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Nottingham’s Peter Deakin followed a route not dissimilar to that of Spencer Churchill, Earl Maynard and John Lees into professional wrestling, being a body builder of international repute. Well, not dissimilar except the latter three did not own a chip shop in Nottingham.
In 1956 and 1957 he was placed 4th in the Mr Britain competition, 5th in 1958. In 1956 he came 4th in the amateur Mr Universe competition, the year that John Lees was runner-up. In 1957 independent promoters gave him the opportunity to show his skills in the pro wrestling ring. It was to be a career that was prematurely cut short.
By the end of 1958 he had been signed up by Joint Promotions and was immediately pitched in with the top names of the day, and holding his own with them. He stepped up a gear in 1959 when he took part in the Royal Albert Hall heavyweight tournament and television exposure came in April, 1960, in a bout with Welsh heavyweight Gwyn Davies.
1958 to 1960 were busy years, up an down the country for all the Joint Promotion members, opponents includingTibor Szakacs, Bill Robinson, Dennis Mitchell, Zebra Kid and Geoff Portz.
In November, 1961 tragedy struck Peter when a ring injury resulted in a damaged knee and a premature end to a promising career.
Peter Deakin died on 5th May, 2012.
Page added: 02/04/2024
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