One man holds a very special place in the hearts of Wrestling Heritage members and that is our Father of Wrestling, Gerry Hogarth, who turned 96 years old on 17th April and we believe the oldest living British wrestler.
Gerry remains in good health and has today sent his best wishes to Heritage readers (via Heritage member Beancounter) along with this recent photograph. Gerry's wife, Vera, is not in good health and we send her our very best wishes.
Gerry will be celebrating his 97th birthday on Wednesday. The entirety of this week's 12 page newsletter will be devoted to Gerry. Anyone who does not qualify for the newsletter but would like this issue just let us know at the usual riotsquad email address.
I think Gerry's name is spelt with a double g, William will tell us, but most posters and programmes seem to use one.
Purely out of interest, would Mr. Hoggarth be related to Steve Hogarth (whose actual spelling is with two 'g's) of Marillion, who also hails from the Lake District?
Great, and thank Ostie boy.Keep the memory of Gerry alive and well.
One from Newcastle for Gerry:
Glad to see Gerry looking well.Sure he will make the 100.Hope you are fit and well Beancounter
Thanks folks. The name was not familiar to me, never heard it before.
Hi Ron, what is Quernmore champion, please?
Great news from Beancounter today, 3rd February.
" I made one of my frequent visits to Gerry today and he is quite well and wishes to be remembered to all on the site. He will be 97 in April. I'm sending a photo to share"
Some previous comments about Gerry from the old forum
Beancounter
I called in on Gerry. I took with me Ron Historyo's St Mungo's Hall 1952 bill showing Gerry v The Ghoul. Gerry mentioned he travelled to bouts on a number of occasions with Bomber Bates who was a good companion and also an accomplished sketch artist in his spare time. He also noticed the name Jim Anderson and is fairly sure Jim was his first opponent when he turned professional under Relwyskow in 1950.
Gerry told me an amusing story concerning his trip to Leeds for a trial prior to being taken on by Relwyskow. He and another candidate were lodged at a local guesthouse and each given a large piece of steak for breakfast, a rare treat in those days of food rationing. He was later informed that the "steak" was in fact horsemeat. He said it tasted okay, though.
As I've mentioned previously, it is Gerry's great regret that his memory of the details of his bouts in those days is so poor - he never for a minute imagined there would be people interested in events of 63 years ago!
Anglo Italian
Well done Beancounter in bringing to such prominence the Father of Wrestling as you so aptly call him. Your dedication to a cause epitomises the Wrestling Heritage site.
Quite apart from speaking up for Gerry, you bring to the attention of many others of us a wrestler who might have passed us by for geographical or time reasons.
But Gerry's record, as you have unstintingly reminded us, is quite exceptional and he is to be treasured greatly in these sad times of departing heavyweight champions.
Also on there is Mark Hudson. We heard from Mark fairly regularly from his home in Australia until four or five years ago. Then correspondence stopped suddenly. I tried to find out more but fear the worst.
Tower Theatre New Brighton .....I forgot to mention.
Very many thanks for this Ron - I'll take it round to Gerry and he'll be delighted, especially the reference to his great friend Derek Standen (The Talio Kid).
I hope Beancounter is tuned in. Every so often I find one of these.
It's a great chance to maybe jog Gerry's memory.
Gerry Hogarth is a favorite son of Heritage.