Cocky Chick Knight
I saw Chick Knight a few times at Newcastle in ,I think, 1948/9.
A big bulky bustling sort of wrestler, never scientific, but strong and awkward to handle, and in the later years,always prone to heat up the audience a little before his usual disqualification.
Nothing particularly stands out in my memory of Chick, regarding his wrestling style,favourite holds etc.except for the above.
BUT the promoters must have thought well of him as a drawing card , because at Newcastle in 1948/9, (My first period of going there ), he faced the following top line regulars:-
Jack Pye
Bert Asiratti
Ernest Baldwin
Ken Davies
Hassan Ali Bey
Bill Benny
and Wally Seddon.
2 European and British Heavyweight Champions, the King of the Mat, Possibly the strongest man in the world and a couple of hard men.
And that is only the promoters advertising.
Prior to 1948 he was a regular visitor to Newcastle and I think that possibly during the war he must have been in the services somewhere up North.
The first bout at Newcastle that I can find is against Anaconda ,on 20/5/1939.there were 4 more visits in that year.
No appearances in 1940 or 1941,he re-appeared losing to George Clark on 18/4/1942. Could this have been service abroad or elsewhere in the U K ?
There were 2 bouts by Don Knights in June and August 1941, but I don't know if this is connected. During 1943/45 he was there almost every 2 weeks ,so I presume that he was posted up north or moved to live up there.
The last bout that I can find at Newcastle is a loss to Charlie Green in February 1950.
The Hammersmith Hero episode of Secrets of London on the London Live TV channel will air this Sunday at 5.55pm.
This episode documents Chick's double lifesaving feat in the Thames at Hammersmith in 1930 and obviously refers to the book and Chick's colourful life.
Andy Scott has told us that the first run of books has now sold out and the book is now on it's second publication.
We've also added our own tribute to Cocky Chick, as tomorrow is the anniversary of his birth.
Rogue Around Town
More publicity today for London's Loveable Villain
A message from Andy:
Just to update you on progress…..
The petition now has in excess of 370+ signatures on it, I’m still hoping to get to 500, but its taking its time. It has support of All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on wrestling, and has been heard on BBC5 Live now too on the Colin Murray programme and further coverage in online media.
The book is now on the last 60 pages of proofreading, this is all that’s left of the fight history to do (years remaining to read are 1944-1958) rest of the book has been read and corrected & tweaked.
It will go off to be read and approved/commented on by remaining family then mid-November off to layout designers. Once signed off it will be uploaded to Amazon for sale and publication.
I’m hopeful we can get this out just prior to Christmas. Reason its taken so long is details, checking and re-checking, additions, and then we’ve moved house in last 2 weeks so as you can imagine its been a bit chaotic!
Think that’s all for the moment, Getting some great comments and feedback and follows from current British Wrestlers which has been heartening and nice to receive.
Sign the petition
Andy has received a letter from the private secretary to HRH Prince Philip and an acknowledgement of the campaign to get recognition of Chick's double lifesaving feat at Hammersmith in 1930.
Andy tells us he has ust done a new podcast, with Cathedral of Sport, gone live today, and there’s another interview in the pipeline with BFBS (Gibraltar) talking about Chick and his lifesaving rescue whilst serving in Gibraltar.
https://anchor.fm/cathedralofsport/episodes/THE-CHICK-COCKY-KNIGHT-STORY-BY-ANDY-SCOTT-eioq5n
A recent showing of the 1956 film "Jump for Joy " starring Frankie Howard included a very prominently displayed poster with the main event Chick Knight versus Abdul the Turk
If Andy would like to contact me on pierre180866@yahoo.co.uk I have a few memories of Chick
Message to Andy Scott .I have a few stories about Chick Knight.If you get in touch on email pierre180866@yahoo.co.uk Regards Peter
To be inducted in the British Wrestlers Reunion Hall of Fame this August 2020
Thanks for posting Al. You will have seen more publicity for the book in the newsletter. Andy has also been on local radio talking about his great uncle.
In yesterday's Daily mail .
Quite a few developments on the Chick Knight book front, with author Andy getting some good publicity in GHQ Magazine and newspapers. News in this week's newsletter.
Gerry Hoggarth told me he once fought Cocky Knight, who spent most of the bout hitting Gerry on the ear with his elbow! He thought this took place in Belfast.
I looked at your bill and what a great idea , but the journey I went on then was that Meli SSovas wrestled as Chris Averoff in America.
Here is a 1955 bill with him on in Illinois.
So what i did was go through all my bills of Chick Knight and see if there was anyone I did not know of.
I came up with Stefan Novotny , a Hungarian who I cannot find a picture of.
WE have a query about this Chick Knight Opponent and what year approx.
Has anyone got any thoughts.
Could he be an overseas wrestler.
Chick Knight was a regular in Paris, at the end of World War 2, along with quite a few others from these shores.
Thanks MM.
At least we have given Andy something to go on.
It's a long way back for many readers to have seen him live.
By the way, on your last poster Cpl Lew Faulkner became Vic Hesselle, I think.
Really Cool Resume of Info.BERNARD-First Hand too!-So Valuable!-I have supplied ANDY SCOTT with some CHICK 'Gems' from my own Collection and include some examples below for your Post!!
COCKY CHICK vs. BERT ASSIRATI-MUSIC HALL ABERDEEN-JULY 1945!!
Note your Mate JIM ANDERSON on same Bill!
MAIN MASK