There's just one week to go to this years British Wrestlers Reunion which will take place on Sunday 9th August d at the home of the Reunion, The Bridges, Horton Road, South Darenth, Kent from 11.00am.
This years Reunion will be held in tribute to Wayne Bridges and a number of Bills colleagues will be paying their own respects to him.
Due to Covid19 there are changes to how this years Reunion is run to comply with Government guidelines. Everyone attending will be required to provide their contact details on arrival and there will be a specified area for this. The pub has separate entry and exit doors and there will be no standing at the bar.Extra space at the rear of the pub will be provided so that there will be more room for everyone and there will be a strict social distancing policy in place in both gardens and car park area.
Proceeds from this years raffle will be donated to the NHS in thanks of the tireless work they continue to do during the Covid19 pandemic. There will be food and drink and a barbeque throughout the day. The Reunion will be opened by Piper Stuart McRoberts who will play Amazing Grace which was a favourite of Wayne Bridges.Wayne was always very proud of the Reunion and this is the last chance the wrestling fraternity has to thank him for his years of service and to give him a fitting send off.
Pleased that this could proceed and that it was such a hot day for those attending
Everyone has a wonderful day my friends, wish I could join you!!!
A message from the British Wrestlers Reunion
This Sunday will see the 29th Annual British Wrestlers Reunion although it won’t feel like a normal Reunion this year what with Covid fears and the death of so many wrestlers and colleagues.
Had it been just Covid, the event would have been cancelled but losing our host of 27 years the former World Champion Wayne Bridges at the beginning of lockdown, we were not allowed to attend the funeral nor hold a wake in his memory and next weekend his ashes will be laid to rest in the grave of his late Son Dean Briscoe, this coupled with the death of the other former World Champion Mark 'Rollerball' Rocco last week, whose own internment on the 29th has the same restrictions, means that their closest colleagues and friends wish to celebrate both lives with tributes at the Reunion in a double wake.
Frank Rimer will return to the microphone for the first time in 4 years to officiate this year and will conduct the ceremony as in previous years.
We fully understand and respect that many of our fraternity suffer from health, age, mobility or plain fear of travelling in present circumstances preventing them from attending, but those great legends former colleagues and friends both young and old, who have committed to attend, will pay fitting tributes on the absentees behalf.
For peace of mind, The Bridges pub although with out the usual floral displays thanks to lockdown by the florists, has been completely redecorated inside and out, with new garden furniture and is fully PPE protected in accordance with Government guidelines. Entrance is one way only as is exit and there is no sitting at the bar, with toilets restricted to one customer at a time, everything being fully sanitised after each use. Visitors will require to provide a name and phone contact for track and trace purposes and social distancing is imperative. The rear petang court garden will be open and marquees and gazebos available in the event of rain.
A BBQ (free to wrestlers and colleagues), will be cooked in the car park by the kitchen area and tea or coffee available from there, for those non-drinkers to save entering the pub.
Music and the P/A system, will be provided by the great and very popular Scott Elvis once again and as usual, he is giving his time free of charge.
There will also be a lone piperformer wrestler and second: :Pipe Major Stuart McRoberts albeit in civvies, playing the ‘Amazing Grace’ lament being Wayne’s favourite song.
There will be a raffle as always with proceeds going to the wonderful NHS.
Roy Smith will set up his merchandise stall in the garden and there will be DVDs of Waynes careers to purchase plus other goodies.
This year we feel that it is inappropriate to offer awards, but there will be many tributes to our two Champions from the TV Legends and friends attending, and BBC cameraman Derek Collins will be filming the ceremony for a DVD later.
Wrestlers are traditionally a bunch of cuddlers but this year they might offer you an elbow, but hopefully not a full European uppercut.!!!
If you can join us, please come along from 11.00 a.m. and join us but please note that the tributes will commence at midday.
You are assured of a very warm welcome.