Also known as Young Aherne, Brian Aherne, Tony Lanark
Wrestling Heritage welcomes memories, further information and corrections.
The Stoke Express
Most readers who saw Jim Mellor in action will remember a veteran of the ring with a career that spanned three decades. He was a veteran who stood out from the crowd not just by wearing black tights (which was unusual in those days), but by cramming a huge amount of strength and wrestling ability into his small frame.
The Stoke On Trent hard man’s interest in the sport began shortly before the war and he and three friends started learning the business in 1938 in a gym behind The Black Boy Public House in Cobridge, Stoke On Trent. Thr four teenagers pooled their money to employ the services of a referee, Jock Anderson, to train them as professional wrestlers.
Jim made his debut against another local wrestler, Ken Wood, when he was called upon by promoter Jack Cullen at Chester. Pre war the name on the poster was more often Brian (or Young) Aherne or Tony Lanark. We found just four documented instances of the latter, one of them being against another youngster starting out, Jeff Conda, who went on to become Count Bartelli.
The outbreak of war put paid to any hopes of a quick route to wrestling stardom. Nevertheless, Jim did get offered professional bouts during the early years of the war, meeting in those days wrestlers such as Bully Pye, Ray Raymond, Jack Santos, John Hall, Kid Dickson, Buddy Isles, George Goldie, Bill Ogden and Tiger Woods. Enlisting in the army and being taken prisoner of war proved something of an inconvenience, but no doubt gave Jim the determination, resiliance and courage that made him such a successful wrestler.
Soon after the cessation of World War 2 hostilities we found Jim, in November, 1944, wrestling in Singapore proudly (and imaginatively) proclaimed a. “a world title contender” and “Southern England Champion.” He was using the name Brian Aherne and the main event featured Dara Singh. Also working alongside Jim on those bills were more Brits that included Jeff Conda, Stan Garside and Kid Callon. From Singapore and Malaya Jim travelled to India before returning home a much more experienced wrestler.
On returning to Britain in 1947 the name Aherne was put to rest and Jim Mellor was immediately matched with latter day greats such as George Kidd, Alan Colbeck and Tommy Mann. For more than twenty more years he remained a regular feature of wrestling bills, mainly in the midlands and north. During that time he wrestled just about every other welter and middleweight in the country, and held victories over most, if not all.
Promoters relied on Jim to put on a great performance whether against another well established mat man or helping to enhance the career of a promising young star.
In 1960 Jim began to cut back on his wrestling commitments after taking over as landlord of The Brown Jug at Cobridge. After four years he moved on to the Holden Bridge Hotel on Leek Road.
Page added 07/04/2024
9809
Wrestling Heritage 