Wrestling Review No 36. Jim Lewis Photo.

Okay Ruslan, the fog has lifted from my eyes. The fact that the magazine photo

appeared at the top of your post, followed by the press clippings, without a disclaimer stating that they were not connected, led me to believe they were.

I must be missing something. We are talking about Lord Mayors, Promoters, wrestlers and belts and years, but isn't a more pertinent question, what of the poster and the newspaper report before and after the match? Was Colbeck the champ, or had he lost it (to whoever is placing the belt on Jim) before the evening noted? Did the poster have the wrong info. regarding who was appearing, or did the newspaper have a photo taking previously at another time Jim had won the (a) belt and used that with the picture? When did Alan win and lose the belt and against whom? Could Colbeck have lost, left the ring and Dempsey (still in his work gear) step up, put the belt around Jim's waist and then challenge him?

So many questions, so little time!

Paul, and one more question, you recognized this belt (see pic below), is it the one they gave to Keith Williamson-Martinelli in 1973 when he won multi-month tourney called Wryton Middleweight Belt.

Just a couple of points,to quote John le Mes are you sure that's wise captain Mainwaring .I'm to blame for the WNA belt and its first use predates Wrytons inception and think it's Beech promotion.This info arose from my digging into early Wryton.I got info in the WNA from elderly induvidual who's memory isn't the best but was extremely knowledgeable about south Lancs wrestlers.The WNA belt was an award by the charity not a championship for a promotion,on discussing this with a Bolton historian he states the national aechive holds bank books and accounts for the Westhoughton Nursing association perhaps they overpaid the workers and that's why the hospital was never built (joke). I know it doesn't fit the programme dates but could have been an old photo I thought it was Mel Riss.

I still would check crests of Wryton venues from the late 50s.

I give up Ruslan.

You have assumed, guessed and jumped. I've tried to help, as have others, and you dismiss it all.

I can't see where this topic is going at all, and no longer have sight of what you are trying to find out.

I'm not even sure this Nursing Association existed. The only newspaper reference I can find is to this wrestling match and I can't find them in any directories.

Hack, yet all official BWF belts had the same standard designs. My point is Woolley-Lewis BELT was never BWF trophy.

The so called West Houghton Nursing Association were said to have given the belt was given to Billy Beech in 1935. I'm not aware of any other connection or what significance an nursing association has with wrestling.

That is not a Wryton programme. It's a BWF programme. The BWF members were

• Paul Lincoln Management

• Matsport Promotions

• Devereux Promotions

• Conrad Davis Promotions

• International Promotions (Jack Taylor)

• Premier Promotions

• Twentieth Century Promotions (Max Crabtree)

BWF fizzled out in 1962 when Matsport, Devereux, ConradDavis, Premier and Crabtree started working with Joint Promotions. Lincoln and Taylor became part of WFGB, which had a similar logo. The programmes could feasibly have been used by WFGB members if they had any remaining (they were frugal and re-cycled programmes). Lincoln certainly sometimes referred to himself as BWF after 1962 That opens up the possibility of it being 1962- 5 of a WFGB member:

• Don Robinson Promotions, Wrestling Spectaculars Limited

• Cape Promotions (Danny Flynn and Fred Woolley)

• International Promotions (Jack Taylor)

• North Western Promotions and O’Shea Enterprises (Jack Jefferson)

• Twentieth Century Sports (Norman Berry)

• Northern International (Cyril Knowles)

• Independent Promoters (Tommy Whelan)

• Orig Williams

• Paul Lincoln Managements

The programme is one of the above, most likely the top group between 1958 and 1962.

Thanks Ost, and Ruslan for his artistic flair. Okay, but I don't see why we should assume this photo was taken in south Lancashire.

Hack, this is what kind of crest we are looking for...

Hack, you named all of them, yes, Jack Taylor of Accrington, and 2 Salfordians Woolley and Lewis. So North West, to be more specific East Lancashire.

This is what the heraldry expert said:

"I went through all the UK images on my site, including universities and institutional heraldry. But nothing. It seems to be a dark bar (either wavy or engrailed) with three charges, 2 above, one below. In London there is only one that vaguely resembles it, Wood Green. The other ones that come close are Keighley, Todmorden or Worcester, but all with a normal bar."

You've shown us this belt on Fred Woolley, Cliffe Milla and Jim Lewis (plus old timers). Woolley promoted nationwide. Milla was a Jack Taylor man, and Taylor promoted nationwide. So if you're right that the belt was owned by a northern promoter this venue could be anywhere. Don't presume it must be Manchester.

Which other 1950s/60s/70s wrestlers have worn this belt Ruslan?

Gentlemen, it is a Manchester belt, another person who held it was Fred Woolley, who was

also Salfordian, just like Lewis was, its likely one of the Greater Manchester Boroughs.

That is where the dead dog lies I believe...Manchester or even Lancashire Boroughs, or may be North West. Good web is this one:

http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/contents.html

The Mayors chain....BOROUGH COAT OF ARMS.

HASLINGDEN

RAWTENSTALL

ACCRINGTON

The one in Ruslans photo is just like the nine Lord Mayor's of London.

The Lord Mayor of London wears a collar of esses.

Doesn't the set of chains look like the same as in the Lord Mayor photos?

I sent a high quality version of that photo to a crest expert and he couldn't identify it. Obviously not the Lord Mayor of London as they have a very distinctive set of chains. But it could have been one of the Boroughs.

The programme is between June 1958 and July 1964.

Lewis worked for Joint until May 1958, the independents from the last week of May 1958 until July, 1964, back to Joint from August 1964 until November 1965, and then back to the independents.

I'm not convinced this was a KO tournament and think it was more likely a British championship as said. But on 4th September 1958 at Wimbledon Lewis beat John Hall in the final of an8 man KO.

Conclusion June 1958 to July 1964.