Pre-JOINT PROMOTIONS-One of the TITANS in The Sport-BOTH as a Wrestler from 1930-and
as a Wrestling Promoter finishing his Wrestling Activities in 1954-was SIR ATHOLL OAKELEY!!
He Staged Spectaculars and Extravaganzas at LONDON's 2 Biggest Wrestling Venues-HARRINGAY-
from 1949-and The ROYAL ALBERT HALL until 1953!
Staging his Own Championships up to World HEAVYWEIGHT Title Level-He could have Sold Out
Arenas MANY Times over with His 'Full Programme Attractions'!
Below I'm Holding My Original Poster for OAKELEY's CORONATION TOURNAMENT-16TH APRIL
1953!!-Not long before JOINT Took Over the Venue!! Fabulous Item-One of My Best!!
Note MICK MCMANUS Billed from IRELAND!!
MAIN MASK
Yes, Gerry Hoggarth had happy memories of Sir Atholl Oakley. He remembered the bout with Jock Ward (who, he told me, was actually of German origin) and was later delighted to receive through the post a £25.00 bonus from Sir Atholl.
He also remembered Acker Bilk playing his clarinet in the RAH ring during the interval.
I would have loved to have had the opportunity to ask Gerry whether he fought Gargantua and, if so, how he fared. Gerry always considered Ernest Baldwin the best heavyweight of that era and fought him twice, once drawing and in the other, both wrestlers being counted out after toppling from the ring. Both men were very strong and excellent technicians.