R: Rolfe - Royal
Wrestling Heritage A-Z
We
know very little about Chick Rolfe despite his presence in British
rings for twenty plus years. We came across him for the first time in
1933, fighting Phil Siki. Billed from America, "The tough guy
from Bowery, New York," this may well have been promoters hype,
and the later billing of Birmingham (that's Birmingham, UK) was
probably more accurate. Although there are reports that Chick could
wrestle, there are more frequent reports of a more rugged character,
on one occasion tearing the referees trousers to shreds! In his
twenty year career Chick met most of the big names, Black Butcher
Johnson, Dave Armstrong and Vic Hessle.
Chick Rolfe (March, 1970s)
We have a second Chick Rolfe, this one from March in Cambridgeshire. His birth name was Michael Sharder and he worked frequently for Jack Taylor and Terry Goodrum in the 1960s and 1970s. Martin Campbell recalled him: "He hovered around light-heavy, so he could take on the Ghoul, which he did on many occasions as well as middleweights. Another good worker. Travelled, I think, around the south-east with others who never really made it, like Digger Summers and Hardy Lingus."
John Romeiro
Great name for a wrestler!
It was one that suited too as Ron Moore was a 15 stone powerhouse who could move deftly around the ring.
Ron Moore from Heanor, a small town in Derbyshire. He was a well known character in the local community, mostly for his wrestling exploits. Ron was interested in many sports, particularly soccer and a keen health and strength supporter. It was at the Heanor Health and Strength Club he met a man who was to become a lifelong friend, wrestler and promoter Jack Taylor.
Born in 1924 Ron was called up during the Second World War, and it is to here his wrestling credentials can be traced. Ron was stationed in Malaya and it was here that he took up wrestling. There was an active wrestling scene of servicemen in Malaya and Singapore. One of the other professionals was in need of a training partner and asked Ron to help him out. Needless to say Ron was the one that learnt the most and is believed to have had his public contest in the Army Championships at the Happy World Stadium in Singapore.
Ron began wrestling professionally, mostly close to his Derbyshire home, on his return to Britain. Some of Ron’s earliest matches in the early 1950s saw him billed as Ron Moore from Singapore. Ron led the wrestling training sessions at Heanor Football Ground. He taught both amateur and professional styles and counted Vince Apollo, Al Tarzo and Roy LaRus among his trainees.
Ron Moore of Singapore soon became Ronto the Bull, though there was never any secrecy about his identity. He worked only for the independent promoters, usually in the midlands for well over a decade, opponents including Harry Yardley, Karl Von Kramer, Leo Demetral and Ike Williams. He wasn’t just a trainer and wrestler Ron was also promoter at Heanor Town Hall, refereeing and wrestling on the shows. A generous man Ron was well known in the community for his charitable acts, and organised wrestling shows in aid of Heanor Round Table and Langley Mill, Aldercar and Stoneyford aged Persons Tea and Entertainments Committee.
From around 1960 Ron began to cut back on his wrestling commitments, though he did appear until as late as 1964. He was employed as a grounds-man at the Heanor Town Ground and drove buses for the Midland General Omnibus Company.
Ron Moore died on 19th November, 1964, aged 40.
25/04/2021: Chick Rolfe (March), John Romeiro and Paul Rose added