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A professional wrestler for more than a decade, a man who worked regularly without reaching any dizzy heights Don Branch is remembered by British wrestling fans for a number of illustrious, and a couple of not so illustrious, occasions.
Illustriously he was known as a wrestler with a a distinguished amateur record, Northern Counties champion, who went on to a career as a polished, methodical, sometimes overly-serious professional wrestler, who shared a ring, and sometimes defeated the likes of Alan Colbeck, John Foley, Tommy Mann and Tony Lawrence. To sum it up, he was more than pretty good. It was a career that was dogged by a succession of knee injuries that kept him out of the ring for extended periods. Having trained at the Hill Top Amateur Wrestling Club on Dudley Hill in Bradford Don was encouraged to turn professional in 1952 by Bradford promoter Norman Morrell, and it was Morrell that employed him as a full time referee as soon as he retired in 1965. Irrespective of his wrestling ability and popularity among fans the memorable moments are of his life beyond wrestling.
With the decades that have past most now remember him as a television referee with hair that defied nature and Edwardian sized sideburns who worked for Norman Morrell and Ted Beresford. We watched him in his capacity as third man many times and he was one of the best.
As for memorable moments he was the referee who had the dubious distinction of officiating the infamous televised Mick McManus tussle with Peter Preston when Preston turned the tables on McManus and refused to be pinned. Oblivious at first to Preston’s intentions Don became increasingly frantic as he realised what was going on. With McManus on the verge of his first televised defeat Don saved him the humiliation of losing by a pinfall and disqualified him. Peter Preston told us that Don Branch was furious and muttered to him, “You’re in big trouble for this Preston.” As it turned out Peter was far from trouble because, unknown to Don, promoter Norman Morrell was the man behind the double-cross.
Maybe anger at not being told of the deception led to our second momentous moment, but that’s pure speculation, and we have to admit five years is a long time to hold a grudge. In 1972 Don Branch met up with News of the World investigative reporter John Lisners. Sunday newspapers had periodically attempted to discredit professional wrestling to boost sales and Don agreed to reveal to the reporter the secrets of the dressing room. He taught the reporter some of the basic moves that enabled him to gain some credibility and trust amongst the wrestlers. Microphones were hidden in the dressing rooms to reveal the secret planning of matches and the News of the World proclaimed matches were fixed. There was anger amongst his colleagues, resulting in some refusing interviews by Wrestling Heritage writers at that time, which bewildered us as we didn’t read the News of the World!
Unsurprisingly Don Branch disappeared from the wrestling scene immediately, a sad and unfitting legacy for a man who had given a great deal. Celebrate the good times, and there were many. So last word to Justin, “He is my grandad, great guy and a true legend. He wrestled and boxed up and down the country.”
John Donald Branch was born in North Bierly (now in Bradford) on 24th September, 1927. He died in Bradford in 1987.
Page added 24/06/2023
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