He might have been the stranger on the shore, but he wasn't one to the wrestling ring.
I know Ron had posted a bill for the Golden Bowler hat tournament before, but I couldn't locate it in the search. So have posted another clipping for that, for now:
Blimey, if the audacity of promoting at a Conservative Club isn't enough Graham now blatantly promotes his own website.
Might as well do the job properly by creating a link
Gerry Hoggarth told me that Mr Acker Bilk attended a number of Southern wrestling shows he was involved in, and played his clarinet in the ring before proceedings got underway.
I think he said these appearances occurred at Athol Oakley promotions.
Thanks Ron. So he already had the golden hat in August 1962, yet he was "given" it by the Marquis in October of the same year.
Sounds like he was a worker.
Just about managed to find it.
Turns out the Golden Bowler hat was a gift from a jazz from the Marquis of Bath at a jazz festival.
Acker obviously treasured it so much, he offered it as a prize for a wrestling tournament! Ouch.