1950's Greats Still With Us

Seamus Dunleavy can now be removed from the list. Following the research earlier this year Bobo Matu can be removed from the uncertain list

The list continues to dwindle.

Update of 2 August 2023 at the passing of Adrian Street

Bob Anthony

Bobby Barnes

Jim Breaks

Jon Cortez

Brian Crabtree

Barry Douglas

Seamus Dunleavy

Ray Fury

Horst Hoffmann

Dwight J Ingleburgh

Gori Ed Mangotich

Al Miquet

Al Nicol

Lou Ravelle

Judo Pete Roberts

Blackburn Roberts

Johnny Saint

Tony Scarlo

Lee Scott

Roy St Clair

Dean Stockton

Bob Sweeney

Uncertain whether active in the 50s

Jim Green (The Monster)

Peter Kaye

Sean Regan

Uncertain whether still alive

Bobo Matu

Joe Murphy

Gordon Smith

Bert Royal was the last of the 1940s greats

Rick Hunter was also missing from this list

Thank you Howard, muchly appreciated

Hi Howard.

Great to hear that your father is doing well.

My mother used to write to Vic and Sally before Vic sadly passed away.

She's been wondering how Sally is.

Hello Howard, thank you for answering the mystery of the photos of Bert Royal in a mask. I was a fan of Bert Royal and always enjoyed his bouts. Could you please pass on my best wishes to Bert when you next see him and thank him for all the pleasure he gave us fans in his years as a great wrestler.

Howard , I was always thrilled to watch your dad who is one of the few wrestlers left who actually wrestled in the 1940's.

I could not resist having a crack at a small bio on him.

https://www.wrestlingheritage.com/onthetrailofbertroyal

Hi

I found this forum when my father, Bert Royal., expressed an interest in information on the web.

With regard to the “conundrum“ my dad wrestled in a mask (on the photos) to protect his amateur status. He avoided his surname as many fans knew Vic Hessle’s real name (his Dad) was Louis Faulkner and he wanted to make it on his own terms. He adopted the “Royal“ officially in the year he turned professional in the Coronation year but I am not sure about the ‘Royal Blue‘ name… I will ask him next week. He has just celebrated his 90th birthday.

Pat Barrett passed today. He had been absent from our lists.

Unbelievable.

Just makes me wonder how many other glaring omissions we have?

Lee Scott of Fleetwood!

I thought we had concluded that Alan Colbeck was no longer with us?

Thanks, Peter, for keeping me on my toes.

This list is, almost imperceptibly, starting to dwindle.

Update of 8th November 2021

Bob Anthony

Bobby Barnes

Jim Breaks

Jon Cortez

Brian Crabtree

Max Crabtree

Barry Douglas

Ray Fury

Horst Hoffmann

Dwight J Ingleburgh

Gori Ed Mangotich

Al Miquet

Al Nicol

Lou Ravelle

Judo Pete Roberts

Blackburn Roberts

Johnny Saint

Tony Scarlo

Lee Scott

Roy St Clair

Dean Stockton

Adrian Street

Bob Sweeney

Billy Two Rivers

Uncertain whether active in the 50s

Jim Green (The Monster)

Peter Kaye

Sean Regan

Uncertain whether still alive

Bobo Matu

Joe Murphy

Gordon Smith

I've put Judo Pete in there, Mad Mac, on your say so. Let me know if anyone disagrees.

Alan Bardouille can be removed from the uncertain list

Given Ken Sowden’s comments on the “Pubs” discussion, should we be moving Pete Roberts into this category?

The excellent piece of research from Ron seems to have resolved the question regarding Alan Colbeck once and for all

I'd be surprised if anyone has systematically checked these lists, it's just a collective jogging of the memory.

Yes, glass half-full mindset definitely required here.

I don't think Frank wrestled in the fifties. He was born in 1944 and he didn't claim to have worked in the fifties.

But he did work in the sixties and is admittedly missing from that list. But, and it's a big but and said in the nicest possible way. The listing is a collaborative effort (let's just look on Anglo as our secretary) we are all responsible for maintaining the listing so let's look for them while they are alive. Who else can we find before it's too late?

So many Ulstermen. Two on the above bill, the late Mike, and Séan Regan too. Never noticed that.