This is a short biographical portrait which we would like to extend if you can provide information or memories.
Bill Angus, the nephew of Harold, assumed the name Gunner Guest after serving as an artilleryman in the Second World War. He was the nephew of the great Harold Angus Gunner didn’t assume the glorious heights of his famous uncle. As a demonstration that wrestling wasn’t all Royal Albert Hall and Belle Vue shows. Gunner’s son sent us an eye-witness account of a less illustrious post-war wrestling tour. The account was written over sixty years ago by Ray Atherton, who also wrestled on the tour.
1947 – The Big Top Wrestling Tour
Mr Jarman & Jim Angus were the promoters, Mr Jarman was to pay all wages.
A team of eight wrestlers were organised, and in addition to wrestling at different venues, they also erected and dismantled the Big Top.
The other members of the team were:- Ray Atherton, Bill Angus, Gordon Richards, Glyn Morgan,and a lad from Wigan (cannot remember other names).
The lorry carrying the Big Top was driven by Bill Angus, accompanied by Ray Atherton. A Horrifying incident occurred when coming down a steep hill by Lincoln Cathedral. The brakes failed & Bill pumped the brake peddle and got enough pressure back to stop the lorry at the bottom of the hill—-safely!
The places they performed at were :- Rotherham, Worksop, Gainsbrough, Lincoln, Newark, Nottingham, Derby, Tamworth, Evesham, Ross on Wye, Monmouth & Pontypool.
Not only did the team attend to the Big Top twice a day, they were also responsible for all the seating arrangements & Ring.
This was to be the last venue of the tour. They were to be paid in full on the morning of the last show. They slept underneath the lorry, covered with hessian sacks. They ate when and where they could. The following morning on awakening they found that Mr Jarman and “his lady friend” who had both lived comfortably in a touring caravan throughout the tour had absconded with the money and the team were left penniless, no money either for families waiting at home.
They abandoned the Big Top and lorry & hitch hiked home!!!
Donkey Work!!! (for nought)
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Wrestling Heritage 