Career
Born in Street St. Petersburg, Russia, his family fled the revolution in Russia in 1917 and he grew up in Coventry, England. Greatrex gained his early speedway experience at the Coventry track, and rode for Coventry between 1930 and 1933. In 1931 he had a brief spell on loan with the Leicester Stadium team
He was a successful rider in the years leading up to World World War II for New Cross Rangers, and captained them in 1939.
Greatrex was part of the England team in the 1936, 1938, and 1939 Test series against Australia and the 1937 series against an "overseas" team Greatrex had a motorcycle sales business in New Cross in the late 1930s.
After the war he became Managing Director at West Ham, working alongside Arthur Atkinson.
