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Bernard, a Wrestling Heritage Legend
One of the greatest friends of Wrestling Heritage, Bernard Hughes, died on Friday morning, 5th December, following a long illness.
For many years Bernard has contributed to the Talk Wrestling Forum, delighting readers with his stories that go back to the 1950s. His death brings to an end our connection with wrestling in the North East from his days attending the St James Hall in Newcastle watching his favourites, The Ghoul, Norman Walsh and Johnny Stead.
Unknown to Heritage readers is that Bernard did much more to support our website. Since the start of this newsletter in 2016, right up to just three weeks ago when his illness prevented him, Bernard has proof read each issue. To say he was meticulous would be an understatement. Believe us, you have much to thank him for.
Not only that, every week Bernard unfailingly read every new article, and all the links to that week’s anniversaries, and would gently put us right in our ways. Thank you Bernard, we cannot express our appreciation sufficiently.
When he left school shortly after the war Bernard began his working life in a laboratory. Aged eighteen he was called up for two years National Service and worked as a radar operator in the R.A.F.
Although Heritage readers will forever associate Bernard with the North East he has spent most of his life in southern England. In Welwyn Garden City he tested aeroplane propellers and later took a job as a chemist testing metals at Ford in Romford.
A complete change came following eight years of marriage. He moved to Lowestoft and took a job as an audit and accountancy clerk. A varied life, and one in which he said in recent years he just wanted to give something back to Wrestling Heritage.
That he certainly did, More than enough.
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