[1][2] Born at Waitara, Hoskins grew up in New Zealand, where he left school at thirteen and worked on a farm, before becoming a postman.

When he arrived there, he met some friends who helped him to set up a charity sports programme, including boxing and street stalls, which he ran with some success.

He was elected Charity Carnival organiser for the Local Hunter River Agricultural Horticultural Society, and when the secretary resigned Hoskins took on his position, too.

This will be the first time that motor cycling races have been held on the Show Ground, and the events should therefore prove of great interest.

He also promoted speedway at the Sydney Showground during the first season of racing there in 1926–1927, but a very wet summer made the venture a flop and almost bankrupted Hoskins.

[5] In 1933, while he was at West Ham, Hoskins appeared in the British film Money for Speed, which starred John Loder, Ida Lupino, Cyril McLaglen and Moore Marriott.