Brian Dixon, R.I.P.

Wasn't sure where to put this, so moderators, please feel free to delete or move elsewhere.

Here is Brian Dixon, from 1971, writing about the UK wrestling scene, for an American magazine. Note the mention of globe trotting!

Did so much for professional wrestling.Condolences to the family.R.I.P. Brian.

Very sad news rest in peace Brian you started as a fan and remained an enthusiast.Im sure young Joseph will do you proud picking up the All Star baton

I noticed he was in a wheelchair when he turned up to Dudley Town Hall a couple of months ago and was going to raise the issue on here. But I had a talk with him afterwards and he seemed in a chipper mood, said he only needed the chair because he'd been having breathing probs lately, so I thought nothing further of it at the time.

Memorable night at the Royal Spa Centre Leamington in February 2018.Brian was present and also Tony Walsh as a spectator. Retrospectively that night was the end of an era

RIP Brian Dixon.

How strange that he should pass so soon after Max Crabtree.

RIP Brian.

RIP Brian i had a brief chat with him at Blackpool last year. He signed a good luck card for me which i will always treasure. sincere condolences to Mitzi and the rest of his family. may his soul go up to heaven

This was announced at the Progress event in London on Sunday and Brian was given an ovation

Lovely to hear those comments from Steve Irwin, who I think is Steve Adonis - a bright and much loved star on Brian's shows for several years.

Brian was the foundation for my growing interest in wrestling as a teenager. The first show I attended was at Liverpool Stadium in 1978 and I went there regularly until 1982. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, All Star was the place to go for top quality British wrestling and I enjoyed the All Star shows at Hanley, Oldham, Bolton, Stockport etc.

Brian was always friendly to me as a fan and I an grateful to have known him.

My condolences to his family at this sad time.

Yes, Brian put a lot of hard work in to keep British wrestling going, putting on some great shows during and way after the ITV era. My only win was on one of his Butlin's shows. He will be missed for sure. R.I.P.

From my first match on August 23, 1988 in Bognor Regis, Brian looked after me. He gave me plenty of bookings. I figure I spent 5000 hours in the Citroen with him and the likes of Regal, Brookside and The Doc, travelling from Butlins to Butlins for noon hour shows with evening shows in between in Bognor, Hastings, Worthing and many more. Despite being the boss, Brian was a lot of fun to travel with. We always had to make sure we didn't miss the afternoon airing of My Tune on the radio. I have missed him since I returned to Canada 30 years ago and will continue to have fond memories of my time in the UK, thanks in large part to Brian George Dixon.

He and I promoted the one and only inde show in Northampton. At the same venue as Dale Martin and we got a reasonable audience too. I worked with him at Towcester.Trying to get the lift back to Northampton was hard work though.

Great tributes everyone. Spent a lot of today reading and talking to people online who's lived and careers benefited from their association with Brian Dixon. RIP.

RIP Brian.Condolences to his family

>the country's biggest independent wrestling promotion. More than just "independent" - THE top British wrestling promotion. And it's stayed that way for 34+ years after the end of TV while new schoolies galore have come and gone.

The man who SAVED British Wrestling. And a nce bloke too. Shocked to hear this this afernoon, hope All Star carries on strong for many decades, there would be no finer tribute. There's a new voice among the choir of angels tonight - "PROGRAMME TONIGHT THREE POUNDS - FOAM HANDS FIVE POUNDS!!!"

This news received from Ken Sowden was such a shock. We are used to reporting deaths but some hit harder than others, and for me this was one of those occasions. I was a member of Brian's A-Z Fan Club and wonder if any others remember the heartfelt letter he sent to members when the club closed down. What we didn't know at the time were his plans to start promoting soon afterwards. I only met Brian twice, in 1970 and again last year. The first time, soon after he had started promoting, he told me to send in articles for a magazine he was starting. I did, and never heard a thing from him. I told him I was still waiting for a reply when I met him last year. He just laughed and said, "That sounds like me." He broke the tv monopoly. Time was in his favour as Joint Promotions were in a much weakened position than the days when Don Robinson, Paul Lincoln and Jackie Pallo had tried their hardest. But that shouldn't diminish his achievement, Brian obviously knew what he was doing and had the business acumen to defeat the establishment. My fond memories of Brian are as a promoter in his early days in the 1970s. But the world changed of course. The wrestling landscape became one I didn't take to, but this was a period for which Brian gains my greatest respect. In the early 1990s when the remaining fans drifted away and other promoters shut up shop Brian persevered, changed his product to one that some of us didn't like, but kept wrestling alive. He found ways to make his shows profitable in times that others failed. Fans of every promotion today have much to thank him for. He has died too young, but old enough to have retired gracefully years ago. He didn't do that. Brian Dixon continued to present wrestling shows that provided value for money, good entertainment and kept the fans happy until the day he died. He was creative, talented and likeable. Not words we associate with most wrestling promoters.

My first Brian Dixon show:

19th October, 1970

Public Hall, Preston

Jack Dempsey beat Ian McKenzie

Wildman of Borneo beat Gordon Corbett

Pete Lindberg beat Alec Burton

Klondyke Bill and Klondyke Jake beat Orig Williams/Count Bartelli

Sad news. I regarded Brian as a good friend as well as a promoter. He gave us Manchester lads lot of bookings and always paid well including petol money etc, He was a cheerful and friendly man who was well liked and respected. My condolences to Mitzi and Brian's family. Eddie Rose (Manchester). RIP Brian.