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There’s a special corner of wrestling history for Mr and Mrs Albert Rogers. Albert was the professional wrestler known as Dick the Dormouse. Dick had already established himself as a nationally known professional wrestler when the couple moved to Manchester from their native Plymouth in the early 1940s.
The purpose of their move was to take over the running of professional wrestling at Belle Vue from Tom Hurst in 1942. With the country at war Dick was serving in the Royal Navy and so it fell to Jessie to take charge as promoter, news of which was included in a British Pathe newsreel shown as cinemas around the country. Jessie remained the figurehead for the promotion following the war with Dick as resident referee. and the Daily Mirror reporting in 1951 she.
Dick and Jessie didn’t break their links with Devon, putting on shows simultaneously in Manchester and Plymouth. The Daily Mirror of 7th May, 1951, reported the couple travelling weekly between the two towns and Jessie had around one hundred wrestlers on her books.
With the formation of Joint Promotions in 1952 Dick and Jessie remained outside the cartel, something of a thorn in the organisation’s side. Until fourteen years after taking over management of the Belle Vue wrestling fans were shocked to read the headline of the Manchester Evening News on 13th December, 1956, “Woman Wrestling Organiser Quits.” The story gave no details other than Dick and Jessie were leaving Belle Vue. Wrestling re-commenced on 23rd February, 1957, under the auspices of Joint Promotions. Dick and Jessie did continue putting on occasional shows around south Lancashire and Cheshire for a couple more years.
Read our tribute to Dick Rogers
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