In 1897 the birth of Jim Londos.
Golden Greek and former World heavyweight champion Jim Londos came to Britain on 26th October, 1937, to wrestle George Pencheff in a match described as "Catch as Catch Can," and decidedly not "All In." The Daily Mirror reported a clean and gruelling contest following which barefooted victor, Londos, was carried shoulder high back to the dressing room."
In what is believed to be his only other match outside of London Londos defeated Jack Pye at Liverpool Stadium, a match promoted by William Bankier.
It fell to Lords Goodman and Mancroft to co-ordinate the "Fanfare for Europe," a collection of sporting and cultural events planned to celebrate Britain joining the European Economic Community in January, 1973.
For eleven days concerts, exhibitions and sporting events were organised and backed by Government subsidies, with the likes of Lord Olivier, Kyrie Te Kanawa, The Kinks, Slade and Judi Dench taking part.
Then there was the wrestling. The Government said they were keen to put on events for everyone, so wrestling, weightlifting, basketball, judo, gymnastics, rugby and other sports were invited to stage events under the Fanfare for
Europe banner.
Wembley Stadium staged a football match where a team of the three countries joining the EEC (UK, Republic of Ireland and Denmark) played the six original members.
Joint Promotions, who regularly presented the televised wrestling, requested a grant of £350 "in order to bring in special wrestlers from the European
countries," the powers that be obviously oblivious to the fact that wrestlers had travelled frequently across borders for the last hundred years without the need for any Government handouts. With the money gratefully pocketed an nderwhelming
European flavoured wrestling bill was organised and televised from the Solihull Civic Hall.
In the 2016 referendum Solihull voted 56.2% to leave the EC - maybe they weren’t too keen on the wrestling after all.