We have several related threads on the go at the present time, but one of the key aims is to establish who is the oldest living professional wrestler from our beloved Heritage years.
We are dealing with nonogenarians and, irritatingly, with very elusive characters.
We have seen the title pass from Joe D'Orazio, and on though our uncrowned king, Spencer Churchill, who has sadly passed away today, before his coronation. Let's hope the latest King Charles III fares better.
So what may seem like ancient history to many is in fact a game of chess on ice on wheels, on a turntable, just trying to keep up.
And therefore at the time of writing - but nothing remains stable - we appear to have as contenders for the title of Father of Professional Wrestling:
GORI ED MANGOTICH
BOBO MATU
SYED SAIF SHAH
Hack has mentioned a visitor, Mohammed Yakub. But in the absence of any strong support movement for him, such a fleeting visitor cannot be considered for such a prestigious crown. He's no Bonnie Prince Charlie, after all....another claimant to the title of King Charles III.
Can anyone out there let us know about the well-being of Gori Ed and Bobo, before bKendo chimes in with another RIP?
I just came across a photo of Spike Robson, who I watched in Preston in the mid sixties; he was tag partnering Dave Larsen in my first live show. The photo was taken last October and said he was 91. John Shelvey, Ed Lock or Graeme Cameron might be able to confirm he is still with us.
precious.
Just wondering if this thread should be pinned with oldest 50's and 60's at the top of the forum.
And also updated and I remind you of Dave Finlay senior who did not wrestle pro until the 60's , but is one of the oldest left.
Thanks Ken. I thought it feasible someone would come out of the blue like this. Am I right in thinking he was at the Reunion only a few years ago? I hadn't thought of him being that age.
I know nothing about him and he's not in the A-Z. Quite a few years ago I was talking to Bob Anthony and he spoke of Fred and said that he had taught him to wrestle at a time his dad disapproved. I've got a feeling there's also a Neil Evans connection, which would both suggest he was from Essex. Can you get any more information for us?
Here he is in 1974, in his mid forties
I believe that the current Father of Wrestling is the lightweight 'Smiler' Fred Bentley who celebrated his 95th birthday last year.
As per other thread I believe Sam Betts is week older than Max Crabtree.
No ideas on Mangotich Born Edwin David Reid except that seems to have been still alive at end 2021 if in Britain.
I agree with you about Mohammed Yakub Anglo Italian. Not for the reasons you give, He was a wrestler, he is the oldest, but he can't qualify because he was a visitor and never based here. In this respect two of your three do qualify. Not Bobo Matu because Ron has told us he died in 2020.
I think Syed Saif Shah should be ruled out because of lack of information, the probability he has died and that he hasn't lived in Britain for years.
Gori Ed Mangotich I'm hoping we will get more information soon as the contact with him may well have been hampered with services closed for the holiday.
Ruling out Dave Cameron (1933) as a short term visitor front runners at the moment are:
1932 Gori Ed Mangotich
1933 Dwight J Ingleburgh (a few moths before)
1933 Max Crabtree
1934 Don Robinson 1934 Bob Sweeney
1934 Lee Scott
1934 Seamus Dunleavy