Wrestling Heritage

Short dark hair and good looks didn’t prevent Brixton’s Chris Bailey becoming an unpopular presence on the South of England wrestling scene. Although a regular in the late sixties and early seventies he made little impact despite his frequent outbursts describing what he was going to do to Jackie Pallo and Mick McManus.

Chris was eighteen when he turned professional in November 1966, losing the final of a Novices Knock Out Tournament against Ted Pollard in his hometown. His unruly style, which frequently led to disqualification,  enraged the audience in both singles matches and tag matches with his partner Dick Conlon. They called themselves the Artful Dodgers. The Artful Dodgers had what must have been one of the most nondescript gimmicks of British wrestling, calling out numbers to one another (they described it as an elaborate code) which was allegedly a secret way of communicating to outwit their opponents. Oh yeah!

In November, 1948 when promoter Athol Oakeley promoted a wrestling spectacular at Earls Court with Bert Assirati and The Angel main evening a young Australian heavyweight called Con Balassis wrestled on the supporting programme. With this being a promotion where Oakeley put on the biggest names  available it is a sign of the significance of Con Balassis in the post war heavyweight scene. Balassis came to Britain before the Second World War and remained a familiar figure until well into the 1950s. Despite being a regular main eventer Balassis sometimes resorted to donning a mask and calling himself The Red Shadow and was ceremoniously unmasked by Mike Demitre in 1949.

Frequent heavyweight campaigner from the 1940s to 1960s before turning his hand to refereeing. He turned professional in 1939, when he lost to the Farmer (George Broadfield) in Leeds, and took it up  full time in 1947. For a short period in the 1940s Baldwin was one of many wrestlers who donned a mask and became the Masked Marvel. Three times during his career Baldwin was recognised as British heavyweight champion. He wrestled the best on offer, including an unsuccessful championship tilt with  world title holder Lou Thesz when he visited Britain in 1957.

A popular blond Canadian heavyweight with the looks that could only make him one of the fans favourites. He wrestled in Britain from just before the second world war up to the 1960s.  Even in the 1940s he would enter the ring wearing a silver cape which was enough to make him stand out in a crowd.   At times in his career Flash was known as Blondie Gordon and Flash Gordon, but his real name was Edward. Prior to the war Barker combined his wrestling career with that of a speedway rider for West Ham. Born in 1916 he died from a heart attack in 2007.

The peacock strutted his stuff. All he needed to do was pose in the ring, sneer at the crowd and arrogance simply seeped from Bobby Barnes’ pores. There he stood in all his glory, and the fans booed and jeered. This was just the start of the ritual as he carefully removed his gold coloured gown , only to toss it away, and receive more jeers from the fans.  He was derided by fans throughout the land. Barnes was a 5’7” middleweight from Lewisham who learned the business at the Symbric Wrestling Club, Lewisham.  Owner of  a ladies hairdressing salon Bobby was famous for his blond locks, of which he took great care. After turning professional in 1958 each year seemed to see Bobby’s hair grow longer and blonder, his cloaks and boots more colourful. His character became even more larger than life when he teamed with Adrian Street as the Hells Angels tag team.   Rather sadly and abruptly Street departed Joint promotions about 1974 and Bobby never really regained his same confidence or status, contenting himself with sprayed on hair colouring and even growing a moustache.  Let’s remember him as the real blond bombshell of 1971!

When he joined the professional ranks this teenager was billed as Young Robby, for obvious reasons. His speed, skill and looks made him an immediate favourite throughout the south. To be honest, he never ventured far north, but he did transfer his talent successfully from Paul Lincoln, the independent promoter, to Dale Martin Promotions. Changing his name to Robby Baron (his real name was Tapsell) Robby soon became a 1960s and 1970s favourite throughout the south, and the rest of the country via the miracle of television.  He was closely associated with Mick McManus throughout his career, driving the main eventer around in his heyday, with recompense of an appearance on the day’s number one tv show, the Generation Game, as usual with McManus.  Seemed set to develop into a heavyweight contender, but Young Robby rather drifted away unheralded about 1975.

Skilful and fast Bradford’s Dave Barrie was a popular young middleweight of the 1970s. He turned semi professional as an eighteen year old in 1966 and gave up the day job just a year later. For Dave the “day job” had been a variety of jobs that included a brickies labourer, lorry driving, car scrapping and pig farming; not surprising that wrestling had an appeal!  By the late sixties he seemed to be everywhere and beat the best in the business: Breaks, Saint, Boscik all ended up on the wrong end of the decision. The results were inconsistent, though, and charisma lacked the ability to take him into the big time, despite the fact his ring name hid the fact that he was the son of one of wrestling’s greats, Les Kellett. Dave Barrie sadly died at far too young an age.

Stocky build and a more than his fair share of black hair Tony Barrie was a Northern teenage sensation of the late sixties and early seventies. The Manchester youngster, and nephew of Jim Hussey,  turned profesional as a sixteen year old after training at the Failsworth Amateur Wrestling Club, which also nurtured Bill Robinson and Johnny Saint.  His professional debut resulted in a drawn verdict against Eddie Rose.

After less than a year working for the independents Tony was signed up for Joint Promotions by Martin Conroy. Much heralded around the north little was heard of this young wrestler with so much promise.

A legend on his own pier. The Central Pier at Blackpool that is, which was one of the many Northern venues at which he promoted and wrestled. Our flippancy should not hide our respect for this man who made such a significant contribution to British wrestling and the lives of many young professionals.  Bobby Barron was an influential figure in the wrestling scene of the 1970s and 1980s. A heavyweight who capitalised on the increasing acceptance of the gay lifestyle Beautiful Bobby enraged the fans as he preened himself in preparation of rule bending his way to winning or losing. Bobby was also an independent  promoter and prolific trainer who encouraged and developed many professionals of the time, most notably  Klondyke Kate, Steve Fury and Steve Regal, who went on to fame in America. The colourful character of Bobby Barron was a far cry from that of Dave Shillitoe, the popular young Yorkshireman who was to later transform himself into Beautiful Bobby, after learning the trade as a baker at his father’s insistence. Not once have we heard a bad word said against Bobby as a promoter though many wrestlers have sung his praise, “He always stayed one of the lads,” one of the other lads told us.

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Fans will remember the scene well. A victorious heavyweight standing centre ring with arms raised high, very high, almost smiling as he received the approval of the crowd. The arms would remain high for a few seconds longer than expected, fall to his side, and then quickly rise again in parallel, seemingly higher and straighter than previous......

Read our extended tribute to Count Bartelli in Shining Stars: Royalty In Crewe

Other related articles: Ringsport Showcase: Count Bartelli

Discuss Count Bartelli 

Without his father’s choice of work the popular light heavyweight of the southern circuit throughout the 1960s may well have never made it into the wrestling ring. 
 

Read our extended tribute Ringsport Gold: Tony Bates

The heaviest of the three Belshaw brothers who were trained in the Lancashire catch style was Arthur Beaumont, sometimes billed as Arthur Ricardo. The red haired heavyweight  had a brief flirtation with titles when he held the British mid heavyweight crown for a short time in 1963. Beaumont was well versed in the Lancashire style of Catch, “Giving summat t’ get summat,” and the science of leverage and balance to outwit opponents. No better example than his televised contest against Earl Maynard in January 1963 at Lime Grove Baths. Maynard, an internationally acclaimed wrestler, was a stone heavier than Beaumont, more powerful, and with a more well developed physique. It was Beaumont, though, that had the wrestling knowledge and pure skill to outwit Maynard and win by the odd fall. The Belshaw brothers learnt the professional wrestling business at “Pop Charnock' gym, and not the better known Riley's.

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The legendary Count Bartelli, a man who remained undefeated for twenty years, named Jack Beaumont as one of his two toughest opponents (the other being Bert Assirati. "Beaumont was a very hard wrestler and never let up," said Bartelli.  One of the top light heavyweights in the country Beaumont trained at Charnock’s gymnasium in Wigan. As early as 1948 he was reckoned to be the only serious contender for Jack Dale’s middleweight title. In his first visit south, in 1948, Beaumont held Dale to a draw.  Even in those early post war days Jack Beaumont received international recognition and in 1948 travelled extensively throughout Europe. Jack died at far too early an age, just 43, following a bout in Chorlton in 1963.  He was the brother of Arthur and Cliff Belshaw, with Belshaw being the family name.  

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Cliff Belshaw, sometimes known sometimes as Cliff Beaumont was said by Billy Robinson to be one of the top three lightweight/welterweights, the other two being Jack Dempsey and Mel Riss. Belshaw was a master of the understated art of wrestling. His skill made it all look so effortless as he deftly changed strategy to strike when least expected.  His defeat of Joe Reid at Newcastle in 1948 led to recognistion in northern parts as Britsh and European champion, but in those days, of course, there was no nationally recognised set of champions.Trained in the Lancashire style at Charnocks Gymnasium, Wigan, Belshaw used balance and leverage to outmanoeuvre opponents of all weights. Cliff appeared in the first UK televised wrestling show, from West Ham Baths on 9th November 1955 his opponent being Bert Royal. Often overlooked by fans who were attracted to those with a more flamboyant style  there were few who could entertain with the pure science of wrestling in the way that Cliff Belshaw could.

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If anything was in a name then Barnsely heavyweight villain would know best, because he had three of them Apart from Harry he was sometimes billed as Crafty Casey Pye and Gypsy Benitto, his black curly locks making him look the part. Whatever his name Harry was a first class villain, and few matches passed without his hair being tied to the ropes or his foot being caught in the ropes (often to be attacked by a brolly wielding female fan). In the 1960s “Rough house” Harry was lured from his Yorkshire home to Blackpool by Dominic Pye to assume the role of Dominic’s wrestling brother, Crafty Casey Pye; a part for which he was perfect. Nobody could upset the fans quite like Dominic and Casey, and their contests against Angus and Jock Campbell were legendary throughout the North. 

In pre war days when fan rage too frequently resulted in crowd violence one of the men who often caused the mayhem was a Mancunian by the name of  Man Mountain Bill Benny. The beard and the girth made Benny a fearsome sight. He would stand centre ring, taunt the audience, roar at his opponent and then dart across the ring to seize his luckless opponent. If a smaller object, such as a referee, was to get in the way then that was just unfortunate. The fans were incensed but always went home feeling that it had been a good night out.  If this gives the impression that Benny had little to offer in terms of wrestling skill then that is far from the truth. The man was a villain of the first order, but he was respected by his compatriots and I remember Accrington’s Jack Taylor reminiscing longingly about the contribution that Benny made to wrestling. Belle Vue was Benny’s local venue and he encountered fellow villains like Jack Pye and Black Butcher Johnson on his local turf. Following a wrestling career spanning the best part of thirty  years, and concluding in 1960, Benny went into club management and wrestling promoting. It was he that encouraged a young judo expert named Al Marquette to enter the world of professional wrestling. On occasions the bearded giant pulled on a mask and entered the ring as the Vampire.

Although he is now remembered mostly as one of Britain's top wrestling promoters, and founder member of Joint Promotions, Huddersfield's Ted Beresford was a top class professional wrestler of the 1940s before turning his hand to promoting in the post war years.  Ted Beresford, his birth name was Walter Leonard Beresford, turned to wrestling following a stint in the army and working on a farm. Always a sports fanataic he was encouraged to take up wrestling by the Scottish wrestler George Clarke. During the war Ted, based in Aldershot whilst serving, organised wrestling tournaments for the army.  As one of the top names in the light and mid heavyweight class Ted wrestled the big names of the day such as Norman Walsh, Vic Hessle and Mike Marino. He retired from wrestling in 1952 with his influence on the wrestling scene continuing to grow for another quarter of a century. He put the skills learned organising tournaments during the war to good used by turning to promoting, usually in partnership with Bradford's Norman Morrell. Ted's niece, Jennie Sherwood, is seeking information about her family, which includes both Ted and middleweight Steve Clements, and anyone who can help should contact Jennie jenzsher@tiscali.co.uk

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Originally from Scarborough, Feltham’s Roy Parks was a multi-tattooed London Amatuer Wrestling Champion of 1964 who turned pro soon afterwards and had a baptism of fire when faced with Alan Garfield.   A stop-start career that saw a resurgence late seventies, see him here, and then a brief spell masked as The Big Brute managed by Kensington's Reg Trood.  After throwing down a challenge in the Royal Albert Hall ring one September, nothing materialsed and that was the end of Mr Big and The Brute. Mr Big sadly passed away in 2007

Twenty years after televised wrestling disappeared from ITV screens the name Big Daddy is remembered by millions and arouses the emotions of all. During the 1970s and 1980s he was the biggest name in wrestling, and some would say the biggest of all time. 

Read our extended tribute  Ringsport Gold: Big Daddy

See Shirley Crabtree 

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He came from the land of convicts; and it didn’t take fans long to learn that here was a real villain who they enthusiastically greeted him accordingly.  Black tights, black hair and black by nature as well as name Australian heavyweight Earl Black  toured the UK in the 1970s. We remember the arrival of Earl Black on our shores early in 1970 and the breath of fresh air his villainy brought to a British scene that was in the early years of decline. Unlike many overseas visitors Black did not play the part of the conquering hero, but often went down to the good British guy only after giving him a good beating much to the disapproval of the fans. When he came to Britain Earl had been a professional for less than five years, having made his debut in windy Wellington, New Zealand, in 1966. From New Zealand Earl went on to wrestle in his home country, Australia before moving on to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada and the USA. Somewhere between Singapore and Canada he found time for a short time in Britain, a surprisingly short time in view of the memories fans still have of him. It was in north America that earl found his greatest fame, sadly cut short by injuries that ended his career  in 1973 when he was aged just 27. 

The Manchester heavyweight Jan Blears came from a decidedly working class background. His UK success took him to California where he was transformed into the villainous Lord James Blears, usually accompanied by his valet who wore a white tie and coat.  Danish-Canadian light heavyweight Carl van Wurden encouraged Jan to take up wrestling, and he trained at the Manchester YMCA. His wrestling career was interrupted by service in the merchant navy  as a radio operator during WW2. Following the war he moved to the USA, living initially in California, and later Hawaii. Following his long and successful career Blears found new fans in a new career as a television wrestling commentator.

There was no shortage of masked wrestlers on the independent shows of the 1960s. One that stood out from the crowd was the villainous Blue Angel. Even before he entered the ring fans were in no doubt that here was a scoundrel of the first order. The costume and body language conveyed the message of skulduggery as he moved little by little towards the ring.  A sombre, scruffy, full length cloak made the heavyweight easy to place in the first class villain division. If that wasn’t enough there was always the bell that he rang out aloud like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. For good measure The Blue Angel would drag his leg, allegedly the result of an horrific accident that had somehow resulted in the acquisition of superhuman powers. Fans would jeer him as he unhurriedly made his way towards the ring and the forlorn figure would stop to return the compliment with a snarl.  Unbeknown to fans the man beneath the mask was the popular Stockton wrestler Jim Stockdale who was nothing like his mysterious masked persona.

The scowl and hardened features of Hungarian born Zoltan Boscik made him a wrestler easy to dislike. Here was a man with considerable skill who usually stayed just on the right side of the rules,but looked the part of an out and out villain. He relentlessly applied punishing submisission holds with a frequency rarely seen amongst lighter men. The result ws a thoroughly entertaining, talented wrestler who travelled the journey from novice Hungarian amateur in 1954 to one of the  top British lightweights of the 1970s.

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Don Branch is remembered by British wrestling fans for a number of illustrious, and not so illustrious, of reasons. Most will remember him as a television referee with hair that  defied nature and Edwardian sized sideburns working for Norman Morrell and Ted Beresford; the referee who had the dubious distinction of officiating the infamous televised Mick McManus tussle with Peter Preston. Older readers will remember him as a fine wrestler, whilst for some he will remain the source of one of the many News of the World exposes of British wrestling. Following a distinguished amateur career Don was persuaded to turn professional in 1952 by Bradford promoter Norman Morrell. His technical ability made him one of the top welter and middleweight contenders until injury forced him to retire in 1965. As soon as he retired he was taken on as a referee by Norman Morrell, which makes it altogether sadder and mysterious that Morrell was the man he was to betray a decade and a half later.  

As he climbed into the ring and sneered at the crowd arrogance visibly oozed from every pore of Jim Breaks’ body. A master of dubious, and sometimes not so dubious rule bending tactics Breaks was very unpopular  The crowd disliked him, and their dislike became more vocal as he relentlessly punished his opponent. Invariably jeers turned to cheers as Breaks' opponent temporarily turned the tables and Jim turned to tears and tantrums. One or more of the audience would throw a baby's dummy into the ring and chants of "Cry Baby" would begin to echo around the hall. Breaks' tantrum would become even more emphasised before he demonstrated genuine wrestling ability to be declared winner yet again. He  was one of the greatest post war British lightweights. His professional career followed a successful amateur career in which he was Yorkshire and Northern Counties Featherweight Champion. Trained by Bradford wrestler Bernard Murray he turned professional in 1958, losing to Bernard in that first professional  contest at Eltham.   His speciality was a punishing submission hold called the Jim Breaks Special. The man was special in other ways also as he was one of the greatest post war lightweight professional wrestlers.On 16th October, 1963 he gained the first of many British lightweight championship victories. Other title successes followed with the British welterweight championship and the European lightweight title.

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Boy next door turns wrestler. Wayne Bridges seemed the sort of man every parent would like their daughter to bring home. This popular heavyweight from Gillingham,Kent, began wrestling professionally for Paul Lincoln Promotions in 1964 after a five year amateur career at the Ashdown Club. When Lincoln merged with Joint Promotions in 1965 Bridges quickly established himself as a television favourite and became the Heavyweight Champion of Kent. His flying head butt speciality, agilty and technical ability led to wins over many top heavyweights, though appearances were usually limited to the South. Despite his popularity it was still a surprise to UK fans when Bridges lifted a European version of the World Heavyweight Title. There is no doubt. Though, that Bridges lived up to every expectation that fans could reasonably have of a World Heavyweight Champion.  His proud championship defences and bloody losses kept alive the glory days of British pro wrestling in the early 80s, as he repelled and succumbed to foreign baddies such as John Quinn and Spiros Arion, and in-the-know fans rate Bridges’ heel turn as one of the finest ever seen. Another nail in the coffin of professional wrestling when Bridges retired in 1989.

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When heavyweight Lee Bronson joined the professional ranks in the early 1970s he seemed to be everywhere. If anyone was destined for the top it was Lee. The credentials were good, distinguished amateur career at South London's United Club and son of old campaigner Norman the Butcher; the image was good, a fan's favourite if ever there was one, and a collection of early wins over established names. It was something of a surprise, therefore, when Bronson was thrown to the lions, so to speak, and matched with Bill Robinson on television when the Lancashire heavyweight returned home from America. A skilful wrestler, particularly agile for a heavyweight, Lee Bronson never did fulfil that initial promise, tough he most likely had the talent to do so. 

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Illusion may have been an essential part of professional wrestling, but Michael Brooks was a genuine Methodist minister. His wrestling experience began as a twelve year old in the lake district where he wrestled Cumberland and Westmorland style in the Lakeland sports. He took up freestyle wrestling as a fourteen year old when he joined Lancaster Lads Club.   The Morecambe born middleweight combined church work with wrestling after being ordained as a Methodist Minister in Capetown, South Africa. He claimed (and we can hardly doubt the word of a man of the cloth) to have held the Middleweight championship of South Africa for seven years. 

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