A 
Ten names to remember from the Mountevans era.
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Hassan Ali Bey
One of the most prolific heavyweight performers of the 1950s and 1960s, and a regular of the tv screens in the first ten years or so of televised wrestling. Hassan Ali Bey wrestled, and sometimes defeated, just about every big name heavyweight of the time. The red fez, spectacles and a white towelling robe were the hallmark of the “Strong man of the East” as he entered the ring. Hassan Ali Bey was actually Demers Mashavias, but he took his ring name from his father, a member of the British Embassy in

Farmer Johnny Allan
They always called him the Farmer, and why should we doubt it? Most wrestlers did need a second income to make ends meet despite the packed halls of the 1950’s and 1970’s, and Johnny Allan combined wrestling with running a small holding. . Farmer Johnny Allan was one of the great mid-heavyweights. He turned professional, aged 20, in 1951, after training as an amateur at the Greetland All Rounders Club. As a young middleweight he held World middleweight champion Gilbert Le Duc to a one hour draw. Growing in skill and size, from middleweight to a stocky, powerful Mid heavyweight, Johnny Allan took the British Mid heavyweight title from Norman Walsh in 1964 and returned it to him in 1965. Towards the end of his career Johnny Allan, still a classic wrestler, left Joint Promotions, began promoting in partnership with Eric Taylor, and eventually faded away on the independent promoters circuit as so many did. Johnny Allan is pictured with a head chancery on Geoff Portz.
A short lived star of Northern and
Bob Anthony, the wrestling beatle, was a popular welterweight that appeared for independent and Joint Promotions during the 1960s. His skill and agility enabled him to travel the world, meeting and beating the best in the business. He was one of a group of wrestlers chosen by Paul Lincoln to take part in a prestigious tour of the
Mark Anthony
A villain of the first order. The black tights, the trimmed beard, the heavily tattooed arms, and a snarl at the
audience left few in doubt that here was a wrestling baddie. Those not persuaded at once were usually convinced as the first round opened with blind side moves, failure to break on the ropes and a few more snarls and complaints to fans and referee. Mark Anthony reached British shores in 1968, and again in 1972, travelling here from his native

A man with a presence. When Ray Apollon was in the ring the ring shook. A very powerful and strong heavyweight from
Dave Armstrong
If anyone was to demonstrate that wrestling was more science than art it might well be Choppington’s Dave Armstrong, one of the greats of British wrestling. It was in 1952 that Ernie Baldwin defeated Dave in a heavyweight tournament to win the British heavyweight championship. One of the few heavyweights who spanned both sides of the Second World War he met some of the world’s greats, including Atholl Oakeley, Jack Sherry and the legendary Karl Pojello at Harold Lane’s London Club in 1938. Pojello described him as “The most scientific man in an English ring. “ A frequent opponent of Bert Assirati in the forties and fifties Dave Armstrong held the occasional victory over the great heavyweight. His career continued into the early 1960s. Legend has it that he was the first wrestler to wear contact lenses in the ring. Late in his career Dave took to wearing a mask and took the name of The Crusader.

Starting his wrestling career as Erik Tanberg, the blond from
Bert AssiratiBorn in 1908 Islington’s Bernardo Esserati grew up to become arguably
Jack Atherton learned the trade as a pre war All-in wrestler. He continued to compete in the new post war freestyle rules until well into the 1950s before becoming a promoter in the North. In March 1938 Ring Magazine reported, … a supporting bout saw the "Brown Masked Marvel," a hooded light heavy, take two straight from Jack Atherton of Lancashire . . .” Most of his results were more fortunate than that because Jack was one of the wrestling greats. Wrestlers stories are testament to Jack’s characteristics as a promoter, when he combined generosity, kindness and fairness with an astute business brain.
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