Wrestling Heritage welcomes memories, further information and corrections.
1930s wrestler, referee, Master of Ceremonies, trainer and wrestling promoter, Harry Joyce has played just about every active role in professional wrestling.
Although his was a name familiar to wrestling fans for many years there was little actually known. It was common knowledge that Harry was the father of wrestlers Doug and Ken Joyce, had lived in Toronto, Canada for a few years where he opened a gym before returning to Britain in 1936 as a wrestling promoter, bringing with him Whipper Watson and a troupe of Canadian wrestlers.
Ron Historyo investigated and reported, “Harry Joyce was born in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire on 23rd July, 1898 and married Doris Wilson in 1922. Harry, Doris and seven week old son Ken went to Canada in 1923, travelling third class. The ship was the Montcalm and it sailed Liverpool to Quebec 13th July 1923. Harry stated Canada was to be his residence and he was a farm Worker. It transpires that he had lived in Canada from 9th April 1920 to 1st December 1921 in Maryfield Saskatchewan. This was before he was married and Doris had not been there until 1923. By the late 1930’s Harry lived at Sartoris Road Rushden claiming he was a retired grocer, so young, perhaps making money from wrestling.”
On his return to Britain in 1936 Harry occasionally wrestled but was mostly involved in the management of the business. Our member TheWrestlingNick discovered Harry’s involvement in wrestling management in Northern Ireland around 1940. He is believed to be involved in wrestling promotion until his death in December, 1965. We found him promoting in conjunction with Paul Lincoln in 1964, and a newspaper report he was to work with Joint Promotions just two months before his death.
20624
Wrestling Heritage 