Count me in .

Hi Anglo. Where and when I grew up, in Newcastle there was only Morrell. I only learnt a little when i went to London and Dagenham I was surprised that this travel as was mentioned ,started that far back.

Not wishing to sidetrack your query Anglo, But I was surprised to see Ernie Baldwin on a DM bill. This switch is not mentioned in Ernie's entry in the A-Z. Did he do many DM nights?

Many thanks to Ron and anyone else who contributed to this thread. I met Norman's daughter Jackie a couple of times but she seemed to leave this site a while ago. Thanks folks.

A lovely write-up for a deserving wrestler. However ,once again we don't know of what or how Norman died . Anyone got any thoughts or offers please?

Hi Woodlow, It might help you to get replies if you said where you saw this name.

Hi Anglo, I have previously said that I did not detect any comedy in Les' refereeing. Of course it was very different then, when wrestlers were not allowed to stay on the ropes or be tangled up in them. If this happened, Les would clearly say " break the hold" and this was not obeyed, he would break the wrestlers up himself. I particularly remember one time when Les disqualified Sandy Orford, the disqualified man advanced at Les threatening him with a fist. Les was straight up onto the red corner ring post, the top came off in his hand and he smiled and waved Sandy in. Offer not taken. However he was very agile round the ring. I remember a build up where Sandy punched Dai Sullivan in the stomach on the blindside, folded him over and Les counted to three. Sullivan and the crowd protested about the foul and Les said that he didn't see the punch, but if this was a foul then a rematch would take place in two weeks with two referees. This would sort the matter out. The match duly happened with Les and Ernie Lofthouse officiating. When it got to one fall each, Orford got Sullivan in a headlock, swung him round and round. Sullivan's arm was away from his body and hit Les. Kellett out of the ring, punch to the stomach, and Lofthouse did the 1,2,3. Uproar again. Les climbed back into the ring, spread his arms and said something like "Well what do you expect me to do about it" We never had the end to this saga.

Hi Anglo, Ernest Lofthouse was a good MC, but I didn't rate him as a referee. Of course I had been spoilt with Les Kellett.

Just looking at Anglo's list. Imagine the cost of that lot. I had the first 3 items and St John's members. You don't need ( or didn't) the rest for a good evenings entertainment.

O K Anglo, you,ve made your point. Now can we get John to explain the meaning of his title please.

I have been going to comment for a while. I know that is Jan Blears, but what is the connection? "Separated at birth "?

George Kidd was the first one that I saw use this. Generally a submission, because it was awkward to unravel. Always announced as a reverse surfboard.

I received one of these typewritten issues in the 50',s. I can't remember why, but it was mostly about Norman Walsh and his titles. I showed it to Norman and Flo and they said some of it was true and some not. Can't remember the details now.

Almost a limerick, too many words to get in. I remember a strongman, Hassan Ali Bey He was billed to fight The Ghoul that day A chop, a smile, a shake of the head Neck stuck out -big target instead Stiff fingers to stomach, down he lay Ghoul indicated, you won't win that way.

Now Hack,I read your urgent request and this brought a response of interest More people to send items in now about their memories and how they enjoyed wrestling at it's best. I saw that wrestler, Jack Pye in the ring feathers would fly Abdul the Turk's mat went flying He was upset ,really trying but Jack's ability was too high.

I knew about Lou Thesz from wrestling magazines too, Ray.

Thank you MM. At my age you just have to keep plodding on. Lots of slight niggles.

Hi Ruslan. I know that you won't like this answer, but I don't think that there was a previous holder of the Mount-Evans heavyweight title before Ernie Baldwin. He was the first. Also the choice of Newcastle and Middlesbrough for Title fights is not so mystifying when you know the halls that Morrell used. In the North East. By the way I appreciate that some of your views have changed from always being belts, results and titles to thinking what was behind professional wrestling . Good on you !

Thanks MM. It was surprising to me that Norman had so many goes with Thesz. I knew that he had a couple but four! Must have been what they call "A safe pair of hands" At the time, one of Morrell's top men.

Hi All. Walsh v Marino were generally good technical fights. Because of my interest in Norman, I always thought he was the better wrestler because he was more aggressive than Marino. I never thought that he would lose to Marino, but of course I now know that this was at Newcastle and there would be stadiums where Marino would hold sway. To answer one query. I think that these two drew good crowds because they were the two top wrestlers in that weight category at the time. Of similar ability and also there was often a title defence thrown in.