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Wrestling Royalty
Fans from the 1950s to the 1980s all remember Bert Royal. Few were as fortunate enough to stay in contact with Bert long after his retirement as Heritage member Graham Bawdon; “Who can forget Bert`s amazing monkey climb, short arm scissors or the great Irish whip? He really knew all the holds, the ultimate professional. My father first spotted Bert when he used to watch wrestling back in the late 1950`s with his uncle on television. They both agreed that The Bolton Thunderbolt as he was known had a great talent, and made it look easy. You knew damn well that indeed it was not easy. Bert`s technical perfection and skill stayed with him until he retired at the end of 1982. I`ve had the pleasure of speaking to Bert on many occasions, and I can only say that he is a gentleman.”
When Allan Best declared in the Talk Wrestling forum that around 1950 he had seen Bert Royal wearing a mask there was a collective dubiousness until a photograph was uncovered. Hardly surprising when we all remember Bert as the dashing good guy who could sort out the villains of the ring McManus, Pallo, Logan and the rest. Not just in singles matches but often in a tag pairing with his little brother, the even more cherub like Vic.
Bert Royal was born on 5th December, 1931, with the name Herbert Faulkner on the birth certificate.
He was billed as Britain’s youngest wrestler when he first came on the scene, the earliest advert we have found for him being 2nd December, 1949 in Chesterfield, opponent Billy Howes. Success came quickly and Bert was soon travelling up and down the country and wrestling the top lighter men of the day. Any wearing of a mask must have been very limited and for a short time.
During the 1950s Bert established himself as one of the country’s top wrestlers. By the mid 1950s he was no longer an up and coming youngster, he was an established middleweight. A little bit of wrestling history came his way on 9th November, 1955 when Bert wrestled Cliff Beaumont at West Ham Baths in ITV’s first televised wrestling transmission. By 1958 he was billed as a champion for the first of many times, European Middleweight Champion.
There was a bit more wrestling history in September 1963 when Bert and Vic took part in the first UK televised tag match.
A Bert Royal bout was certainly full of joy for fans also, whether it be a clean, scientific affair against another technician or bringing about the come-uppance of villains such as Jackie Pallo, Mick McManus or Steve Logan. Forty years on whenever fans discuss the wrestling of old the name Bert Royal is usually one of the first to crop up.
Ex wrestler colleague Paul Mitchell recalled: “Bert Royal was a superb straight wrestler, yes there were elements of showmanship but also standout skill and athleticism. His high regard for the paying public and protection of the game were second to one.”
Outside of the ring Bert had many interests, one of them being politics, and in 1967 Herbert Faulkner was elected a councillor of Turton District Council.
Now for the inside story as
Ron Historyo Goes On The Trail of Bert Royal
Page added 13/06/2021
Reviewed 28/02/2022
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