The Wrestling Title Histories book has a listing for a British Wrestling Association Heavyweight title under Athol Oakeley as promoter. It's sketchy on detail as it has Frank Manto as champion, Hayes beating him for it in 1957 in London, and then either Manto or Jock Ward taking it from Hayes. That's the entire listing. It's the only title they have for the Oakeley British Wrestling Association after the start of the Joint Promotions/Mountevans/TV era and certainly doesn't seem to fit the timeline for Oakeley. Hayes reportedly had some form of training from Oakeley, so it's possible there was some confusion at the time which wound up in the title histories book and in turn the Times obituary.
The Wrestling Title Histories book has a listing for a British Wrestling Association Heavyweight title under Athol Oakeley as promoter. It's sketchy on detail as it has Frank Manto as champion, Hayes beating him for it in 1957 in London, and then either Manto or Jock Ward taking it from Hayes. That's the entire listing. It's the only title they have for the Oakeley British Wrestling Association after the start of the Joint Promotions/Mountevans/TV era and certainly doesn't seem to fit the timeline for Oakeley. Hayes reportedly had some form of training from Oakeley, so it's possible there was some confusion at the time which wound up in the title histories book and in turn the Times obituary.