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For a Scottish wrestler to become an established professional was something of a mountain to climb. Apart from all the usual challenges of making the grade the Scottish wrestlers had to contend with long distances to travel, a sparser population, fewer shows, almost non existent tv coverage and the economics of the business that caused promoters to regularly import more well known names from south of the border to attract the fans. Jim Farrell was one of those Scots that did establish himself and worked regularly for around ten years until an unfortunate injury curtailed his career.
Yet wrestling wasn’t the only mountain he climbed. From his youth Jim had an interest in mountaineering. Interest is possibly an understatement as for Jim it was a passion, and one he used to the benefit of many others. For years he was a very active member of the Tayside Mountain Rescue Association. Jim was Team Leader and eventually President of the Association. Many were thankful to Jim and his team for saving their lives in a challenging, dangerous environment.
When he was born in Dundee on 21st March, 1934, the name on the birth certificate was Maurice Vincent Farrell. He was always known as Maurice in the family and Jim was solely a professional name. His friend Tom Dowie was already an established wrestler when Jim turned professional in 1962. In that first year we find Tom wrestling imported Englishmen that included Al Nicol, Alf Cadman, John Foley and Abe Ginsberg.
Jim’s contests were mostly confined to Scotland with occasional raids south, and he would certainly have received greater acclaim had he travelled more widely. One of the highlights was in December, 1964, when he had the backing of the fans at Falkirk Town Hall as he was one of a long line of challengers that failed to wrest the British light heavyweight title from Ernie Riley. There was more disappointment in February 1966. On one of his infrequent ventures south of the border he was booked for a televised show presented by Ted Beresford at the Festival Inn, Trowell. Of the four matches on the bill that afternoon Jim’s contest with Frank O’Donnell was the only one not televised.
In addition to singles combat Jim also formed a popular tag partnership with his long time friend Tom Dowie, usually facing villainous types such as The Black Diamonds and The Dennisons. Jim’s daughter, Karen, told us she was very proud of the fact that her dad had been a wrestler and remembers being taken as a child to watch him wrestle, though only occasionally as her parents didn’t want to upset her.
Ten years passed by and there seemed like there could be many more to follow until a back injury forced Jim’s premature retirement in 1972. Yet this was a case where there was certainly life left in the old dog.
When he started wrestling Jim had given up his plans to become a school teacher. He resumed his teaching ambitions and qualified as a teacher, going on to become head teacher of a primary school.
Wrestling opportunities might have been more limited than elsewhere, but Jim Farrell certainly led a full life. Jim Farrell died on 14th February, 2012.
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