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The Wandsworth Whale
When it came to skill and athleticism we guess the nickname “The Wandsworth Whale” tells us quite a bit about Jack Ansell. Jack was the 16 stone brother of 1930s legend Norman the Butcher. As far as wrestling was concerned Jack was overshadowed by his younger brother. That is hardly surprising as John George Ansell, eldest son of George and Florence, was born on 3rd November, 1894, making him 36 years old when All-In wrestling was introduced to Britain in December, 1930.
Reports suggest that although Jack Ansell wrestled top men like Atholl Oakeley and Bulldog Bill Garnon his age was against him and he was never rated as a top man. He could certainly mix it with men younger than himself. The South African newspaper “The South East Times” reported a match between Jack and Bill Garnon as “Comically brutal.” The reporter wrote, “They snarled and fought like wild animals. It was nauseating and yet you could not take your eyes off it. It had a filthy fascination I cannot describe.”
Ansell was involved from the start, but seems to have disappeared from our rings by the end of 1935. In 1939 he was employed as an automobile engineer.
Jack Ansell died on 7th April, 1970.
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