An interview of Sam Betts (Dwight J Ingleburgh) has now been launched on You Tube. Sam talks about his life in wrestling for almost an hour. This is the interview that was played at Sam's funeral recently. Sadly, the interviewer, Heritage member Derek Collins, has also since died.
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Sam was one of the best both as a wrestler and a man. He helped me a lot in my early days as a wrestler with kindness and good humour. I even wrestled him once: he held me up for four rounds then took two falls in quick succession for victory - and thanked me afterwards for a good bout! Thanks Sam! Eddie Rose.
Here's Sam, in his own words (link below), which includes many of the pictures below. He mentions that when he wrestled for Jack Atherton, Jack always had him use the name "Bill Dunne", so any bills/posters that appear with that name, we will know it is Sam.
https://wrestlingfurnace.site/biographies/ingleburgh/ingleburgh.htm
Another question; Sam mentions travelling overseas with Allen Martin, from Castleford (he calls him an ex-rugby player), who wrestled here as Al Martinelli. I have seen results from Singapore, with a wrestler called "Maniac Martin" on the bill. Ian St. John and a few others are on the same bills, so I assumed that it was one of our lads, and perhaps Buster Martin, but now I am thinking that it could be Al Martinelli?
The only other person I can think of is a fairly obscure Australian wrestler called Kevin Martin, who often wrested with New Zealander (and friend of Sam Betts), Bruno Bekker.
Anyone have any thoughts on that?
SaxonWolf
7h
Replying to
Hack
Great pictures. Do we know what name Sam used in Singapore, India, Kuwait, etc.?
Was he always Dwight J Ingleburgh, everywhere, or did he use other names?, in the video, he seems to imply that he was Sam Betts, in India.
Here's Sam in Singapore with other Brits Ben Wotjeski, Chang, Vince Edwards and looks like Fred Hill using the Kurt Stein name I mentioned previously.
This is well worth a watch. Sam talks with such candour and without ego, though proud of his achievements.
I saw Fred Hill wrestle twice on independent bills. He was using the name Kurt Stein, not to be confused with the original German. Here's Fred and Sam in Singapore.
Still in Singapore, with New Zealand's Bruno Becker
Singapore with Vince Edwards, unknown, and Ben Wojeski
Pakistan, Sam receiving a trophy from an old wrestler
In Mumbai with Dara Singh
A masked Sam with Dara Singh in India
Pakistan with the Bholus
The Swedish Trip
Quite a few recognisable faces here. The young lady is Anneli Gruhn
Sam and interviewer Derek Collins
Fantastic interview, and what a sharp memory, recalling all those details.
Like I always say, if you were a good wrestler, you were reliable, and you wanted to travel, the world was your oyster.
£100 in the late 1960's is worth around £2,200 today, and if Sam was earning £100 a show (two shows a week, sometimes more) in India, that was incredible money, compared to the average UK wager earner.
Great stuff to watch. It was always great (still is) listening to the tales that Sam would talk about.
Thanks Hack for putting this on the forum.
Well worth a patient listen.
£200 a week in India in 1967.
Sam's first trip for Don Robinson , a month and 29 bouts in Sweden.
Ben Watijeski who we now believe was Sitting Bull , here and In Madras tempted Sam to Pakistan. An almost unknown , yet he was a promoter.
Toured and shared a room with Mighty Chang who was born in India.
Tales of Singapore with an almost unknown mate , Warringtons Fred Hill who did well over there.
Shared a room with Bill Robinson , but never worked with him.
Jack Land coming home from a tour after one bout (injured)
Boxing in a booth age 10 for half a crown.
Worst ring ever , Manchester's Free Trade Hall , no give in the floor whatsoever.
After talking for an hour it seems clear the highlights for Sam were his travel. That's fine and understandable. How I wish we also had a an hour on some of the British goings on.
Despite that Sam told us the British Indy's paid better and Tony Scarlo , Don Robinson were mentioned.
Very enjoyable.
What a great watch
Sam had a wonderful career and enjoyed his life to the full.