Read all about an emotional night for former Peterborough Panthers mascot

​Dean, who used to lead Panthers out on their pre-meeting parade as a schoolboy, hadn’t been to watch them race for more than 30 years but couldn’t miss out on what might be their last meeting.

Even though he was on a break in Canada he flew back in time to see the ‘Farewell to the Showground’ finale.

And he took along an old scrapbook and photos of himself with the team including former skipper Brian Clark who even visited him when he was having a nine-hour operation in Papworth Hospital.

Dean’s mother Pauline was actively involved in the Peterborough Speedway Supporters’ Club and when promoter Danny Dunton discovered her son had been born with a heart problem he invited him to be the team’s mascot.

Even though he had come off the eight hour flight from a three-week holiday in Canada on the day of the meeting, Dean was determined not to miss the nostalgic action.

The plane didn’t touch down at Heathrow Airport until early afternoon but the 57-year-old got back to his home near Spalding in time to grab something to eat, mow the lawn and get changed to make it for the last night of the Showground proms.

And he was able to meet up with some of the riders who used to take him around the track before the start of meetings, including 80-year-old Clark, Richard Greer (76), Roy Carter (74), Frank Smith (74) and the ‘baby’ of the group, Roy Sizmore (72).

They were all together in a group with another ex-Panthers star and title-winning team boss Kevin Hawkins (69) watching from the back straight grass banking.

Dean said: “I had not been to a Peterborough speedway meeting since 1979 when mum and dad split up. I spent 30 years living in the Midlands, but I moved back to Weston recently.

“It doesn’t mean to say I didn’t miss it and I have kept in touch. I’ve watched it on TV and always looked to see how Panthers were getting on.

“It was awesome going back to the Showground. It was special. I have got so many good memories, and it brought it all back to me.

“My mum Pauline helped in the supporters club and it was through their influence I got asked to be mascot.

“I used to carry the Panthers’ flag around the track. I would sit side saddle on the tank of the captain’s bike.

"I was born with a hole in my heart and I had a nine and a quarter hour operation in October 1977 when I was 11, but I have been okay since.”

Dean was such a fan as a youngster that before he was admitted to Papworth for life-changing surgery, he insisted he would visit injured Panthers’ rider Ian Clarke who was in Peterborough District Hospital recovering from a broken leg.

Dean recalled: “I asked my mum to take me to see him in hospital and I took him some grapes, I wanted to make sure he was all right before I went into hospital myself!

“I always wanted to have a go at speedway myself and I did, but we didn’t really have the money to do it properly.”