Bernard Murray ,knew him,but I didn't know much.His referring style was excellent and watch his positioning a workers dream was a thoroughly nice funny guy wish I'd had longer conversations.He was according to Dempsey a class act who could wrestle,praise indeed from Jack.Taught to wrestle by Father Finn and a few old timers told me Les learned a few moves off Bernard.Id love to hear from Bernard his St James memories of his namesake was he as good as fellow workers said.Any memories be great of this seldom mentioned guy.Love to know how Jack Dale tempted him down sard on a permanent basis.
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One of the best all-round lightweight wrestlers in 60s and early 70s. Often very humorous and I saw several bouts versus a very young agile Jim Breaks at Belle Vue that had the audience in gales of laughter. Eddie Rose
The A-Z is bang on with Murray found initially in Scotland. Girvan is a clue.
So often with George Kidd , Kellett and Norman Walsh.
But actually I have him in England earlier at Hartlepool. But there is still a connection because Les Kellett both promoted and refereed at Hartlepool in the 1940's. Bernard was billed from Scotland at Hartlepool until Bradford pops up in 1949.
Well Bkendo 1, as you asked, but all of this is on the site somewhere.
Bernard Murray was a very skillful wrestler, able to hold his own with all at his weight.
He was also a very funny man in the ring.
Bernard also trained at times for Norman Morrell.
Anglo has already mentioned that Bernard Murray in his younger days often used to finish off with a victory roll pinfall, from his opponents shoulders down to the canvas.
Some wrestlers have said that this move was dangerous, because it relied on the opponent, like many moves.
Funny ! I remember when he fought Gentleman Jim Lewis. Lewis came to the ring and his second carried a hand mirror and a comb.
Even before the match started, the long blond hair was combed.
At the end of the first or second round. Murray's second ran out of the arena to the dressing rooms. He returned with a huge mirror and a toothless large comb.
Of course Murray never looked young to me, the first time I saw him, his head was shaved. I never saw him with hair.
At the end of that round Murray's second held up the mirror whilst Bernard pretended to comb what wasn't there.
Lewis went mad, rushed across the ring and it took Les Kellett to the end of the round to separate them.
Yes Bernard was on e of my favourite wrestlers and something must have happened in the Morrell ranks for him and Les (both trusted Morrell men) to move south.
As usual I don’t know.
But as usual I can try to work things out.
Kellett fell out with Morrell and emigrated south.
Possibly Masambula and Sid too.
Since Bernard Murray was a Morrell man, too, he also must have had a falling out?
Apart from Les nicking Bernard’s comedy bits and pieces, were he and Bernard good buddies? Both from Bradford and both moved south around the same time.
Our Bernard often mentions Murray‘s Victory Roll; but when we browse the pre-war bills we can see that Morrell himself had made an art of it first.