Anyone ever bump in a wrestler while out and about? If so what were they like? I was lucky enough to find Steve Viedor behind the bar at a pub in Hampton which I believe he owned Mike Marino walking down Mitcham high street (he actually had a very cockney accent) Mel Saunders a few times as he lived just around the corner, Lee Bronson in a men wear shop and Steve Grey doing his shopping! All were absolute gentlemen and a pleasure to meet. I did also meet another wrestler who was not friendly at all but its probably best he stays nameless.
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Great photos Saxo
.Thanks
On my way to my local venue one night I was walking behind Sid Cooper and Pete Roberts having a laugh together.
I asked 'Are you going to win tonight lads?' and Sid scowled 'I ALWAYS win!'
Also, on a different occasion Mal Kirk pulled up in his car and asked if there was anywhere to park. He looked big, even sat in his car. And I had to say No!
Talking of bumping into Big Jim Moran on night club doors, I am trying to see if I can find any of him working at Josephines in Sheffield.
If you click on the link below (and scroll down on the web site), you can see him on two out of three pictures from the 1960's in Leeds, when we worked doors there. Jim Breaks appears with him in the final picture.
https://www.secretleeds.com/viewtopic.php?t=6780
Hi Romeo, it could be, although I still think Judo Al Hayes also had a hand in it.
Hi SaxonWolf.It's possible Big Jim may have encouraged Andre to come to the U.K.Thanks again for the info.
Hi Romeo
The only overseas results I can find are Paris 1969 (although the wrestler is named in the result as J. Morran, so it is either a typing error or another wrestler. Seeing as Andre teamed with Big Jim, in the UK a few months later, I think it is Jim Moran), and then a dozen or so matches in Bremen in Germany, in 1970.
Interesting that Big Jim toured.Wonder if he ever did Germany or Japan?
Big Jim was a gentleman if you were in need of his services.One of the best
Also, just doing a bit of digging, and I think Big Jim Moran could have been the first of our lads to face Jean Ferre (Andre the Giant), in Paris in March 1969.
Big Jim was in a tag team with Andre the Giant that would have been enough to frighten most people!
Hi SaxonWolf. Think Big Jim would have been ideal in a David Prowse sort of role.Like a none speaking sort of heavy. Imagine them two as a Tag Team.Wow. Thanks for the info.
Also, I remember reading that Big Jim had all his fan mail re-directed to a barber shop in Leeds and that the barber would read Jim his mail when he called in (I guess pointing out that he wasn't great at reading?).
Hi Romeo, I don't remember Jim Moran ever doing the 1960's/70's film or TV work, although I agree he would have been a natural (you would think), to pop up in The Avengers, or something like that!
Yes, he was a pro boxer, I had his record details somewhere, ages ago. He was also (from memory) a debt collector for a jeweller in Leeds, and a well known night club doorman in a few cities.
In August 2015 I was in a pub in South Darenth when I came across Steve Grey talking to Mal Sanders and Brian Maxine. Then I spotted Johnny Kincaid with Skull Murphy. I took my drink outside and bumped into Johnny Kidd and Tony Walsh. Next to them were Blondie Barrett and DIck Harrison. Then I remembered I was attending the British Wrestlers' Reunion at the Bridges pub!
Hi SaxonWolf. Wonder if he ever did any acting or stunt work.In the sixties and seventies there were not many men around naturally that size. He was,I believe a former pro boxer. A very impressive man.
Hi Romeo
Yes, he was huge. He wore a dark blue, or black, velvet jacket and a bow tie, on the door. The jacket made him appear broader.
Put it this, was, one of my pals was around 6ft 5 and Jim seemed to tower over him.
His hands were huge as well.
Hi SaxonWolf.Interested to know if,in the flesh.did Big Jim look the six feet seven and twenty one stones that Kent Walton used to say he was?
Told the stories before, but saw Alan Kilby walking around Sheffield (not surprising , as it's his home town), and big Jim Moran stood on night club doors in the city.
Welcome john0813. Hope you stay around and add more of your wrestling memories. Did you and the kids at school know that Lee Bronson's dad had been a famous wrestler?
I once saw the Mighty Quinn working on a camper van on Bushnell Rd, SW17, i think it was the early 80's. I only knew it was him as i recalled him bad mouthing the British.
Also, i went to the same secondary school as Lee Bronson (early 70's). I spoke to him a few times, thoroughly nice guy.