architects' technician and has a married daughter, Sally Day, who lives in Brewood, Staffordshire.