FLEETWOOD

This event drew a reasonably large crowd considering the most ferocious storm of the autumn was taking place outside. Fortunate not to get flown into the Irish Sea!

Had a look to see if I could find a poster with the show schedule. No luck , but I notice the capacity of the Hall is only 200.

Professional Wrestling returns to Fleetwood with a CWE event at the Consevative Club 26 November 2021

True Ian. Thanks for reminding us.

Hi Hack, having read that you thought Fleetwood was a bit to far West for R/G prom.Remember they had Morecambe & Barrow for years & years,

All the very to you & all on the site. Ian P.

With today's addition of Ron's Wrestling Rambles I took the opportunity to re-read this thread. It's fascinating to read again. As a child when I visited Fleetwood most years I didn't, of course, appreciate it's wrestling history.

Gone unmentioned I think, and a surprise to me, is that Relwyskow was the post war promoter. Fleetwood is a long way west for Relwyskow. In Joint Promotion days i would have thought it Wryton territory.

It's also good to note that this was one topic where we got a positive result, finally making contact with Lee Scott.

😎

Hack, now you have my full Attention!

You will be enlightened soon Phil.

I knew the name Golden Boy rang a bell, well after looking through some wrestling bills I think I've found him: Tony Walsh.

Be carefull though as sometimes names were "stolen"

One thing that I've just noticed! G. H. J. Promotions. Could this be the start, or even another name for "Triple Promotions", could the "H" be for Harry Strickland?

Maybe Lee Scott can enlighten on G. H. J. Promotions?

Cheers

Hi Hack,

All a bit foggy, sorry can't help you on the other names on the bill. "Golden Boy" rings a bell, but for the life in me I can't remember who he was.

I did get around a bit, from London, and other places, even from Accrington, but I must admit this is the first time that I wrestled as coming from Torquay!

Cheers

You sure get around Phil!

1963 and the independents have moved in to Fleetwood.

Look who's on the bill.

From Torquay! Have you ever been Phil?

Phil's already told us about the Bearded Monarch, Norman Kenworthy of Padiaham. Any knowledge of the others on the bill?

Great job Hack. Sorry to hear about Harry.

I do hope that Lee takes an interest in the "old days of wrestling" and who knows perhaps we can persuade him to come along to Blackpool next year, that would be great, to be able to talk about old times.

Cheers

Worth a shot , but a death of his name in this area does not seem to forthcoming.

Could be something different like the district of death or unexpected name variation.

Harry Strickland, born November 1934 in Fleetwood. Deceased wife Audrey. Last known address was in Thornton Cleveleys. I'll email you premised address.

Do we have Harry Strickland's full name , year of birth , and in particular where in the country are we talking about for his last address.

Well Done Hack. It was a lovely idea to hold a phone conversation with Lee. I do hope your making contact rekindles his interest in his past career, as we out here are eager to hear his recollections of those great days of the sport.

Lee Scott's son said dad wasn't that interested in the old days but as you've shown an interest he would talk. So I've just finished a very enjoyable 45 minute phone call with Lee Scott. I think we've rekindled his interest as he had got ourt some old photos and his scrapbook. for now I'll just tell you that he and Harry Strickland (Jock Cameron) promoted at the Marine Hall for about three years from 1964ish until 1967ish. He remembered Gerry Hoggarth and said that he knew the Accrington lads - mentioned Ian St John, Andreas Svajic, Don Plummer and Mike Agusta!

There was one sad bit to the phone call. Following his query to Heritage we had found an address for Harry. Lee went round to the house. There were new occupants who said they believed Harry had died. So, not enough for us to confirm, but it does look as though Jock Cameron may no longer be with us.

Bill Tunney wrestled Dominic Pye in The Cuckoo Patrol.

Both Pete Lindburg and Ian Wilson were both from the Manchester area, so this would up to a point verify what I said about Ted O'Leary.

Cheers

Hi Hack,

As I said in a previous mailing, I wasn't sure about Ted Cheary, but the info. from Lee Scott jogged my memory a bit. The name Ted O'Leary rings a bell with me and I'm pretty sure it was the guy from the Manchester area that visited and trained with us on some occasions in Accrington.

Cheers

Lee Scott tells us that Ted Cheary was Ted O'Leary. I'm not sure that tells us much (other than Cheary being O'Leary) but thanks Lee. Ted O'Leary anyone?

This thread illustrates the POWER of the sum of the parts.

Many thanks all contributors.

The Monster, who appeared on both the above bills, was Jim Green from Blackpool who, I understand, is still with us. There is mention elsewhere on this site concerning his appearances on Gordon Corbett’s bills at Preston Public Hall.

To be fair to the promoter, I think Ron shows us newspaper adverts, and the bills were clearly phoned through. We see lots of manglings, here from lightweight to light-heavyweight, but we should see the real poster before being over-critical.

Thanks for the info. Hack. As you say the mystery continues.

Disappointing news.

Lee Scott has not heard of Triple Promotions.

The mystery continues.

In the last bill, you've got a lightheavyweight in a bout headed lightweight contests. As William r said "you couldn't make it up".

And of course the Talio Kid was Derek Standing from Halton near Lancaster, a great friend of Gerry Hoggarth’s. Gerry told me Derek only learned to read and write when an adult. However, he was a brilliant painter and I’ve seen a number of his water colourings. A skilled craftsman, he constructed a portable wrestling ring for Gerry to use in his training of amateurs.

I once asked Gerry why The Talio Kid was sometimes billed as the “Swiss Champion”. Apparently his wife was Swiss and once when on holiday over there, this man in a bar was boasting of his wrestling prowess. The furniture was cleared and Derek won the ensuing bout with ease, earning him the “title” You couldn’t make it up!

I understand he succumbed to an industrial related illness in mid-life and was for a long time confined to a wheelchair.

Thanks for the couple of bills Hack, great. Please also keep us informed on what Lee Scott's Son has for us information wise.

Well I never! In my previous comment I mentioned the fact that Vince Lawson was sometimes billed as the Canadian Lumberjack and your first bill confirms this. Another couple of interesting things:

- Rarely do we see that Ian St. John was billed from Accrington usually Scotland!

- The Bearded Monarch was Norman Kenworthy from Padiham near Burnley and was a good friend of Vince Lawson.

- Not sure on this, but I think Ted Cheary was indeed an Irishman, but lived in the Manchester area. He would visit our gym in Accrington on numerous occasions. My memory is not like it was years ago!

Cheers

I've passed on your interest on Lee Scott to his son. Apparently Lee is fishing at the moment so presumably okay. Will try and find our more.

Two Don Plummer's for Phil, one with Lee Scott

Thanks for posting these, Ron.

A new name can be added to the list of Les Kellett's tag partners in Ted Beresford.

Do I correctly read Jack DOWBOY Dale in September 1946? Great to see the likes of Kidd, Dale, Relwyskow, Joe Hill all involved amicably so many years before Joint Promotions.

The Blue Masked Wrestler - the only wrestler with WRESTLER in his name? - certainly catches the eye and had a fair run in Fleetwood.

Just got to the end of it. Doughboy couldn't get enough of the Irish Sea. I wonder what Doughboy was all about? First I've read of it.

(I think you may have posted one gallery twice.)

Nice bill Ron. A couple of other facts:

- Vince Lawson was also from Burnley same as Don Plummer. He was also attached to Bob Bannisters gym in Accrington. Big guy some 6ft 3in and about 18 stone. Was billed a lot as a Canadian Lumberjack.

- On the old site in the A - Z Don Plummer had a bill from Kirkland Memorial Hall next to his write-up, but this of course disappeared when the layout changed.

- Androf Shychick this is a name that I've never seen for Andreas. Will put it alongside of all the other names he, or the promoters used!

Cheers

Don Plummer , Phil , I had not come across that name even though he is in the

A-Z.

Managed to find him and with a Bizarre spelling my earliest yet St John versus Svajic match.

Got them now 44 times.

Hi williamr

I remember very well wrestling at the Kirkland Memorial Hall. I’m not sure who was behind the promotion, but I can tell you that my dealings were with Harry Strickland. I do have the suspicion that it was Triple Promotions, which after hearing the account from Lee Scott’s Son would fit into the picture that I have. Maybe Hack can get in touch with Lee Scott’s Son in order that he can ask his Father exactly who was behind Triple Promotions?

One thing stands out in my mind very vividly, which I’ve already posted somewhere on this platform:

I was billed to wrestle on one of the Kirkland shows in 63 – 64, but after arriving I suddenly found out that after Talking with Harry Strickland that I was supposed to be refereeing for the evening! I hadn’t any idea of refereeing and didn’t have any gear for it, only my boots. I did however get through the evening, but when it came to collecting my wage, Harry gave me (no longer sure) £4 and said that was the going rate for a referee! To say the least I wasn’t impressed at all with this and told Harry in no uncertain terms, we finally agreed to (no longer sure) £6.

Knowing what I now know today I have the suspicion that Gerry Hogarth was either Ill or on that evening wasn’t available, so they had to do a quick change to the bill.

That was my last appearance at the Kirkland Hall!

Outdoor events:

The only event that I can remember, but no longer sure where, was at a coal miner’s fete somewhere in that area. I was billed against Don Plummer. The bout was filmed and shown at miner’s clubs and convalescent homes in the North of England.

Cheers

Great to hear Lee Scott is still with us. Wonder if it was Triple Promotions behind the Lancaster event. Phil Kenyon - can you recall who promoted the Garstang Kirkland Memorial Hall bills in 1964? I know Gerry Hoggarth was MC and referee at these and the above Lancaster event.

Also Phil, were you involved with outdoor events at the Fylde villages of Out Rawcliffe and Cockerham which took place around the same time? Gerry was definitely involved at Out Rawcliffe, but despite talking to many locals, I cannot find out anything at all concerning the Cockerham event.

I see Lee Scot's son in today's newsletter asking for information about Jock Cameron. I wonder if what he said of his dad promoting with Jock is a clue to Phil's question about Triple Promotions.

Tell you what has caught my eye , Les Stent , Young Apollo

Fleetwood advertised Wrestling very basically in 1952. This was all there was.

I know when Relwyskow got wrestling off the ground there some of the early attendances were just 400 , but I think it must have improved to last 10 years.

It's no small feat that via Williams R's friendship with Gerry Hoggarth , that a well remembered anecdote has been tracked down and here on Heritage we now have the debut and result of Big Daddy. Shirley will have fans out there and some people would argue he could be the most famous of British Wrestlers.

I actually talked with Shirley at the back of Belle Vue at least twice , it is Ironic that we have made this discovery.

I shall search hard to check if there is a bill tucked away in the papers that week and if not I will show you how it was advertised.

I'll probably be on Shandy William.

Eddie Capelli sure got around.

Lee Scott was a friend of Harry (Al, Hal) Strickland, who did some shows for Bob Bannister in Accrington and other places. He was an opponent of mine at the Drill Hall in Accrington. He was a tough character who when he had you in a Boston Crab, you really felt it.

As to Harry Strickland, I'm sure he had something to do with shows for "Triple Promotions" in particular in shows in Morecambe and surrounding districts.

Cheers

Lee Scott was a popular heavyweight from Fleetwood. I remember watching him in a bout at Lancaster Kingsway Baths in 1963. His opponent was Chief Thunderbird. There was another heavyweight from Fleetwood, also with the Independents, but I can’t for the life of me recall his name.

Around 1952 Gerry Hoggarth fought Shirley Crabtree at Fleetwood in what is thought was Crabtree’s ring debut. Gerry told me that beforehand Relwyscow had advised him to “go easy on the lad”.

Gerry remembered the occasion as the only time his wife Vera accompanied him to a bout and on seeing the billboard outside, made him go inside and check Shirley wasn't a woman wrestler!

Yes , that is a new one , I checked the A-Z. The crowd were in raptures as Mamba looked old , but without the mask there was a curly/wavy haired young man of good looks. The papers say it was quite a sensation.

Reading some of the Ghouls exploits , in particular with Jack Pye it seems more comedy than menace. Various matches , ref gets knocked out , Ghoul gets knocked out by an accidental kick , but refuses to carry on when he comes round so no result. Another one Pye chases Ghoul to dressing room , then noise , crash , bang , wallop , then Ghoul briefly pops through the curtains followed by Pye and then they vanish.

Not the same menace as the young Nagasaki from what I can see.

The Ghoul also very vocal when taking punishment.

Yes for ten years after the war wrestling was a big part of a Fleetwood holiday before declining.

Black Mamba. Well who would have guessed it? Thanks Ron.

The identity of the Black Mamba is solved as you can see from this poster.

I did spot him a couple of times working for Relwyskow in Aberdeen in the 1949/50 period. It was something like an 18 month unbeaten run.

He was beaten in the match with the Ghoul that opened the thread.

Interesting times , the Ghoul submitted and recovered and shook his opponents hand.

Black Mamba was then knocked out with the ghouls special punch. After recovering the Black Mamba went over to the Ghoul who removed his mask. Bob McMasters.

I hope William R (Beancounter) looks in. Always great to find his friend Gerry Hoggarth